Building Relationships for your Business By VolunteeringWritten by Dannielle Brantley
Everyday, it's important to keep your business in front of your audience because one of your biggest mistakes as a business owner is to allow people to forget about you. Creating opportunities for exposure is an important skill that you can develop in order to help increase comfortability (is that a word?) of your company with its audience. Entrepreneurs need to interact with their target market and then communicate effectively with them in order to build any relationships that may lead to a sale. How do you reach your customer if you can't afford well-placed advertising, need a larger budget to produce a radio or tv spot and want more of a connection than one-night networking events? Volunteering may be your answer.This past weekend I had pleasure of coordinating a portion of Prized Pieces Film Festival held at Schomburg Center for Reseach in Black Culture in Harlem in partnership with National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC). Four days, 25 films, 25th Birthday for NBPC and close to 1,000 potential customers for my business. This was what I call networking! And great thing about it is you get to help out an event and make it a success while also building on your own success. But you can't just start volunteering at just any event so, here's what you need to consider before embarking on a 3-4 days volunteer voyage. Will event bring me in contact with my target market? - This may seem like a pretty obvious question but, it's important to think of because if your service is making homemade dolls, then volunteering at a film festival is not going to help bring in more customers. Be clear on who buys your product primarily and then list those secondary markets. If your volunteer duties don't bring you into contact with these people, then you shouldn't bother (unless it's personal). Am I ready to promote my product or service? - When you report for duty be sure to carry your business card, brochure, flyer or anything else you may need in order to show your prospect that you are serious and ready for business. You may only have that one opportunity to talk to that major celebrity about your great makeup product, don't blow it by not having any business cards or correspondence to give.
| | Affirmative InactionWritten by Gary Whittaker
One of Abraham Lincoln's claims to fame is fact that he is best known for abolishing slavery. While he may have felt some personal satisfaction from liberating Negroes from their bondage, Economy was main reason why he made his emancipation proclamation. He wanted all of America to move into Yankee version of capitalism. Over half a decade later, and after a series of civil rights "victories", roots of Affirmative Action were laid into law. This was at a time when black civil rights leaders where being assassinated, churches were being bombed, and dogs were not black man's best friend. Some blacks had managed to prosper in a separate, but equal America. They become lawyers and businessmen and doctors. However, very few businesses employed blacks in a management position, as they knew their white employees would not adhere to their direction. There was a time when all that were true. It was same time that smokers were not treated as social pariah; professional athletics made less than average worker and only way to send mail was in an envelope. Times have changed. The social landscape has evolved. Technology has made a huge impact in our social fabric. Millions of families have found a home, and built their families in North America from across globe. Blacks are no longer scorn of White America. And while Civil Rights amendments apply to all races, colors, and ethnic peoples, let's face it, it is primarily applied to African-American. Between Affirmative Action and demands for reparations, black community has continued to ask for government handouts needlessly for almost 2 decades. It is time for this to end. When Italians and Irish peoples first came to Ellis Island, they were not treated any better than people that were already settled. They faced most of same persecution and challenges being directed to black community as well. But they adapted. They formed close ties with their communities, and bought their way into mainstream America. That is same for Jews. Throughout history, no peoples have been persecuted to same levels as Jews. Laws, throughout history, were made to keep them out of public office, and some times legitimate business, yet still they prosper. What are their secrets? Banding together as a community. Forming strong business groups. Supplying needed services or products to mainstream America. For some reason, since wholesale pillaging of Africa, African-Americans cannot seem to imitate other ethnic communities in that regard. They continue to follow African model of exploitation so that a few can maintain a hold over many.
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