March 2008, Volume: 11, Issue: e/3, ISBN 1527-5175

~~~ Try SEO Techniques in 2008... What is SEO? Search Engine Optimization. If you have not noticed, it is all the rage in web circles. Tweak your web site to increase relevance and traffic. Not sure where to start? Here are some tips from an SEO company in Ontario, Canada.

~~~ "Hi Eric and John (Engelmann)... - I wanted to pass along to you my sincerest gratitude to Tammy Mair with Blane Canada as she continually provides me with efficient and quality help. Not to mention a few laughs here and there when I can't figure something out – which is most of the time. What an asset she is to you Eric – and John, I'm so glad we as e-Synchronist users have her on the other end of things to help us out! I couldn't do it without her! Thanks so much..." - Shani Porter, Platt County, MO.

~~~ "It is not necessary to do extraordinary things to get extraordinary results..." - Warren Buffett

ADVANCED Business Retention Course
April 21 and 22, Chicago, IL

Only a few remaining seats... Act Now!

Why should I be interested in an Advanced Business Retention course you ask?

It is simple really. If your BRE program is built around the same short-term goals you had two or three years ago – helps, saves, relationships, problems – your community doesn’t have a prayer in today’s global competitive environment.

1. If you want to make a difference in your community, you need this course.
2. If you are ready to take your program to the next level. You need this course.
3. If you want more resources for your BRE program, begging won’t work. You need this course.
4. If you want to rub elbows with some of the most committed economic developers in BRE, you want to be in Chicago at this course.
5. If you want to make a name for yourself and earn the salary you deserve, you need this course.

Why do we offer this course?

That’s simple too. We like working with the best and the brightest people in economic development. We like working with people who are hungry to make a difference. We like working with the small minority of people who will redefine this profession and have a huge impact on their communities. They are looking for more content and to be challenged intellectually. Those are the people our courses attract.

Don’t take our word for it. Participants have been outspoken.

    "They just don't come any better than this." - CA

    "I am always interested in what you have to say.
     I have learned a lot from you in the short time I have
     been in the business" - KS

    "Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the
     (Advanced Business Retention) seminar and how
     beneficial this will be for the organization.
     The information and experience you shared was
     awesome and I look forward to working and learning
     again with you." - FL

Remember, unlike the traditional BRE courses, our focus is QUALITY - NOT QUANTITY | Therefore, participation is limited to 25. So, register now while there are still a few seats left.

Registrations: Advanced Business Retention: Beyond the Basics

~~~ Aggressive web strategy... I ran into an interesting situation conducting research for a client. Using Google to find the state economic development web site, the site pops up at the top of the list. I could not find the department or contact phone number I needed. So, I called the only phone number on the site. Imagine my surprise when I was told, "Oh, we are the web site. We are not the government." When I asked the obvious question about contacting the state department, "Oh, I don’t have that information. We don’t deal with them. Have you tried the web site? Wow! I searched again with the same result. I scanned three pages of web addresses. This is the only listing for economic development for this state. I went back in. Well, I finally pierced the veil; however, would your prospect visit the site three times and try 6 different links to find you? Probably not. If your organization has tight controls over your organization's web site, make sure you have a back door that is well lit.

~~~ Speak up... If you have an opinion, Development Counselors International is giving you voice. The new DCI Blog has entered the fray to allow economic developers to speak their minds, pose questions, or just think out loud. DCI's team will share thoughts to start or extend a conversation. Check it out. DCI Blog

~~~ Workforce responses... to last month’s question on maintaining morale and motivating a workforce that is overworked and stressed out.

"Winning Workplaces is a good resource for the workforce questions that you asked. The organization was founded by the Lehman family, which owned a company call Fel-Pro in Skokie, IL. This company was light years ahead of its time, offering on-site day care and family leave in the 1970's and 1980's...very pioneering. Winning Workplaces" Paul Dillon, Chicago, IL

"Apply the principles of employee engagement to set up a committee to survey and explore these options. For example, in my previous healthcare position, we rewarded nurses who had to work extended hours with uniform cleaning service, house cleanings with Merry Maids, meal tickets, gift cards to department stores, day care allowances for the hospital-run childcare, etc."

"In a manufacturing environment, we developed an idea with a committee to assist those who were working six 12-hours during a three-week outage. Ideas such as on-site car detailing, on-site oil changes, laundry service, the employees credit union setting up a branch office in the café or vacant office, mental health counselor available, meal tickets combined with extended cafeteria hours, pizza delivery service, long distance call bank (many workers live outside the local calling area), special cell phone use areas to keep in touch with family, massage therapists for neck and upper back mini-massages in the medical department, etc." Jennifer James, AL

~~~ Maybe you heard... environmental costs of spinning sand into gold. It was just one of the feature stories in a week long on-site series broadcast by NPR’s Market Place on the United Arab Emirates especially Dubai’s bold economic development strategy. The series was a fascinating look at thinking big and deploying bold stroke strategies, strategies that are now paying huge dividends. This is not the good old days when the US was the only game it town. Are your strategies changing accordingly? NPR, Market Place

Blane, Canada Ltd.
1506 Cadet, Suite 100
Wheaton, IL 60187-7380
ph 630.462.9222
fax 630.462.9210

info@blanecanada.com