tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17292263155799569802024-03-13T22:31:37.932-07:00Heart Of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Our investors work hard every day to make the area a great place to do business. We want to keep you in the know about important information, resources, and opportunities. Read and enjoy hearing from experts, locals, and staff. Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-16002398063239639352021-05-04T12:16:00.003-07:002021-05-04T12:16:20.442-07:0021 Easy Ways To Use Social Media To Get New Customers<p> <span style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zunEXRrJuyE/XUNFCY28onI/AAAAAAAABug/6_FNKCLlsAUDTY97hLpDlWkz0_PldwY7ACEwYBhgL/s1600/social-media-for-small-business%2B-%2BCopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; display: inline-block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zunEXRrJuyE/XUNFCY28onI/AAAAAAAABug/6_FNKCLlsAUDTY97hLpDlWkz0_PldwY7ACEwYBhgL/s640/social-media-for-small-business%2B-%2BCopy.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="640" /></a></div>Social media marketing is about more than just gaining followers and likes, but sometimes it can be difficult, especially when starting out, to strategize around the right elements, and to use the platform-tools and options to achieve your business goals.<p></p><div class="post-outer" style="border: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.25em; position: relative;"><div class="post" style="margin-top: 0px;"><div class="post-body entry-content float-container" id="post-body-2315613469982758935" style="color: #676767; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 1.5em 0px 2em;">But there are key, fundamental tasks that you need to be covering off in your approach, essential steps you need to take to move beyond the basics and into generating actual leads from your social efforts. Outlining this, Tonya Burge from Your Marketing Lady has created this in-depth infographic on the key social media marketing elements you need in order to formulate an effective social media marketing plan.<br /><br />Burge advises that brands need to first establish their business presence, then move beyond this by utilizing effective calls to action, providing customer service and driving traffic to your website.<br /><br />The graphic serves as a solid social media marketing blueprint - you can check out the full post here, or the graphic below<br /><h3 style="color: #293f70; font-size: 16px;">Here Are 21 Easy Ways To Use So</h3><h4>1. Know Who You’re Targeting</h4>Before you start doing anything else, I want you to take a deep breath and say it with me: “I must know my audience”. Maybe repeat it a few times, until it really sinks in. Because without this seemingly simple step, your social media marketing isn’t going to be effective.<br /><br />How old are they? What are their income levels? What are their other interests? Which social media platforms do they use? Find out all of this (and more) if you want to make social media for business work for you.<br /><h4>2. Use The Right Social Media Platforms</h4>Which social media platforms should you be using? The short answer: the one or two that your potential customers are using most often.<br /><br />Of course, that involves knowing your audience (hint, hint), and also having an understanding of both the user demographics and strengths/weaknesses of each social media channel.<br /><br />For instance, if your product or service targets, say, folks over 50, you might not get the best ROI from Instagram, <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/325587/instagram-global-age-group/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; text-decoration-line: none;">where 47% of global users are between 25-44</a>. However, if you’re a brand with great imagery, like a travel company, you’d be insane not to use Instagram, where you can use your feed to showcase stunning snapshots.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><h4>3. Optimize Your Social Media Profiles For Business</h4>You’ve created a social media profile, but have you filled the darn thing out? Before you start worrying about getting more people to your page, you should make sure your page is optimized for business.<br /><br />Do you have a profile photo? Upload one. And don’t just pick any old photo. Remember, this is going to be the image that thousands, if not millions, of people associate with your business.<br /><br />Next,<a href="https://www.yourmarketinglady.com/social-media-marketing-for-small-business/instagram-bio-tricks-2018/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; text-decoration-line: none;"> fill out your bio</a>. Let people know who you are and how you can help, but keep it short. Use keywords that will help people find your business through search.<br /><br />And make sure to slap a call-to-action on the end, directing people to your website, landing page, or what have you. It’s a good idea to make it a trackable link through <a href="https://bitly.com/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; text-decoration-line: none;">bit.ly</a>, so you’ll know who and how many people are clicking through.<br /><br /><h4>4. Build Your Brand On Social Media</h4>Even though your ultimate goal in using social media for business is to generate more sales, your strategy doesn’t always have to be so direct. A strong brand will create sales all on its own.<br /><br />Seriously, how many people buy Nike shoes just based on their branding?<br /><br />Use social media as a way to build your own. That means <a href="https://sproutsocial.com/insights/brand-awareness/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; text-decoration-line: none;">increasing your brand awareness</a>, building trust, and establishing authority through your content, your presentation, and how you interact with followers.<br /><br />Because the more people that know about your business and see it in a positive light, the easier it will be to entice those people to buy from you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eWWbP2htBnw/XUL2KcWpB0I/AAAAAAAABtw/I1Mc4tkYFKQJmFKTPhALJrfzplzqD23XACEwYBhgL/s1600/instagram-icon-2016z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; display: inline-block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eWWbP2htBnw/XUL2KcWpB0I/AAAAAAAABtw/I1Mc4tkYFKQJmFKTPhALJrfzplzqD23XACEwYBhgL/s640/instagram-icon-2016z.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><br /><h4>5. Keep Your Branding Consistent</h4>Different social media services call for different content, meaning you’re not going to post the exact same material to your Twitter feed that you do to your Facebook page. But you still need to keep your branding consistent across platforms.<br /><br />The visual features, like the design, colors, and images you use, should be the same on Instagram as they are on Facebook. You should also maintain the same messaging across your tweets, captions, and snaps.<br /><br />Keeping your branding consistent will go a long way to building the awareness, trust, and loyalty that I talked about above.<br /><h4>6. Connect With Influencers On Social Media</h4>Why are so many businesses working with social media “influencers” these days? Because it’s darn effective.<br /><br />In fact, <a href="https://www.tapinfluence.com/influencer-marketing-statistics/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; text-decoration-line: none;">a recent Nielsen study shows</a> that influencers provided a return on investment 11 times higher than other forms of digital marketing. Which influencers you work with and how you do it will depend on your brand and budget, but when done right, it can be a game changer. And don’t worry, smaller influencers (that fit a smaller budget) can still be worth their weight in gold.<br /><h4>7. Let Your Fans Promote You</h4>If your business is worth its salt, you’ll eventually end up with paying customers who enjoy talking about and sharing your products or services on social media. Now, if you’re, say, Apple, you won’t be able to keep up with it all, but for the rest of us using social media for business, these folks can be almost mini-influencers.<br /><br />If someone’s already praising you on social media for free, consider contacting them with an offer of a freebie, discount, etc. if they’ll keep it up or use your official hashtags. Their 1,000 follower account may not have the reach of an influencer with 100,000 or 1+ million followers, but then again, their appreciation is genuine and their help comes a lot cheaper.<br /><br />For smaller accounts, at least give them a shoutout or a retweet, and let their organic praise act as promotion.<br /><h4>8. Run Contests And Deals</h4>Whether you’re trying to build your followers or increase engagement with the ones you already have, both contests and deals can be a great way to do it. They can even outsource your content creation and promotion to your customers.<br /><br />Examples include an exclusive coupon code shared with your followers for x-percent off a future purchase, or a giveaway that asks people to tag friends and follow your pages for a chance to win.<br /><h4>9. Post The Content Your Followers Want</h4>Many businesses make the mistake of posting dry, straightforward content to their feeds. But people don’t spend time on social media because they like infomercials.<br /><br />You want to get the word out on your business. And the best way to do that is <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidschwab/2017/02/27/the-key-to-social-engagement-relevance-and-imagery/#1f7049c42eae" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; text-decoration-line: none;">with content that people are actually drawn to</a>.<br /><br />Pay attention to what kinds of posts are popular on each platform, and figure out how you can fit them to your message. I already pointed out a couple ideas above, but here’s another hint: <a href="https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/photos-generate-engagement-research/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; text-decoration-line: none;">a picture is worth a thousand words</a>, as cliché as it might sound.<br /><br /><h4>10. Use Social Media Advertising</h4>Most of these tips can be put to work on even the most bootstrapped budget. But organic social media marketing will only get you so far. If you want to maximize your reach and lead generation, it pays to, well, pay. For social media ads, that is.<br /><br />The good news is, paid ads can benefit <a href="https://sproutsocial.com/insights/facebook-advertising-cost/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; text-decoration-line: none;">businesses and budgets of all sizes</a>, from the smallest upstart to the biggest corporation. For a little money, you can get your business <a href="https://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-advertising-stats/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; text-decoration-line: none;">in front of millions of eyes</a> in the form of an Instagram story, Facebook messenger ad, promoted tweet, or Youtube video ad, growing your reach and your bottom line in the process.<br /><h4>11. Use A Call To Action</h4>The call to action – sometimes referred to as a “CTA” by the cool kids – has long been one of the most simple yet effective marketing tools around. And it’s just as useful when applied to social media for business.<br /><br />Posts that ask for “likes” <a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/33860/New-Facebook-Data-Proves-Social-CTAs-Lead-to-More-Comments-Likes-Shares-INFOGRAPHIC.aspx" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; text-decoration-line: none;">get more likes</a>. We’re talking 2x to 5x times more. The same goes for comments, shares, and <a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/14982/New-Data-Proves-Please-ReTweet-Generates-4x-More-ReTweets-Data.aspx" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; text-decoration-line: none;">retweets</a>.<br /><br />Want more followers? Ask people to follow you. Want more people to buy your product? Ask. Want more… okay, you get the idea. If you want it, you have to ask for it.<br /><h4>12. Provide A Freebie Or Special Offer</h4>Of course, a call to action is even more effective when it’s paired with something your followers want. And there are few things people want more than sales and free stuff. Who doesn't love a 20% off discount code, after all?<br /><br /><a href="https://www.crazyegg.com/blog/lead-magnet/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; text-decoration-line: none;">Also known as a “lead magnet”</a>, these offers can help you collect emails for your list, bring attention to your brand, and even increase sales. They can include things like percentage off coupons, free content, and more. Use them to your advantage in social media for business.<br /><h4>13. Make Sure To Be Social</h4>Many businesses make the mistake of treating their social media page(s) as strictly business and forget about what social media’s all about. After all, one half of the term social media is, you guessed it, “social”!<br /><br />Remember, not everything you post to your company’s feed has to be in the form of an official-sounding statement. Take a moment to socialize a bit – and maybe even <a href="https://www.searchenginejournal.com/funny-brands-on-twitter/259221/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; text-decoration-line: none;">crack a joke or two</a>. After all, 72% of people said they like businesses that show a sense of humor on social media.<br /><h4>14. Show Your Personality</h4>What’s the difference between boring small talk about the weather and an impassioned conversation with someone you just met? Personality.<br /><br />That’s why, when it comes to both your interactions with your followers and your social media presence in general, you want to show your personality. An account run by a former business executive who loves custom suits shouldn’t be identical to a vegan yoga instructor’s – and vice versa.<br /><br />Of course, you’ll want to share those parts of your personality that fit with your brand. For instance, if you sell knitted dog sweaters, your customers may not share your appreciation for death metal. But chances are, as a business owner, your interests are probably somewhat aligned with your brand already.<br /><h4>15. Ask For The Business</h4>On the flip side, don’t forget the reason your business is on social media: to generate business.<br /><br />It’s great to engage with people on social media, rack up followers, build up your brand awareness, and tout the benefits of your product or service, but none of that means much if you don’t make the sale. Instead of just passively waiting for people to click-through and buy, make it a point to actively ask for their business.<br /><h4>16. Provide Customer Service</h4>Growing a business is about more than sales. You’ve got to keep those customers happy, so that they keep coming back, tell their friends, and leave glowing reviews to your merchant page. And that means handling some good ol’ customer service.<br /><br />Whether it’s questions or complaints, social media has become a popular place for consumers to seek customer support in recent years. <a href="https://mention.com/blog/social-customer-service/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; text-decoration-line: none;">The best brands have embraced this</a>– and you should too. But you have to be on your A-game, especially on Twitter, where <a href="https://freshsparks.com/using-social-media-for-customer-service/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; text-decoration-line: none;">53% of consumers expect a response in 60 minutes or less</a>.<br /><br />It also helps to be proactive and actually seek out people who are confused about your products or venting their frustrations without directly contacting your page.<br /><h4>17. Create And Use Hashtags</h4>Remember back when hashtags were mostly just a Twitter thing? Well, those days are long gone.<br /><br />If you're not <a href="https://later.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-using-instagram-hashtags/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; text-decoration-line: none;">including relevant and popular hashtags</a> on your posts, posting to trending hashtags, and creating and promoting hashtags specifically for your business or campaigns, whether it's on Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest, you're doing it wrong. Encourage your followers to use your hashtags too!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9FOCyiV8pKA/XUNFCS-XnYI/AAAAAAAABuk/aWwWajafq-An7K8c_lK5cMhbTmYYZQRoACEwYBhgL/s1600/social-media-marketing-for-business%2B-%2BCopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; display: inline-block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9FOCyiV8pKA/XUNFCS-XnYI/AAAAAAAABuk/aWwWajafq-An7K8c_lK5cMhbTmYYZQRoACEwYBhgL/s640/social-media-marketing-for-business%2B-%2BCopy.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><div><h4>18. Search For Mentions Of Your Business On Social Media</h4>Many, if not most, of the people who talk about your brand on social media, especially if you’re a decent-sized business, aren’t going to do it directly on your Facebook page or by mentioning your Twitter handle.<br /><br />To find the feedback and comments that don’t make it to your notifications, it’s a good idea to actively use the social media service’s search function to seek out who’s talking about your business, both good and bad. From there, you can reply to it, retweet it, direct them to your official channels, or even just use it for your internal quality control.<br /><h4>19. Spy On Your Competition</h4>All’s fair in… er, business and marketing. Which is why you should never be afraid to use a little espionage to improve your social media strategy.<br /><br />That’s right, I want you to <a href="https://www.socialpilot.co/blog/social-media-competitor-analysis" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; text-decoration-line: none;">spy on your competitors</a>. What are the biggest brands in your industry? Find out, if you don’t already know, and take a trip over to their social media pages.<br /><br />Which platforms are they using? What kind of content are they posting? Who’s their audience? Where are they getting the most engagement? Figure out what’s working for them – and apply it to your own social media strategy.<br /><h4>20. Drive Traffic To Your Website</h4>Social media is such an awesome tool for marketing your business. But at the end of the day, you don’t own your social media page, the platform does. It’s “rented land” that you’ll never have full control over.</div><div>Many businesses have had their pages <a href="https://socialfixer.com/blog/2013/09/12/beware-your-business-is-at-the-mercy-of-facebook-social-fixer-page-deleted-without-explanation/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; text-decoration-line: none;">suspended or even deleted entirely by Facebook</a> in the past without warning. It can be over something as simple as a Terms of Service violation that you didn't know you made or even a competitor maliciously reporting your content.<br /><br />Imagine having your biggest marketing channel disappear in the blink of an eye – and not even having a backup plan. And there’s always the chance that the social media service you’ve dedicated so much time to eventually goes the way of Myspace.</div><div><br />Use social media marketing for business, but always as a tool to direct leads to your own platforms, like your website or blog, not as a substitute. Include links in your bio, your posts, and pretty much everywhere else you can fit them.<br /><h4>21. Build Your Email List Using Social Media Marketing</h4>One of the most effective tools for building your own platforms and reducing your reliance on social media platforms is through an email list. As any decent marketer will tell you, the size of your email list is a lot more important than the number of Facebook likes or Instagram followers you have.<br /><br />Which is why you should always be searching for ways to turn those social media fans into members of your email list. Use your posts, ads, bio, and <a href="https://blog.markgrowth.com/heres-how-to-actually-build-your-email-list-with-social-media-a287b2435a60" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; text-decoration-line: none;">even your Facebook cover photo</a>to funnel them right where you want ‘em, to your email subscriber sign-up form.<br /><br />It's always a good idea to entice people to subscribe with a nice freebie or discount too.</div><div><h4>Bonus!</h4>Running a business is tough, and your schedule can get hectic. It’s neither realistic nor efficient to block off a chunk of time every day for creating and posting content to your social media pages.<br /><br />Fortunately, there’s a better way. Rather than trying to maintain a daily content schedule, you’re going to craft a week or month’s worth of content at once, then upload it in bulk, and set it to <a href="https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-bulk-schedule-facebook-posts-without-paid-tools/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; text-decoration-line: none;">post to your feed automatically</a>.<br /><br />This will ensure that your social media pages are getting the consistent updates that they need to grow, without cutting into your oh-so-busy daily schedule.</div><div><h4>Conclusion</h4>By now, you’ve got a pretty formidable arsenal of tools for using social media marketing for small business. You know which platforms to use and how to set up your pages.<br /><br />You've got strategies for increasing your follower count and engaging your existing followers, posting content and building brand awareness. And you've even received a quick tutorial on using social media to build your own platforms.<br /><br />The only thing left to do is apply it all.</div><div><br /></div><div>Article originally from <a href="https://www.yourmarketinglady.com/social-media-marketing-for-small-business/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #f20f59; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.yourmarketinglady.com/social-media-marketing-for-small-business/</a></div></div></div></div></div>Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-84622345611568004972021-05-04T07:58:00.007-07:002021-05-04T07:58:55.310-07:0050 Social Media Questions for Awesome Engagement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R1gmnpse8xs/YJFg8a5SpSI/AAAAAAAAB54/HUwMABqA5IsTvodJCEKGioCzUGJrGfIHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1200/honestly-engage-open-graph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="1200" height="303" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R1gmnpse8xs/YJFg8a5SpSI/AAAAAAAAB54/HUwMABqA5IsTvodJCEKGioCzUGJrGfIHwCLcBGAsYHQ/w579-h303/honestly-engage-open-graph.jpg" width="579" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">On social media you need interaction. Without it, your
content won’t get seen by your audience. But getting people to interact can be
a challenge. But not anymore!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Here are 50 conversation starters for your business. That’s
about two months of work-week posts already done for you!</span></p><h2><span style="font-family: arial;">50 Fun Questions to Get to Know Your Audience<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">In order to mix these up and add a little excitement, we’ve
also solicited answers through emojis and GIFs. You can alter the structure of
these questions in a way that fits your audience.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">What item does your household go through the quickest?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">What’s your favorite scent?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Tell us where you were born in a GIF.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Tell us how old you are by sharing the top song when you
were born.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Beach house or lake house?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Mountains or beach?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Name your favorite car of all time.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Tell us a secret that your parents don’t know.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Best gift you’ve ever received.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">What’s your favorite breakfast food?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">What’s your favorite ice cream topping?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">What do you call a carbonated beverage? (soda, pop, Coke?)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">What’s the scariest movie you saw as a kid?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Marvel or DC?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Star Trek or Star Wars?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Name a TV show you’ve seen every episode of.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">What show did you most recently binge watch?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">What movie can you watch over and over?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">What’s your favorite movie quote?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">What celebrity do people think you look most like? Tell us
in a GIF.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Share your favorite emoji in the comments.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">What’s your favorite book that became a movie?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Tell us the name of a rock band using only emojis. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Fill in the blank: Country music is ________.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Would you rather be freezing or too hot?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Show us in a GIF: what’s your biggest fear.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">What word do you always spell wrong?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">What’s the most embarrassing autocorrect incident you’ve
ever had?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">If you had a theme song, what would it be?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Name the best song to listen to when cleaning your house.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">What phrase annoys you when hear it? Or What word do you
wish you could outlaw so no one would ever use it again?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">If you had one wish that could be used to fix a problem,
what would you use it for?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">What thing do you wish you had invented?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">You’ve been invited to a party and need to bring something
that begins with the last letter of your first name. What do you bring?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">If money was no object, what would you do for your business?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">What did you want to be when you grew up? Show us in a GIF
or emoji.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">What do you hate that everyone else seems to love?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">If you could choose a new first name, what would it be? Or
What would your superhero name be based on what you’re best at?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Who do you wish you could talk to one more time?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">If you could select a mentor from any time period, without
concern of a language/knowledge barrier, who would you choose?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">What’s your favorite sport?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">What fictional character are you most like?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Tell us your favorite ice cream flavor in emojis.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Give us a few words from an old TV commercial jingle that
you remember. We’ll try to guess the product or service.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">What TV show should never have been canceled?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">The best business advice I’ve ever received is…</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Age yourself by naming a store/business that is no longer operating.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Name a “non-traditional” combo of tastes that you love.
(Example: French fries and milk shake.)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">What’s your morning routine?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">If your life was a movie, what genre would it be?</span></li></ol><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Remember, when someone takes the time to share their
thoughts or preferences with you make sure you respond back. The best possible
way is by asking another question based on their answer. Keep the conversation
going as much as possible and the social media channels will deem your content
important to your audience. Plus, you’ll get to know each other a little better.
Since people buy from who they know, like, and trust, that’s always a good
thing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p> </o:p><a href="http://www.christinargreen.com/" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: #1155cc;">Christina R. Metcalf</span></i></a><i style="font-size: x-small;"> (formerly Green) is a marketer who enjoys using
the power of story and refuses to believe meaningful copy can be written by
bots. She helps chamber and small business professionals find the right words
when they don’t have the time or interest to do so. </i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;"><i><span style="color: black;">Christina hates
exclamation points and loves road trips. Say hi on </span></i><a href="https://twitter.com/christinagsmith"><i><span style="color: #1155cc;">Twitter</span></i></a><i><span style="color: black;"> or reach out on </span></i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/tellyourstorygetemtalking/"><i><span style="color: #1155cc;">Facebook</span></i></a><span style="color: black; font-style: italic;">.</span><span style="color: black;"> Image provided by </span>https://www.salesforce.com/</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-56383353873729026702021-01-21T11:41:00.003-08:002021-01-21T11:41:17.310-08:00 Government Services<p>The Heart of Wisconsin Committee Leadership program completed its fourth session on Thursday, January 7th, 2021 at the Wood Country Court House facilitated by Jason Gruenenberg. This day was filled with community leaders from various areas within the local government. They provided information that helped participants gain a better understanding of local government and its involvement.</p><p>The morning included a thorough tour of the Wood County jail observing some of the day-to-day operations, a visit to the Circuit Court with Judge Todd Wolfe, and a panel discussion with Patrick Testin, 24th District Senator, Arne Systrom, Town of Grand Rapids Chairman and Kenneth Curry, Wood County Board Supervisor District 11.</p><p>The afternoon continued with a visit from the County Clerk, Human Services, Sherriff’s Department, Highway Commissioner, and the County Board Chair. These county employees provided participants with a better understanding of the responsibilities and purposes of some of the larger departments within the county. The day concluded with a conversation with Lance Pliml, Wood County Board Chair, identifying and speaking about some county issues the group wants to learn more about.</p><p>I am very thankful to be a part of this wonderful leadership program that provides such valuable information and the opportunity to learn more about the community. Today’s session, as well as the previous ones, have been informative and very beneficial. I am looking forward to our future meetings.</p><p>Tanya Saxton</p><p>Lakeland University-Central Center</p>Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-74853833218845152762021-01-13T14:02:00.001-08:002021-01-13T14:02:14.061-08:00Community Leadership Class Learns about Community and Building Relationships<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yyDZEg55n3k/WRnWJVZtnSI/AAAAAAAABUM/YPJN5sPRVTIq2MSfzXRzony7rK83t_96wCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/BuldingHeart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1530" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yyDZEg55n3k/WRnWJVZtnSI/AAAAAAAABUM/YPJN5sPRVTIq2MSfzXRzony7rK83t_96wCPcBGAYYCw/s320/BuldingHeart.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; text-align: inherit; text-indent: inherit; text-transform: inherit; white-space: inherit; word-spacing: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; text-align: inherit; text-indent: inherit; text-transform: inherit; white-space: inherit; word-spacing: inherit;">The Heart of Wisconsin Community Leadership Program completed its second session at Bullseye Golf Club. The day was facilitated by Tari Jahns from the United Way of Southwood and Adams County, along with Kurt Heuer from the Boys & Girls Club. This all-day session was filled with community education and relationship building.</span></p><div class="mn-module-content category-1 category-4 category-2 category-12" id="mn-news-details" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-collapse: separate; border-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: content-box; clear: none; color: #444444; content: normal; direction: inherit; empty-cells: show; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: auto; inset: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 30px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: initial; min-width: initial; opacity: 1; outline-offset: 0px; overflow-wrap: inherit; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: static; resize: none; table-layout: auto; text-overflow: clip; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: inherit; width: 730px; word-break: inherit; z-index: auto;"><div class="mn-section" id="mn-news-details-body" style="background: none; border-collapse: separate; border-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: content-box; clear: both; color: inherit; content: normal; direction: inherit; empty-cells: show; float: none; font: inherit; height: auto; inset: auto; letter-spacing: inherit; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: initial; min-width: initial; opacity: 1; outline-offset: 0px; overflow-wrap: inherit; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; resize: none; table-layout: auto; text-align: inherit; text-indent: inherit; text-overflow: clip; text-transform: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: inherit; white-space: inherit; width: auto; word-break: inherit; word-spacing: inherit; z-index: auto;"><div class="mn-news-details-bodytext mn-raw" style="background: none; border-collapse: separate; border-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: content-box; clear: none; color: inherit; content: normal; direction: inherit; empty-cells: show; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; inset: auto; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: initial; min-width: initial; opacity: 1; outline-offset: 0px; overflow-wrap: inherit; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: static; resize: none; table-layout: auto; text-align: inherit; text-indent: inherit; text-overflow: clip; text-transform: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: inherit; white-space: inherit; width: auto; word-break: inherit; word-spacing: inherit; z-index: auto;"><p style="background: none; border-collapse: separate; border-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: content-box; clear: none; color: black; content: normal; direction: inherit; empty-cells: show; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; inset: auto; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1em 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: initial; min-width: initial; opacity: 1; outline-offset: 0px; overflow-wrap: inherit; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: static; resize: none; table-layout: auto; text-align: inherit; text-indent: inherit; text-overflow: clip; text-transform: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: inherit; white-space: inherit; width: auto; word-break: inherit; word-spacing: inherit; z-index: auto;">As a part of this community leadership program, all participants are asked to read The 7 Habits for Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. Each monthly session begins by discussing one of the 7 habits within the book. Paul Liebhert, School District of Nekoosa, began the morning session reviewing Habit 1: Be Proactive, then discussing Habit 2: Begin with the End. Next, Dr. Falk and Dr. Olson of the Aspirus Health System and the Public Health department talked to our group about how COVID-19 is affecting our community. The morning concluded with a panel of 11 local community agencies sharing their resources and purpose for helping the community.</p><p style="background: none; border-collapse: separate; border-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: content-box; clear: none; color: black; content: normal; direction: inherit; empty-cells: show; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; inset: auto; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1em 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: initial; min-width: initial; opacity: 1; outline-offset: 0px; overflow-wrap: inherit; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: static; resize: none; table-layout: auto; text-align: inherit; text-indent: inherit; text-overflow: clip; text-transform: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: inherit; white-space: inherit; width: auto; word-break: inherit; word-spacing: inherit; z-index: auto;">The day continued with a variety of additional presentations from the McMillian Library, the United Way and the Civility Project-Speak Your Peace. The director of the library shared all of the wonderful resources the library has to offer and all that is to come after the renovations are completed. The CEO of United Way shared the South Wood & Adams Counties Agenda for Change which included Building Blocks for a Better Life as well as Safety Net Services. We were then educated by Kurt Heuer and Chuck Price on a Civility Project, Speak Your Peace. This project consists of 9 simple tools to communicate in a respectful way. To learn more about this program go to www.SpeakYourPeaceSWC.org</p><p style="background: none; border-collapse: separate; border-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: content-box; clear: none; color: black; content: normal; direction: inherit; empty-cells: show; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; inset: auto; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1em 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: initial; min-width: initial; opacity: 1; outline-offset: 0px; overflow-wrap: inherit; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: static; resize: none; table-layout: auto; text-align: inherit; text-indent: inherit; text-overflow: clip; text-transform: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: inherit; white-space: inherit; width: auto; word-break: inherit; word-spacing: inherit; z-index: auto;">The afternoon concluded with reflections of the entire day and what each person was taking away from participating in this session. Everyone walked away with various hand-outs filled with information and knowledge of the community programs and resources that Wisconsin Rapids and the surrounding areas have to offer.</p><p style="background: none; border-collapse: separate; border-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: content-box; clear: none; color: black; content: normal; direction: inherit; empty-cells: show; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; inset: auto; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1em 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: initial; min-width: initial; opacity: 1; outline-offset: 0px; overflow-wrap: inherit; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: static; resize: none; table-layout: auto; text-align: inherit; text-indent: inherit; text-overflow: clip; text-transform: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: inherit; white-space: inherit; width: auto; word-break: inherit; word-spacing: inherit; z-index: auto;">I am pleased to be a part of this community leadership program and look forward to the sessions ahead.</p><p style="background: none; border-collapse: separate; border-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: content-box; clear: none; color: black; content: normal; direction: inherit; empty-cells: show; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; inset: auto; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1em 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: initial; min-width: initial; opacity: 1; outline-offset: 0px; overflow-wrap: inherit; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: static; resize: none; table-layout: auto; text-align: inherit; text-indent: inherit; text-overflow: clip; text-transform: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: inherit; white-space: inherit; width: auto; word-break: inherit; word-spacing: inherit; z-index: auto;">Tanya Saxton - Lakeland University-Central Center</p><p style="background: none; border-collapse: separate; border-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: content-box; clear: none; color: black; content: normal; direction: inherit; empty-cells: show; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; inset: auto; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1em 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: initial; min-width: initial; opacity: 1; outline-offset: 0px; overflow-wrap: inherit; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: static; resize: none; table-layout: auto; text-align: inherit; text-indent: inherit; text-overflow: clip; text-transform: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: inherit; white-space: inherit; width: auto; word-break: inherit; word-spacing: inherit; z-index: auto;">2020-2021 Heart of Wisconsin Community Leadership Participant.</p><div><br /></div></div></div><div class="mn-section" id="mn-news-details-contact" style="background: none; border-collapse: separate; border-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: content-box; clear: both; color: inherit; content: normal; direction: inherit; empty-cells: show; float: none; font: inherit; height: auto; inset: auto; letter-spacing: inherit; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: initial; min-width: initial; opacity: 1; outline-offset: 0px; overflow-wrap: inherit; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; resize: none; table-layout: auto; text-align: inherit; text-indent: inherit; text-overflow: clip; text-transform: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: inherit; white-space: inherit; width: auto; word-break: inherit; word-spacing: inherit; z-index: auto;"></div><div class="mn-clear" style="background: none; border-collapse: separate; border-radius: 0px; border: none; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: content-box; clear: both; color: inherit; content: normal; direction: inherit; empty-cells: show; float: none; font: inherit; height: 0px; inset: auto; letter-spacing: inherit; margin: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: initial; min-width: initial; opacity: 1; outline-offset: 0px; overflow-wrap: inherit; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: static; resize: none; table-layout: auto; text-align: inherit; text-indent: inherit; text-overflow: clip; text-transform: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: inherit; white-space: inherit; width: auto; word-break: inherit; word-spacing: inherit; z-index: auto;"></div></div>Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-89402155371495973752021-01-04T10:58:00.003-08:002021-01-04T11:07:10.414-08:004 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Small Business<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tNBXVkkW7oE/X_NnUocUzRI/AAAAAAAAB1k/jRuPSuu78QYHfFkfK9u0m3LM8L6VXfTUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s588/eweeeee.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="588" height="221" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tNBXVkkW7oE/X_NnUocUzRI/AAAAAAAAB1k/jRuPSuu78QYHfFkfK9u0m3LM8L6VXfTUwCLcBGAsYHQ/w421-h221/eweeeee.png" width="421" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">This year has been a little more difficult to figure out new
year’s resolutions. Part of that is because we’re all still reeling from the
“lessons” we learned in 2020. Even the best prepared businesses lacked
preparation for a global pandemic. Still, the new year is a great time to
reexamine what you’ve been doing and how it can get better. Here are a few
ideas:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>4 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Business<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">The following ideas are a good start and in case you are one
of the “words” people when it comes to year themes, we’ve worked those in as
well.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3>Automation<o:p></o:p></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal">Get ready to retake your day. There are so many ways you can
use automation to simplify tasks. From drip marketing campaigns to nurture leads
into sales to daily briefings your AI can play to help you start your day (or
“if, then” sequences) with the necessary information, you can spend less time
on the administrative tasks and more time generating revenue.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3>Analysis<o:p></o:p></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal">You know all that hard work you’ve been putting in to engage
your audience on those social channels? If you’re not monitoring and analyzing
the data behind your efforts, you’re not getting any value out of it. Take a
little time to understand your most popular posts and the time of day that
garners the most reactions. Look to see which sites are performing and which
aren’t. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While you’re at it, check Google Analytics to see how your
site is performing. If you send out a newsletter, get to know the tools your
sender offers. Some allow you to see where people are spending the most time on
your newsletter content. All of them will show you open rate and clicks. Take a
look at the correlation between subject line and open rate.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3>Security<o:p></o:p></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the past six months alone my debit card has been reissued
3 times because of fraud. We haven’t been able to track down where that
compromise has occurred, but this is a common problem. Don’t make the mistake
of thinking that because you have a 2-person operation, no one is interested in
your data. If there’s the potential for money and fraud, how many employees you
have won’t matter to them. They’re looking for easy ways to get data. If you’re
unprotected, you’re an easy mark.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3>Passion<o:p></o:p></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal">“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Sound
familiar? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But there is some truth to that. And since people buy from
those they know, like, and trust, making 2021 the year you discover or reignite
your passion is a solid idea to creating a more loyal customer base. Sharing
what makes you tick and gets you excited can help people connect with you. It
also can help safeguard you against burnout. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Take some time to explore your passions, even if you have to
schedule it on your calendar.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The new year is a great time to start those things you’ve
been putting off because it’s a natural reset/fresh start moment. However, you
can work toward these goals at any time. And when you do, you’ll feel a whole
lot better about your path to recovery or success.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.christinargreen.com/"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc;">Christina R. Metcalf</span></i></a><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> (formerly Green) is a marketer who enjoys using
the power of story and refuses to believe meaningful copy can be written by
bots. She helps chamber and small business professionals find the right words
when they don’t have the time or interest to do so. </span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;">Christina hates
exclamation points and loves road trips. Say hi on </span></i><a href="https://twitter.com/christinagsmith"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc;">Twitter</span></i></a><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;"> or reach out on </span></i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/tellyourstorygetemtalking/"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1155cc;">Facebook</span></i></a><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;">.</span></i></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com0WISC RAPIDS, WI 54494, USA44.3837264 -89.817279716.073492563821155 -124.9735297 72.693960236178839 -54.6610297tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-36777650263537394062019-11-06T13:44:00.000-08:002019-11-06T13:44:23.572-08:00Heart of Wisconsin Community Leadership Class Starts with a Choice<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">When you think about a leader, what do you think about? Is it the way they speak? The way they lead initiatives and ideas? Maybe how they empower others? All leaders start with the same action, a choice. Choosing to be a leader does not come easy. A leader has to acknowledge they will need to change. Leaders also will assess who they are as individuals and how they lead best. This choice will take them down a path of self-discovery that will impact not only themselves but others around them.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">The Heart of Wisconsin, Community Leadership Program is the first step in the choice to lead. The Community Leadership Program is an eight-month course that is an interactive program designed to provide a deeper understanding of our community. They will share practical tools for effective community leadership and empower participants to be catalysts for positive change.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">On Thursday, October 17th, 23 participants attended the Opening Retreat at Rosholt Lions Camp to begin their journey. This two-day retreat started with the group connecting and understanding who they are as leaders. Using the </span><em><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #1c1e29; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Strength Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath</span></em><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;"></span>, participants discovered their strengths. Leadership Facilitator Paul Liebherr took the participants through workshops and exercises looking into each strength. Every trait has “positives and shadows” to it that help participants evaluate themselves. Participants could see where they can position themselves on a team with executing, influencing, relational or thinking.<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">The Leadership Class is also diving into </span><em><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #1c1e29; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by author Stephen R. Covey</span></em><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;"></span>. This material will let the group look at many ways to have a positive change on themselves. Each month the class will dive further into the chapters to develop seven effective habits. The group focused on individual core values and becoming proactive during the retreat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">In addition to the readings, each year the class breaks into groups to develop community projects. These projects are ideas from the group which impact the community. These impactful initiatives reflect opportunities in the area, leadership abilities, and an understanding of the community. In years past projects included Wisconsin Rapids Welcome Signs, Snow Sculpture Spectacular, and Small-Town Big Ideas Entrepreneurship. With two project ideas started, the class is anxious to impact the community.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">At the end of the retreat, participants reflected on the experience and what they had learned. To say that the group is excited about the future is an understatement. As the class looks at future sessions, they can only grow stronger as leaders and develop further connections with one another. This class wants to achieve and make an impact on the community. The victory for the class is building relationships that are embedded in the community's progress and passion for success.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Yes, one choice lead participants on a learning session like no other. And yes, they will continue to grow and be impactful.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> There will be many more choices they make as a leader, but their journey started with a choice here in Central Wisconsin.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Welcome to the 2019-2020 Community Leadership Class.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Amanda Smith – Members’ Advantage Credit Union</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Angel Whitehead – Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Ashley Haldeman – Opportunity Development Center</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Ashley O'Keefe - Aspirus</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Bradley Burris – Wisconsin Rapids Police Department</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Cameryn Ehlers Kwaterski – Visit Rome</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Heather Khachani – Boys & Girls Club of the Wisconsin Rapids Area</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Jeremy Sickler – South Wood County Airport Commission</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Jerry Babiak – Nash Law Group</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Jessica Maurer – Nekoosa Court</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Jodi Friday -United Way of South Wood and Adams Counties</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Jordan Jazdzewski – Wisconsin Rapids Police Department</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Kris Leonhardt – Multi Media Channels/Wisconsin Rapids City Times</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Marla Ferkey – Ho-Chunk Gaming Nekoosa</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Mary Sigler – Nekoosa Port Edwards State Bank</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Matt Edwards – River Cities Bank</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Michael Kirschling – Insurand Wealth Planning</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Samantha Krummel – Paper City Savings</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Shawn Becker – Wood County Sheriff’s Department</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Suzanne Campbell – Simplicity Credit Union</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Wendy Haske – Renaissance<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Wes Meyer – NextHome Partners<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">Zachary Stublaski – ND Papers<span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; padding: 0in;">For more information on the 2020-21 Community Leadership Program which kicks off October 15<sup>th</sup><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and 16<sup>th</sup><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>of 2020 contact Krista Coon at programs@wisconsinrapidschamber.com or call 715-423-1830. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-23156134699827589352019-08-01T13:04:00.002-07:002019-08-01T13:04:27.297-07:0021 Easy Ways To Use Social Media To Get New Customers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pUXfVvFRORA/XUNFCewUR_I/AAAAAAAABuc/YB9mLB5dCG4tSDw5DbqG5tJuOlix7u6QACEwYBhgL/s1600/Social-Media-Marketing-For-Small-Business%2B-%2BCopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pUXfVvFRORA/XUNFCewUR_I/AAAAAAAABuc/YB9mLB5dCG4tSDw5DbqG5tJuOlix7u6QACEwYBhgL/s640/Social-Media-Marketing-For-Small-Business%2B-%2BCopy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Social media marketing is about more than just gaining followers and likes, but sometimes it can be difficult, especially when starting out, to strategize around the right elements, and to use the platform-tools and options to achieve your business goals.<br />
<br />
But there are key, fundamental tasks that you need to be covering off in your approach, essential steps you need to take to move beyond the basics and into generating actual leads from your social efforts. Outlining this, Tonya Burge from Your Marketing Lady has created this in-depth infographic on the key social media marketing elements you need in order to formulate an effective social media marketing plan.<br />
<br />
Burge advises that brands need to first establish their business presence, then move beyond this by utilizing effective calls to action, providing customer service and driving traffic to your website.<br />
<br />
The graphic serves as a solid social media marketing blueprint - you can check out the full post here, or the graphic below<br />
<h3>
Here Are 21 Easy Ways To Use So</h3>
<h4>
1. Know Who You’re Targeting</h4>
Before you start doing anything else, I want you to take a deep breath and say it with me: “I must know my audience”. Maybe repeat it a few times, until it really sinks in. Because without this seemingly simple step, your social media marketing isn’t going to be effective.<br />
<br />
How old are they? What are their income levels? What are their other interests? Which social media platforms do they use? Find out all of this (and more) if you want to make social media for business work for you.<br />
<h4>
2. Use The Right Social Media Platforms</h4>
Which social media platforms should you be using? The short answer: the one or two that your potential customers are using most often.<br />
<br />
Of course, that involves knowing your audience (hint, hint), and also having an understanding of both the user demographics and strengths/weaknesses of each social media channel.<br />
<br />
For instance, if your product or service targets, say, folks over 50, you might not get the best ROI from Instagram, <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/325587/instagram-global-age-group/">where 47% of global users are between 25-44</a>. However, if you’re a brand with great imagery, like a travel company, you’d be insane not to use Instagram, where you can use your feed to showcase stunning snapshots.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zunEXRrJuyE/XUNFCY28onI/AAAAAAAABug/6_FNKCLlsAUDTY97hLpDlWkz0_PldwY7ACEwYBhgL/s1600/social-media-for-small-business%2B-%2BCopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zunEXRrJuyE/XUNFCY28onI/AAAAAAAABug/6_FNKCLlsAUDTY97hLpDlWkz0_PldwY7ACEwYBhgL/s640/social-media-for-small-business%2B-%2BCopy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
<h4>
3. Optimize Your Social Media Profiles For Business</h4>
You’ve created a social media profile, but have you filled the darn thing out? Before you start worrying about getting more people to your page, you should make sure your page is optimized for business.<br />
<br />
Do you have a profile photo? Upload one. And don’t just pick any old photo. Remember, this is going to be the image that thousands, if not millions, of people associate with your business.<br />
<br />
Next,<a href="https://www.yourmarketinglady.com/social-media-marketing-for-small-business/instagram-bio-tricks-2018/"> fill out your bio</a>. Let people know who you are and how you can help, but keep it short. Use keywords that will help people find your business through search.<br />
<br />
And make sure to slap a call-to-action on the end, directing people to your website, landing page, or what have you. It’s a good idea to make it a trackable link through <a href="https://bitly.com/">bit.ly</a>, so you’ll know who and how many people are clicking through.<br />
<br />
<h4>
4. Build Your Brand On Social Media</h4>
Even though your ultimate goal in using social media for business is to generate more sales, your strategy doesn’t always have to be so direct. A strong brand will create sales all on its own.<br />
<br />
Seriously, how many people buy Nike shoes just based on their branding?<br />
<br />
Use social media as a way to build your own. That means <a href="https://sproutsocial.com/insights/brand-awareness/">increasing your brand awareness</a>, building trust, and establishing authority through your content, your presentation, and how you interact with followers.<br />
<br />
Because the more people that know about your business and see it in a positive light, the easier it will be to entice those people to buy from you.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eWWbP2htBnw/XUL2KcWpB0I/AAAAAAAABtw/I1Mc4tkYFKQJmFKTPhALJrfzplzqD23XACEwYBhgL/s1600/instagram-icon-2016z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eWWbP2htBnw/XUL2KcWpB0I/AAAAAAAABtw/I1Mc4tkYFKQJmFKTPhALJrfzplzqD23XACEwYBhgL/s640/instagram-icon-2016z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<h4>
5. Keep Your Branding Consistent</h4>
Different social media services call for different content, meaning you’re not going to post the exact same material to your Twitter feed that you do to your Facebook page. But you still need to keep your branding consistent across platforms.<br />
<br />
The visual features, like the design, colors, and images you use, should be the same on Instagram as they are on Facebook. You should also maintain the same messaging across your tweets, captions, and snaps.<br />
<br />
Keeping your branding consistent will go a long way to building the awareness, trust, and loyalty that I talked about above.<br />
<h4>
6. Connect With Influencers On Social Media</h4>
Why are so many businesses working with social media “influencers” these days? Because it’s darn effective.<br />
<br />
In fact, <a href="https://www.tapinfluence.com/influencer-marketing-statistics/">a recent Nielsen study shows</a> that influencers provided a return on investment 11 times higher than other forms of digital marketing. Which influencers you work with and how you do it will depend on your brand and budget, but when done right, it can be a game changer. And don’t worry, smaller influencers (that fit a smaller budget) can still be worth their weight in gold.<br />
<h4>
7. Let Your Fans Promote You</h4>
If your business is worth its salt, you’ll eventually end up with paying customers who enjoy talking about and sharing your products or services on social media. Now, if you’re, say, Apple, you won’t be able to keep up with it all, but for the rest of us using social media for business, these folks can be almost mini-influencers.<br />
<br />
If someone’s already praising you on social media for free, consider contacting them with an offer of a freebie, discount, etc. if they’ll keep it up or use your official hashtags. Their 1,000 follower account may not have the reach of an influencer with 100,000 or 1+ million followers, but then again, their appreciation is genuine and their help comes a lot cheaper.<br />
<br />
For smaller accounts, at least give them a shoutout or a retweet, and let their organic praise act as promotion.<br />
<h4>
8. Run Contests And Deals</h4>
Whether you’re trying to build your followers or increase engagement with the ones you already have, both contests and deals can be a great way to do it. They can even outsource your content creation and promotion to your customers.<br />
<br />
Examples include an exclusive coupon code shared with your followers for x-percent off a future purchase, or a giveaway that asks people to tag friends and follow your pages for a chance to win.<br />
<h4>
9. Post The Content Your Followers Want</h4>
Many businesses make the mistake of posting dry, straightforward content to their feeds. But people don’t spend time on social media because they like infomercials.<br />
<br />
You want to get the word out on your business. And the best way to do that is <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidschwab/2017/02/27/the-key-to-social-engagement-relevance-and-imagery/#1f7049c42eae">with content that people are actually drawn to</a>.<br />
<br />
Pay attention to what kinds of posts are popular on each platform, and figure out how you can fit them to your message. I already pointed out a couple ideas above, but here’s another hint: <a href="https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/photos-generate-engagement-research/">a picture is worth a thousand words</a>, as cliché as it might sound.<br />
<br />
<h4>
10. Use Social Media Advertising</h4>
Most of these tips can be put to work on even the most bootstrapped budget. But organic social media marketing will only get you so far. If you want to maximize your reach and lead generation, it pays to, well, pay. For social media ads, that is.<br />
<br />
The good news is, paid ads can benefit <a href="https://sproutsocial.com/insights/facebook-advertising-cost/">businesses and budgets of all sizes</a>, from the smallest upstart to the biggest corporation. For a little money, you can get your business <a href="https://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-advertising-stats/">in front of millions of eyes</a> in the form of an Instagram story, Facebook messenger ad, promoted tweet, or Youtube video ad, growing your reach and your bottom line in the process.<br />
<h4>
11. Use A Call To Action</h4>
The call to action – sometimes referred to as a “CTA” by the cool kids – has long been one of the most simple yet effective marketing tools around. And it’s just as useful when applied to social media for business.<br />
<br />
Posts that ask for “likes” <a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/33860/New-Facebook-Data-Proves-Social-CTAs-Lead-to-More-Comments-Likes-Shares-INFOGRAPHIC.aspx">get more likes</a>. We’re talking 2x to 5x times more. The same goes for comments, shares, and <a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/14982/New-Data-Proves-Please-ReTweet-Generates-4x-More-ReTweets-Data.aspx">retweets</a>.<br />
<br />
Want more followers? Ask people to follow you. Want more people to buy your product? Ask. Want more… okay, you get the idea. If you want it, you have to ask for it.<br />
<h4>
12. Provide A Freebie Or Special Offer</h4>
Of course, a call to action is even more effective when it’s paired with something your followers want. And there are few things people want more than sales and free stuff. Who doesn't love a 20% off discount code, after all?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.crazyegg.com/blog/lead-magnet/">Also known as a “lead magnet”</a>, these offers can help you collect emails for your list, bring attention to your brand, and even increase sales. They can include things like percentage off coupons, free content, and more. Use them to your advantage in social media for business.<br />
<h4>
13. Make Sure To Be Social</h4>
Many businesses make the mistake of treating their social media page(s) as strictly business and forget about what social media’s all about. After all, one half of the term social media is, you guessed it, “social”!<br />
<br />
Remember, not everything you post to your company’s feed has to be in the form of an official-sounding statement. Take a moment to socialize a bit – and maybe even <a href="https://www.searchenginejournal.com/funny-brands-on-twitter/259221/">crack a joke or two</a>. After all, 72% of people said they like businesses that show a sense of humor on social media.<br />
<h4>
14. Show Your Personality</h4>
What’s the difference between boring small talk about the weather and an impassioned conversation with someone you just met? Personality.<br />
<br />
That’s why, when it comes to both your interactions with your followers and your social media presence in general, you want to show your personality. An account run by a former business executive who loves custom suits shouldn’t be identical to a vegan yoga instructor’s – and vice versa.<br />
<br />
Of course, you’ll want to share those parts of your personality that fit with your brand. For instance, if you sell knitted dog sweaters, your customers may not share your appreciation for death metal. But chances are, as a business owner, your interests are probably somewhat aligned with your brand already.<br />
<h4>
15. Ask For The Business</h4>
On the flip side, don’t forget the reason your business is on social media: to generate business.<br />
<br />
It’s great to engage with people on social media, rack up followers, build up your brand awareness, and tout the benefits of your product or service, but none of that means much if you don’t make the sale. Instead of just passively waiting for people to click-through and buy, make it a point to actively ask for their business.<br />
<h4>
16. Provide Customer Service</h4>
Growing a business is about more than sales. You’ve got to keep those customers happy, so that they keep coming back, tell their friends, and leave glowing reviews to your merchant page. And that means handling some good ol’ customer service.<br />
<br />
Whether it’s questions or complaints, social media has become a popular place for consumers to seek customer support in recent years. <a href="https://mention.com/blog/social-customer-service/">The best brands have embraced this</a>– and you should too. But you have to be on your A-game, especially on Twitter, where <a href="https://freshsparks.com/using-social-media-for-customer-service/">53% of consumers expect a response in 60 minutes or less</a>.<br />
<br />
It also helps to be proactive and actually seek out people who are confused about your products or venting their frustrations without directly contacting your page.<br />
<h4>
17. Create And Use Hashtags</h4>
Remember back when hashtags were mostly just a Twitter thing? Well, those days are long gone.<br />
<br />
If you're not <a href="https://later.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-using-instagram-hashtags/">including relevant and popular hashtags</a> on your posts, posting to trending hashtags, and creating and promoting hashtags specifically for your business or campaigns, whether it's on Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest, you're doing it wrong. Encourage your followers to use your hashtags too!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9FOCyiV8pKA/XUNFCS-XnYI/AAAAAAAABuk/aWwWajafq-An7K8c_lK5cMhbTmYYZQRoACEwYBhgL/s1600/social-media-marketing-for-business%2B-%2BCopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9FOCyiV8pKA/XUNFCS-XnYI/AAAAAAAABuk/aWwWajafq-An7K8c_lK5cMhbTmYYZQRoACEwYBhgL/s640/social-media-marketing-for-business%2B-%2BCopy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
<div>
<h4>
18. Search For Mentions Of Your Business On Social Media</h4>
Many, if not most, of the people who talk about your brand on social media, especially if you’re a decent-sized business, aren’t going to do it directly on your Facebook page or by mentioning your Twitter handle.<br />
<br />
To find the feedback and comments that don’t make it to your notifications, it’s a good idea to actively use the social media service’s search function to seek out who’s talking about your business, both good and bad. From there, you can reply to it, retweet it, direct them to your official channels, or even just use it for your internal quality control.<br />
<h4>
19. Spy On Your Competition</h4>
All’s fair in… er, business and marketing. Which is why you should never be afraid to use a little espionage to improve your social media strategy.<br />
<br />
That’s right, I want you to <a href="https://www.socialpilot.co/blog/social-media-competitor-analysis">spy on your competitors</a>. What are the biggest brands in your industry? Find out, if you don’t already know, and take a trip over to their social media pages.<br />
<br />
Which platforms are they using? What kind of content are they posting? Who’s their audience? Where are they getting the most engagement? Figure out what’s working for them – and apply it to your own social media strategy.<br />
<h4>
20. Drive Traffic To Your Website</h4>
Social media is such an awesome tool for marketing your business. But at the end of the day, you don’t own your social media page, the platform does. It’s “rented land” that you’ll never have full control over.</div>
<div>
Many businesses have had their pages <a href="https://socialfixer.com/blog/2013/09/12/beware-your-business-is-at-the-mercy-of-facebook-social-fixer-page-deleted-without-explanation/">suspended or even deleted entirely by Facebook</a> in the past without warning. It can be over something as simple as a Terms of Service violation that you didn't know you made or even a competitor maliciously reporting your content.<br />
<br />
Imagine having your biggest marketing channel disappear in the blink of an eye – and not even having a backup plan. And there’s always the chance that the social media service you’ve dedicated so much time to eventually goes the way of Myspace.</div>
<div>
<br />
Use social media marketing for business, but always as a tool to direct leads to your own platforms, like your website or blog, not as a substitute. Include links in your bio, your posts, and pretty much everywhere else you can fit them.<br />
<h4>
21. Build Your Email List Using Social Media Marketing</h4>
One of the most effective tools for building your own platforms and reducing your reliance on social media platforms is through an email list. As any decent marketer will tell you, the size of your email list is a lot more important than the number of Facebook likes or Instagram followers you have.<br />
<br />
Which is why you should always be searching for ways to turn those social media fans into members of your email list. Use your posts, ads, bio, and <a href="https://blog.markgrowth.com/heres-how-to-actually-build-your-email-list-with-social-media-a287b2435a60">even your Facebook cover photo</a>to funnel them right where you want ‘em, to your email subscriber sign-up form.<br />
<br />
It's always a good idea to entice people to subscribe with a nice freebie or discount too.</div>
<div>
<h4>
Bonus!</h4>
Running a business is tough, and your schedule can get hectic. It’s neither realistic nor efficient to block off a chunk of time every day for creating and posting content to your social media pages.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, there’s a better way. Rather than trying to maintain a daily content schedule, you’re going to craft a week or month’s worth of content at once, then upload it in bulk, and set it to <a href="https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-bulk-schedule-facebook-posts-without-paid-tools/">post to your feed automatically</a>.<br />
<br />
This will ensure that your social media pages are getting the consistent updates that they need to grow, without cutting into your oh-so-busy daily schedule.</div>
<div>
<h4>
Conclusion</h4>
By now, you’ve got a pretty formidable arsenal of tools for using social media marketing for small business. You know which platforms to use and how to set up your pages.<br />
<br />
You've got strategies for increasing your follower count and engaging your existing followers, posting content and building brand awareness. And you've even received a quick tutorial on using social media to build your own platforms.<br />
<br />
The only thing left to do is apply it all.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Article originally from <a href="https://www.yourmarketinglady.com/social-media-marketing-for-small-business/">https://www.yourmarketinglady.com/social-media-marketing-for-small-business/</a></div>
</div>
Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-15933314250606998832019-08-01T07:20:00.000-07:002019-08-01T07:28:10.715-07:004 Powerful Ways the Chamber Provides Solutions for Small Business Owners<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2mTq7SdKRrg/XUL0zGUcjXI/AAAAAAAABtg/lzjo6n8eRHUcaw1s4_oAO4COcd4LrRsOwCLcBGAs/s1600/social-media-for-business-940x470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="940" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2mTq7SdKRrg/XUL0zGUcjXI/AAAAAAAABtg/lzjo6n8eRHUcaw1s4_oAO4COcd4LrRsOwCLcBGAs/s640/social-media-for-business-940x470.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">In a recent survey by Daysmart Software, 54%
of small business owners admitted to being worried about making enough money.
Making money is a common concern because not only does it factor in bringing in
enough clients or customers but also ensuring your products or services are
priced right and negotiating any cash flow problems.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Small business owners have lots of stressors
as they follow their dreams. It might surprise you just how much the chamber
can help with these concerns. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
According to the study, small business owners
the report they are most concerned about</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #333333;">Making enough money</span><span lang="EN"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #333333;">Controlling costs</span><span lang="EN"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #333333;">Finding new customers</span><span lang="EN"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #333333;">Marketing to prospective an/or current customers</span><span lang="EN"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #333333;">Managing time</span><span lang="EN"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">The chamber and chamber membership can help
address all of these common concerns and challenges.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h2>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_mt50teoifoli"></a><span lang="EN">Put the Chamber to Work for Your
Business</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">If you’re like most small business owners, you
can likely identify with these common business concerns but what you may not
realize is how effectively a chamber membership can help you solve these
problems. The solutions may take you getting involved and participating but
Chamber membership can act of business “gym” that you need to become stronger
and begin making healthier choices for your business.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_pv4eh7oeufca"></a><span lang="EN">Making Enough Money</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #333333;">At the beginning of your business, it might not be about
becoming a millionaire as much as it is simply making enough money to stay in
operation. Making <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">enough</i> money means
you’re factoring in what’s coming in and what’s going out. The chamber can help
your efforts in making enough money in the following ways.</span></div>
<h4>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_rgrv7i70mxod"></a><span lang="EN">Controlling Costs</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #333333;">While a chamber membership is an initial outlay of money,
you can derive a lot of value from it. It can even help you control costs by
introducing you to other business people who may be able to provide you with
goods and services. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #333333;">In addition to meeting new business contacts that could
save you money, check with your chamber to find out if they have a chamber “hot
deals” program. These programs offer discounts from Chamber members for chamber
members. They can provide considerable cost savings to members. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #333333;">The exchange between members may also reveal how other
small business owners manage their costs. While you can research that on the
internet, sometimes having local advice can be invaluable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eWWbP2htBnw/XUL2KcWpB0I/AAAAAAAABts/Ou-xDI8-vWEMfObWA9xv23PLdjlrFAFDQCLcBGAs/s1600/instagram-icon-2016z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eWWbP2htBnw/XUL2KcWpB0I/AAAAAAAABts/Ou-xDI8-vWEMfObWA9xv23PLdjlrFAFDQCLcBGAs/s640/instagram-icon-2016z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #333333;">You can also get more for less by attending some of your
chamber’s lunch and learn programs. Maybe you’ve been wondering how to
incorporate Instagram into your business but don’t have the money to pay
someone to teach you or do it for you. Many learning exchanges are free at the
chamber and it’s likely they have a topic that interests you and can help you
learn something new for your business without having to pay for it. Plus,
chamber membership means any of your employees may attend.</span></div>
<h4>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_itaxe6uzwiez"></a><span lang="EN">Finding New Customers</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #333333;">The chamber is an excellent source for finding new
customers. Through networking, hosting an event, sponsorship, cash mobs,
thought leadership seminars or a host of other ways, the chamber can help you
connect more deeply with your community.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #333333;">Many people think of the chamber as a group similar to the
better business bureau and they put a great amount of trust in a business that
is a member of the chamber. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #333333;">Chamber membership can also provide greater visibility for
your business with opportunities to serve the greater community. While you may
not feel like you have time for that as a small business owner, the chamber has
opportunities for all levels of engagement. From serving on the board to
volunteering at check-in for an event.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #333333;">Membership is a great way to meet people and people buy
from those they know, like, and trust.</span></div>
<h4>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_ixgmi0x38bnl"></a><span lang="EN">Marketing to Future and Current
Customers</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #333333;">Many small business owners lack marketing skills. If you
can’t hire it out, you may be happy to know the chamber likely has creative
marketing opportunities that can help you get your name out into the community.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #333333;">The chamber also talks about its members on social media,
which helps you leverage their large audience. They can host a ribbon-cutting
for you, if you’re a new business or help you celebrate a key milestone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #333333;">They also likely have people on staff who can help you
brainstorm ways to reach your ideal audience and make suggestions such as
mailers, learning sessions, and social media assistance.</span></div>
<h4>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_jzfntppnb6"></a><span lang="EN">Managing Time</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">It comes as no surprise that with all these
other stresses, small business owners are concerned about not having enough
time. The chamber can help here too. Not only can they help introduce you to
the “hidden” job market of people who aren’t actively looking for positions but
have strong interests in the community, they also have lunch and learn sessions
on a variety of topics that could help you streamline your operations. </span><br />
<span lang="EN"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KGF6qkguN3c/XUL27klulpI/AAAAAAAABt0/zwW1Mm7lgR0emxVnm8d3s5ZlkoFKb5TIwCLcBGAs/s1600/cover_800_5ffd46bbc5936b6a93a89ef8f864074f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KGF6qkguN3c/XUL27klulpI/AAAAAAAABt0/zwW1Mm7lgR0emxVnm8d3s5ZlkoFKb5TIwCLcBGAs/s640/cover_800_5ffd46bbc5936b6a93a89ef8f864074f.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Learning is one way the chamber can help but
it also helps as a partial partner in your marketing. The chamber supports
getting the word out about your business and their efforts can save you time in
your own marketing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Chamber membership provides a large amount
of value for the small business owner if they know how to use it. Paying dues
won’t help allay your fears about your business but getting involved in the
chamber and the community can help you reach more people, elevate your business
reputation, and improve your marketing. These ideas will help you grow and
improve your revenue stream.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.christinargreen.com/" style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: windowtext;">Christina R. Green</span></i></a><i style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><u> teaches
small businesses, </u>chambers, and associations how to connect through
content. Her articles have appeared in the Midwest Society of Association
Executives’ Magazine, NTEN.org, AssociationTech, Event Managers Blog, and
WritersWeekly. She is a regular blogger at </i><a href="http://www.frankjkenny.com/" style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: windowtext;">Frankjkenny.com</span></i></a><i style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;">. </i><span style="font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As an introverted writer, she’s on a quest to bring great
storytelling to organizations everywhere while single-handedly combatting the
overuse of exclamation points.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 9pt;">Photo Credit: Hootsuite Blog</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-83684557386491363682019-07-29T07:44:00.000-07:002019-08-01T07:50:22.820-07:00How To Grow Your Page's Audience and Get More Engagement<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VAFlZAjtp_I/XUL8KFrdgXI/AAAAAAAABuA/jObBWht_1Dk_ANCPdmBBGEj0roYyxRtTACLcBGAs/s1600/Mobile-Minute.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="490" height="167" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VAFlZAjtp_I/XUL8KFrdgXI/AAAAAAAABuA/jObBWht_1Dk_ANCPdmBBGEj0roYyxRtTACLcBGAs/s320/Mobile-Minute.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz1jl-VX78g9_8crTf4I38ybgfmQkL-qZJAR1YQNeUhFyBUWJGSUJbWdMXzP8BWS0H2umO5Xi0T3-ujDzUwZA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-17796528334801876222019-07-08T09:35:00.001-07:002019-07-08T11:46:20.176-07:00How to Succeed in Influencer Marketing without Being Annoying<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AFyw40PpJVI/XSOPbEDmGXI/AAAAAAAABrc/sIXr4DjfwrsvTbBmbg-4GBzZjbm-PcwggCLcBGAs/s1600/Influencer-Marketing-In-Action.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1280" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AFyw40PpJVI/XSOPbEDmGXI/AAAAAAAABrc/sIXr4DjfwrsvTbBmbg-4GBzZjbm-PcwggCLcBGAs/s400/Influencer-Marketing-In-Action.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The internet is a bonus and a bane to most people. You can research anything, get your message out inexpensively, connect with people around the globe, and entertain yourself for hours. But it also has created a need for itself. It has a constant hunger for content. It provides a large bullhorn for people to pronounce their views and others are listening. That’s why influencer marketing has become so hot.<br />
<br />
<h3>
What Is Influencer Marketing?</h3>
Influencer marketing is a type of word of mouth marketing. Just like big brands may use a celebrity endorsement such as an athlete who wears the brand’s sneakers, influencer marketing uses well-known (or well-followed) internet personalities to talk about their product, service, event, etc. Just like in celebrity endorsements, this influencer has a fan base and is likely considered a pro in a given area. There are people who will buy your product/service or look into your organization just because the influencer talked about you.<br />
<br />
Where you find an influencer varies by what you sell or what you want to promote. Generally, you’re looking for someone with a stellar reputation or hardcore following. You want active followers too, not just numbers. You might find an influencer in:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Your industry (such as a thought leader)</li>
<li>Your service area (for instance, you sell makeup and you might select a YouTuber who does makeup tutorials)</li>
<li>Your ideal demographic (selecting someone who’s hot with a group you want to break into like Gen Y)</li>
<li>Your local area. Unlike celebrity endorsements, you don’t need someone who’s well-known globally. You just need someone who can activate an audience. If your business is local, your influencer can be local too (but doesn’t have to be if you’re willing, or able, to venture into e-commerce).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Influencer marketing is excellent for your business because it increases interest and traffic when you choose the right influencer. However, there’s more to it than just selecting an influencer. Like anything else, the approach matters. If you alienate an influencer, you’re worse off than if you never approached them, to begin with. People with big audiences know how to use their bullhorn.<br />
<br />
If you’re going to approach an influencer, know the following things to avoid annoying them:<br />
<br />
<h3>
Their Audience/Specialty</h3>
Before approaching them, research the kinds of posts they do, who their audience is, and what they often talk about. Are they an expert in their field or just a charming personality? This is important because you want to match your brand with their approach. For instance, if you are a conservative investment firm with a conservative audience, it’s likely you don’t want to reach out to a boisterous, albeit entertaining, loud mouth.<br />
<br />
You want your influencer to appeal to your ideal demographic. You also want your product or service to be a good fit for their audience. It doesn’t matter how entertaining the influencer is, you don’t want to use someone who could only awkwardly speak of what you sell. For example, an influencer with a large “mom of toddlers” following might not be the person to approach to bring more attention to your gun range.<br />
<br />
Keep in mind, the influencer and their audience don’t have to directly use your product or service. But they have to be in a position to buy it. Moms are a great example of that. Women may not wear men’s cologne but they do buy it. You could easily use a female influencer to “sell” your cologne as long as her audience does the major purchasing for their guys.<br />
<br />
Which brings us to...<br />
<br />
<h3>
Their Protocol</h3>
Unless you are lucky enough to stumble upon someone who has a big audience and no brand affiliations, they likely have a protocol in place on how they interact with brands, products, and services. And you’ll need to work with that.<br />
<br />
Figure out what it is you want from them and then see if it matches what they’re willing to do. Answer the following questions before contacting them. You want to have the ask solidified in your mind so that you’re not wasting their time:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Do you want them to actually sell your product? This is generally done through a customized URL to your site. If you want them to “sell” it, will they get a cut from the referrals made online? This is common practice.</li>
<li>Do you want them to just see a demo, and if interested, proceed from there? What are your expectations a review? Comment? Endorsement?</li>
<li>Do you want them to mention your business in a blog post or write a blog just about your product or service?</li>
<li>Do you want them to host an event at your business?</li>
<li>Do you want to be interviewed by them or featured in some capacity on their website?</li>
<li>Do you want them to attend your event?</li>
<li>Do you want to be on their podcast?</li>
<li>Do you want to pay them for a sponsored post on their blog or social media profiles? Make sure what you’re asking or they’re offering falls within the terms of service for what they’re allowed to do on the social media platform of your/their choice.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
As you can see there are many ways to interact with an influencer. Figure out what you’re asking and then approach them about it. Decide on something that is mutually beneficial. Keep in mind, some influencers will do it for free as a service to their audience, some will want a commission of anything sold through their affiliate links, others charge a fee for service. If they charge a fee or receive an affiliate payment, they should disclose this on their blog or post. Look on their site and in their social media posts to see if they do this.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Their Affiliations</h3>
While you’re doing your research you should also take a look at the affiliations they currently have. It’s important to know their allegiances and whether it is direct competition for you. For instance, if you offer a subscription box similar to Fab, Fit, Fun and you want them to pitch yours instead, you should be prepared with a compelling reason on why they’d make the switch.<br />
<br />
Be honest ahead of time if you’re a competitor of someone they’re already speaking about. Sometimes they’re not formally affiliated with them and will gladly check out your things too.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HbfnXBvqpD4/XSNwEl33GkI/AAAAAAAABpA/c6m7yJbbMNId5pyC6kEpeemAQeWhQ-uXQCLcBGAs/s1600/7-Ways-to-Encourage-Word-of-Mouth-Marketing-for-Your-E-Commerce.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HbfnXBvqpD4/XSNwEl33GkI/AAAAAAAABpA/c6m7yJbbMNId5pyC6kEpeemAQeWhQ-uXQCLcBGAs/s400/7-Ways-to-Encourage-Word-of-Mouth-Marketing-for-Your-E-Commerce.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Influencer marketing is hot these days because word of mouth marketing is. People believe reviews of complete strangers and those reviews influence the way they buy. Working with an influencer can give you a new and/or bigger audience. But if you’re going to approach them, do your research first. They likely get approached a lot. They don’t want the same old boring pitch of “I saw your blog post, it was great.” These approaches look like bots wrote them. Be specific. Let them know your pitch is directed right at them and benefits them in some way too. When you do this, you’re on your way to creating a mutually beneficial relationship and those are always the best kind.<br />
<br />
<i>Christina R. Green teaches small businesses, chambers, and associations how to connect through content. Her articles have appeared in the Midwest Society of Association Executives’ Magazine, NTEN.org, AssociationTech, and WritersWeekly. She is a regular blogger at Frankjkenny.com. </i><br />
<i>Photo Credit: https://www.ecommerce-nation.com/word-of-mouth-marketing-ecommerce/</i><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-6022595205001585652019-03-11T07:38:00.001-07:002019-03-11T07:41:34.107-07:00How to Improve Your Business Reputation for Free<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MeBWlkG2LLc/XIZy32PTL-I/AAAAAAAABnk/D0P22dQw-20X9fSBDH6DrqFKvBWTpsDqACLcBGAs/s1600/Snip20190311_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="1032" height="203" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MeBWlkG2LLc/XIZy32PTL-I/AAAAAAAABnk/D0P22dQw-20X9fSBDH6DrqFKvBWTpsDqACLcBGAs/s400/Snip20190311_1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">As a small business owner, your reputation is everything. It will make or break your business. Warren Buffet understood the value of a good business reputation when he said, “<b>It takes </b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">20 years to </span><b>build a reputation </b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">But protecting your reputation in the days of social media is hard. According to the White House Office of Consumer Affairs, an unhappy customer will tell between </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="https://www.inc.com/andrew-thomas/the-hidden-ratio-that-could-make-or-break-your-company.html">nine to 15 people about the incident.</a> </span><span style="color: #222222;">This number gets amplified when they choose to do it in a social stream. Sometimes it’s not even anything your business did wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">How about this TripAdvisor review? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D_F7Z2yWXjQ/XIZytR5ob0I/AAAAAAAABng/iv6jXaDkt_UyDDG9aQmw4pYOMiRpoVwDACLcBGAs/s1600/Untitled11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="161" data-original-width="619" height="83" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D_F7Z2yWXjQ/XIZytR5ob0I/AAAAAAAABng/iv6jXaDkt_UyDDG9aQmw4pYOMiRpoVwDACLcBGAs/s320/Untitled11.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Can someone please get on that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Sure, we may snicker about some of those bad reviews but when they happen to your business, they’re not funny. So what do you do if your reputation is in need of a little help?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Don’t worry. We have a list of things that can help those minor blips in the road. However, please note these won’t solve major PR problems but they are a start.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Ready?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="break-after: avoid-page; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24.533334732055664px; margin: 0.25in 0in 6pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_5hvf0djycao"></a><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">12 Ways to Improve Your Business Reputation for Free<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Whether you are a new business looking to build your reputation, a seasoned business needing to do some reputation management, or if you simply want some ideas to get your business name out there, here is a list of ways you can positively build your business reputation:</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="break-after: avoid-page; color: #434343; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21.466665267944336px; margin: 16pt 0in 4pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_hg1hbt6erphi"></a><span lang="EN">Volunteer <o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Volunteering is the easiest way to build your reputation, and there are so many different volunteer opportunities within your community. You can <b>volunteer on a committee, volunteer with local charities, or volunteer in a leadership role. </b>Speaking of, if you’re looking for a volunteer opportunity involving business...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="break-after: avoid-page; color: #434343; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21.466665267944336px; margin: 16pt 0in 4pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_t7zce6rtaw0s"></a><span lang="EN">Get Involved With Your Local Chamber Of Commerce <o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">According to the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><a href="https://secure.acce.org/news/2012/11/acce-news/survey-chamber-membership-is-effective-business-strategy/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Shapiro Study</span></a><span style="color: #222222;">, customers who know that a small business is a member of the chamber of commerce, say they are 49% more likely to think favorably about it and 80% more likely to purchase goods or services from the company in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="border: none; break-after: avoid-page; color: #434343; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21.466665267944336px; margin: 16pt 0in 4pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_726y5qqo7dz"></a><span lang="EN">Value Your Employees </span><b><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></h3>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Let’s face it, if your employees are unhappy, they won’t actively promote your business because they don’t feel like a valued part of it. In fact, truly unhappy employees could be spreading more negativity than you realize if they complain to friends and family about you and your business. Find ways to show your employees how much you value what they do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="break-after: avoid-page; color: #434343; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21.466665267944336px; margin: 16pt 0in 4pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_fosclzc8177"></a><span lang="EN">Coach The Local Baseball Team<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Or really any team. If you have a lot of kids (and most kids playing sports have parents or guardians with purchasing power) in your community, a great way to be more involved and promote your reputation at the same time is to give back to children. You can also organize adult league games to get others participating and having fun in your community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="break-after: avoid-page; color: #434343; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21.466665267944336px; margin: 16pt 0in 4pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_f0uub2p3w99d"></a><span lang="EN">Attend School “Career Days” <o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">When kids hear how cool it is to be an entrepreneur, they will go home and tell their parents and friends all about your business.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="break-after: avoid-page; color: #434343; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21.466665267944336px; margin: 16pt 0in 4pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_vr7b4cgg98fn"></a><span lang="EN">Be Responsive <o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Responding to emails, social media posts (good or bad), customer concerns, and questions might be time consuming, but it’s free. It will also increase your customer retention rate. Even if they aren’t happy with the product, they will appreciate that you wanted to make it right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="border: none; break-after: avoid-page; color: #434343; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21.466665267944336px; margin: 16pt 0in 4pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_5v8z90rjnj4r"></a><span lang="EN">Attend Community Events<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">You don’t always need to have a booth or be selling your products to attend events. Simply attending the event shows that you are supporting people and causes in your community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="border: none; break-after: avoid-page; color: #434343; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21.466665267944336px; margin: 16pt 0in 4pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_l7ci8456dl97"></a><span lang="EN">Address Bad Reviews<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Know that not every customer is going to be 100% satisfied. Address bad reviews in a courteous and helpful way, without being defensive. Having said that, I’m not sure how you get less sand on a beach short of ordering up a hurricane (see review at the top of this article). In that case, you may just want to thank them for their suggestion and tell them that many people use baby powder to keep sand stickage on the body to a minimum. Add value. Be helpful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #434343; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Ask for Feedback</span><b><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Ask your fellow business owners and friends to critique your Facebook page, website, and/or storefront. Be open to the feedback they provide, and make any necessary changes that fall in line with your ideal audience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #434343; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Don’t Share Anything Controversial on Facebook (or the Internet)</span><b><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Even if you have strong opinions on a subject, it is much better to keep those to yourself to avoid possibly offending a group of your customers. Your business Facebook page needn’t be all business all the time, off-topic entertainment often gets the most shares and interactions. However, no matter how funny, posts about politics, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicities, and other sensitive subjects are best left off social media. If you’re wondering if it’s appropriate, always err on the side of caution. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #434343; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Partner with the Local Newspaper to Write a Human Interest Piece on Your Business</span><b><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Don’t be afraid to ask to be interviewed in the local paper. Creating a good relationship with the local newspaper is a great way to build your reputation and they’re always looking for angles. Just make sure your pitch is not an advertorial. They want human interest and your next sale doesn’t qualify. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Even if the local paper isn’t interested in your story, your customers are. So make sure you share it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="border: none; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #434343; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Keep Your Word<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Really, this isn’t just a business lesson, it’s a life lesson. Do what you say you are going to do, and people will notice. Go back on your word, and people will notice that, too. No one wants to work with someone they can’t rely on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Remember, a positive reputation is your business’ backbone, and these suggestions won’t cost you anything but your time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><a href="http://www.christinargreen.com/"><b><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "georgia";">Christina R. Green</span></i></b></a></span><b><i><u><span lang="EN" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">teaches small businesses, </span></u></i></b><i><span lang="EN" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">chambers, and associations how to connect through content. Her articles have appeared in the Midwest Society of Association Executives’ Magazine, NTEN.org, AssociationTech, and WritersWeekly. She is a regular blogger at </span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><a href="http://www.frankjkenny.com/"><i><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "georgia";">Frankjkenny.com</span></i></a></span><i><span lang="EN" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">and the Event Manager Blog. </span></i><span lang="EN" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Christina is an introverted writer on a quest to bring great storytelling to organizations everywhere.</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-79254301023873312632019-01-30T09:21:00.001-08:002019-01-30T09:21:31.996-08:004 Alternative Types of Content for Your Business If You Hate to Write<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KXK9opDeo8A/XFHcdbhnIqI/AAAAAAAABnI/7v_CrTVJZs4u76yB_rDbUDyxWoWS-93BACEwYBhgL/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="562" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KXK9opDeo8A/XFHcdbhnIqI/AAAAAAAABnI/7v_CrTVJZs4u76yB_rDbUDyxWoWS-93BACEwYBhgL/s320/Untitled.png" width="212" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Content is essential to your business becoming (or remaining) an industry leader. It’s fast becoming a differentiator as more and more customers do their research online and make purchasing decisions long before they speak with one of your salespeople. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">If you hate to write, but don’t want to pay someone else to do it for you, you don’t have to give up on content. You </span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">shouldn’t</i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">. There are other forms of content production that are as effective in helping you become a resource for your customers as the written word is. If you’re not a great writer, chances are these other forms of media will also be a lot more compelling and engaging for your audience. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1c6194; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Video<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">There are a lot of options in this category from webcam or cellphone production to slick agency creations. What you use depends on what you sell and who you’re selling it to. But even a high-end luxury brand can create a campy, low-budget production hit if it resonates with the target audience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Generally, you’ll want to keep all videos under 3 minutes unless it’s very meaty subject matter. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.socialmediatoday.com/marketing/21-video-marketing-ideas-small-business-budgets?utm_source=hootsuite&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=hootsuite_tweets" style="color: #b26b02;">Ideas for videos </a><span style="color: #333333;">include telling your story, client testimonials, product explanations, and things people who are in the market for your product or service need to know.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Don’t forget to check out the live-streaming video options with Periscope, Meerkat, and Blab. Businesses can also do interesting things on the six-second looping Vine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1c6194; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Podcasts<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">The old joke, “You have a face for radio”, is no longer applicable with the increase in interest in podcasts. Thousands of mainstream marketers have embraced this successful medium because people are listening to podcasts with the same zeal families gathered around the radio to hear the latest installments of their serial programs back in the 1940s. Just ask NPR.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Podcasts can be anywhere from a few minutes to thirty minutes long. A computer, headset, decent mic, and some editing software is really all you need to get started. You can create a tips series or cover topics of interest to your audience. If you run a gym, a podcast on good nutrition might be a nice fit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1c6194; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Interview Series<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">While this is a type of video or podcast it deserved its own mention. Lining up subject matter experts each week or month is a lot of work but a video series of this caliber provides an exponential return on your time investment. It becomes a valuable resource for your audience and establishes you as an industry expert because you are surrounded by top minds. Also because you are selecting the guest line-up, you can choose experts who can help you further your message. Now you’re not the only one telling customers what to consider when buying, others (very smart others) are endorsing your beliefs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1c6194; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Images<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">A picture is worth a thousand words, right? Picture posts get more click-throughs and shares than posts with just words. There are a lot of free design sites (Canva, Visme, Pixlr, to name a few) that can help you create posts that get attention. Marry your images with a strong message or inspirational quote and watch your engagement take off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">No matter what media you choose to work in, it’s best to repurpose your content whenever possible. Use your videos to create transcripts for those who enjoy reading. Use soundbites to create social media posts, memes, or image quotes. Give your audience what they want in a form they can enjoy. When you do, you’ll find it saves you time and reaches a much broader audience. A broader reach translates to more sales.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoIntenseQuote" style="color: #1cade4; font-family: "Tw Cen MT Condensed", sans-serif; line-height: 20px; margin: 6pt 0.4in 8pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23.333332061767578px;"><a href="http://www.christinargreen.com/" style="color: #b26b02;"><em><b><span style="color: #1c6194;">Christina R. Green </span></b></em></a></span><em><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #1c6194; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23.333332061767578px;">teaches small businesses, chambers and associations how to connect through content. Her articles have appeared in the Midwest Society of Association Executives’ Magazine, NTEN.org, AssociationTech, and Socialfish. She is a regular blogger at </span></em><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23.333332061767578px;"><a href="http://www.frankjkenny.com/" style="color: #b26b02;"><em><span style="color: #1c6194; text-decoration: none;">Frankjkenny.com</span></em></a></span><em><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #1c6194; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23.333332061767578px;">and the Event </span></em><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23.333332061767578px;"><a href="http://www.memberclicks.com/" style="color: #b26b02;"><em><span style="color: #1c6194; text-decoration: none;">Manager’s Blog</span></em></a></span><em><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #1c6194; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23.333332061767578px;">. <o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<div class="MsoIntenseQuote" style="color: #1cade4; font-family: "Tw Cen MT Condensed", sans-serif; line-height: 20px; margin: 6pt 0.4in 8pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<em><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #1c6194; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23.333332061767578px;">She’s a bookish writer on a quest to bring great storytelling to organizations everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<div style="border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 1pt 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-5649621684965972402019-01-28T08:05:00.000-08:002019-01-28T08:05:13.047-08:004 Tips to Make Your Business More Likeable<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yV3gQT5koWU/XE8oKGbetlI/AAAAAAAABmg/Op_xbldCdW09lu6qAonk5awqzrj3AlL7gCLcBGAs/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="905" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yV3gQT5koWU/XE8oKGbetlI/AAAAAAAABmg/Op_xbldCdW09lu6qAonk5awqzrj3AlL7gCLcBGAs/s320/Untitled.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">People buy from people they <i>know, like</i>, and <i>trust</i>. While you might be in the right place at the right time when someone is up against it, and they may buy from you once without <i>knowing, liking</i>, or <i>trusting </i>you, for them to return, you’ll need more than luck.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Know </span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">and <b>trust </b>generally come along when you establish yourself as a likable business with a human behind it. It’s difficult for people to like you if they don’t trust you, unless you’re a villain and then being untrustworthy is your business. For most of us, that is not the case. You can’t like someone you don’t remember, so let’s get to work on establishing the like part of the sales equation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1c6194; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Share Your Reason<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Think of how filmmakers or storytellers get us to like the main character. One of the ways is that they place him on a quest, or up against a challenge, that we want him to succeed in. Often it’s one we identify with. Share your reason for doing what you do. There’s probably someone in your audience or potential audience who can identify with your convictions and story. Passion is contagious. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1c6194; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Find Commonalities<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">In order to find commonalities, you need to share things about yourself outside of your business and how it came to be. Share your likes, be positive. Share what you love about your community or your love for bacon. Be genuine and people who see your social media posts or read your content, will begin to identify with what you’re sharing. They’ll jump in and say “me too” and you’re one step closer to getting them to like you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1c6194; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Ask Questions<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">If they’re in your store or business ask them their opinion on something and really listen to their answer. On social media ask what they think or what their preferences are. Involve them in your rebranding by crowdsourcing some of your marketing decisions. People like being involved and if you really listen to, and then act on, their advice, they’ll remember it and like you more because they see you as someone who values what they think. That’s all a lot of us are looking for. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #1c6194; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Anticipate Your Customers’ Needs<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">As a business you are in a position to help, whether it’s helping someone look better, feel better, be entertained, or whatever it is you do for your customers. But you are also in a position to solve problems or answer questions. Use your content and social media to help customers with problems they face in their lives. If you run a boutique, you can create posts about <i>unique gifts for the women in your life</i>. If you are a CPA create helpful checklists of <i>things people should track throughout the year for effortless taxes</i>. Be helpful. Anticipate what your customers need and then give it to them. If they know they can count on you, they will return again and again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">In today’s competitive market place it’s hard for your product alone to set you apart. Often it’s the things behind your product that will help you make a name for yourself. It’s the service, personality, and assistance you provide. These are the things that make people like you and they are also what keeps people coming back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.693333625793457px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoIntenseQuote" style="color: #1cade4; font-family: "Tw Cen MT Condensed", sans-serif; line-height: 20px; margin: 6pt 0.4in 8pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23.333332061767578px;"><em><b><span style="color: #1c6194;"><a href="http://www.christinargreen.com/">Christina R. Green</a> </span></b></em></span><em><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #1c6194; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23.333332061767578px;">teaches small businesses, chambers and associations how to connect through content. Her articles have appeared in the Midwest Society of Association Executives’ Magazine, NTEN.org, AssociationTech, and Socialfish. She is a regular blogger at </span></em><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23.333332061767578px;"><a href="http://www.frankjkenny.com/"><em><span style="color: #1c6194; text-decoration: none;">Frankjkenny.com</span></em></a></span><em><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #1c6194; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23.333332061767578px;">and the Event </span></em><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23.333332061767578px;"><a href="http://www.memberclicks.com/"><em><span style="color: #1c6194; text-decoration: none;">Manager’s Blog</span></em></a></span><em><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #1c6194; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23.333332061767578px;">. <o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<div class="MsoIntenseQuote" style="color: #1cade4; font-family: "Tw Cen MT Condensed", sans-serif; line-height: 20px; margin: 6pt 0.4in 8pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<em><span lang="EN-IE" style="color: #1c6194; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 23.333332061767578px;">She’s a bookish writer on a quest to bring great storytelling to organizations everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-12282479509908941772018-07-23T11:34:00.000-07:002018-07-23T11:34:25.591-07:004 Examples of Difficult Business Transparency <div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Marketers everywhere insist that successful businesses should become more transparent with their audience. After all, people want to do business with those they know, like, and trust. And what better way to accomplish that than by showing your potential customers or clients who you are? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">But transparency encompasses more than just your brand. There are times in your company history when you might have to become transparent with something uncomfortable or something you want to change. But just how far do you go?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S2XlCmwJ2pU/W1YfjZdncFI/AAAAAAAABl4/ur0rJ8Ov_oEk-GtFHISbjZ1_Apb-JU_ZACLcBGAs/s1600/Snip20180723_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="882" height="205" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S2XlCmwJ2pU/W1YfjZdncFI/AAAAAAAABl4/ur0rJ8Ov_oEk-GtFHISbjZ1_Apb-JU_ZACLcBGAs/s400/Snip20180723_2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<h2 style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; break-after: avoid-page; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0.25in 0in 6pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_j1aio1ket349"></a><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">What Is Transparency?<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Transparency, when done well, is a cultural shift to become more open with customers, clients, and employees. Think of the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The golden ticket allowed one child and a guest to go on a tour of the mysterious factory. What wondrous things they discovered (and a little mayhem, but that’s a topic for another post). When transparency is done well, you can create that same interest in your company.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">In 2017, Entrepreneur ran an article entitled “<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/295739"><span style="color: #1155cc;">How Transparency Became a Top Priority for Business, and Why You Should Care</span></a>.” In it, contributor Larry Alton shared an important statistic:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">“<a href="https://www.labelinsight.com/Transparency-ROI-Study"><span style="color: #23b5ba; text-decoration: none;">According to a recent study by Label Insight</span></a><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #212121;">, up to 94 percent of consumers surveyed indicated that they were more likely to be loyal to a brand that offers transparency, while 73 percent said they were willing to pay more for a product that offers complete transparency.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #212121; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Those are impressive reasons to become more transparent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #212121; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Adopting a culture of transparency means you make it clear what your business mission, goals, and culture are. It may also include your business history, failings, operations, and performance. However, it does not need to include your “secret sauce.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; break-after: avoid-page; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0.25in 0in 6pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_8it3o9h0txwd"></a><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">When Transparency Is Hard<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Transparency is not all about drinking from a chocolate river as mentioned in the movie example above. Just like in that movie, there can be times when transparency is uncomfortable but necessary. Think of how Wonka told the parents they’d be meeting their child at the juicer or the taffy stretching machine. Difficult conversations for the rest of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">It’s easy to think of the happy things you can to share with your audience to help them get to know you better. Maybe you got a new puppy over the weekend or your child graduated from school. These personal shares make it easier for people to feel connected to you and your business. These are the easy wins. Transparency in social media posts should keep in mind your ideal audience and always provide one of the following themes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Educational<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Inspirational<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Entertaining<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">If the post doesn’t accomplish any of these, even in a liberal way, rethink that post.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #212121; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">But what about the times when you have something difficult to share? It’s important to be transparent at those difficult times too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; break-after: avoid-page; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0.25in 0in 6pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_lrn6suv79g2g"></a><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Disappointing Past Performance<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #212121; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">This may seem like a no-no but there are times when a business gets a bad reputation and must turn it around. To ignore the mistake/blunder would be dishonest. Take what Wells Fargo does in this commercial to earn trust back as an example. Notice, they don’t specifically mention what they did to lose trust. No reason to dwell. Instead, they dive into how they will regain it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><a href="https://youtu.be/1rrivHxCeeY"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #1155cc;">https://youtu.be/1rrivHxCeeY</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; break-after: avoid-page; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0.25in 0in 6pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_b4ywqlk4j4va"></a><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h2>
<h2 style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; break-after: avoid-page; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0.25in 0in 6pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_lvf4glej79"></a><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Improving or Upgrading Services<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #212121; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Some companies have an issue with lack of quality or they want to offer additional services. They can do this by improving their offerings and showing (transparently) how they are doing it. It’s also wise to adopt a slogan that reflects that change in direction and shows that they are dedicated to making the changes a big part of their business. Winn Dixie adopted the slogan “Getting better all the time” and was specific about listening to its customers as you can see in this video:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><a href="https://youtu.be/tO3m13jK4ZI"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #1155cc;">https://youtu.be/tO3m13jK4ZI</span></a><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #212121;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; break-after: avoid-page; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0.25in 0in 6pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_wpif4v9bvcgb"></a><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Transparent Salaries<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #212121; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Buffer and Whole Foods decided to become transparent with their employees by making salaries public. The idea helps keep salaries relatively equal (per position) and those who are paid more in a specific position have done something to warrant the higher level of pay and thus become role models for other employees. At Buffer, even the co-founder and CEO’s salary is public knowledge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; break-after: avoid-page; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 32px; margin: 0.25in 0in 6pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_zwiiaf8558r"></a><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Transparency and Reviews<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #212121; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">There’s no arguing that reviews affect purchasing decisions. Because of this, writing reviews became a popular black market service for some. Many businesses, from writers with books on e-marketplaces to restaurants and hotels, were taking advantage of fake reviews (paid for by the person being reviewed). Some businesses, like Amazon, have cracked down on this shady practice and now label reviews as verified purchases. This form of transparency can benefit your company if you have products and reviews. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #212121; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">If you want to adopt a culture of transparency at your business, know it’s not an occasional thing. Transparency must flavor your approach to problem-solving even when it’s difficult. You need for customers to know and trust you and you can’t do that by showing yourself as the perpetual perfect hero.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><a href="http://www.christinargreen.com/"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #1f3864; font-family: Georgia;">Christina R. Green</span></i></b></a></span><b><i><u><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #1f3864; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">teaches small businesses, </span></u></i></b><i><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #1f3864; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">chambers, and associations how to connect through content. Her articles have appeared in the Midwest Society of Association Executives’ Magazine, NTEN.org, AssociationTech, and Socialfish. She is a regular blogger at </span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><a href="http://www.frankjkenny.com/"><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #1f3864; font-family: Georgia;">Frankjkenny.com</span></i></a></span><i><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #1f3864; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">and the Event Manager Blog. </span></i><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #212121; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<i><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #1f3864; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">She’s a bookish writer on a quest to bring great storytelling to organizations everywhere.</span></i><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #212121; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style"> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:Arial; mso-ansi-language:EN;} h2 {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-parent:normal; mso-style-link:"Heading 2 Char"; mso-style-next:normal; margin-top:.25in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan lines-together; page-break-after:avoid; mso-outline-level:2; font-size:16.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-ansi-language:EN; font-weight:normal;} span.Heading2Char {mso-style-name:"Heading 2 Char"; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-locked:yes; mso-style-link:"Heading 2"; mso-ansi-font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:16.0pt;} p.normal, li.normal, div.normal {mso-style-name:normal; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:Arial; mso-ansi-language:EN;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:11.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-ascii-font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:Arial; mso-hansi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-ansi-language:EN;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; line-height:115%;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:0in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-page-numbers:1; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:1699233442; mso-list-template-ids:269528188;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:●; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level2 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:○; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level3 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:■; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level4 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:●; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level5 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:○; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level6 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:■; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level7 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:●; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level8 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:○; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level9 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:■; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} --> </style><br />
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<br /></div>
Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-46632283756596155082018-07-20T06:28:00.000-07:002018-07-20T06:28:41.996-07:008 Easy Steps to Attracting Your Ideal Customer and Improving Sales<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">One of the most common mistakes businesses make is wanting to be all things to all customers. Just as in life and friendships, you will never be <i>everyone’s </i>“cup of tea.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">That’s okay. It’s more than okay. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Understanding this and attracting your ideal customer is the one way to build loyalty among your clients and provide them with the services and products they need. In personalizing your sales approach you will gain more, not less. Here’s how you can go about doing that:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R8fMWlnDnGA/W1Hi-Q7Kw7I/AAAAAAAABlw/4peC1LQyKf8dMBze3X7v6OjIWrofwWfZgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="995" height="210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R8fMWlnDnGA/W1Hi-Q7Kw7I/AAAAAAAABlw/4peC1LQyKf8dMBze3X7v6OjIWrofwWfZgCEwYBhgL/s400/Untitled.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin-left: 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Decide who your ideal customer is. </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">There is a group (or maybe several groups) that you can help better than any other business. Who are they? Identify them, flesh out details about their demographics including:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">○<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">How old are they?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">○<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">How much money do they make? Do they have disposable income or are they living check to check?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">○<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">What do they do for a living?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">○<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">How do they spend their free time?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">○<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">What services or products are they loyal to?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Figure out what they need. </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">What is their most pressing issue? How does your business help them solve this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Analyze what they want? </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Now that you know what they’re struggling with figure out what they want; what they wish they had even if it’s not in the budget right now. Focus on how you can help them get there. Several banks have used this approach selling the question of what dream can they help you achieve today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Design marketing campaigns </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">based around the second and third step in this list. Target individual demographics separately. Don’t try to use an all-encompassing solution for the different groups who buy from you. For instance, market to Millennials differently than you do retirees. They have different concerns. Designing your marketing strategy around these groups involves more than just your message. It also affects where and how you’re delivering it. For Millennials, you might turn to Instagram or YouTube. For the older generation, it might be Facebook and direct mail. You need to assess where your clients are so you can implement a strategy to reach them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Create content that appeals to each group. </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Yes, your marketing message is content but this step takes it a bit further. Create ebooks or infographics with information that will help your ideal customer. Do video or host events. Understand the group you want to reach and then create content and experiences to reach them best. Ever notice a lot of end-of-life providers host free lunch and learns? That’s because they’re a popular way to reach that demographic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Create a clear and “doable” call to action (CTA). </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">At the end (and even midway, as appropriate) of all of your helpful content, you’ll want a clear and actionable CTA. The call to action must be the next step in what they’re looking for. For instance, if you’re selling something with a long sales cycle, you don’t want to add a buy-now button to your About Page on your website. About Pages are something most people visit when they want to learn more about you, not at a late stage in the sales cycle. On the other hand, a call to action to learn more about you on an infographic that walks people through the financing process of your product or service is not a good fit either because by that point most people are ready to consider signing with you. They likely already know about you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Find a way to delight them. </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Remember when you were figuring out what your ideal customer wanted and needed? Now you want to use that information to make an impression. By this point, you’ve already attracted them with your targeted marketing. They’re already looking into what you have to offer. They’ve scanned your valuable, personalized materials and content. Now, use what you know about them to make an impression. This could be through a targeted email marketing drip campaign or promotional materials that are tied to their wants and needs. But at this stage, you want to kick up your marketing and do something no one else is doing. Maybe that’s a handwritten note or a pop-up event. Use what you know about your ideal customer to surprise and delight them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Always follow-up. </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Most salespeople know to follow up but incessant calls from your sales team can get old. You need a way to stay in touch with your ideal customer as they consider doing business with you. You also want to stay in contact with those who have purchased and may purchase again. You can do this through a newsletter or other means of occasional contact. Get their email address. Being connected on social media is not enough. They could opt out of those platforms at any time but for someone to give up email that would be nearly impossible. Getting someone’s email is like getting their home address. It could change but not as often.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: none; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Get to work at attracting your ideal customer. They’ll remain more loyal to you and you’ll be more able to solve their problems and suit their needs. You’ll have fewer customer service issues because they are a good fit for your business. Stop trying to appeal to everyone and speak to those you are best suited to help.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><b style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f3864;"><a href="http://www.christinargreen.com/" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;">Christina R. Green</a> </span></i></b></span><b><i><u><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">teaches small businesses, </span></u></i></b><i><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">chambers, and associations how to connect through content. Her articles have appeared in the Midwest Society of Association Executives’ Magazine, NTEN.org, AssociationTech, and Socialfish. She is a regular blogger at </span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><a href="http://www.frankjkenny.com/" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1f3864;">Frankjkenny.com</span></i></a></span><i><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">and the Event Manager Blog. </span></i><span lang="EN" style="color: #44546a; font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 12pt 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<i><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">She’s a bookish writer on a quest to bring great storytelling to organizations everywhere.</span></i><span lang="EN" style="color: #44546a; font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style"> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-ansi-language:EN;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-priority:99; color:blue; mso-themecolor:hyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:purple; mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:11.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-ascii-font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:Arial; mso-hansi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-ansi-language:EN;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; line-height:115%;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:0in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-page-numbers:1; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:1655377456; mso-list-template-ids:-262515048;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level2 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:○; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level3 {mso-level-number-format:roman-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:right; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level4 {mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level5 {mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level6 {mso-level-number-format:roman-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:right; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level7 {mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level8 {mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level9 {mso-level-number-format:roman-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:right; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} --> </style></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<br /></div>
<style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style"> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-ansi-language:EN;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-priority:99; color:blue; mso-themecolor:hyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:purple; mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:11.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-ascii-font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:Arial; mso-hansi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-ansi-language:EN;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; line-height:115%;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:0in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-page-numbers:1; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:1655377456; mso-list-template-ids:-262515048;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level2 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:○; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level3 {mso-level-number-format:roman-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:right; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level4 {mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level5 {mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level6 {mso-level-number-format:roman-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:right; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level7 {mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level8 {mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} @list l0:level9 {mso-level-number-format:roman-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:right; text-indent:-.25in; text-decoration:none; text-underline:none;} --> </style>Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-10285656480045430662018-06-25T10:59:00.000-07:002018-06-25T10:59:02.769-07:00The Newbie's Guide to Selecting the Ideal Social Media Platform<style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style"> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:8.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} h1 {mso-style-priority:9; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-link:"Heading 1 Char"; mso-style-next:Normal; margin-top:12.0pt; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan lines-together; page-break-after:avoid; mso-outline-level:1; font-size:16.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi; color:#2E74B5; mso-themecolor:accent1; mso-themeshade:191; mso-font-kerning:0pt; font-weight:normal;} h2 {mso-style-priority:9; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-link:"Heading 2 Char"; mso-style-next:Normal; margin-top:2.0pt; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan lines-together; page-break-after:avoid; mso-outline-level:2; font-size:13.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi; color:#2E74B5; mso-themecolor:accent1; mso-themeshade:191; font-weight:normal;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-priority:99; color:#0563C1; mso-themecolor:hyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:#954F72; mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph {mso-style-priority:34; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:8.0pt; margin-left:.5in; mso-add-space:auto; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst {mso-style-priority:34; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-type:export-only; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:.5in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-add-space:auto; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle {mso-style-priority:34; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-type:export-only; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:.5in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-add-space:auto; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast {mso-style-priority:34; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-type:export-only; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:8.0pt; margin-left:.5in; mso-add-space:auto; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} span.Heading1Char {mso-style-name:"Heading 1 Char"; mso-style-priority:9; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-locked:yes; mso-style-link:"Heading 1"; mso-ansi-font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:16.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi; color:#2E74B5; mso-themecolor:accent1; mso-themeshade:191;} span.Heading2Char {mso-style-name:"Heading 2 Char"; mso-style-priority:9; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-locked:yes; mso-style-link:"Heading 2"; mso-ansi-font-size:13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi; color:#2E74B5; mso-themecolor:accent1; mso-themeshade:191;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:11.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:8.0pt; line-height:107%;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:362366114; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:-1763035116 -467891198 -975421820 -1669456468 -1501030432 1167366112 -52533214 1221486842 -940428526 -2119660592;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Symbol;} @list l0:level2 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:o; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:"Courier New";} @list l0:level3 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Wingdings;} @list l0:level4 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Symbol;} @list l0:level5 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:o; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:"Courier New";} @list l0:level6 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Wingdings;} @list l0:level7 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Symbol;} @list l0:level8 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:o; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:"Courier New";} @list l0:level9 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Wingdings;} --> </style><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">There's a lot of information out there about how to use social media for your business but most of those articles assume a certain amount of knowledge on the participant's part. Without that basic knowledge, you could spend a lot of time doing things that aren't helpful for your business. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Best practices aren't best practices when applied in the wrong scenario or on the wrong platform. To better understand why the platform is so important, let's think about fishing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Yes, the basics of catching a fish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">You can buy the perfect lure, learn to cast properly, practice constantly, get your permit to fish, and never catch a shark in your bathtub. <i>Where </i>you are fishing is as important as <i>what </i>you use; just as which platform you're on</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">is critical to success in social media for your business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">If you want more sales and customers, you need not only best practices but need to be using them on the right platform for your business. This article will help you decide which social media sites you should be on to reach your ideal customers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Once you know that critical information, you can decide how to best spend your time and get the most out of your social media resources.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OL3hY_3ku3Q/WzEtOFcCJ2I/AAAAAAAABlQ/wf-x630phvM_Q27xrGSdhnQiqJwZKn-0QCLcBGAs/s1600/Snip20180625_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="890" height="203" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OL3hY_3ku3Q/WzEtOFcCJ2I/AAAAAAAABlQ/wf-x630phvM_Q27xrGSdhnQiqJwZKn-0QCLcBGAs/s400/Snip20180625_1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<h1 style="line-height: 32px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Statistics on the Most Popular Social Media Platforms </span></h1>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">If you want to be effective in using social media for your business, it is imperative to figure out where your audience is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">There are a lot of options out there and all of the social media platforms are different. Here's a brief description of the most popular ones but keep in mind if you have a niche audience, there may be private online communities or groups that will help you reach more of them. Before you decide to start posting on any of the sites below, check that your ideal audience is there. You can do this by asking them or doing the research on the average age, gender composition, and other demographic data. This article will help you get started.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 26px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Facebook<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">This is the country's most popular social network with 79% of the US's internet users participating. 75% of male internet users are here. Based on mere numbers, 22% of the world's <i>entire </i>population uses this platform. However, the Facebook algorithm often keeps a majority of your audience from seeing your posts unless you pay for them to be seen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">According to Statista, Facebook has 164.13 million monthly app users (not factoring in Messenger).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 26px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"> </span></h2>
<h2 style="line-height: 26px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Instagram<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">This visual sharing platform is popular with people under 35 and more women are here than men but it still attracts 32% of the world's internet users on a regular basis, second only to Facebook. If you're wondering what to post, pizza is the most widely Instagrammed food, ahead of steak and sushi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Monthly app users: 111.54 million <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 26px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"> </span></h2>
<h2 style="line-height: 26px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Twitter<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Twitter has about 330 million total monthly users on its platform, with a 4% adoption growth from 2017-18. 36% of internet users ages 19-29 are on Twitter, while only 22% of 30-49 use it, and 18% of people between 50-64. Important to note: 30% of Americans who earn over $75,000 a year use Twitter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Monthly app users: 71.79 million<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 26px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"> </span></h2>
<h2 style="line-height: 26px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Pinterest<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">This visual site works as a virtual board in which to pin your favorite pictures, products, quotes, and advice. It's the third-largest site attracting 31% of the world's internet users. 2 million Pinterest posters save something to boards every day but only 7% of total Pinterest pins belong to men. Millennials use Pinterest as much as they use Instagram. 93% of Pinterest users use the platform to plan or make purchases.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Monthly app users: 56.92 million<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 26px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Snapchat<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">This app attracts a younger demographic as seen in the fact that 44% of teen-aged Internet users chose this app above all others, if they could only select one. The site boasts an impressive 187 million daily users. Yet, only 18% of US Internet users use Snapchat leaving a big market that it has yet to capture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Monthly app users: 53.28 million<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 26px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"> </span></h2>
<h2 style="line-height: 26px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">LinkedIn<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Largely a place to share professional accomplishments, this social network has tried to become a spot for thought leadership by encouraging people to publish there. While the average Linkedin user spends 17 minutes a month on the platform, 40% of users claim to use it daily. It's important to note that 70% of users are from outside the US.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Monthly users: 250 million (total)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 26px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"> </span></h2>
<h2 style="line-height: 26px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Honorable Mentions for Additional Views<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">There are a few other sites that are worth mentioning when it comes to building an audience. Look into them to see if your ideal customer is well represented on them. They include:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 22px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Medium</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 22px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Quora</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 22px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Tumblr</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 22px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Reddit</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 22px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">WhatsApp</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 22px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Google Hangouts</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Most businesses don't have a lot of time for social media so they want the maximum return on their time investment. In order to achieve that, you want to ensure your ideal customer is on that social space. If not, it doesn't matter how many others are on there. You're still trying to catch a shark in a bathtub. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Sources:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/248074/most-popular-us-social-networking-apps-ranked-by-audience/">https://www.statista.com/statistics/248074/most-popular-us-social-networking-apps-ranked-by-audience/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><a href="https://www.omnicoreagency.com/linkedin-statistics/">https://www.omnicoreagency.com/linkedin-statistics/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><a href="https://blog.hootsuite.com/twitter-statistics/">https://blog.hootsuite.com/twitter-statistics/</a></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><a href="https://www.omnicoreagency.com/pinterest-statistics/">https://www.omnicoreagency.com/pinterest-statistics/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><a href="https://www.omnicoreagency.com/snapchat-statistics/">https://www.omnicoreagency.com/snapchat-statistics/</a></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><a href="https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2017/01/05/social-media-marketing-statistics">https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2017/01/05/social-media-marketing-statistics</a></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><a href="http://www.christinargreen.com/"><b><i><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Georgia;">Christina R. Green</span></i></b></a></span><b><i><u><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">teaches small businesses, </span></u></i></b><i><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">chambers, and associations how to connect through content. Her articles have appeared in the Midwest Society of Association Executives’ Magazine, NTEN.org, AssociationTech, and Socialfish. She is a regular blogger at </span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><a href="http://www.frankjkenny.com/"><i><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Georgia;">Frankjkenny.com</span></i></a></span><i><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">and the Event Manager Blog. </span></i><span style="color: #44546a; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">She’s a bookish writer on a quest to bring great storytelling to organizations everywhere.</span></i><span style="color: #44546a; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<br /></div>
Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-64876843701759666782018-04-19T06:26:00.001-07:002018-04-19T06:29:19.623-07:0020 Inexpensive Ways to Surprise and Delight Your Customers<div class="MsoTitle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Calibri Light"; font-size: 28pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.5pt; line-height: 56px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">There's a lot of noise out there right now. It's hard for a business to break through. But let's say you do and someone is trying you out for the first time. How can you not only exceed their expectations but delight them in a way they'll be talking about you later. Here are a few ideas on how you can make a big impression:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-85sQF45cSRM/WtiXpO5tc7I/AAAAAAAABko/xXVjOj1FWKEc09AdHpWmCUMiTkr79qaGQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Snip20180419_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="908" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-85sQF45cSRM/WtiXpO5tc7I/AAAAAAAABko/xXVjOj1FWKEc09AdHpWmCUMiTkr79qaGQCEwYBhgL/s400/Snip20180419_1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Making a big impression on a new customer means doing something that stands out, something they haven't experienced before. If that sounds costly, know that it doesn't have to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">While each business is different, and you should analyze your own to see how these ideas or even better ones fit in, most businesses present these types of opportunities that can be customized to make an impact on your customers. Things like improving the wait or surprising them in little ways are particularly effective.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Try these ideas for your businesses:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.25in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Add a surprise to what they're buying. </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">This could be a sample or a quick tissue-paper wrap inside the bag. When they open their bag, they'll be thrilled to find that special something.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.25in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Add an invitation/instructions for them to upload a picture </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">of themselves and their new item or share a pic on your social media platform of choice with a specified hashtag. Give them a future discount for doing it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.25in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Offer free samples in store,</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">such as a warm (or cold) beverage or warm cookies. Not only are those special treats when shopping but they make your business smell delicious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.25in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Engage them in conversation </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">and then make a suggestion for something in your business that you think they may like based on what you know about them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.25in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Have a smile for everyone </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">and make them feel welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.25in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">See every customer as someone you can learn from. </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">It's amazing what you can discover when you adopt this attitude.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.25in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Ask if they'd like to sign up for receiving notices about sales and coupons. </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Then <b>s</b>end them a thank-you postcard with a discount. Send them one for a friend too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.25in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Make the exterior and interior of your business warm and inviting. </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Setting has a lot to do with how long someone stays and browses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.25in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Email them to check on their product. </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Are they enjoying it? Do they have any questions? Don't ask them to fill out a survey. These things are getting too widespread. They are now detracting from customer experience. Now even calling your credit card company with a name change elicits a survey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.25in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Walk them out</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">. If they just made a big purchase with you and you can spare the time (meaning there's no line at your cash register), walk them to the door like you would a guest. Thank them again for their business. Give them your card, if they don't already have it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.25in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Compliment them or their selection. </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Or both.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.25in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Hide a fun fortune or inspirational quote in their package.</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.25in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">13.</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Offer a loyalty program that you keep track of for them.</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Punch cards, key chains, and mobile apps can be tiresome to customers when they need a unique one for every business they patronize. Instead, keep track of it for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.25in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">14.</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">If you offer discounts like AAA or AARP, </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">ask them if they have the membership. Since asking about AARP can get you into hot water, you may want to instead tell them the discount programs you offer and let them share with you which they belong to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.25in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">15.</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">If you see someone trying to decide between two things, </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">why not offer them a discount if they get both? It's the type of thing they'll remember and might inspire them to buy more each time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.25in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">16.</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Throw something in for free. </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">This is different than the little surprise mentioned earlier. For customers who spend quite a bit with you, give them a little something free. You can keep a handful of things at the register and offer them their choice as a thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.25in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">17.</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Tell a story about the item. </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Purchases are generally emotional things. Stories can help with that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.25in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">18.</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Have treats for their special loves. </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Keep dog treats and treats for kids on hand. Offering thee sorts of things can keep people shopping longer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.25in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">19.</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Hand out a fresh flower </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">to everyone who comes into your business. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -0.25in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">20.</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Always explain next steps. </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">The next step might be as easy as telling them to go home and enjoy their purchase and come back to see you soon or reexplaining the delivery process. Whatever the next step is in the customer relationship, make sure they are clear on it. Your website has a call to action. You want to leave them with the next step in your business relationship. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Finally, it's not hard to make an impression on a customer. Often, it's the little things that make the biggest differences. These suggestions should give you some ideas of how to delight your customers. Now look over these and brainstorm how you can make them an even better fit for your business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><b style="color: #954f72; text-decoration: underline;"><i><a href="http://www.christinargreen.com/" style="color: #954f72; text-decoration: underline;">Christina R. Green</a> </i></b><i>is a writer and speaker who helps small businesses and chambers reach their audiences through content (without exclamation points). Her advice on crafting a memorable business story and creating content that resonates with customers has appeared in Associations North magazine, Association Now, and Event Manager's Blog. She is a regular blogger on </i><a href="https://frankjkenny.com/" style="color: #954f72; text-decoration: underline;"><i>Frankjkenny.com</i></a><i>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoTitle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Calibri Light"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.5pt; line-height: 56px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style"> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:8.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} p.MsoTitle, li.MsoTitle, div.MsoTitle {mso-style-priority:10; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-link:"Title Char"; mso-style-next:Normal; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-add-space:auto; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:28.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi; letter-spacing:-.5pt; mso-font-kerning:14.0pt;} p.MsoTitleCxSpFirst, li.MsoTitleCxSpFirst, div.MsoTitleCxSpFirst {mso-style-priority:10; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-link:"Title Char"; mso-style-next:Normal; mso-style-type:export-only; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-add-space:auto; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:28.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi; letter-spacing:-.5pt; mso-font-kerning:14.0pt;} p.MsoTitleCxSpMiddle, li.MsoTitleCxSpMiddle, div.MsoTitleCxSpMiddle {mso-style-priority:10; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-link:"Title Char"; mso-style-next:Normal; mso-style-type:export-only; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-add-space:auto; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:28.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi; letter-spacing:-.5pt; mso-font-kerning:14.0pt;} p.MsoTitleCxSpLast, li.MsoTitleCxSpLast, div.MsoTitleCxSpLast {mso-style-priority:10; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-link:"Title Char"; mso-style-next:Normal; mso-style-type:export-only; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-add-space:auto; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:28.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi; letter-spacing:-.5pt; mso-font-kerning:14.0pt;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-priority:99; color:#0563C1; mso-themecolor:hyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:#954F72; mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph {mso-style-priority:34; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:8.0pt; margin-left:.5in; mso-add-space:auto; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst {mso-style-priority:34; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-type:export-only; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:.5in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-add-space:auto; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle {mso-style-priority:34; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-type:export-only; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:.5in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-add-space:auto; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast {mso-style-priority:34; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-type:export-only; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:8.0pt; margin-left:.5in; mso-add-space:auto; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} span.TitleChar {mso-style-name:"Title Char"; mso-style-priority:10; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-locked:yes; mso-style-link:Title; mso-ansi-font-size:28.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:28.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi; letter-spacing:-.5pt; mso-font-kerning:14.0pt;} span.TitleChar1 {mso-style-name:"Title Char1"; mso-style-priority:10; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-ansi-font-size:26.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:26.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi; color:#323E4F; mso-themecolor:text2; mso-themeshade:191; letter-spacing:.25pt; mso-font-kerning:14.0pt;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:11.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:8.0pt; line-height:107%;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:725495341; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:1764810776 -1667991230 1680086852 -787332118 -1111720770 -49914686 342770126 -444291536 -397507036 2028756226;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in;} @list l0:level2 {mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in;} @list l0:level3 {mso-level-number-format:roman-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:right; text-indent:-9.0pt;} @list l0:level4 {mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in;} @list l0:level5 {mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in;} @list l0:level6 {mso-level-number-format:roman-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:right; text-indent:-9.0pt;} @list l0:level7 {mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in;} @list l0:level8 {mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in;} @list l0:level9 {mso-level-number-format:roman-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:right; text-indent:-9.0pt;} --> </style></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22px;">
<br /></div>
<style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style"> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:8.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} p.MsoTitle, li.MsoTitle, div.MsoTitle {mso-style-priority:10; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-link:"Title Char"; mso-style-next:Normal; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-add-space:auto; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:28.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi; letter-spacing:-.5pt; mso-font-kerning:14.0pt;} p.MsoTitleCxSpFirst, li.MsoTitleCxSpFirst, div.MsoTitleCxSpFirst {mso-style-priority:10; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-link:"Title Char"; mso-style-next:Normal; mso-style-type:export-only; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-add-space:auto; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:28.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi; letter-spacing:-.5pt; mso-font-kerning:14.0pt;} p.MsoTitleCxSpMiddle, li.MsoTitleCxSpMiddle, div.MsoTitleCxSpMiddle {mso-style-priority:10; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-link:"Title Char"; mso-style-next:Normal; mso-style-type:export-only; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-add-space:auto; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:28.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi; letter-spacing:-.5pt; mso-font-kerning:14.0pt;} p.MsoTitleCxSpLast, li.MsoTitleCxSpLast, div.MsoTitleCxSpLast {mso-style-priority:10; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-link:"Title Char"; mso-style-next:Normal; mso-style-type:export-only; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-add-space:auto; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:28.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi; letter-spacing:-.5pt; mso-font-kerning:14.0pt;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-priority:99; color:#0563C1; mso-themecolor:hyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:#954F72; mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph {mso-style-priority:34; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:8.0pt; margin-left:.5in; mso-add-space:auto; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst {mso-style-priority:34; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-type:export-only; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:.5in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-add-space:auto; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle {mso-style-priority:34; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-type:export-only; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:.5in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-add-space:auto; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast {mso-style-priority:34; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-type:export-only; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:8.0pt; margin-left:.5in; mso-add-space:auto; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} span.TitleChar {mso-style-name:"Title Char"; mso-style-priority:10; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-locked:yes; mso-style-link:Title; mso-ansi-font-size:28.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:28.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi; letter-spacing:-.5pt; mso-font-kerning:14.0pt;} span.TitleChar1 {mso-style-name:"Title Char1"; mso-style-priority:10; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-ansi-font-size:26.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:26.0pt; font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:"Calibri Light"; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi; color:#323E4F; mso-themecolor:text2; mso-themeshade:191; letter-spacing:.25pt; mso-font-kerning:14.0pt;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:11.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:8.0pt; line-height:107%;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:725495341; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:1764810776 -1667991230 1680086852 -787332118 -1111720770 -49914686 342770126 -444291536 -397507036 2028756226;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in;} @list l0:level2 {mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in;} @list l0:level3 {mso-level-number-format:roman-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:right; text-indent:-9.0pt;} @list l0:level4 {mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in;} @list l0:level5 {mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in;} @list l0:level6 {mso-level-number-format:roman-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:right; text-indent:-9.0pt;} @list l0:level7 {mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in;} @list l0:level8 {mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in;} @list l0:level9 {mso-level-number-format:roman-lower; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:right; text-indent:-9.0pt;} --> </style>Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-11017523029969933292018-04-10T10:56:00.002-07:002018-04-10T10:56:53.852-07:00Cheapest Ways to Advertise (and still get good results) <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Your business will never bring in enough revenue if people don't know about you. Most businesses don't fail because their service or product is inferior to everything else on the market. They fail because no one knows about them or they don't differentiate themselves from the competition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfdXxYi4DXE/Wsz6n32Mu7I/AAAAAAAABkQ/LmcO3GaFnuc-RSHeTgZwX4_G9Cdn5sJvACLcBGAs/s1600/Snip20180410_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="1064" height="206" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfdXxYi4DXE/Wsz6n32Mu7I/AAAAAAAABkQ/LmcO3GaFnuc-RSHeTgZwX4_G9Cdn5sJvACLcBGAs/s400/Snip20180410_2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">But it doesn't matter how good your offerings are or how loved they <i>could </i>be. If people don't know about them, your business will never succeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Enter advertising.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Some businesses think that social media has replaced advertising.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">It hasn't replaced it but it has changed it. People don't want clever taglines anymore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">But you still need to get their attention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">If you don't have the budget for Super Bowl ads (or any other major media presentation), then you'll like these budget-friendly ideas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="break-after: avoid-page; color: #2f5496; font-family: "Calibri Light"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19.933334350585938px; margin: 2pt 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Social Media Paid Ads<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">In the beginning of social media, businesses could post and get seen. No longer. These days without engagement, only a fraction of your audience will see your posts. Even when they chose to follow you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">But...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">As dismaying as this may seem, social media paid advertising is one of the least expensive forms of advertising out there. It's not as cheap as it once was but it does have some very good targeting options that can help ensure you will reach people who are most likely in the market for your services or products.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="break-after: avoid-page; color: #2f5496; font-family: "Calibri Light"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19.933334350585938px; margin: 2pt 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Google Remarketing<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Ever notice that item you were just checking on Amazon appears all over the Internet afterward? That's not some sort of sign. That's <a href="https://www.searchenginejournal.com/remarketing-101-beginners-guide/89043/" style="color: #954f72;">remarketing or retargeting.</a>It allows you to present paid ads to people who have already shown an interest in your site. Those are the folks who are at least remotely interested in what you have to offer. Since purchases are an emotional buy, "following" people until they make an emotional decision often benefits you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">While you're considering this avenue, don't forget about <a href="https://www.facebook.com/business/learn/facebook-ads-pixel" style="color: #954f72;">Facebook's pixel</a>that can present targeted information to people who have visited your website in the past.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="break-after: avoid-page; color: #2f5496; font-family: "Calibri Light"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19.933334350585938px; margin: 2pt 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Websites<span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Websites with banner ads often are inexpensive from an advertising perspective. Look for industry experts with websites or online personal pages (like blogs or private online communities) where your ideal demographic hangs out. If they have ads on their site, ask them about their ad policy. They may also have newsletter ad opportunities or may accept advertorials/sponsored content. While the latter falls more under marketing, it can be very valuable in reaching your ideal audience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Ask for details about the website's demographics and click-throughs and what you get for your advertising money.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Finally, it's important to understand that hard sells aren't appreciated by anyone. Clever slogans may get noticed in Super Bowl ads and commercial awards shows but your customers are looking for sources that will help them know, like, and trust the person they're buying from. You need your advertising to be focused on helping and not disrupting your audience. You do this by answering questions and solving problems that they care about. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-style: none none solid; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoIntenseQuote" style="color: #44546a; font-family: "Calibri Light"; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; line-height: 24.533334732055664px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><em style="color: #954f72;"><b><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://www.christinargreen.com/" style="color: #954f72;">Christina R. Green</a> </span></b></em></span><em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Georgia; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">teaches small businesses, chambers, and associations how to connect through content. Her articles have appeared in the Midwest Society of Association Executives’ Magazine, NTEN.org, AssociationTech, and Socialfish. She is a regular blogger at </span></em><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><a href="http://www.frankjkenny.com/" style="color: #954f72;"><em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Georgia; text-decoration: none;">Frankjkenny.com</span></em></a></span><em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Georgia; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">and the Event Manager Blog. <o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<div class="MsoIntenseQuote" style="color: #44546a; font-family: "Calibri Light"; letter-spacing: -0.3pt; line-height: 24.533334732055664px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Georgia; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">She’s a bookish writer on a quest to bring great story telling to organizations everywhere.<span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></em></div>
<div style="border-style: solid none none; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 1pt 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-85773144589548068432018-03-14T09:17:00.000-07:002018-03-14T09:17:18.349-07:00A strong economy begins with a strong, well-educated workforce.<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Assist the Heart of Wisconsin on educating our students on the opportunities available in Central Wisconsin. A partnership with the Heart of Wisconsin’s Student Bus Tour Program will allow our students to get a first-hand look at the various industries in our area. Let’s empower our students and allow them to succeed in their future careers here in Central Wisconsin. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Below are the various industries the students will tour in 2018</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>Agriculture</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FIG0kFJ0Xtw/WoSlOWvL-uI/AAAAAAAABjg/b1CZ0N7fnjo5YbJntkn2jGArMRapKSgxACLcBGAs/s1600/Agriculture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FIG0kFJ0Xtw/WoSlOWvL-uI/AAAAAAAABjg/b1CZ0N7fnjo5YbJntkn2jGArMRapKSgxACLcBGAs/s200/Agriculture.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>Healthcare</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-406iPK2xyVQ/WoSlSaGjikI/AAAAAAAABjk/VDnEWTudU7cmBb49dj9lYEN9eglp7RqQgCLcBGAs/s1600/TLC%2BStudent%2BBus%2BTour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="1484" height="110" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-406iPK2xyVQ/WoSlSaGjikI/AAAAAAAABjk/VDnEWTudU7cmBb49dj9lYEN9eglp7RqQgCLcBGAs/s200/TLC%2BStudent%2BBus%2BTour.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>Hospitality</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TCwyn60Zs0U/WoSlZHPZvSI/AAAAAAAABjo/ccarbAxAvNQApEUJ0bt0ZHsyhK3wfUSbwCLcBGAs/s1600/Hospitality%2BWorks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="956" height="146" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TCwyn60Zs0U/WoSlZHPZvSI/AAAAAAAABjo/ccarbAxAvNQApEUJ0bt0ZHsyhK3wfUSbwCLcBGAs/s200/Hospitality%2BWorks.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>Manufacturing</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5NVBgOFo2QA/WoSlb_h-E8I/AAAAAAAABjs/AxI_dQGytdk759qCsjOMSj15C7hc88gcACLcBGAs/s1600/Manu-Fact%2BTour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="692" data-original-width="1487" height="92" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5NVBgOFo2QA/WoSlb_h-E8I/AAAAAAAABjs/AxI_dQGytdk759qCsjOMSj15C7hc88gcACLcBGAs/s200/Manu-Fact%2BTour.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>Protective Services</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h8EOkRtpFEI/WoSle18URJI/AAAAAAAABjw/zyFOqUr_BscvsjyTnbanJReorbznoKGaQCLcBGAs/s1600/ProTect%2BTour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h8EOkRtpFEI/WoSle18URJI/AAAAAAAABjw/zyFOqUr_BscvsjyTnbanJReorbznoKGaQCLcBGAs/s200/ProTect%2BTour.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>Technology</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2VhDKyaQQjM/WoSlifUzaEI/AAAAAAAABj0/AzdW2p0sZakGEAnUVp3B61gISimMM4nJACLcBGAs/s1600/Techo%2BTour%2Blogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2VhDKyaQQjM/WoSlifUzaEI/AAAAAAAABj0/AzdW2p0sZakGEAnUVp3B61gISimMM4nJACLcBGAs/s200/Techo%2BTour%2Blogo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Here is how you can assist the Heart of Wisconsin to educate our students…</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: times; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Sponsor the Students - $25.00 per student</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: times; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Sponsor the Tour - $150.00</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: times; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Be a Tour Stop Partner - $250.00</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: times; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Interested in partnering with the Heart of Wisconsin?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Contact Kerry Krambeer, Director of Leadership & Talent Development</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>heartofwi_talent@outlook.com or 715-422-4856</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><i>Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow</i></span></span></div>
<i><br /></i>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>belongs to those who prepare for it today.</i></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></i></div>
Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-74393689535391279422018-01-30T08:29:00.002-08:002018-01-30T08:30:12.712-08:006 Ways to Improve Customer Trust<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14pt;">People buy from those they know, like, and trust. “Knowing” comes from marketing and advertising. “Like” is cultivated by showing potential customers your human and endearing side. But how in the world do you help someone with minimal interaction with you and your business, trust you?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It’s not as hard as you may think.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rRxKVe0HXYM/WnCcy_VEx7I/AAAAAAAABjQ/wA1aaRFTlcUACYedw1pP9UitGXH_5INgACLcBGAs/s1600/Snip20180130_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="1220" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rRxKVe0HXYM/WnCcy_VEx7I/AAAAAAAABjQ/wA1aaRFTlcUACYedw1pP9UitGXH_5INgACLcBGAs/s400/Snip20180130_1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Be Transparent in Your Copy<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Stay away from extreme superlatives—biggest, cheapest, most awesome ever. These claims make you sound like a disputable business and often are hard to believe. If you want to make an “-est” claim because you truly believe it, consider a guarantee to back up your word such as “cheapest price on this item in town or we’ll refund you the difference.” Someone who’s willing to make that claim must have confidence in it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk502924109"><span style="color: purple;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Work at Getting More Reviews<o:p></o:p></span></span></a></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk502924109;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">People believe reviews written by strangers much more than they believe marketing copy. Focus at least part of your marketing on improving the numbers of reviews you have and their quality. Ask customers to review you. Make it easy for them to do so by providing URLs to the sites that are most helpful to your business/industry. If you’re not sure how to do this, </span></span><a href="https://www.ducttapemarketing.com/about/books/"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk502924109;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Referral Engine by John Jantsch</span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk502924109;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> is a good place to start.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Answer Bad Reviews in a Helpful Way<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">You won’t always receive excellent reviews. Just take a look at the site Trip Advisor where someone complained because a beach in Thailand was too “sandy.” Even the best businesses must deal with illogical critics on occasion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But instead of getting angry or telling them there’s nothing you can do about that, remember everyone who wrote a review gave up moments of their lives to do it. Thank them for sharing that with you and then see if there’s a solution you can help with. If not, suggest something they might try instead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">After all, you are answering this review as much for the person who wrote it as you are for the people who read it afterward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Answer Questions Even If It Doesn’t Always Benefit You<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">One of the biggest ways to make a truthful impression on someone is to answer their question honestly even if it doesn’t benefit your business. For instance, let’s say you run a handyman business. The homeowner asks if you can perform a specific service. While you know you can, you also know it will take you much longer and be costlier if they have you do it over someone who specializes in it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">You can take the work, or you can explain that while you offer many quality services, they’d be best off using a specific professional and offer them a referral. The next time they need a handyman, you can bet they’ll be calling you because your truth telling just saved them money even though it cost you business. That type of truthfulness makes a very favorable impression.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Create Mutually Beneficial Relationships<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Unless you are a one-person business, your employees are likely the ones dealing directly with your customers the most. You need to ensure they feel motivated by your mission. Taking the time to improve your company culture can have great effects on your customer outreach just as helping your customers understand your mission and why you do what you do will make them want to buy from you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Join the Chamber<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Your local chamber is the voice of business and most customers see it on the same level as the Better Business Bureau. A company that is willing to invest in its community is one that will be around to honor its guarantees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Today, people want more than a competitive price. They want to believe in the company they are buying from. One way to sway public opinion about your business is to improve trust.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: medium;">Are you a member of the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce? Take advantage of the member benefits! <a href="http://www.wisconsinrapidschamber.com/member-benefits">Click here to learn more...</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoIntenseQuote" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.christinargreen.com/"><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: "times"; text-decoration: none;">Christina R. Green</span></b></em></a></span><em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> teaches small businesses, <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">chambers,</span> and associations how to connect through content. Her articles have appeared in the Midwest Society of Association Executives’ Magazine, NTEN.org, and AssociationTech. She is a regular blogger at </span></em><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.frankjkenny.com/"><em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: "times"; text-decoration: none;">Frankjkenny.com</span></em></a></span><em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> and the Event Manager Blog. <o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>624</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3560</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Mid-State Technical College</o:Company>
<o:Lines>29</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>8</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>4176</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoIntenseQuote" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">She’s a bookish writer on a quest to bring great storytelling to organizations everywhere.</span></em><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-57931318252087577272018-01-15T10:36:00.001-08:002018-01-15T10:38:32.937-08:00Rock Your Next Business Expo with These 10 Tips<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Whether you’re attending a local chamber business expo or a trade industry show, you want to showcase your best self. Of course, that means sending a good team that represents your business well, having an enticing set up, and giving away something worthwhile in the eyes of the attendees. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L_O4mu6AQhA/WlzzL_CEqFI/AAAAAAAABiM/wL6ZCyArGao_W0GxNpujnBmXlRvPpUHVwCLcBGAs/s1600/Snip20180115_3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="1194" height="205" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L_O4mu6AQhA/WlzzL_CEqFI/AAAAAAAABiM/wL6ZCyArGao_W0GxNpujnBmXlRvPpUHVwCLcBGAs/s400/Snip20180115_3.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But what can you do to really stand out from the crowd at your next business expo?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here are a few things you might not have thought of:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk502924109"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">10 Tips to Rock Your Next Business Expo<o:p></o:p></span></a></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Attend to needs.</span></b><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> No one can listen to your business spiel if they need something physical. Often, that shows up in the form of rest needed for tired feet, a cool drink of water to satiate thirst, or the extremely important…charge for their dying phone. Be an oasis in the midst of the business expo by providing for all of the attendees’ basic needs. When you give something to someone or assist them in some way, they’ll feel obligated to listen to your pitch; at least until their phone is charged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tell them why they should come.</span></b><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Every business has marketed their expo appearance by saying something along the lines of “Stop by and see us at booth 444.” This boring exercise has never driven any participant to action. Instead, give them a reason to come see you. Get creative.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: medium;"> 3.</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Contact existing customers you know will be there.</span></b><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Invite existing customers to stop by for a thank you gift. This makes your customers feel good and ensures people will stop by to talk to you. Also, other attendees will see how you treat your customers and want to be a part of that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Reach out to attendees before the event and give them something valuable.</span></b><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> If you’re able to secure an attendee list and can contact them, instead of just sending a brochure and letting it get lost in the mess of mail they receive, send them something valuable like Business Expo Tips or a discount for your services. (This is especially helpful if you sell something they could use at the show like business cards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> 5.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Use the show hashtag early and often.</span></b><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> Share helpful information on social media using the show hashtag. The show host will likely share your content.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ask how you can help.</span></b><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> If you have some extra time, ask if you can help the show organizers set up or tear down. One expo allowed a vendor to run check-in wearing their branded apparel. The vendor team was the first group you saw at check-in and what you saw was them being helpful. It made an impression and they never even mentioned what company they were from.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tell your story.</span></b><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Create a video that tells your story and set up a little area out of the way where people can learn more about you without being pounced on by salespeople.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Select a prime spot.</span></b><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Location is very important at a business expo. Prime spots include near the food, on the end of an aisle, at the corners, or at the entrance. Find out how your trade show assigns locations and then work it accordingly to get a good one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Look for complementary services.</span></b><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> If prime locations aren’t an option, look for businesses that cater to the same demographic that you do. For instance, if you are a “mommy and me” business, being located among senior citizen homes is not ideal. However, you would do very well near a toy company or diaper service booth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 115%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Choose the comfortable upgrades.</span></b><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Trade shows and business expos often have a lot of options and upgrading to the luxury ones provides benefit to your attendees. For instance, if you must rent carpeting from the show, select the heaviest padding. After a long day of standing on your feet, you’ll enjoy it and so will the attendees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">These tips can help you be more successful at your next show. Just keep in mind no one likes a hard sell anymore. Look for ways you can be of service and you’ll quickly make a name for yourself at the business expo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<h4>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: times; font-size: 18.66666603088379px; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<i><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Upcoming Business Expo for the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber...</span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.wisconsinrapidschamber.com/events/details/mardi-gras-business-expo-2018-23141">MARDI GRAS Business Expo</a> February 13th, 2018</span></i></div>
</span></i></h4>
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 115%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoIntenseQuote" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.christinargreen.com/"><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: "times"; text-decoration: none;">Christina R. Green</span></b></em></a></span><em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> teaches small businesses, <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">chambers,</span> and associations how to connect through content. Her articles have appeared in the Midwest Society of Association Executives’ Magazine, NTEN.org, and AssociationTech. She is a regular blogger at </span></em><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.frankjkenny.com/"><em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: "times"; text-decoration: none;">Frankjkenny.com</span></em></a></span><em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> and the Event Manager Blog. <o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 211.5pt;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>641</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3656</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Mid-State Technical College</o:Company>
<o:Lines>30</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>8</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>4289</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoIntenseQuote" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She’s a bookish writer on a quest to bring great storytelling to organizations everywhere.</span></em><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-86463390842559951842018-01-02T14:44:00.000-08:002018-01-02T14:44:30.593-08:0020 Gifts to Give Yourself and Your Business in 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fc5duRNfFw8/WkwLExfu3MI/AAAAAAAABh4/lAgU2lCapREqMQyVfZfgWQQGS5owHeB6gCLcBGAs/s1600/Snip20180102_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="872" height="205" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fc5duRNfFw8/WkwLExfu3MI/AAAAAAAABh4/lAgU2lCapREqMQyVfZfgWQQGS5owHeB6gCLcBGAs/s400/Snip20180102_2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 211.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 211.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt;">We made it past the holidays and onto a brand-new year. Hard to believe the calendar when you see 2018 staring back at you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 211.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Didn’t we just start a new century yesterday?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 211.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Most of us have spent a few weeks looking for the perfect gifts for loved ones, employees, clients, pets, teachers, and a host of others. It’s time you shift that generosity to yourself and your business with these gifts you should be giving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gifts to Give Yourself and Your Business in the New Year<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Time.</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Start scheduling those things you’ve been <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">meaning</i> to do like exercise. Treat it like a meeting and schedule something regularly to meet your goals. Don’t cheat yourself out of this time. Your schedule will fall into place around it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Understanding.</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Everything you touch won’t always turn to gold. Cut yourself a break when it comes to your failures. Which brings us to….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Learning.</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Whether it be learning from your failures or taking an online course, self-development is critical to all business professionals these days. Most likely, no one will tell you that you need to learn a particular skill. That’s on you. You need to keep up with what’s important in your industry and stay on top of the new tech and best practices associated with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Hydration.</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Yes, seriously. It’s too easy to get busy and forget but our bodies are ¾ water so it’s an important one. While you’re at it buy yourself a cup you love, and it’ll be easier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Assistance.</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Maybe it’s time to hire help. It doesn’t have to come in a full-time role if you’re not sure about it. You can use a virtual assistant or project person to handle things while you gauge the workload. Still, getting someone on board to handle a few of the things that keep you up at night may make you feel better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Volunteering.</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Do something for someone else. Volunteer a few hours at a soup kitchen, mentor a young professional, or create a program at your business that gives employees a few hours to help in the community. It <a href="https://www.square2marketing.com/blog/bid/109147/7-Ways-Community-Service-Can-Impact-Your-Marketing-Strategy">helps your marketing too</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Simplicity.</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Look for ways to streamline things personally, professionally, and in your business. Your future self will thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">No.</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Yes, “no” is a gift. Stop saying yes to everything simply out of obligation. Say no more so that you can give more attention to the things you really want to say yes to and those that will help you achieve your goals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Trust.</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Business owners must trust their employees and while most say they do, they often have created an environment where the subordinates don’t feel empowered to make decisions on their own. Make sure you’re clear about what they can (or can’t) handle on their own. You’ll have far fewer interruptions if you take the time to clear up the process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Less television.</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Television is a time suck. Even if you enjoy unwinding every night in front of it, you may not be aware that you are losing hours and hours out of your day or your valuable sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Sleep.</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> 7-8 hours. Anything less impairs cognitive and decision-making abilities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Chamber membership.</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> It’s not enough to just pay the dues. Use your membership this year to grow your business in a new way. Extend your network, get involved, volunteer, or ask for assistance. There’s likely a whole world of services you’re not using.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">13.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ending a bad habit.</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> You have one. If it’s unhealthy or taking up room in your head, get rid of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">14.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Inspiration.</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Start keeping a journal or carry a notebook or use your phone and begin capturing the things that inspire you. Then once a month or so look for ways you can use those in your business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">15.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Quiet.</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> It’s hard to hear the inspiration when you don’t take a moment to listen to the silence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">16.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Upgraded tech.</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> If it’s been a while, you’re due.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">17.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Organization.</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Select one area of your home or life and organize it. Areas you might target are pictures, the basement, your storeroom, apps, or your mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">18.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Reading.</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> This year read something you normally wouldn’t and see if it doesn’t make you think or reconsider previous thoughts. If you read fiction, try non-fiction. If you never read anything more than a magazine or a blog post, try something that’s a larger commitment. If you always read books, try an audiobook. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">19.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Consistency.</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Try setting out a plan and sticking to it or, if that’s what you always do, try something unexpected and unplanned. Shake 2018 up. Finally…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">20.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Challenge.</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> It’s nice to live in comfort but no growth occurs there. Do something that terrifies you this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoIntenseQuote" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.christinargreen.com/"><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Times; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Christina R. Green</span></b></em></a></span><em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Times; line-height: 150%;"> teaches small businesses, <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">chambers,</span> and associations how to connect through content. Her articles have appeared in the Midwest Society of Association Executives’ Magazine, NTEN.org, and AssociationTech. She is a regular blogger at </span></em><span style="font-family: Times; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.frankjkenny.com/"><em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Times; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Frankjkenny.com</span></em></a></span><em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Times; line-height: 150%;"> and the Event Manager Blog. <o:p></o:p></span></em></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>752</o:Words>
<o:Characters>4290</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Mid-State Technical College</o:Company>
<o:Lines>35</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>10</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>5032</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoIntenseQuote" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Times; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">She’s a bookish writer on a quest to bring great storytelling to organizations everywhere.</span></span></em><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-40491361031668178942017-12-05T07:19:00.000-08:002017-12-05T07:19:02.289-08:00Is It Time to Embrace Emojis in Your Business Marketing?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WEyXZHqqYzk/Wia4U3rKCqI/AAAAAAAABhg/sgvxhz11jD0SNLefL3Xi9Le4vFIGJBZbACLcBGAs/s1600/Snip20171205_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="892" height="201" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WEyXZHqqYzk/Wia4U3rKCqI/AAAAAAAABhg/sgvxhz11jD0SNLefL3Xi9Le4vFIGJBZbACLcBGAs/s400/Snip20171205_1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 211.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Emojis are wildly popular on social media and personal correspondence but should they be used in business emails and posts? The answer might surprise you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Emojis are mini depictions of emotional responses, everything from smiley faces to high fives. <a href="https://www.ama.org/publications/eNewsletters/Marketing-News-Weekly/Pages/emojis-in-marketing-up-777-percent-in-2015.aspx">92% of online consumers</a> admit to using them in some capacity, while 30% of Millennials admit not being able to go a day without them. Why the need for them? They communicate an emotion quickly, especially helpful in social media where space and attention span are limited, and it’s something people identify with. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In 2015 alone, the use of emojis in marketing increased 777% but should you join them? The answer, of course, depends. It depends on a few things like:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Your business/industry</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Your ideal customer or client demographic</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Personal communication versus company-wide marketing</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Business/Industry<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It goes without saying that some industries are simply not receptive to this type of emotion-based communication, banking and financing come to mind. The funeral industry is also probably not a strong contender for emoticons. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Demographics<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Most marketers understand Millennials love emojis (75.9% of 25-29-year-old identify as “frequent users”) but what about other generations? 62.3% of those surveyed over 35 years old considered themselves “<a href="https://buzzplant.com/the-emoji-infographic-stats-to-back-up-your-obsession/">frequent users</a>” of emojis, while 28.6% identified as occasional users. Only 8.1% of people over 35 said they were non-users of emojis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Personal Communication Versus Business-Wide Communication<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">How you communicate as a business professional should be different than how you communicate as a business in your marketing. For instance, an emoji in a subject line to a customer about your next sale may be very intriguing. An emoji in the subject line for a report you’re sending to a manager or a board member probably isn’t. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In a study published in the journal of <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/home/spp"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Social Psychological and Personality Science</span></a>, researchers found that using smiley face emoticons makes you look incompetent. The study reads, “The adverse effects of smiley use are moderated by the formality of the social context and mediated by perceptions of message appropriateness." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Using emojis for business is fine (assuming it fits your demographic and industry) but should probably be used for marketing purposes only. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should you feel tempted to use them in non-marketing, professional situations, take a cue from the higher ups. If you’re the business owner and like them, go for it. If not, base your usage on that of the people you report to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h2>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Good Uses for Emojis in Business Marketing<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If you’re going to use emojis in your business marketing, here are a few suggestions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Use emojis in a subject line to customers or potential customers.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Use emojis in a social media post.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Create a signature emoji for your company and use it as a hashtag.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Use a signature emoji to place an order like <a href="https://www.tatango.com/blog/how-it-works-text-message-a-pizza-emoji-to-order-dominos/">Domino’s did</a>.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Ask customers to use emojis to describe their service or experience with you. It’s less of a time commitment than writing a review. Emotion can also be read easier.</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If you’re considering using more emojis in your business make sure you do it in an acceptable way. They’re widely popular and some studies have even noted that the human brain views them the same as seeing a face mirroring the emotions. Just make sure you use them to delight your audience, not doing something purely because others are making the switch.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 150%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoIntenseQuote" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></em></span></div>
<div class="MsoIntenseQuote" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Times; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><a href="http://www.christinargreen.com/">Christina R. Green</a></span></b></em></span><em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"> teaches small businesses, <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">chambers,</span>
and associations how to connect through content. Her articles have appeared in
the Midwest Society of Association Executives’ Magazine, NTEN.org,
AssociationTech, and Socialfish. She is a regular blogger at </span></em><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.frankjkenny.com/"><em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Times; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Frankjkenny.com</span></em></a></span><em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"> and the Event Manager Blog. <o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<div class="MsoIntenseQuote" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>74</o:Words>
<o:Characters>422</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Mid-State Technical College</o:Company>
<o:Lines>3</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>495</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoIntenseQuote" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">She’s a bookish writer
on a quest to bring great storytelling to organizations everywhere.</span></em><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-23284073262118841032017-08-29T14:04:00.003-07:002017-08-29T14:04:51.811-07:00Decided To Use A Data Center? Central Wisconsin Is A Smart Choice. Here’s Why<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.cyberonedata.com/single-post/2017/06/12/Decided-To-Use-A-Data-Center-Central-Wisconsin-Is-A-Smart-Choice-Here%E2%80%99s-Why">CyberOne Data</a></span></h2>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.0" style="border: 0px; font-family: raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
As a business owner, determining the right location for a data center is no small feat. There are innumerable factors to consider but there are a few that stand out: operating costs, capital costs, electrical and ISP reliability, natural disaster potential and the general business climate. Let’s look at each of these in more detail to see why central Wisconsin was our choice.</div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1" style="border: 0px; font-family: raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1.0" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1.1" style="border: 0px; font-size: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.1.1.0" style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Operating Costs</span></span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.2" style="border: 0px; font-family: raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3" style="border: 0px; font-family: raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
While insurance, lease payments and ISP connectivity are considerable, one of the highest costs to a data center is energy consumption. It’s no secret that Wisconsin has some of the coldest weather in the United States. In fact, on average Wisconsin ranks 43rd for average temperature in the 50 states. How does that translate to lower operating costs for a data center? Simple. Less data center cooling means less electricity being used. And less consumption of electricity for cooling purposes means lower bills (full disclosure: I may be oversimplifying the argument but you get the point). Taking advantage of the climate for cooling purposes is a no-brainer.</div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.3" style="border: 0px; font-family: raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5" style="border: 0px; font-family: raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.1" style="border: 0px; font-size: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.5.1.0" style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Capital Costs</span></span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.6" style="border: 0px; font-family: raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.6.0" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.6.1" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A study conducted by advisory firm BLS & Co. estimated that a 250,000 square foot data center built in Central or Northeast Wisconsin would cost roughly 21% less than the same facility in Chicago. While CyberOne Data is nowhere near that size, it was evident that the capital expenditures required to open in Port Edwards were far lower than the likes of Chicago, Minneapolis or Detroit for example. And believe me when I tell you there are significant capital costs to consider; a backup generator, a clean agent fire suppression system, three-phase power connectivity and the associated electrical components, uninterruptible power supply units (UPS), server hardware, racks, switches, PDUs, construction and permits (and this is NOT a complete list mind you).</span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7" style="border: 0px; font-family: raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7.0" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7.1" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7.2" style="border: 0px; font-size: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.7.2.0" style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Electrical and ISP reliability</span></span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8" style="border: 0px; font-family: raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8.0" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8.1" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The </span><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8.2" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a data-content="https://www.alliantenergy.com/en/AboutAlliantEnergy/OperationsValuesandCompliance" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8.2.0" data-type="external" href="https://www.alliantenergy.com/en/AboutAlliantEnergy/OperationsValuesandCompliance" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">electrical utility</a></span><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8.3" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> for CyberOne Data serves nearly 1.5 million customers across Wisconsin and Iowa. With nearly 4,000 employees and over $3.3 billion in operating revenue for 2016, the utility is strong and the service is reliable. They’re optimization plan for “continued modernization of the power grid, upgrades to the gas distribution system and optimization of the generation fleet” reinforces that notion. </span><br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8.4" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.8.5" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When it comes to ISPs, Wisconsin has numerous long haul and interconnected fiber networks as well as dark fiber providers. The state is home to 85 incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) and 169 competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs). And while CyberOne data is carrier agnostic, we do currently have multiple connections from both regional and national carriers. </span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9" style="border: 0px; font-family: raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9.0" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9.1" style="border: 0px; font-size: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.9.1.0" style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Natural Disasters</span></span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a" style="border: 0px; font-family: raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.0" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.1" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In a </span><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.2" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a data-content="http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2014/09/10/340082.htm" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.2.0" data-type="external" href="http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2014/09/10/340082.htm" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">risk of damage from natural disasters article</a></span><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.a.3" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> published by The Insurance Journal in 2014, property data and analytics firm CoreLogic developed a tool called the CoreLogic Hazard Risk Score (HRS) which gathers data on multiple natural hazard risks and combines them into a single score ranging from 0 to 100 (low risk to high risk respectively). The overall score indicates risk exposure at the individual property and location level. Data used in the analytics represented nine natural hazards: flood, wildfire, tornado, storm surge, earthquake, straight-line wind, hurricane wind, hail and sinkhole. So how did Wisconsin fare? At 37th on the list, only a handful of states scored lower. If an organization is conducting comparative risk management for natural disasters, this data supports utilization of a data center in Central Wisconsin, especially when considering business continuity and disaster recovery planning.</span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.b" style="border: 0px; font-family: raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.b.0" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.b.1" style="border: 0px; font-size: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.b.1.0" style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Business Climate</span></span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.c" style="border: 0px; font-family: raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.c.0" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.c.1" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Central Wisconsin is hungry for new business and starving for technology. CyberOne Data is working with technical colleges, chambers of commerce, and technology driven alliances to help make that happen. Economic development incentives and the factors described above strongly influenced our position to establish a Tier II data center in the middle of the state. But it honestly goes further than that. Market research, one-on-one discussions, community outreach, site visits, anecdotes and an overall positive “vibe” fortified our position to establish CyberOne Data where and when we did.</span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.d" style="border: 0px; font-family: raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.d.0" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.d.1" style="border: 0px; font-size: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.d.1.0" style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">CyberOne Data is a Smart Choice for Your Data Center</span></span></div>
<div class="font_9" data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.e" style="border: 0px; font-family: raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.e.0" /><span data-reactid=".0.$SITE_ROOT.$desktop_siteRoot.$PAGES_CONTAINER.$centeredContent.$inlineContent.$SITE_PAGES.$h8k38_DESKTOP.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6jy.$inlineContent.$mediaiv1ugnag1/=1$mediaiv1ugnag1.$inlineContent.$comp-iv1tf6lg.$inlineContent.0.$child.$0.$inlineContent.$1.$5.$0.$richTextContainer.e.1" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So what does all this mean to a prospective buyer looking to invest in the use of a data center? I could go on and on with the typical sales spew but I won’t. The bottom line is that the combination of all these factors I’ve discussed above, coupled with significant market research, drove our business decision to offer ultra-competitive, affordably priced, colocation racks, dedicated servers, virtualization solutions, storage servers, backup servers and disaster recovery solutions in a low-disaster, stable, and seasonally cool area of the country. We made central Wisconsin the location for CyberOne Data our choice and we believe you should too.</span></div>
Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729226315579956980.post-68806315471962497462017-08-07T06:35:00.000-07:002017-08-07T06:35:02.457-07:00Chamber Membership: A Nice Bonus for Employees<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>7</o:Words>
<o:Characters>41</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Mid-State Technical College</o:Company>
<o:Lines>1</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>47</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light"; font-size: 28.0pt; letter-spacing: -.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Chamber Membership: A Nice Bonus
for Employees</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light"; font-size: 28.0pt; letter-spacing: -.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS ゴシック"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt;">If you’re a chamber member, you may not give a lot of thought as to what that means for your employees but there are a lot of benefits for them as well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j6uoAFd8eFk/WYhsU5QKT9I/AAAAAAAABeY/-TH6YufLo-EEDbnUbJC-sU9V6FR1S6E0wCLcBGAs/s1600/benefits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="205" data-original-width="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j6uoAFd8eFk/WYhsU5QKT9I/AAAAAAAABeY/-TH6YufLo-EEDbnUbJC-sU9V6FR1S6E0wCLcBGAs/s1600/benefits.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lunch and Learns<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chambers host Lunch and Learns and other seminars on topics such as social media and personal branding. These topics can be worthwhile for your employees. You can even use it as a free or inexpensive form of professional development.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Don’t assume your employees know about these perks. Circulate the learning schedule among your employees. This is an effective way to get even more value from your chamber membership. Many younger employees are looking for ways to boost their skills and these sessions are a quick and easy source for learning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Discounts on Events<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another benefit your employees may not be aware of is discounts on tickets to chamber events. Oftentimes, the chamber offers discounts to members on their event tickets. Speaking of discounts…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Member to Member Discounts<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If your chamber offers member to member discounts you want to make sure your employees know about them. This can be a considerable cost savings to your employees and a nice perk you can pass on when someone joins your company.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A Way to Meet People in the Community<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you recruit outside of your community and bring people in from other towns or states, they may wish they knew more people in town. Sure, you can introduce them to other employees but it’s nice for them to get to know people outside your company as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For people from your community, the chamber offers them an opportunity to brush up on their networking skills, which is critical to professional development.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Ability to Shine<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another benefit of chamber membership for your employees is a golden moment where they can shine. This may be the chamber picking up a social media post of theirs, the chamber accepting a guest blog from them, or a speaking opportunity to showcase what they know. This gives your employees a time to shine as well as represent your company proudly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Some business owners only use the chamber membership themselves and forget to tell their employees that they can use it as well. There are many reasons that it benefits you to do so, but one that is important to your business is getting your employees out in the community. It not only gets your name out there but shows that your company and company culture think community involvement is important. This is the type of thing that makes a big impression on customers and potential customers who begin to know, like, and trust you when they see you contributing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 115%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 115%; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoIntenseQuote" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.christinargreen.com/"><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Times; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">Christina R. Green</span></b></em></a></span><em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"> teaches small businesses, <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">chambers,</span> and associations how to connect through content. Her articles have appeared in the Midwest Society of Association Executives’ Magazine, NTEN.org, AssociationTech, and Socialfish. She is a regular blogger at </span></em><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.frankjkenny.com/"><em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Times; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Frankjkenny.com</span></em></a></span><em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"> and the Event Manager Blog. <o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<div class="MsoIntenseQuote" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<em><span style="color: #1f3864; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">She’s a bookish writer on a quest to bring great storytelling to organizations everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<div style="border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 0in 0in 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: 115%; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 0in 0in 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>465</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2657</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Mid-State Technical College</o:Company>
<o:Lines>22</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3116</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00175930966262414707noreply@blogger.com0