Industrial Process

Archive for July, 2009

8Reasons All NonProfits Need A Web Site…

A nonprofit organization can take advantage of the Internet for at least eight purposes:

• publicity
• public education
• fundraising
• volunteer recruitment
• service delivery
• advocacy
• research
• communication

Let us look at brief examples of each of these uses in turn.

Publicity

Good sites gain attention. Attention or awareness is exactly what all nonprofits need… it accelerates fundraising efforts and enhances all the following essential needs:

Public Education

There’s a fine line between grabbing the public’s attention and educating the public about an important social problem or cause.

Whatever the mission statement of your nonprofit organization is it needs to be presented with clarity to the various “publics” that all nonprofits must influence if they are to be successful.

All organizations have several different “publics” which they must influence in a positive way in order to achieve their organizational goals.

Some of these “publics” are:

• centers of influence
• community organizations
• government officials and departments
• other nonprofits
• volunteers
• donors
• etc. etc.

A properly constructed and strategized web site can reach all of these “publics” cost effectively and with immediate “callstoaction.

Fundraising

Large sums of money are now changing hands over the Internet. One early barrier to online fund raising was the perceived insecurity surrounding online financial transactions. With dramatic improvements in online secure data transmission this is no longer an issue.

Now there are multiple ways for donors to make direct donations without worrying. Several companies offer secure methods for performing online financial transactions.

PayPal and Amazon now provide free mechanisms for the proper transmission of credit card donations to nonprofits… eliminating the need for the nonprofit to own and manage their own credit card merchant account… and saving the organization on transaction fees.

Another advantage of online credit card donations is that they are usually for larger amounts… and given more often during the year.

The biggest single benefit of a well crafted nonprofit web site is the fact that you are now opening up the entire online world… almost a billion users (and growing) worldwide… to your organizations needs and goals. It is not unusual for organizations to recieve substantial donations from complete strangers living in foreign countries. These folks will have found you on the worldwideweb feel an affinity to your goals… and donate money using your online form and their credit card.

Building a donor database allows the organization to “go back to the well” seeking additional donations for specific projects needs or general support.

Volunteer Recruitment

Volunteer recruitment and management is a well developed and proven use of the Internet. The Internet allows for a new and powerful way for people to support nonprofits by becoming virtual volunteers. Virtual volunteers have more control over their time and the ease of working from home because they take advantage of the convenience of online communication. All the factors that motivated volunteers facetoface still operate forcefully over the Internet. A spirit of community and personal relationships thrive abundantly in cyberspace. Of course many nonprofits have effectively used their web presence for recruiting volunteers that show up on their premises. Recognizing volunteers… a vital component of developing a strong volunteer is made simple and easy through a web site.

Service Delivery

Our economy is increasingly based on the timely exchange of information All successful nonprofits must deliver the right information to the right person at the right time.

A web site is a powerful way to deliver services for those organizations in the business of providing people with information. Since this includes almost all nonprofits the need and benefits of a website accessable 24hours a day seven days a week become obvious.

Advocacy

To mobilize people around an issue an organization must get the word out quickly and provide people with convenient tools for responding. Because it’s so easy to update a web site and have the vital details available instantaneously the web is a perfect way to encourage people to act on issues that greatly concern them. Timely action alerts can be sent via email to various organization maintained data bases …instantly. It’s easy to respond to a call for action when one can email one’s legislative representatives or link to other volunteer bulletin boards on the Internet. Cross linking with other likeminded organizations provides a “synergy of action” that would be impossible with a well crafted web presence.

Research

Research may take many forms. An organization may wish to keep up with legal political scientific or other mission related developments. Alternatively it may wish to learn about grant getting opportunities.

Two excellent starting points for almost any kind of searching are Google and Yahoo. Probably the best directory devoted entirely to nonprofit organizations on the web is the Action Without Border’s web site. This includes a page of foundations and links offering grant opportunities. Cross linking with these organizations provides a wonderful networking opportunity and usually leads to additional opportunities for all the linked organizations.

Communication

It would be hard to overemphasize the advantages cost savings or numerous virtues of email. Email offers the best of the phone and the mail. It is as fast and as reliable as the phone while compensating for the frailties of human memory by preserving a written record as does the mail. Further email allows for asynchronous communication meaning that one can read one’s email on one’s own time rather than having to play telephone tag. Of course it also encourages clarity of expression by remaining a form of *written* communication.

Web sites facilitate email correspondence when they make publicly available the email addresses of organization staff. Sites can offer options which make sending a message as convenient as filling out a form. They can also invoke an email mailer on many browsers when the visitor to a site clicks on the right button.

If you are worried about getting too much email more than you have time to answer consider discarding any mail delivered by the US Postal Service and using the time you save to answer the few email messages you are lucky enough to receive. They will likely be more valuable more interesting and you will be able to respond to them more quickly with better results than most of your incoming “snail mail”.

In summation… the strong benefits enjoyed by all nonprofit organizations from the development of a custom website are many and varied. A strong web presence provides a solid economic basis for additional revenues (donations) cost savings and enhanced services to members volunteers and the public at large. Since most nonprofits are understaffed… the dramatic labor savings and management efficiencies gained with a comprehensive web site can mean the difference between success or failure… growth or survival!

About the writer:

Thom Reece is the CEO of OnLine Marketing Group a direct response marketing agency with headquarters in Hawaii. He is the creator of the Online Marketing Resource Center http://www.ecomprofits.com the major portal for the network marketing industry MaxxMLM.com http://www.MaxxMLM.com. Thom can be reached by email at: thomATecomprofits.com

onlinemktgroupgmail.com

How To Survive In Business Long Enough To Win

As a former human resources professional it has always intrigued me as to why people were more ‘successful’ than others. By ‘successful’ we are referring to an innate ability of some people to set and achieve worthwhile challenges for themselves.

Here we are using the word “challenge” and not goals. A challenge may be a goal but not every goal is a challenge. Challenges stretch us beyond where we are and generally require us to embrace learning something new.

Very often it is the learning process or lack of understanding of the learning process that causes usto shrink from challenges. When we are children we learn readily. Unfortunately somewhere in our development some of us start to acquire negative thoughts and feelings about learning new things. For some our experiences in school have not fostered a love of learning and confidence in our ability to learn. Consequently we enter adulthood not valuing or understanding these important skills.

Do you find yourself shrinking back from challenging situations? Do you assess tasks as not possible because you don’t know enough? Be honest many of us do. Have you started a home business and feel completely overwhelmed by your lack of confidence? Do you say to yourself “It can work for others but not for me”. Or “I am the exception that proves the rule!”

If this is you then read on as we explain a process of adult learning. There are many models of adult learning and the theory of such has been the subject of many doctorates. These however are not the subject of this article. Here we are using a simple model that most people can relate to which can make a difference to their lives.

There are four stages of development when you are learning something new. Once you understand these stages of learning you may be encouraged to place yourself in challenging situations and extend your capacity and capabilities through the learning process. You may even learn to drop “I can’t” from your vocabulary and develop an “I can” perspective of yourself!

Go on you can’t lose and you just might acquire the confidence to make an outstanding success at your home business or other challenging venture!

STAGE 1 THE FOOLISH STAGE!

When you first start out you feel like an idiot! You feel as though you are stupid. If you are learning to play golf you most certainly would not think of yourself as a ‘golfer’ the first time you pick up the golf club. But the fact of the matter is you are a golfer.simply a very inexperienced one!

This is the stage where we feel like a fake or a charlatanbecause we have not mentally and emotionally bought into the concept that we are a golfer. We may have made a verbal commitment and taken some action (picked up the club) but our hearts and minds are still a long way behind. That’s why we can’t call ourselves a golfer. If our hearts and minds were in full alignment with our words and actions then we would say “I am a golfer.and I have a bunch of stuff to learn before I get really good”. If we are a newbie in the home business arena we may decide to keep quiet about our new business until the business proves itself! (Hmmm)

This is a dangerous stage because without a firm focus we are likely to stop and give up. It is important to make a mental shift and imagine yourself having fully achieved what you set out to do. Imagine yourself playing golf confidently hitting the ball straight down the fairway. In reality we may feel uncomfortable and out of our depth; perhaps even anxious. This is simply the early stages of learning and won’t be the final place if you keep going with the task you have undertaken. The more uncomfortable you feel about your new venture the harder you should work on your imagination of success.

Some people try to avoid this stage altogether and procrastinate from getting fully committed because they want to be feeling “comfortable”. What they actually mean is they can’t get started until they have learnt everything there is to know! They want to spend months researching before they pick up a club and approach the golf tee. This is a great mistake!

You can’t learn how to play golf from a textbook or from a training video alone. You have to learn in practice. Likewise your home business will not grow if you don’t communicate with people. You may feel totally foolish but you cannot go forward unless you try and learn by doing. Learning by doing is one of the fastest ways to learn a new skill. How good a game of golf would you play if you just read about how to swing the club? How quickly will your business grow if you only read the training manuals?

You have to get started despite how foolish you feel.AND you have to keep going despite how UNCOMFORTABLE you feel. Determine not to stop because if you do you will stop at the start and never get to the finish line!

STAGE 2 UNCOMFORTABLE

In the next phase you may not feel quite so anxious and foolish but you most certainly are still uncomfortable! Keep going no matter how uncomfortable you feel. The only way to get past this stage is more and more practice. Your heart will catch up if you keep doing the deal over and over. You may start to see some results from your efforts but keep your focus on the future for the best is yet to come. If you keep going giving yourself more and more practice picking yourself up despite the mistakes eventually you will find some aspects of the game of golf (or your home business) will start to feel more comfortable. Oh what a feeling! Make sure you celebrate the wins no matter how small and reinforce how well you are doing.

STAGE 3 COMFORTABLE

In this next stage of learning you will start to lose some of your nervousness in talking to people about the business you may even start to see some results. Possibly some questions which earlier on distressed you are no longer a challenge. You start to see that you can answer objections people put in front of you with ease and style. This is the comfortable stage. Your heart has finally caught up with your head. You can tell people confidently you are a golfer or have your own business. Once your reach this stage your self belief will have grown exponentially. Don’t take your learning for granted celebrate your success again and again.

STAGE 4 PROFICIENT REFLEX ACTION AUTOMATIC!

This is where you really wanted to be when you start. You are great at what you do!!! The only way to get here is practice practice and practice. You can’t get here in one step. You must pass through the other three stages. Once you are here don’t be surprised if unforeseen things happen and you may slip back into feeling comfortable or even uncomfortable. For example you may have to play golf on a different or harder course. Do not fear simply practice over and over and you will again be proficient and feeling completely in control of what you are doing.

These four stages of learning can be applied to just about any situation which requires learning a new skill. Learning is a journey and when we understand the stages of learning we can use the experiences as a powerful vehicle to propel us to achieving a worthwhile challenge rather than a daunting experience that gets the better of us! Celebrate your successes not matter how small and never give up!

(c) Copyright Kim Beardsmore

You are free to publish this article in its entirety without changes as long as the Copyright and Author’s Bio remain in place and the URLs and links remain intact and working.

About the writer:

Kim Beardsmore is a distributor for an established MLM company that operates in 59 countries. Built upon 25 years experience and a proven business system this is “business in a box” that anyone can operate. If you are interested in earning money from home we can show you how to generate a profitable business for yourself in an around your current schedule. Visit now: http://free2liv.com.

A Hot Business For 2006: Nonmedical Home Care Business

Home care in the United States is a diverse and dynamic service industry. Approximately 20000 providers deliver home care services to 7.6 million individuals who require services because of acute illness longterm health conditions permanent disability or terminal illness. Annual expenditures for home health care are projected to be 48.3 billion in 2007. Home care is a broad term that describes a wide variety of health related services provided in the home setting. Home care is health care brought to your home to maintain or restore your health and wellbeing.

Growth Trends in the industry

Seniors are one of the fastest growing population groups in the United States. The senior population has grown about twice as fast as the overall population since the early 1980s. The growth is also expected to continue early in the second decade of the new century when baby boomers turn 65. Seniors aged 85 and over are the fastest growing segment of the overall senior population. Consequently the demand for Non Medical Home Care services is also growing. It is listed as one of the fastest growing occupations by the U.S. Labor Department. According to AARP as Americans age most will remain in their own homes. Nearly 7 out of 10 older Americans own their own residence and most have no plans to move.

As a result fewer seniors are getting the help they need with simple daily functioning. For example in 1990 80 percent of seniors needing help to prepare their meals reported that someone was available to help them; by 2001 that had dropped to just 60 percent according to the National Council on Aging. Overall from 1988 to 2001 there was a significant decrease in the number of seniors who reported that they had spouses relatives friends or neighbors to provide personal care or assistance. Today an everincreasing senior population has fewer resources available to help them with the daily tasks of living. At the same time older adults have longer life expectancies than ever before.

Leading Psychologists believe by seniors remaining in their own homes they can retain an important sense of independence. It is also psychologically beneficial for older seniors to remain in familiar surroundings. While their wellmeaning children may wish to put them in a retirement home the fact is that forced relocation can cause some seniors to feel disoriented depressed and confused.

Remaining as independent as possible can boost a senior’s overall sense of wellbeing. Staying in their own home is in most cases far more preferable (as well as less costly) than relocating to an assisted living facility. It gives them a sense of empowerment and allows them to retain close friendships with neighbors.

The Business Opportunity

Until recently however few choices were available to healthy seniors who wished to remain in their homes. Most health businesses only offered Medical Home Care. This can be extremely costly since most professionals must be registered nurses or nurses assistants. In addition they may balk at performing light housekeeping tasks. Finally they rarely have the opportunity to build long relationships with their clients. Often a different professional appears every week which is disorienting to seniors and prevents establishing a bond with their caregiver.

Your business Nonmedical Home Care in contrast is designed to help the older adult with the tasks of everyday living. Nonmedical caregivers do not assist with medical procedures and since they are not registered nurses or medical personnel their hourly rate is not as high. They also offer the opportunity for steady companionship as they are generally assigned to specific clients on a longterm basis enabling a friendship to grow.

These caregivers can help seniors maintain their independence by taking over the daily tasks that become increasingly difficult with age. They can take the client grocery shopping or to the bank prepare meals do light housekeeping and provide daily conversation and companionship. Nonmedical caregivers represent a rapidly growing trend to allow people needing help to remain in their home or in the community.

Getting Started!

Barriers to entering the Non Medical Home Care business are relatively low. While potential profits are medium to high. Your success depends upon many variables: your marketing efforts your start up budget the demographics of your area just to name a few critical attributes. In most states no formal training is required to provide Non Medical Home Care services. It is important to check with your statelicensing agency concerning the appropriate license for the services you will offer. Not all NonMedical Home Care agencies can perform personal care services without a licensed.

As with all business as the business owner you must have exception drive and motivation. In addition your customers will expect your business to be punctual and trustworthy. Whether you plan to provide the services yourself or hire employees these are key business characteristics that cannot be overlooked.

The start up cost for your home care business depends on how you define your business scope. The cost can range from low to mediumhigh. Some business owners have started their Non Medical Home Care business with as little as a thousand dollars to as much as five hundred thousand dollars.

If you are interested in starting a Non Medical Home Care business you have two options. You can choose to start your business on your own or your join forces with a Non Medical Home Care franchise.

If you choose to start your home care business on your own there is a diverse amount of information available online and in bookstores that can help you achieve your goal of establishing a profitable home care business. You can find general business startup information ranging from how to raise capital how to establish your business plan to Home Care Guides specific to the Home Care industry. These guides can provide you with the critical information you need to get started.

There are pros and cons to each start up option. The benefits to starting on your own are lower cost ease of entry and no franchise fees. The downside is you wont have the ongoing guidance of the franchisor to steer you around problems and pitfalls.

If you decided go the franchise route you will benefit from the wellestablished plans of the franchisor. Many of the mistakes and pitfalls that you may face by starting on your own will already have mitigating solutions. The downside is that you can expect a higher startup cost in addition to a recurring royalty cost of 4 to 10 percent. Furthermore the market area where you would like to operate your business may not be available.

In the end NonMedical Home Care is an option that allows the senior to remain in the home without feeling overwhelmed. The senior receives the assistance and companionship required the family enjoys peace of mind that a beloved parent aunt or uncle is not struggling with the simple tasks of everyday living and you get the opportunity to start one of the fastest growing business that will continue to grow well into the future. It is a “winwin” situation for all.

About the writer:

Blake Williams is the founder of SmallBizGuides.com and a multifaceted business management expert speaker and author. His typical topics include careers startups small business marketing and project management. Webmasters and other article publishers are hereby granted article reproduction permission as long as this article in its entirety author’s information and any links remain intact. Copyright 2005 by Blake Williams Media Group You can purchase his ebook How to Start and Run a Successful Non Medical Home Care Business at http://www.smallbizguides.com. Contact Blake at postmastersmallbizguides.com.