Infographic summarizing Inbound Marketing by IMPACT Branding & Design.

The Inbound Marketing Process Infographic

From: IMPACT Branding & Design

3rd Level Consulting’s Guide to Social Media for Marketing Basics

3rd Level Consulting is excited to present our first Video Blogs.  We produced two videos about Social Media for Marketing Basics.  The short and sweet version is our Social Media Summary under 3 minutes and/or if you want more details you can watch the 13 minute Marketing Basics version.  Please note these videos are a basic introduction to Social Media for Marketing.  Keep a look out for Social Media for Marketing 101 and Mastering Social Media for MarketSmart coming soon…

Above video is the 3 minute summary …  Below video is the 13 minute presentation.

Basics Summary:  Yes, you absolutely can and should use the internet for marketing your business.  Step One is knowing what you want your potential customer to do.  Step Two is understanding what your online strategy is to attract that customer…. send them to where you want them to go… and make it clear what you want them to do once they get there.  OFF THE COMPUTER INTO YOUR FACILITY 🙂

For most of us our main website is where we want to drive (or pull) our customers to.  Using Blogs and/or Social Media can be beneficial to attract prospects but they do take time to set up and maintain.  My suggestion is to start with ONE new Social Media or begin a weekly Blog.  Regardless of the platform you choose make sure you are using great Keyword phrases in your content AND make sure you are LINKING to your main website.

Want to dive in deeper?  3rd Level Consulting has On-Demand Consulting available for Marketing Education 101 and Advanced Market Planning –

Click on the On-Demand Button for more information about On-Demand Consulting or Click on 3rd Level Consulting’s logo to go to the main page on our website.

Barbara Anne Elliott

Executive Administrator

I would love your feedback and comments about 3rd Level Consulting’s first Video Blogs. 

Thanks for your interest – Barbara Anne

How To Keep Your Business Afloat in Any Economy – Part 2

HUMAN RESOURCE considerations
Evaluate Employee’s Positions

What are the potentials for increased responsibilities for current Staff? Many clubs compensate on a full-time basis for a part-time job!
The change to a system that has more VARIABLE INCOME is the answer to controlling payroll costs and motivating people to perform well, in their own self-interest.
Is there potential for elimination or consolidation of particular positions? Is there a continuing need for (possibly overpaid) family members?
Continuity of Management and Key Employees
If you use Employment Contracts, bring them up to date. If there are no Employment Contracts in your business, then be sure that you are conducting a minimum of annual comprehensive performance reviews. Actually, the
best reviews are ones that are continual. Involve Key Staff or Program Leaders in strategic planning for their Department, and possibly for entire company.
Be sure that the “4 Bridges to Compensation Success” are in place – Training, Control, Tools, Financial Info (and relational Profit-Sharing).
Professional Development
According to the Harvard Business Review, the unconventional wisdom is that any economic downturns or downtime is the BEST time to enhance skills. This will keep your people sharp, and make your organization THE ONE that will be most ready when busier times return.
COMPANY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY considerations
Evaluate Office and Computer Equipment
How efficient, productive and cost-effective is your software and hardware? Will you see increases in staff productivity and customer service by upgrading? An operation that has up-to-date hardware and software is a more nimble corporation now AND when times improve. Specific improvement lists are available from 3rd Level Consulting.
Operations Manuals for all phases of Business
A top-notch business in our industry has two types of operating manuals – Activity Programs manuals and Business Operations manuals. Operations Manuals are the documented “meeting ground” for Owners and
Program Directors, and help set continuously-improving standards for the company. Get professional industry consulting assistance if you do not have the time to document this … if it is not written down, it will not get done!
FINANCIAL considerations
Examine Operating Percentages and Cash Flow
Your first goal is to bring your Operating Ratios into line with Industry best practices. Your total Payroll & Payroll Taxes, including benefits and Owner Compensation, should not be above 50%. In our nationwide consulting work, we have documented that payroll varies widely between small, medium and large operations, and between industries (gymnastics, swimming, dance, cheerleading, martial arts, others). However, in almost all cases, payroll is the number one expense, so reexamine this on an ongoing basis.
Speaking of Payroll, do not fall behind on IRS or State Tax payments of any type. These are among the hardest categories to recover from, and when you factor in penalties, interest and STRESS, it is not worth it. Negotiate in other areas if necessary, but not in this one.
Your percentages for marketing, utilities, mortgage or rent, insurance and professional development will also vary by gross revenue size and/or industry, but be sure that you have enough profit margin to survive normal and “economic crisis” conditions.
Save for a rainy day economy! If you have no reserve fund, you may run into serious trouble. Start one instantly, no matter how! Every dollar you save TODAY might be the margin of survival TOMORROW.
Business Inventories
Keep a complete list and values (Original Cost, Fair Market Value, and Depreciated Value) for all Equipment. Keep a complete list and values for all current inventories (Pro Shop, Concessions, and Supplies). Sell off very old, unused or stored equipment that give poor image or is not needed any longer.
Supplies
You can ask for savings based on an annual bid (as opposed to a per event basis) for the purchase of T-shirts, color printing, party supplies or equipment. A 5% discount on all supplies could add up to thousands of dollars on an annual basis.
Financial Reports
Get your Financial Reports structured to get proper Cash Flow statements by Department as well as Companywide. This will give you the business intelligence you must have to make the right decisions. Have your Financial Statements reviewed by a CPA and an Industry Expert every year.
Collect all Aged Accounts Receivable. No ifs, ands or buts. Just do it!
Make a list of everything you could do right now to CUT COSTS and PRODUCE MORE
INCOME.
Understand that to truly make money, you must have the “triple overlap” in play – profitable Income Statement, sufficient Cash Flow, and positive Return on Investment (ROI) … all at the same time!
.
FACILITY – PHYSICAL PLANT considerations
Investigate the potential restructuring of Leases, Mortgages and other Business Contracts
BEFORE you need to.
Check and examine carefully all of your lease, mortgage and other business contracts this week. You may have options to renegotiate that you were not even aware of. We had one client who was able to release themselves from a MAJOR personal guarantee on a sizeable lease because the first five year period had elapsed!
Bankers and Landlords WANT you to stay in place and continue to pay them. Generally, if they need to cut you some short term slack, they WILL do it.
Operating cost savings and/or revenue increases can be achieved through increased Programming (utilizing intelligent flex-spacing) and additional Space Rental revenues.

Another savings technique is to keep your equipment up to date and in good repair. It lasts
longer!
RISK MANAGEMENT considerations
Legal
Settle all outstanding Lawsuits, tax liens, etc. Settle any employee disputes, loans or other corporate baggage. Resolve all Partnership and/or Shareholder disputes.
Check Insurance Coverages
Be sure that ALL of your insurance coverages are up to date and that you have adequate coverage. These include Liability, Accident/Medical, Premises, Business Interruption, Equipment, Vehicle coverage’s, and Health & Benefits for Employees. This is no time to be stuck with inadequate coverage if something happens.
Travel, Lodging, Meals and Entertainment expenses
Eliminate all Travel, Lodging, Meals & Entertainment expenses that do not boost or help maintain your company’s usual level of sales. If you offer traveling training clinics for Staff, have clear reasons for them to attend and PLAN for a Return On Investment (ROI) by having them report and track the effect of any improvements to their program. Keep this ROI mentality in all instances.
INSPIRATION!
If you think that times are tough for YOU as a business owner, imagine how your staff feels! They feel like they have even less control than you do. Leaders show their true colors in tough times, so this is the perfect opportunity to set a GREAT example!
Continue to develop your staff by sharing Motivational, Success, Goal Setting and Change
formulas. The morale of your entire company will be higher than that of your competition, and you will generate an invisible edge!
Ready to really implement a business improvement action plan for this year?
Explore the www.3rdLevelConsulting.com web site and get a free 15 minute consultation.