Congratulations to our Round 4 Finalists!
In the business world today, many of us rely on emails more than ever instead of phone calls, but how do we make our email successful? What does that mean? Is the recipient actually reading the email?
The best start to a successful email is a eye-catching subject line. Make sure it is meaningful and focused. Pique the reader’s curiosity and use power words. Next thing to do is get to the point. Don’t mince words. Business people have a lot on their plate and if your email is not short and succinct, it may just get looked over. A study showed that emails up to 50 words get answered fastest. Anything more than 100 words will see a rapid decline in responses. Be sure to ask a question or two so that the recipient feels the need to respond.
When closing your email, avoid the standard scripted ending such as sincerely. I personally like warm wishes or best regards. See what is more natural to you. Be clear on who the email is from. Include your full name above your company name. Don’t assume that your reader remembers you just by your first name.
One last note I want to add is PROOFREAD! Spelling and grammar errors can be detrimental to any business relationship.
New Year, New You! Chances are you’ve probably heard this phrase uttered countless times throughout every month of January. Often, it’s said in reference to improving oneself whether through increasing your physical activity, learning a skill, becoming a better friend or family member, etc. It certainly is a worthwhile notion and one that should be taken seriously. The turning of the calendar to a new year marks the passage of time, which serves to highlight the fact that time is finite. Changes can’t be put off forever, and a new year can be the spark that ignites action. Despite the positivity of this exercise, not everyone is quick to embrace the idea even though it truly is a benefit to us all. For some, another year must feel like another chance to be disappointed, sad, or just another opportunity for more of the same unfulfilling ventures as last year. It is these people who can use a little encouragement or a little push to open their eyes to the possibility that something better can be attained and that stagnation is not a guarantee. This is a great reason why you should purchase New Year’s cards.
New Year’s cards are by nature optimistic affairs. It’s quite difficult to receive a New Year’s card and ignore its message of opportunity. Sending a New Year’s card, especially to those who really need one, is a simple but resonant way to both wish happiness to others while at the same time prodding them to achieve more of that contentment for themselves. That’s a pretty powerful duo, right?
The Gallery Collection offers a variety of greeting cards and greeting card styles. From the die-cut greeting card all the way to the editable text greeting card, they have every option available. One of the newest card styles is the custom photo mount card. These cards are like a “Create Your Own” card because you can upload any photo you’d like and The Gallery Collection will print it and paste it onto your greeting card! Here are three ways you can use a custom photo mount card next time around.
Correspondence note cards are a versatile business tool that is not outdated in today’s digital world. Having these cards gives you the opportunity to communicate through your business with dignity and class. Here are some ways that correspondence note cards build strong relationships.
When you ask your employees to run an errand or contact a client, do you find that they aren’t always reliable? If you use a correspondence note card to detail your errand, you can ensure that your orders will be followed through as outlined, helping employees recall imperative information. Having your card will also add reverence when running an errand, because your correspondence note card can be taken as official letterhead for inter-office use. Other departments will be more likely to take other employees seriously and quickly satisfy your request if there is proof that it came from your desk.
Your correspondence note cards can also be used to give potential new hires contact information or other desired details, leaving them feeling important and remembered.
Correspondence note cards can be used to acknowledge employee milestones as well. For example, your note cards can be used for a quick thank you that is less formal than a card but more heartfelt than an email. This will help add a personal touch in an otherwise corporate, disconnected office.
Lastly, correspondence note cards make a thoughtful gift to someone starting their own business. This will help them build strong relationships with people as they pave their way in their field. Having official, sophisticated cards to use will help elevate their status quickly, even if they don’t have everything together quite yet.
We are quickly approaching my favorite season of the year – spring! Whatever is left of the snow is melting, the sun is staying out longer, and the temperatures are rising slowly but surely. After a couple months of frigid cold, it is no surprise that the majority of people want to take advantage of the spring by going outside as much as they can. Companies usually have an “outing” for their employees at least once a year, and to me, spring is the optimal time to have one of these. Here are three ideas that I think would work well for a potential spring outing.
Minor League Baseball Game – If your company is located in or around a major city, chances are there is at least one “minor league” baseball team around. They aren’t affiliated with any professional team, so the tickets should be very affordable. I have been to a few New Jersey Jackals games, so if you are in the Northern New Jersey area, this would be a fun option to explore. Teams like the Jackals allow companies to purchase group ticket packages, and this is a great idea for a spring outing. Most ballparks contain grass areas near the outfield, so coworkers can bring their kids, and toss a baseball around before the game starts. Being able to sit back as the sun sets, eating some food off the grill and sipping some beer with your family and coworkers after a long day at the office while watching “America’s Pastime” in person (even if it is a minor team) if a very fun experience.
Company Picnic – To continue with the theme of being outdoors, I’d suggest a company picnic as an option for a spring outing. A picnic could be scheduled for either Saturday or Sunday, so work shouldn’t be on anyone’s mind. Who doesn’t like sitting outside and eating? Everyone can bring a food item, almost like a pot luck lunch at the park. Some parks also allow grilling in certain areas, so the company “grill master” can show off his or her chops. Employees can relax by laying on the grass, or compete in some friendly Frisbee or whiffle ball competitions.
Mini Cruise – The spring weather also allows those with boats to take a nice ride out on the water. Another nice way to soak up the rays would be to take an afternoon excursion on a mini cruise. Boat services offer short “cruises to nowhere”, usually for a couple of hours. The boat stays out on the water, passes by different sites, and there isn’t a destination to reach. It allows passengers to feel the nice wavy breeze and relax in the sun. It also allows passengers to have a few drinks as well (almost all of these types of boats have a bar), without the responsibility of steering the boat back to shore. As the case with most group outings, you can take advantage of group discount prices.
There is much confusion about the difference between Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day. Memorial Day is a day to remember those who have lost their lives while in service to protect our wonderful country. Veteran’s Day is a day to say Thank you to all of those who have served our country. That being said, I do feel that on Memorial Day we should take some time to appreciate those who have done remarkable things to protect preserve our rights as Americans.
One great way to say Thank you to Veterans this Memorial Day is to visit a Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital. Take your time to visit with some of the Veterans and allow them to share their stories. They have experienced interesting things. Thank them for the service.
Another way to say Thank you to a Veteran this Memorial Day is to visit a National Cemetery. You can bring a group of friends and pull weeds and plant flowers. Then pick one special name and find out more about this person. You can write a sincere letter of thanks to his family showing that their loss is appreciated.
Donating to one of the plethora of Veteran’s organization is another way to say Thank You to Veterans this Memorial Day. There are many organization out there that need funding to help get Veterans on their feet again after fighting for our country or help in the healthcare of our Veterans.
Take Memorial Day to thank our Veterans. Sure it has become known as the kick off to summer weekend and a time for barbecues and friends, but the real purpose for this holiday is to recount the sacrifices of our soldiers. Do not let the day go by without appreciating the real meaning behind Memorial Day.
There seem to be a lot of obstacles to go around before you can cross that finish line. Let’s look at the entire course before any winner is chosen.
The concept of taking pictures with your phone and not carrying around another gadget is ingenious. In many, if not most cases, the phone has become the primary way we take photos, which gives us all the opportunity to enhance our creativity with photography. In addition, another benefit is the ability to instantly share our favorite snapshots with one or all of our friends. It is even possible to take photos of our most memorable events such as your son or daughter’s wedding, which is why we want the best camera that will take the highest quality pictures, videos and let’s not forget those popular selfies.
The iPhone 6 has a good aspect ratio and wide angle lens which lets you get a lot more into the photo compared to some others. The iPhone 6 seems to do better on outdoor photographing. However, for inside pics the LG G4 and Samsung Galaxy S6 are running neck to neck. Selfies are right up there in the race with Google Nexus 6 and HTC One M9 moving up quickly on the home stretch.
So the race will continue until all of these deciding factors are captured in one phone. However, for me my pick remains with my iPhone 5, until I can move up the track to iPhone 6.
