Business leaders continually look for ways to market their business, generate product awareness, increase sales and, ultimately, improve their bottom line. One way that is often overlooked or underestimated is by affiliating with a charity. Supporting a charity not only provides badly needed assistance to a good cause but also shines a positive light on the company.

Studies show that charitable involvement not only enhances corporate image and reputation, it can increase sales, raise
customer loyalty and retention, and act as a means to attract top-notch employees. A study by Walker Research, a firm that specializes in marketing and business development for emerging technology companies, found that when price and quality are equal, 76 percent of consumers said they would switch to brands or retailers that support a good cause. The bottom line is that charitable support is a win/win for both the supporting company and the receiving nonprofit.

In addition, employees who volunteer time with a charity have the opportunity to network with other professionals and community members. While cash donations are important, volunteering, that is, hands on involvement with time and energy, can be equally beneficial. One young executive found himself rubbing elbows with the very CEO with whom he had been trying, unsuccessfully, to get an appointment.

In addition, supporting a good cause builds community trust, but only if the company practices what it preaches. For example, if your company supports Sierra Club, America’s oldest, largest and most effective environmental organization, make sure you follow Sierra Club’s environmental recommendations. Be sure your company resides in a “green building,” has a strong recycling program in place, and if a manufacturing concern, produces a product without polluting the environment. In this case, actions speak as loudly as big-buck donations.

Bottom line? Choose a nonprofit you care about since nothing rings truer than a sincere passion for the charity of choice.Sincere, enthusiastic involvement will go a long way toward helping your community and your business. But if you’re still looking to find charity you and your employees can stand behind, visit www.give.org, the website of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance. The Alliance reports on charitable organizations that are the subject of donor inquiries. These reports include an evaluation of the charity or nonprofit.

Once a charity has been selected, don’t waste time getting involved. Write the check, offer to sponsor events, chair a committee and host meetings. The sooner the better. Your company’s commitment will not only enhance its community standing, it will more than likely contribute to its bottom line. Best of all, it will help you help your community and people in need. It doesn’t get much better than that.

A Stepped Up Image Can Influence Other’s Reactions

A professional image is vital to your business success because clients and colleagues often make judgments on you, your product and your company on first impressions. While looks aren’t everything, image is, and it’s no accident that some of the most successful people in the business world are image conscious (think The Donald). But, it’s not just about what you wear, it’s also about when you wear it.  When deciding what kind of image to project and what to wear, consider your clients. Are they casual and relaxed or dressed to the nines? If your clients dress casually, their comfort level will increase if you’re a match. On the other hand, if your client is all about Armani and you’re in jeans, you may have a problem.  If you’re among the fashionably challenged, seek expert help. Most large retailers, like Nordstrom, Macy’s, Joseph A. Banks and Dillards, offer personal shopping services, most often free of charge. Macy’s, for example, offers individual appointments, wardrobe-preference personal profiling and consultations.

More into online services? Try www.livepersonalshoppers.com, a site that offers online chatting with personal shoppers coupled with advice on product options. But if you’re completely lost and in need of a total image makeover, try Global Image Group www.globalimagegrp.com, a full-service consulting firm that specializes in helping clients develop a strong first impression and brand identity through wardrobe and image development, communication, etiquette and protocol skills. GIG also offers a book called “The Sterling Strategies of Style and Success,” a great tool to keep handy when developing your perfect image.  But the most important image builder is attitude.  Project an attitude of competence, confidence and pride and it will open doors that you never would have expected. Never forget that your clients have many
choices and it’s your job to show them that you are the best choice they can make.

Originally published in 2007, In Business Las Vegas, written by: Marnie Settle

Web Sites. Everyone wants one. Everyone thinks they need one. People buy their domain and then what?  Well, if you are like so many others you buy your domain at Godaddy.com and just when you think you are safe to checkout you realize you have a bunch of other add-on options. “Do I buy hosting?  Do I buy privacy? What is Privacy. Oh yes, I will buy “Website Tonight.” I need email, so I will buy that. Oh yes, and Search Engine Optimization – need that too.”

That’s the problem I have with Godaddy. They make it complicated for the Web Newbie. I have clients that contact me frequently with – “I bought a domain on Godaddy and I bought Website Tonight but I can’t figure out how to build the site and get it launched.”  Often these clients are fairly computer savvy but they don’t know anything about Web Site basics. That’s where they get into trouble. Now they have spent money on items they either won’t use or didn’t need. Sad.

Don’t get me wrong. Godaddy.com offers a great service and their prices are competitive. But my personal favorite for buying and hosting domains is Bluehost.com – and here is why.  When most people buy their domain, they are not aware that they need to purchase hosting as well (at least if you want to build a site and launch it). So if you are buying a domain with the notion to build a site then I recommend Bluehost.com. If you just want to own a domain and do nothing with it – use Godaddy.com as the fee for just registering the domain is only $10.

When you purchase through Bluehost.com you select the domain you want to register  and when you go to check out you are automatically buying the domain name registration and one year of hosting all in one. Bluehost’s does not charge you for domain registration and set up is free. They are also running a promo now where privacy is free too. So all you pay for is hosting with them for at least one year. The rate for hosting is about $84 for the year.  At the end of year one you will need to pay $10 to renew the domain name and the hosting for the second year goes up to $107.  There are discounts for buying more than one year of hosting at a time.

Now my favorite part… Once you have completed your purchase you can login to what is referred to at Bluehost.com as the C-Panel (Control Panel) and all of your options like setting up email and more are all right here. There are How To videos, a Getting Started Guide, 24-7 Help and even $25 and $50 Yahoo and Google Adwords coupons – all included in what you paid for hosting!

Bluehost c-panel screen shot

The support you get at Bluehost.com is outstanding too. You can get help by calling their 800 #, through email or online chat. Anytime I have needed help with any issue they have been able to help fix my problem.

Now, using Bluehost.com will not make you an instant Web Guru and you may still need help building your site. They do offer free add-on’s that are easy to launch like WordPress that can help get your on the web right away. If you are looking for a quick and simple way to create a site try WordPress. Though it is traditionally a blogging platform, WordPress is very customizable and easy to use. I use WordPress for the easy of publishing this site. WordPress offers you different looks and themes too.

If you still need assistance building and launching your site don’t hesitate to reach out and let me know.