Articles - Outsourcing en-us http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article N/A http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article melanie@ducttapemarketing.com 20 http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article/articles/809/1/What-Else-Can-a-Virtual-Assistant-VA-Do-for-Me/Page1.html I recently used a VA (Virtual Assistant) for the first time.  I'm a writer and speaker on numerous topics and I needed help getting some of my articles published.  Not published in the traditional sense, but having them placed in "Article Banks" where they are picked up and re-published around the web in newsletters and other sites. Not that I couldn't do it myself, but I lacked the time and focus to keep at it in a consistent manner.  Enter Karen Braschuk of Office Support 911. hal@halwarfield.com (Hal Warfield) Sat, 18 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article/articles/440/1/8-Ways-to-Grow-Your-Business-During-a-Summer-Lull/Page1.html Have things slowed down for your business now that the warmer months are upon us and people are on vacation or otherwise taking a break from their usual routines? Use this downtime to focus on getting your business ready to rock for the fall by implementing some of the 8 ideas... alicia@clientabundance.com (Alicia Forest) Mon, 06 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article/articles/375/1/What-can-graphic-design-companies-do-for-your-business/Page1.html Many business owners have a lot in common. We can usually find a way to get just about anything done. Most of us have the tough skin it takes to make it through the challenges we face as entrepreneurs. Quite a few of us are even pretty good at delegating responsibility to our employees. What separates those of us that move on to the next level is knowing when to bring in outside professionals so they can free us up so we can focus on our business. While many business owners eventually realize that they must turn to a legal or accounting firm to avoid a sticky situation or get out of one, many never make this realization when it comes to graphic design companies. jlknauff@wildfiremg.com (Jeremy L. Knauff) Tue, 26 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article/articles/238/1/Top-10-Reasons-Your-Business-Isnt-Growing/Page1.html Small business owners commonly fail to plan for their success. Sure, they want to be successful and profitable, but they often are so focused on the "doing" that they don't examine the practices that are keeping them from getting there. service@therelief.com (Danielle Keister) Sat, 27 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article/articles/222/1/Outsourcing-Through-the-Eyes-of-the-Pro-Active-Person/Page1.html First things first, let's talk about the difference between 'Outsourcing' and 'Offshoring'; Dictionary.com defines 'Outsourcing' as: to purchase (goods) or subcontract (services) from an outside company. Dictionary.com defines 'Offshoring' as: the practice of moving business processes or services to another country, esp. overseas, to reduce costs. Although I want to talk about both today, I think people use these words interchangeably even though they don't mean the same thing. Dale@SmallBiz-Mechanic.com (Dale Robert) Sun, 07 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article/articles/177/1/Designers-are-from-Saturn---How-to-Choose-a-Graphic-Designer/Page1.html Or not! Finding designers to interview for your next design project is a fairly simple process. Finding the right match for your particular job is more complicated. You will find that there are many different types of designers. From the independent professional to the larger design firms; from specialized shops that deal with one type of product (annual reports, packaging) to professionals that have a wider range of experience, although maybe not as deep as the specialists in their particular areas.  marina@maremar.com (Marina Rivon) Sun, 10 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article/articles/148/1/Marketing-Is-Not-A-Cost--A-CEO-Who-Doesnt-Understand-Marketing-Is/Page1.html If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard a CEO say, “we want to get as much marketing as possible for the least amount of money,” I would be a rich man.  Believe me.  I have measured it.   Why is it that so many CEOs and their management teams are still approaching marketing from the position that it is a cost?  Because they have absolutely no metrics to justify how they are spending their marketing dollars.    Most CEOs of privately held Business-To-Business organizations have not taken the time to measure what their customers are worth to them over their lifetime, and so they have no way to build a rationale for what they are willing to spend to win more customers. info@cornucopiagroup.com (Michelangelo Celli) Fri, 03 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article/articles/147/1/Dropping-The-Ball/Page1.html When it comes to marketing, most CEOs at B2B companies make lousy catchers, and even worse pitchers.   It's tough to find a CEO that really loves to talk about marketing. Business owners, presidents, and CEOs pack into sales seminars, but similar marketing events are filled only with marketing directors and marketing VPs, with few CEOs in sight. And yet, in which area of the business do you think the CEOs are dumping more money without a measurable return, marketing or sales? info@cornucopiagroup.com (Michelangelo Celli) Fri, 03 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article/articles/141/1/How-To-Make-More-Money-By-Working-Fewer-Hours/Page1.html Have you ever wondered if there was a way to work fewer hours without putting your company in jeopardy?  This article is for solo-professionals who are looking for ideas on getting much-needed help without breaking their company's budget. jennirv4967@iwon.com (Jennifer Irving) Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/article/articles/133/1/Are-You-Prepared-for-Your-Small-Business-Success/Page1.html Safeguard your freedom to live and enjoy your life as a self-reliant, independent professional by planning ahead and hiring the help you need right now--you can't afford not to. service@therelief.com (Danielle Keister) Mon, 30 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0500