Take a look at this advertisement. What is the first thing that comes to mind?     Shock? Anger? Hatred? Fear? Would you think it was for Homeland Security? The 9/11 Memorial? In actuality, this advertisement was pitched for the World Wildlife Fund.   Just over a week before the eighth anniversary of September 11th, this controversial advertisement was pitched to the Brazilian branch of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The ad features dozens of airplanes in mid-air, flying directly into Lower Manhattan with an accompanying tag line reading "The Tsunami Killed 100 Times More People Than 9/11." Underneath the comparison of 9/11 to the Tsunami, the WWF's signature logo of the panda is displayed next to the copy of the ad: "The planet is brutally powerful. Respect it. Preserve it.”  The Brazilian design firm DDB Brasil designed the advertisement and, according to... [Read Full Article]

Tips from June 17, 2009 The Small Business tips today will be how a sales team can grab a prospective client’s attention to lead to a successful sale. Set limits on how much you talk.  On average, 60 seconds is the maximum to talk about yourself or your business.  Engage the prospective client to signal the next time you can speak so you avoid rambling. Ask open-ended questions to enable dialoguing with your prospective client.  Prompt them with questions that cannot be answered with a yes or no question.  Begin with what, where, when, why, or how. Do not manipulate, lead, or control your prospective client.  Encourage the other party to reveal their opinions about your product or service.  Build rapport.  Being kind and courteous goes a long way and you will gain the trust of your potential client.  An individual who can trust a salesperson is more willing to do busines... [Read Full Article]