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"Economic Development Marketing Letter"
A Blane, Canada Ltd. Publication
Nationally Recognized Experts On Economic Development Marketing and Retention
~~~Synchronist Users' Forum... The third annual Synchronist (software) Users' Forum will be held Sept. 30 - Oct. 1 near O'Hare International Airport. As in past years, the business retention software users will find attending "pays for the investment the first day" with new updates, web-based capabilities, report generating strategies, and MORE. If you own the software, join representatives of more than 120 users across the country to add value to your investment! ecanada@blanecanada.com ~~~Short-term lust... long-term bust? One of the worst mistakes an organization can make is to review results only by the numbers. In our business, jobs and capital investment dominate. Yet, making the numbers often means neglecting other measures of overall health and performance. What are the strategic implications of focusing only on the numbers? Educate your board. ~~~"Jobs Tomorrow"... is an effort by California's economic development professionals to underscore the changed face of economic development and the need to take a new strategic look at policy, programs, and service delivery. Organized by California Assoc. for Local Economic Development (CALED) the white paper also advocates rethinking how the State Commerce Agency is organized to respond to today's economy and an expanded role for local development organizations in service delivery. Very well done. Source: Wayne Schell, CALED, wschell@caled.org ~~~CIO, COO, CFO, CEO... According to a survey by CIO magazine, CIO's report to CEO's and are often the CEO's successor, more so than the COO. CIO's are the key strategic (planning) business leaders. Are you in contact with local CIO's? Source: CIO magazine 3/1/02. ~~~Skills gap survey... Conducted in Yakima, WA, the survey was targeted on businesses in metal fab, plastics and wood processing. Current employment, projected growth for next 3 years, wages/benefits, "work maturity skills" and recruitment methods were some of the topics. The feedback was shared with the state to gain training resources. Source: Mark Mochel, Yakima County Development Assn. ~~~The battle for public participation... Many of us try to engage members and/or the public in our economic development planning activities. Our attempts are often frustrated by poor practices. "Cultivating Productive Public Conversations," by Ruth Bramson of Suffolk Univ., is the very best article we have found on engaging the public. It is well worth reading. IEDC has posted the article for public access at our request to make it available to all of our readers. Source: IEDC ED Commentary, Vol. 25, #3, Fall 2001. http://www.iedconline.org/edj_sample_page1.html ~~~A hearing... When will execs give a salesperson a hearing? According to a study by the University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler School of Business, the most common answer is if they can "Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of my business." This is precisely why the Synchronist System's approach to existing business interviews is to first compile a company's data before the interview. http://www.synchronist.com ~~~Sales..."When should you STOP calling a prospect?" According to the web site of SalesRepCentral, 92% of sales people stop calling after the fourth call. However, taking executive personalities into account, they tend to feel comfortable with someone after the fifth call. How do you measure up? http://www.salesrepcentral.com ~~~A blind dog... will occasionally find a bone. That's a clever analogy for assessing the merits of cold calling. Source: John Krug, Orlando ~~~Need a solution... to the ever-present problem of helping area executives grow their businesses? Promote NxLeveL(TM). NxLeveL Training Network is a clearinghouse for diverse groups involved in assisting businesses and promoting community and economic development. The goal of the network is to share ideas and promote the efficient use of community resources through the building of effective community networks, while providing cost-effective training materials and helping to develop training teams. http://www.nxlevel.org ~~~Fundamental question... "Do we have the product our target audience buys?" ~~~There's a story here somewhere... Classic walnut laser-engraved plaque on the end table at the Greater Dallas Chamber reads: "Economic Development - Not for Sissies." ~~~Frantic is OK if... frantic preparation is followed by absolutely calm execution. ~~~This could be a record.... We were stunned when we received feedback from a reader who monthly forwards the "ED Marketing Letter" to 85 additional people! Clever person. She stays in front of constituents regularly with three clicks of the mouse. Feel free to send "ED Marketing Letter to your "constituents." ~~~It's never just one thing... it is a bundle of distinct qualities and activities that combine to build a success story. Adopting the competition's strategy won't let your community's distinct qualities shine through. Write your own success story, beginning with the first line. ~~~Industry risk assessment... performed by the Brandow Company. Check out their research data when determining what companies need to be nurtured. http://www.bizminer.com ~~~"Are there sponsorship opportunities... available on ED Marketing Letter?" Sorry, we don't endorse or take sponsorships for fee. If it passes our private test of value and looks relevant to our readers, we will include a reference. If it is outside the scope of our Letter, no amount of money can influence our decision. Thanks for asking. ED Marketing Letter editors. ~~~Albert Einstein... "The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." Thanks, John Stibal (WI) for the quote! ~~~Trade show... schedules are regional, national, and international. To be aware of the diversity, go to http://www.bizmanuals.com/links/businesstradeshows.html or for Canadian shows: http://www.whatsshowing.on.ca/fback.html ~~~Ban that term... Ever get annoyed by a speaker using a tired, overused words or terms? Yep, prospects do, too. So, keep these words out of your next presentation... "Banished Words of 2002 List." Published annually by Lake Superior State University. http://www.lssu.edu/banished ~~~News Index... An up-to-the-minute news-only search engine? Log on this minute for news not affiliated with any other media sources. Add a free custom tickler or news web page to your site or desktop. Economic developers, get regular updates on local companies and prospects. A terrific resource. http://www.newsindex.com Source: Larry Chase's Web Digest For Marketers, larrychase@wdfm.com ~~~"Enjoyed ... your March newsletter. Short, to the point, with each item giving me information and making me think." WI
Blane, Canada Ltd.
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