Businesses use social networking sites to be smarter in business

WATERTOWN, N.Y. -- If you're a small business owner, you know how tough it can be to run your business, especially in tough economic times.

"The way the economy was heading in the beginning of the year, people were nervous, I think, a little bit about what it was going to do to their small businesses," said Nellie Mathous, Chamber of Commerce Events Director.

The seminars at Monday's Business Fair talked about ways to make your business smarter and more efficient. And the smartest...listen to their customers and the technologies they're using.

"It's not so much pushing your message out, but paying attention to the way the customer likes to communicate and using those modes of communication," said Karen Delmonico, Chamber of Commerce President.

Those at the business fair say the most important thing to take away is learning how to use social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, to enhance your business.

"They build the buzz. They build the awareness about a business and what's going on with them. They're a way to get your name out there, and that's part of the best marketing you can do," said Jennifer King MacKenzie, Keegan Associates Executive Vice President.

"It's instant information. It's ideas. It's sharing. It's networking. It's business to business. It's even community involvement," said Mathous.

Besides using social networking sites, business owners should often check and update their websites.

"Having a website that someone can really engage in and get what they need in a quick fashion is very advantageous," said Darcy Norfolk, Ad Workshop Inphorm General Manager.

Those at the business fair say social networking is quickly becoming the norm. And learning to use the websites is a necessity.

Source: http://news10now.com/

IT'S YOUR BUSINESS: Business news releases Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Have you purchased your ticket to the 15th annual Business to Business Expo on Thursday, June 11? If you are looking for any kind of service or product or just want to be more involved in the community the Expo is the event to attend. It goes from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Three Oaks Banquiet Center in Estero.

Tickets to attend are $15 in advance per person and $20 at the door.

Advance registration ends tonight at midnight.

For reservations, visit bonitaspringschamber.com or call the chamber at 992-2943.

- Contributed by Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce

Source: http://www.marconews.com/

Hallam’s Wish for B2B sales

In three short years, Wish Communications has emerged as one of Yes Telecom’s leading dealer partners. Founder Mike Hallam discusses the changing dealer market

Northamptonshire-based Wish Communications has been in business only three years and already it boasts one of biggest customer bases among Yes Telecom dealers. From nothing in 2006, it is shortly to report annual turnover of more than £6 million.

Wish was set up by managing director Mike Hallam, operations director Simon Pickering and sales director Phil Butts. Their intention was to sign new business customers to all five networks, and take the joyous upfront loot. But 2006 was really the tail end of the dealer gold rush, as the market got saturated, networks looked to change their sales processes and mobile technology finally advanced beyond voice.

However, the trio, all veterans of The Caudwell Group’s old 4U business sales operation, also noted the shifting tectonic plates in the industry early. Speculation around networks moving away from upfront commissions and towards ongoing revenue share models was rife.

Vodafone has just bought up Manchester service provider Yes Telecom, and looked to be drawing its allies close. In November 2007, Wish set down deliberate allegiances with certain network suppliers. It retains indirect dealer codes with all five, it claims, but chooses to connect all its business with Orange and Vodafone, via Mainline and Yes Telecom respectively.

The latter accounts for 80 per cent of its base – around 12,500 connections, including 8,000 last year alone.

Hallam explains: “We set out to be all things to all men, by appeasing all networks and chasing the riches of commissions. The industry has now changed and we are seeing more alliances formed through ongoing revenue. The way the networks steered the market as a whole lead to us to make some strategic alliances of our own.

“The reality was, before, dealers weren’t interested in the longevity and the sustainability of the customer. They were more interested in how many customers they could acquire in a month. I would be amazed if any dealership is left feeding four or five networks in the next 18 months. Most B2B dealers will align themselves with two networks. Yes Telecom and Mainline, or Vodafone and Orange, are our preferred partners; wrongly or rightly, only time will tell.”

Source: http://www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk/

B2B Publishing Industry Luminary and Bizo Advisor Bill Furlong Joins Company to Run Business Development and Partnership Strategy

June 10, 2009 -- Bizo, Inc. the leading B2B audience targeting platform and advertising network, announced today that advisor Bill Furlong, the president and founder of SearchChannel and B2BWorks, and former managing director of Crain's BtoB Magazine, has joined the company full time as its VP of business development to build out Bizo's partnership strategies and focus on forging successful B2B industry partnerships.

Furlong has served on the IAB board of directors for two terms and founded and led B2BWorks, the first major B2B online advertising network. He is a frequent speaker at the Business Marketing Association, Direct Marketers Association and American Business Media, where he is a member of the Digital Media Council. Furlong has also been named to BtoB's Who's Who and Crain's Chicago Top Internet 100 list.

"I joined Bizo as an advisor four months ago, and after spending time with the company, I realized that this opportunity is just too exciting to stay on the sidelines as an advisor," said Furlong, "I care deeply about ensuring that B2B publishers and marketers are effective in their transition to digital and Bizo's approach to market gives them an unprecedented opportunity to monetize their online audiences."

"Bill is a triple-rare combination in the B2B information industry," said Chuck Richard, VP and Lead Analyst, Outsell Inc., a leading analyst firm for the information publishing industry. "One, he is locked in on an unwavering vision of where marketing is headed. Two, he brings sleeves-rolled-up, hands-on entrepreneurial experience running companies. And three, Bill has decades-strong roots in the traditions, realities and peculiarities of the industry."

"Bill joining Bizo to run business development gives us a superstar to ensure successful partnerships," said Russell Glass, CEO and founder of Bizo, "He is an industry leader and recognized expert in B2B digital media - having him help us guide Bizo to long-term success is a huge win for us, our customers and our partners. "

Furlong will remain the chairman of the board of directors of Search Channel.

In a separate release today, Bizo released a number of its growth and customer metrics including its B2B publisher earnings average of $3.65 CPM, more than 100% above the industry average.

Source: http://www.prweb.com/

Faction Media Selected As 'Best of the Best' for B2B Cross-Media Marketing Campaign

DENVER, June 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Faction Media, a full-service digitally led marketing agency based in Denver, has been recognized by the marketing community at the XMPie Users Conference in Las Vegas. Faction's work for tw telecom was the winner of the 2009 Best of the Best Award -- the integrated, cross-media campaign was hailed for its creativity and unique approach in leveraging emerging technologies and driving campaign results.

"We wanted to do something that had never been done before. With the explosion of emerging technologies and channels available, there are so many possibilities to be unique, creative and more relevant than ever before. We built a campaign that took advantage of paid search, e-mail, variable direct mail, dynamically generated video and database driven Web content to tell the tw telecom story," said Aaron Batte, Founder and Director of Account Services at Faction.

The campaign was targeted at key telecommunications and IT decision-makers with the goal of generating qualified high-value leads, increasing overall revenue, gaining market share, and raising brand awareness. The strategy called for a highly personalized conversational experience for each prospect. Each individual was encouraged to use the Web's many facets including e-mail, search engine interaction, Web browsing, dynamic streaming video, to reflect how a high-speed network connection from tw telecom can change the way they do business.

"At the heart of this campaign's success was our ability to engage the audience in a unique and surprisingly entertaining way, enhancing their experience through multiple points of personalization," added Dave Greves, Founder and Account Strategist.

The annual XMPie Best of the Best Award recognizes marketing campaigns that, using the XMPie technology, have significantly impacted overall business effectiveness, leveraged measurement of response metrics, utilized best practices of data integration and presented overall creative excellence. XMPie is a software business unit of Xerox(R) Corporation.

Faction Media

Faction Media is a full-service digitally led communications agency that helps clients compete, evolve and grow in an increasingly complex and fragmented marketplace. Faction provides digital strategy, audience insight, creative services, interactive development, search marketing, performance analytics and marketing optimization to Fortune 1000 companies including some of the largest and most innovative businesses in the World.

Faction Media's Unified Marketing(TM) approach combines new and evolving interactive tools with traditional channels to identify, build and execute the most effective and successful brand and demand generation campaigns. A commitment to performance accountability, technology, and creative innovation has defined Faction Media's place as a leader in Business-to-Business communications and marketing.

Source: http://news.prnewswire.com

E-Commerce in Textile and Apparel-A FUTURE TREND

E-commerce is an exemplary concept in the future of textile and apparel industry. It is playing a major role in the present scenario of textile and apparel industry. It is also very significant that the future of textile and apparel industry is complete only with E-commerce. Diverse e-commerce applications are being implemented in the textile and apparel supply chain. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have the capacity to make extravagant amounts of information available to users located in various parts of the world. ICTs also facilitate rapid communication between them. One application of these technologies is in the development of e-commerce to support electronic trading.

E-Commerce A New Concept and Scope

E-commerce can be specified as any form of economic activity conducted through computer-mediated networks. The potential of e-commerce caught public's attention as a result of ventures such as the electronic bookshop. As a result there are a growing number of other Internet-based retailers in the business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce area. However, business-to-business (B2B) ecommerce is growing much more quickly than B2C forms of electronic trading. E-commerce is a new and exciting technology, attracting much interest. It has the power of fundamentally changing the ways in which companies do business. It is having a profound effect on the management of the supply chain. Aspects of e-commerce are much diversified.

E-commerce has a large impact on industry as a whole, including aspects associated with Business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce, business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce. In recent years there has been a dramatic increase in companies practicing electronic commerce. Two basic modes of organizing such companies have emerged. The first is creating a "brick-and-mortar" company, by installing an e-commerce division. The second is initiation of an enterprise as an electronic commerce company (dot.com), without previous organizational links to a traditional "brick-and-mortar" organization. Both modes of corporate practice of electronic commerce require redesign, recalibration, and even restructuring of key organizational dimensions. In such companies, there is also a question of applicability of traditional organizational dimensions to this new format of conducting commerce. As electronic markets and electronic commerce proliferate, there has been a marked increase in scientific studies of this phenomenon.

The emerging conventional wisdom suggests that electronic commerce is different enough to warrant an in-depth examination of traditional organization design in the present global scenario; e-commerce and e-business have increasingly become a necessary component of business strategy. E-commerce also acts as a strong catalyst for economic development. The integration of information and communications technology (ICT) in business has heavily improved inter organization relationships and intra organizational relationships. Specifically, the use of ICT in business has improved productivity, encouraged greater customer participation, and enabled mass customization and has also reduced costs. With the help of developments in the Internet and Web-based technologies, distinctions between traditional markets and the global electronic marketplace are gradually being narrowed down. The strategic positioning, the ability of a company to determine emerging opportunities and utilize the necessary human capital skill is the main aim of each and every firm. To make the most of these opportunities through an e-business strategy that is simple, workable and practicable within the context of a global information milieu and new economic environment is the focus of e-commerce. E-commerce coupled with the appropriate strategy and policy approach enables small and medium scale enterprises to compete with large and capital-rich businesses.

Source: http://www.fibre2fashion.com/

A new B2B Marketplace – revolutionary approach towards outsourcing

www.dataentryprojects.net - an OUTSOURCING portal that made a new wave online in B2B marketplace. It adopts a revolutionary and transparent approach towards outsourcing.

Ahmedabad, IN - June, 6 2009 - A new transparent B2B marketplace – http://www.dataentryprojects.net is making waves amongst outsourcing industry across the globe with its revolutionary approach towards outsourcing. It adopts very transparent approach to help outsourcing service buyers and providers.

It covers the entire spectrum of data entry and back office tasks which is a perfect fit to be outsourced viz. data entry, administrative support, data processing, data conversion, word processing, web research, typing services, claim processing, scanning and indexing, mailing list development and much more.

“It has attracted thousands of visitors in precedent two days” said CEO. Many businesses are preferring www.dataentryprojects.net for their back office outsourcing over many other project portals. Experts envisage that it will be “next Google of outsourcing”.

The portal works in an awfully easy manner:

Service Buyers - How It Works?

• E-mail your project description/requirements on projects@dataentryprojects.net or post it on site FREE.

• An editorial team will put your project on DataEntryProjects.

• Project alert email will be sent to all registered providers.

• Services providers searching for the projects will examine your project's details.

• If any provider is interested in undertaking your project, then he will contact you directly.

Service Buyers - Benefits

• Service is absolutely FREE. NO Middleman, NO Fees, NO Commission.

• No need to search for freelance service providers or companies. There are hundreds of services providers visiting the website daily.

• Your project being considered by a variety of skilled service providers locally, nationally, and globally.

• Choice to select your preferred provider based on capability, costs and talent.

• All service providers are pre-screened, so only authentically skilled service providers will get in touch with you.

• No obligation on your part to award the project.

Service Providers - How it Works?

• Register/Sign up on website http://www.dataentryprojects.net absolutely FREE.

• Search projects from the categories you prefer.

• Purchase contact details of the outsourcing services buyers associated with projects.

• Get connected to unlimited outsourcing services buyers.

Service Providers - Benefits

• Absolutely FREE registration.

• Free listing of company / freelancer profile.

• Providing verified leads.

• Save time and resources in finding buyers.

• Cut down marketing overheads.

• Build international clientele. Get projects locally, nationally and globally.

The portal also introduces various membership plans that suit every freelancers / companies’ budget and need.

The portal is muck talked in the outsourcing industry and many businesses sees it as a one stop solution for their back office outsourcing which saves valuable time wasted in bidding process.

Source: http://ecommwire.com/

Imported Kids Apparels from China - Are they Toxic?

How safe are the clothes we buy for our 'small people'? A report states that imported clothing from China contains unacceptable levels of toxic chemicals.

Chemicals residues on clothing are hazardous to human health. Increasing concern about global awareness has sparked the consumer's desire for organic clothing, leading more and more people to choose the nature's life style. Utmost care should be taken in the purchase of kids clothing. It should be kept in mind that they should be non toxic, eco friendly and free from chemicals, and skin irritants. A report states the shocking fact that the children's clothes imported from China contain excessive chemical content that can harm the kids.

The provincial quality and technology supervision administration has discovered the shocking fact that out of all the garments imported from China; only 53.5% meet with the safety standards. An inside information states that the garments included false information about the raw materials, color fastness, and also had excessive content of the chemical formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde is commonly used in garments as an embalming fluid to give a 'permanent press' look. Excessive content of this chemical in our clothes can cause irritation in eyes, skin, nose, and result in respiratory problems, and diseases like cancer. It can also result in headaches, skin rashes, nausea, and chronic fatigue. Just by simply touching those products, or breathing the formaldehyde they release into the air, can cause intense symptoms.

Two years ago, New Zealand's Ministry of Consumer Affairs were investigating claims that clothes with high level of formaldehyde were imported from China and sold in their country. Tests conducted on these clothing revealed levels of formaldehyde in Chinese made clothing up to 900 times more than the level known to affect humans. The Chinese made flannelette pyjamas claiming to be low fire danger has also proved futile. (Source: http://www.abc.net.au). Earlier a worldwide recall of Chinese toys was made due to high lead content. An investigative New Zealand television show revealed that 500 times more than the safe amount of formaldehyde was found in the woolen and cotton clothes imported from China.

Researches supported by the WHO (World Health Organization) states that 20 parts per million of formaldehyde is enough to be hazardous to human health. Europe has limited the chemical residue in kids clothing to a maximum of 30ppm.

If China is to increase the quality of materials and processes, it will simultaneously increase the cost of goods. Profits would be less and Chinese products would be less competitive. Entry of low cost manufacturers from China into the global market, who are less aware of the chemical risks, product regulations, safety, and childrens health, is likely to pose a serious threat.

This induces a growing concern about the Chinese clothing. Stricter regulations are needed regarding garments, especially for children's clothing.

Source: http://www.fibre2fashion.com/

Strategies to protect your profits

Mr Tito Mboweni - Governor of SA Reserve Bank - has cautioned South Africans to fasten their belts, as we've officially hit our first recession in 17 years. Our economy shrunk by 6,4% in the first quarter of 2009 on compared to a contraction of 1,8% in the fourth quarter.

Trimming overheads is not the only way to weather the current economic downturn. And desperate times do not always call for desperate measures so don't be too reactive when faced with the negative economic news in the media.

Rather assess your organisation's performance across the various marketing departments and initiate some of the following profit protection strategies. That way you'll reduce the effects of the economic downturn in ways that go beyond profit-threatening cost cutting.

Focus your strategy and competitive advantage

Snap out of any fearful paralysis and take another look at your business goals and marketing strategies. Trim out all the "luxurious" marketing activities and focus your valuable resources on core activities that will get results in these times. Importantly, make sure that your brands offer additional value to your customers.

Keep an eagle eye on your competition

Consistently monitor your competitive by regularly reviewing their product offerings, advertising communications, price points, websites and press coverage. Be sure you are always aware of their new products, promotions and strategic moves.

Reassess your objectives and prioritise

Create a special strike force to monitor key indicators and be sure your marketing and sales teams are perfectly aligned with your key objectives and with each other. Do this by creating an approved list of marketing priorities and ensure everyone is on the same page. Also identify your best performing employees and look after them.

Have a strong online presence

And sweat your website to become a hard working business tool. Be sure its optimised, user-friendly, easy to navigate and that your content is always current. You do not have to have an expensive website but make sure you have the basics in place.

Lead by example

During tough times managers have to stay positive and convey a positive and confident message to your staff and your clients. And be sure that you nurture your relationships with key accounts if you're a B2B brand or your existing and potential customers if a consumer brand.

Be brand-centricTM

The brand-centricTM approach is the process of entrenching your brand and it's values within your organisation and in your communications to your customers. This means encouraging your employees to live by your brand values and creating the appropriate infrastructure to enable this. It also means ensuring that all your brand messaging communicates those values at all touch points with your consumers.

Enhance customer relationships

Nurture your relationships with your current customers. Stay in contact with them via direct channels such as SMS, emails and maintain your above the line presence. For example, Vespa SA has initiated a Vespa community and organises regular Vespa Club Runs. It also keeps potential Vespa clients and current clients updated with news, offers and events in a monthly e-newsletter called the "Vespa Sting".

Offer potential clients with guarantees

A believable guarantee will make it safe for prospects to give your organisation a try. This will work for consumer brands and B2B brands.

Maximise call to action and cross sell

Provide vouchers and sampling opportunities as often as possible to the right target market. Offer incentives to purchase and actively cross-sell related products.

Capture new customers and steal market share

Publish customer testimonials and success stories on your website. Make use of word-of-mouth and viral techniques. This can be done by calling for feedback either via your call centre or your website - a good way to create awareness of your positive brand experiences and for finding out your weaknesses.

Yes its official, South Africa is in an economic recession, but make sure it doesn't become a psychological one as this could snowball into a self-fulfilling prophecy. Rather turn your attention back to marketing your brands using smart, prudent methods. That way you will ensure that your business and your goals don't contract and will pass through this downturn stronger than ever before.

Source: http://www.moneyweb.co.za/

The Israeli Diamond Industry Sees Economic Crisis as Opportunity for Innovative Marketing

The Israeli Diamond Industry, one of the major stakeholders ofIsrael's economy, has found a unique way to deal with the global economicmeltdown. Instead of freezing marketing activities and pulling advertisingdollars, the Israeli Diamond Industry is investing huge efforts in reachingout to clients, using both new and traditional marketing tools.

"We see the economic crisis as an opportunity, not a problem,"said Eli Avidar, Managing Director of the Israel Diamond Institute Group ofCompanies (IDI). "The key to success in this economic climate is to adoptassertive and sometimes unconventional strategies in marketing, managementand development." That is, in his words "Do the unexpected."

Avidar and his team have created a 10-stage B2B strategicmarketing program dubbed, 'Together Works', which is being rolled outthroughout 2009. The plan is geared to helping Israeli diamantaires andIsrael's trading partners throughout the world. Avidar said, "IDI isproviding tools necessary to help diamond companies survive and even thriveduring these difficult times. Our message is clear: The Israeli DiamondIndustry reaches out to its international trading partners. By workingtogether we can all benefit."

So far IDI has launched four stages of 'Together Works,' with thelatest inaugurated on May 31, 2009 at a press conference at the JCK Show inLas Vegas, the largest jewellery trade show for the U.S. market.

With this stage IDI is making use of the power of social networksand Web 2.0 to promote Israeli diamonds. At the press conference IDIpreviewed 38 video spots especially created for YouTube. In addition, theInstitute said that IDI was actively using social networks such as Twitterand Facebook, and has gone online with The Israeli Diamond Industry blog.This is in addition to its flagship diamond portal in English, Chinese,Russian and Hebrew. IDI's plan is to develop an online B2B community whichwill create a place for the industry to share ideas and communicate directlywith Ramat Gan.

Earlier stages of 'Together Works' launched a major print andonline advertising campaign in leading trade publications and websites.Moreover, in the United States IDI introduced a 24/7 toll-free number,1-888-42-WORKS, for ongoing and new clients to reach out with their immediatediamond needs. These are uploaded in real time to IDI's online portal and allIsraeli diamond companies will receive text messages updating them on the newdemands. IDI also launched "CALL ASIA", a unique call centre that initiatesdirect contact with a massive database of Asian B2B diamond buyers everyweek to ask for their specific diamond needs. Here too the information isinstantly uploaded on to the IDI portal and Israeli diamond suppliers arenotified by text message.

As a further benefit to diamond partners in the United States,IDI has launched a new seasonal magazine, Reflections - Diamonds. Fashion.Trends. Clearly. Reflections focuses on the latest in styles, trends, andcelebrity jewellery. It is distributed free of charge as a handout forcustomers to over 10,000 retailers in the United States in order to boostdiamond sales. Reflections can also be accessed online through IDI's portalsite at http://www.israelidiamond.co.il/Reflections.

Source: http://www.merinews.com/

TAITRA Features Recession Beating Global B2B Tools on Taiwantrade

The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) features recession beating B2B tools on Taiwantrade. Designed to meet the rapidly changing requirements of global trading during challenging times, Taiwantrade provides instant access to B2B commerce tools to international small and medium enterprises who are members. Taiwantrade is going to launch a promotion to offer free memberships and elite bonus to all worldwide suppliers and buyers next week.

Essential tools include an electronic bulletin board showcases numerous buy and sell business opportunities posted by Taiwantrade members from around the world, and alerts for new products, biz exchange trade leads, new suppliers, special offers, and trade-related news. Taiwantrade also provides an extensive business and trade database. A personalized homepage will highlight exactly the information that was specified while signing up as a member.

Taiwanese companies play a major global role in supplying the world’s requirements in sectors such as electronics, communications, computers, auto parts, and motorcycles. Associations representing these industries work closely with Taiwantrade to enable global buyers and suppliers to obtain the latest information on products and manufacturing services offered by these Taiwanese enterprises.

In 2008, TAITRA organized 28 international trade shows, provided services to 10,072 local and foreign exhibitors. TAITRA updated a domestic suppliers' database that features more than 240,000 companies, and established a foreign buyers' database that includes more than 1.12 million companies. TAITRA provided enterprise-portal services over 30,000 companies, compiled 240,000 pieces of new electronic product catalogs, initiated 706,600 trade leads, and racked up 7,668,176 visits to the Taiwantrade and TAITRA websites. TAITRA also sponsored 68 promotional seminars concerning eMarketing, increased foreign company members by 27,364, and organized 23 international online trade shows. Plus, TAITRA arranged 915 purchasing tours for foreign buyers to come to Taiwan.

Mr. Yuen-Chuan Chao, the President and CEO of TAITRA stated that “The e-Procurement Site service of Taiwantrade helped foreign buyers and sellers create 54 global business transactions in 2008, of which value reached up to US$800 million. We are redoubling our efforts in 2009 to overcome the challenges of the difficult times. Taiwantrade is a major component in our strategies.”

With the B2B commerce tools on Taiwantrade, it has never been easier for worldwide buyers and sellers to locate online vital global trade information that exponentially increases business opportunities.

About Taiwantrade

Taiwantrade is an interactive e-business portal designed to provide small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with immediate access to B2B e-commerce activities, and to help them gain a digital edge over their competitors worldwide. Backed by a wealth of trade promotion resources and strong support from different trade and industry associations, e-marketplaces, and popular trade websites, Taiwantrade offers the utmost online trade and promotion services. Taiwantrade is sponsored by the Bureau of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and administered by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council.

Source: http://www.businesswire.com/

B2b Market Place for Wooden Handicrafts Launch of The Largest Online Hub for Wooden

Wooden Handicrafts, the B2b marketplace dedicated specifically to the handicrafts industry contains comprehensive information about the various ranges of wooden handicrafts available throughout the world. Browse through the website (http://www.wooden-handicrafts.com/) to get complete information on the suppliers, manufacturers and dealers of wooden manufacturers across the globe.

This is the one stop platform for all those who are looking for detailed knowledge of the various handicrafts associations along with wood crafts trade leads and wood craft publications. Some of the core areas of competencies include antique wood crafts, garden decoratives, wooden corporate gifts, wooden furniture, wooden kitchen accessories, wooden shutters and wooden toys and games.

Also find general information on the handicrafts with special emphasis on the industrial resources and industry overview with an insight on the various factors affecting the market growth of wooden handicrafts. The manufacturing regions, export import policies and production process has also been discussed at length. Here one can also find vivid collection of wood carvings, wood crafts and wood finishes.

The provision for receiving free quotes for wooden handicrafts also makes this B2B marketplace very palpable. You not only are capable to post buying or sourcing requirements for free but can also get multiple quotes directly from authentic wooden handicrafts manufacturers and suppliers. One can also send free request regarding the buying requirement along with other details to get responses from genuine globals sellers or suppliers, for free. Helpful tips related to the wooden handicrafts industry is also disseminated on a regular basis.

Exclusive range of wooden candle holders, wooden letters, wooden name plates, wooden bowls, wooden scoops and wooden planters along with their images, highlights and possible usage, have also been displayed on the website.

Source: http://www.enewswire.co.uk/

B2B marketplace tool targeted at SMEs

BANGALORE, INDIA: MyTradeBook.com has announced the launch of a free Web-based B2B marketplace tool that allows businesses to build networks, engage in interest groups, buy, sell and advertise products and services, recruit human resources and partner with organizations related to their business ecosystem.

The tool will be initially launched in India and United Kingdom followed by other English speaking countries.

Given the current economic scenario, this tool which is targeted at the small and medium enterprises (SME) segment offers Indian businesses a free online platform that helps create new markets and reach out to potential global customers.

Announcing the launch, Richard Tunstall, managing director, MyTradeBook.com said: "There are many SMBs that have products and services with global appeal, but are constrained with limited marketing budgets, which becomes even more pronounced in the current economic scenario. MyTradeBook.com is designed to cut through the clutter of the existing B2B marketplaces by offering users with effective ways to reach out, collaborate and showcase their products and services in a much more targeted fashion. What's more important is that they can do it for free."

Amalgamating the concepts of business networking and B2B marketplace, this unique tool allows users to join as well as create interest groups. This facilitates collaboration and discussion between users on their areas of interest opening up avenues for generation of new ideas and business leads.

Users can also advertise their products and services for free in the Trade Pages of the tool and these posted advertisements can be linked to various interest groups and can be viewed by other members offering users with an opportunity to target their ads at the most relevant people.

Apart from offering users with the ability to search Trade Page ads, crucially MyTradeBook.com, also allows users to share Trade Page posts with other social networking sites, creating viral marketing opportunities. Presents unique blend of B2B marketplace and social networking concepts.

Source: http://www.ciol.com/

Bharti-Del Monte JV launches wide range of F&B products in India, to invest Rs.100 crore in new processing unit

New Delhi - India's Bharti Enterprises have teamed up with Philippine-based Del Monte Pacific Ltd. to launch a wide range of Del Monte food products, including beverages, packaged fruits and ketchup.

The 50:50 joint venture - FieldFresh Foods - will invest Rs.100 crore to set up a food processing unit at Hosur in Tamil Nadu where it would produce beverages and processed food from 2010. However, packaged fruits, like pineapple, will continue to be imported from Del Monte till the Hosur unit can be expanded.

The venture will also invest in research and development (R&D) in a 300-acre company-owned land in Punjab.

"We are geared to break new ground in the food and beverage (F&B) market in India. Besides establishing a strong retail presence, we plan to leverage growth avenues in the B2B segment. I am optimistic that our plans will propel us to be one of the top two F&B companies in India by 2014," said Sanjay Nandrajog, CEO, FieldFresh Foods.

The F&B market in India holds great potential. While AT Kearney estimates the market sales of food and beverage retailing in India at $135 billion and growing at 10-15 percent annually, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries has come out with a vision document that lists out a plan to double the market size of the food processing industry to Rs.8,20,000 crore by 2009-10 and trebling it to Rs.13,50,000 crore by 2014-15.

"We are delighted to bring Del Monte to India. This is a significant milestone for the company as we make our entry into the processed food and beverage segment. We will invest much more as we outline other products in future growth. Our plan to bring in significant investment to set up a modern production facility underlines our commitment to the development of the processed foods sector in India and our intent to emerge as a leading player," said Rakesh Mittal, vice chairman and managing director, Bharti Enterprises.

"India's fast expanding economy, evolving consumer needs, and the emergence of organized retail offer tremendous opportunities for growth. We want to be in top 10 (Indian processed food) companies in the next five years," he said when asked about the joint venture's growth plans. "The journey has just begun."

"We take great pride in being associated with a company like Bharti which will help us establish a strong foothold and penetration in the Indian market. Our endeavor is to provide world class products in all our markets including India and we have taken the first steps into the Indian retail market with a clear vision of capturing the consumer's imagination with our range of innovative products. Indian consumers will be able to experience international quality products, for which Del Monte is known the world over. We look forward to leveraging our skill and knowledge and also draw from the experience that Bharti has gained in creating a great business in India," said Joselite D. Campos Jr., managing director and CEO, Del Monte Pacific, which holds exclusive rights to produce and distribute food and beverage products under the Del Monte brand in the Indian sub-continent.

Initially Del Monte products would be sold in 15 cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Pune by the end of this year and later be expanded into 25 cities across India.

The unlisted FieldFresh Foods was set up in 2004 to supply fresh fruits and vegetables and counts food retailers and supermarkets such as Easy Day, Big Bazaar, 24/7, More and Big Apple among it clients.

Source: http://www.ibtimes.co.in/

The Importance of Website Conversion

Many companies make the mistake of spending money in areas where it's not necessary. Take, for example, companies pumping marketing dollars into increasing traffic on the website. It's great to get more traffic, but that is just the first step. Now you need that traffic to do something.

Website Conversion Defined

The percentage of total visitors who come to the website, follow through after clicking on the company's desired point of action (POA) and submit information, download a demo, make a purchase, etc. is the definition of website conversion. In an e-commerce application, multiple visitors will add items to their shopping carts, but a smaller percentage will actually make the purchase. The percentage of visitors that completes the transaction signifies the conversion rate for the website. In a lead-generating application, multiple visitors will follow a path that you desire for them to follow (at first), but will not complete the form, download, etc. The percentage that does signifies the conversion rate.

In order to boost the website conversion rate, companies need to determine why potential customers drop out at certain points in the process and eliminate these roadblocks in order to increase sales. Clearly defined POAs, intuitive navigation, and simple checkout processes all make it easier for potential customers to buy, contact, download, or whatever else it is that you want them to do that will lead to a sale.

Point of Action

Basically, the POA on your website is what you want visitors to do initially. Many websites will have more than one POA, so POAs are further broken down into primary, secondary, and even tertiary POAs. A primary POA (usually the most profitable action for a user to take) might be completing a purchase on the site while a secondary POA might be signing up for the site's email newsletter announcing weekly specials. As a general rule, the marketing department (not the web designers) in consultation with sales should decide what the primary and secondary POAs will be.

Some websites have no clear POA and mainly serve as 'brochure-ware.' If a website doesn't have clear POAs that guide users toward taking specific, valuable actions, those users are of course less likely to become purchasers.

Take Rate

The number (or percentage) of visitors who show interest in your POA (i.e. click on a link to visit the site's contact form), comprise your take rate. Say a B2B website is highlighting its downloadable demo as its POA; a visitor might click on that link to get to a download page. Whether or not they actually follow through with the download has no bearing on the take rate - the take rate merely demonstrates that there was enough interest for them to take the POA.

On an e-commerce site, for instance, a visitor who adds a product to his shopping basket has taken the first step toward the company's desired POA, but the potential purchaser may not complete the transaction.

There are many ways to improve the take rate of a website. One of the biggest ways is to simply make it very clear to visitors, on every page of your site, what you want them to do. Whether this is to purchase, to contact, to download, to sign up, or any number of other actions, make it clear and prominent for the visitor. No matter where they are on your site when they decide they are ready to take that POA, your site should make it easy for them to do so.

Website Conversion Rate

The actual website conversion rate is the ratio equal to the number of people who actually convert on the site versus the overall number of visitors to the site for a given period. If, for example, 3 out of every 100 visitors to your B2B site filled out a contact form (and that form was your only POA) your website conversion rate would be 3%.

Obviously, improving your take rate will also improve your conversion rate, since more people will be coming to the form, download page, purchase page, etc. But there are many things you can do to increase the likelihood that people will convert after they have taken the initial POA. Keeping contact forms short and only asking for the minimal information you need is one way. Having a prominent and clear privacy policy or encryption policy can also help. The important thing to recognize is that a large number of people who demonstrate an interest in your products or services by clicking on your POA may not follow thorough, and it is important to determine why and to remove those obstacles.

Putting it Together

There are literally thousands of elements you can change on your website to increase both your take rate and website conversion rate. A/B testing has long been used to determine how changing certain variables affects the conversion and take rates. However, this method is limited to testing one variable at a time if you want to gather the granular metrics from each slight modification. Today, with more sophisticated testing software packages available, multivariate testing, which enables you to test many variables at the same time while still seeing granular results, is becoming more common. Common tests include changing color schemes, tweaking various aspects of navigation, copy, and POAs have all been proven to maximize the take rate, website conversion rate, and subsequently, your revenue and bottom line. Website conversion is all about your visitors - appeal to their needs and desires in a logical, concise way, and you'll see your rates improve.

Source: http://www.techlinks.net/