Empress of Biz, Keeping Pace with Marketing in the Digital Age

Show notes for Empress of Biz, Thursday, 7-23-09, Listen live or archived at:
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/tscmd/tc/80050

Catherine von Birgelen
Director
eMarketing Learning Center @ eBizITPA
Knowledge Park
5340 Fryling Road Suite 201
Erie, PA 16510
814-898-6547 O (What does V stand for?)
814-898-6534 F
814-881-4834 M
Cathy.vonbirgelen@ebizitpa.org
http://www.emarketinglearningcenter.org/
Contact Cathy on LinkedIn


Catherine von Birgelen is the director of the eMarketing Learning Center @ eBizITPA (eMLC) and facilitator of the eMarketing Special Interest Group in NWPA. Ms. von Birgelen trains and provides strategic guidance and mentoring to businesses. In this capacity, she partners with business groups, universities and economic development agencies to help businesses learn how to use the online channel for business growth and sustainable advantage.

The eMLC is an outgrowth of the Center of eBusiness and Advanced Information Technology (eBizITPA). The eMLC’s education and training programs are research based, industry validated and taught by industry experts. They are designed to bridge gaps in skill requirements and business units including sales, marketing and IT. Furthermore, they bridge emerging technologies, including Web and mobile, with best practices in applying strategy, creative and technology.

Ms. Von Birgelen’s work is based on over 25 years of demonstrated business experience in all business functions including planning, analysis, marketing and finance. von Birgelen has extensive knowledge and experience applying digital media and marketing technologies to support business growth. Her passion for producing innovative, results-oriented solutions is illustrated by her business accomplishments. von Birgelen has consulted with many regional and national clients, including: GE, Choice Hotels, Proctor & Gamble, Larson Text, Howard Industries, Seaway Manufacturing, Troyer Farms, Gannon University, Blair.com, Relishinc.com, Procurex, and Penn State Erie.

Let me know exact time you want me on the call.

Please let me know if you have any questions. My cell is 814-881-4834

Best, Cathy
1. Title and brief summary of the topic
Keeping Pace with Marketing in the Digital Age
Cathy von Birgelen, Director
eMarketing Learning Center @ eBizITPA

¨ Ninety-five percent of business-to-business buyers go online and use search engines during the purchasing process
¨ Ninety-two percent of adults regularly go online when considering a purchase
¨ Eighty percent of Internet users in America shop online
¨ Thirty-two percent of online visitors go to social media sites

Today’s businesses are beginning to realize that they are limited in their use of e-marketing techniques that are becoming so vital especially in today’s highly competitive global market.

The online industry continues to grow at a rapid pace and unless marketers are actively engaging in e-marketing and staying in touch with the emerging technologies and evolving strategies, they will continue to fall further and further behind.

Cathy will provide insight on the powerful impact the internet has had on business and the economy. Helping you understand the importance of e-marketing and how it works in the marketing mix. She will also address the growing need for business marketers who possess the knowledge and capabilities to effectively apply new media marketing for business success and how to acquire those skills.


Cathy von Birgelen
Director of the eMLC
814-898-6547


Catherine von Birgelen
Director
eMarketing Learning Center @ eBizITPA
Knowledge Park
5340 Fryling Road Suite 201
Erie, PA 16510
814-898-6547 O (What does V stand for?)
814-898-6534 F
814-881-4834 M
Cathy.vonbirgelen@ebizitpa.org
http://www.emarketinglearningcenter.org/
Contact Cathy on LinkedIn


Catherine von Birgelen is the director of the eMarketing Learning Center @ eBizITPA (eMLC) and facilitator of the eMarketing Special Interest Group in NWPA. Ms. von Birgelen trains and provides strategic guidance and mentoring to businesses. In this capacity, she partners with business groups, universities and economic development agencies to help businesses learn how to use the online channel for business growth and sustainable advantage.

The eMLC is an outgrowth of the Center of eBusiness and Advanced Information Technology (eBizITPA). The eMLC’s education and training programs are research based, industry validated and taught by industry experts. They are designed to bridge gaps in skill requirements and business units including sales, marketing and IT. Furthermore, they bridge emerging technologies, including Web and mobile, with best practices in applying strategy, creative and technology.

Ms. Von Birgelen’s work is based on over 25 years of demonstrated business experience in all business functions including planning, analysis, marketing and finance. von Birgelen has extensive knowledge and experience applying digital media and marketing technologies to support business growth. Her passion for producing innovative, results-oriented solutions is illustrated by her business accomplishments. von Birgelen has consulted with many regional and national clients, including: GE, Choice Hotels, Proctor & Gamble, Larson Text, Howard Industries, Seaway Manufacturing, Troyer Farms, Gannon University, Blair.com, Relishinc.com, Procurex, and Penn State Erie.

Let me know exact time you want me on the call.

Please let me know if you have any questions. My cell is 814-881-4834

Best, Cathy
1. Title and brief summary of the topic
Keeping Pace with Marketing in the Digital Age
Cathy von Birgelen, Director
eMarketing Learning Center @ eBizITPA

¨ Ninety-five percent of business-to-business buyers go online and use search engines during the purchasing process
¨ Ninety-two percent of adults regularly go online when considering a purchase
¨ Eighty percent of Internet users in America shop online
¨ Thirty-two percent of online visitors go to social media sites

Today’s businesses are beginning to realize that they are limited in their use of e-marketing techniques that are becoming so vital especially in today’s highly competitive global market.

The online industry continues to grow at a rapid pace and unless marketers are actively engaging in e-marketing and staying in touch with the emerging technologies and evolving strategies, they will continue to fall further and further behind.

Cathy will provide insight on the powerful impact the internet has had on business and the economy. Helping you understand the importance of e-marketing and how it works in the marketing mix. She will also address the growing need for business marketers who possess the knowledge and capabilities to effectively apply new media marketing for business success and how to acquire those skills.


Cathy von Birgelen
Director of the eMLC
814-898-6547

Catherine von Birgelen
Director
eMarketing Learning Center @ eBizITPA
Knowledge Park
5340 Fryling Road Suite 201
Erie, PA 16510
814-898-6547 O (What does V stand for?)
814-898-6534 F
814-881-4834 M
Cathy.vonbirgelen@ebizitpa.org
http://www.emarketinglearningcenter.org/
Contact Cathy on LinkedIn


Catherine von Birgelen is the director of the eMarketing Learning Center @ eBizITPA (eMLC) and facilitator of the eMarketing Special Interest Group in NWPA. Ms. von Birgelen trains and provides strategic guidance and mentoring to businesses. In this capacity, she partners with business groups, universities and economic development agencies to help businesses learn how to use the online channel for business growth and sustainable advantage.

The eMLC is an outgrowth of the Center of eBusiness and Advanced Information Technology (eBizITPA). The eMLC’s education and training programs are research based, industry validated and taught by industry experts. They are designed to bridge gaps in skill requirements and business units including sales, marketing and IT. Furthermore, they bridge emerging technologies, including Web and mobile, with best practices in applying strategy, creative and technology.

Ms. Von Birgelen’s work is based on over 25 years of demonstrated business experience in all business functions including planning, analysis, marketing and finance. von Birgelen has extensive knowledge and experience applying digital media and marketing technologies to support business growth. Her passion for producing innovative, results-oriented solutions is illustrated by her business accomplishments. von Birgelen has consulted with many regional and national clients, including: GE, Choice Hotels, Proctor & Gamble, Larson Text, Howard Industries, Seaway Manufacturing, Troyer Farms, Gannon University, Blair.com, Relishinc.com, Procurex, and Penn State Erie.

Let me know exact time you want me on the call.

Please let me know if you have any questions. My cell is 814-881-4834

Best, Cathy
1. Title and brief summary of the topic
Keeping Pace with Marketing in the Digital Age
Cathy von Birgelen, Director
eMarketing Learning Center @ eBizITPA

¨ Ninety-five percent of business-to-business buyers go online and use search engines during the purchasing process
¨ Ninety-two percent of adults regularly go online when considering a purchase
¨ Eighty percent of Internet users in America shop online
¨ Thirty-two percent of online visitors go to social media sites

Today’s businesses are beginning to realize that they are limited in their use of e-marketing techniques that are becoming so vital especially in today’s highly competitive global market.

The online industry continues to grow at a rapid pace and unless marketers are actively engaging in e-marketing and staying in touch with the emerging technologies and evolving strategies, they will continue to fall further and further behind.

Cathy will provide insight on the powerful impact the internet has had on business and the economy. Helping you understand the importance of e-marketing and how it works in the marketing mix. She will also address the growing need for business marketers who possess the knowledge and capabilities to effectively apply new media marketing for business success and how to acquire those skills.


Cathy von Birgelen
Director of the eMLC
814-898-6547


Catherine von Birgelen
Director
eMarketing Learning Center @ eBizITPA
Knowledge Park
5340 Fryling Road Suite 201
Erie, PA 16510
814-898-6547 O (What does V stand for?)
814-898-6534 F
814-881-4834 M
Cathy.vonbirgelen@ebizitpa.org
http://www.emarketinglearningcenter.org/
Contact Cathy on LinkedIn


Catherine von Birgelen is the director of the eMarketing Learning Center @ eBizITPA (eMLC) and facilitator of the eMarketing Special Interest Group in NWPA. Ms. von Birgelen trains and provides strategic guidance and mentoring to businesses. In this capacity, she partners with business groups, universities and economic development agencies to help businesses learn how to use the online channel for business growth and sustainable advantage.

The eMLC is an outgrowth of the Center of eBusiness and Advanced Information Technology (eBizITPA). The eMLC’s education and training programs are research based, industry validated and taught by industry experts. They are designed to bridge gaps in skill requirements and business units including sales, marketing and IT. Furthermore, they bridge emerging technologies, including Web and mobile, with best practices in applying strategy, creative and technology.

Ms. Von Birgelen’s work is based on over 25 years of demonstrated business experience in all business functions including planning, analysis, marketing and finance. von Birgelen has extensive knowledge and experience applying digital media and marketing technologies to support business growth. Her passion for producing innovative, results-oriented solutions is illustrated by her business accomplishments. von Birgelen has consulted with many regional and national clients, including: GE, Choice Hotels, Proctor & Gamble, Larson Text, Howard Industries, Seaway Manufacturing, Troyer Farms, Gannon University, Blair.com, Relishinc.com, Procurex, and Penn State Erie.

Let me know exact time you want me on the call.

Please let me know if you have any questions. My cell is 814-881-4834

Best, Cathy
1. Title and brief summary of the topic
Keeping Pace with Marketing in the Digital Age
Cathy von Birgelen, Director
eMarketing Learning Center @ eBizITPA

¨ Ninety-five percent of business-to-business buyers go online and use search engines during the purchasing process
¨ Ninety-two percent of adults regularly go online when considering a purchase
¨ Eighty percent of Internet users in America shop online
¨ Thirty-two percent of online visitors go to social media sites

Today’s businesses are beginning to realize that they are limited in their use of e-marketing techniques that are becoming so vital especially in today’s highly competitive global market.

The online industry continues to grow at a rapid pace and unless marketers are actively engaging in e-marketing and staying in touch with the emerging technologies and evolving strategies, they will continue to fall further and further behind.

Cathy will provide insight on the powerful impact the internet has had on business and the economy. Helping you understand the importance of e-marketing and how it works in the marketing mix. She will also address the growing need for business marketers who possess the knowledge and capabilities to effectively apply new media marketing for business success and how to acquire those skills.


Cathy von Birgelen
Director of the eMLC
814-898-6547

Leveraging Strategies for Financing

LEVERAGE STRATEGIES FOR FINANCING

How to GET MONEY
from the bank when you
need it,
NOT WHEN THEY WANT TO GIVE IT TO YOU!
LEARN LEVERAGING STRATEGIES FOR FINANCING
ü Personal Budget
ü Credit History
ü Credit Score
ü Personal Financial Statement
ü Business & Marketing Plan
ü Pricing your product/service correctly.
ü Collateral
ü Owner’s Contribution
ü Character
ü Professional Guidance
ü The Right Banker
For further guidance on how to:
start and build your business and obtain financing :
Call S I Business Associates 412-828-2550

Is Your Accountant Facilitating Cost Control

IS YOUR ACCOUNTING FACILITATING COST CONTROL?
Ask yourself these questions for the answer.

1. Do you have an accountant? ______Yes ______ No

2. What does he/she do for you?
A. Payroll__________
B. Income Tax_______
C. Profit Loss Statements__________
D. Financial Guidance__________
E. Other ___________


3. How often do you see them?
Monthly
Quarterly
Six months
Yearly

4. How do you determine what your overhead is?



5. Has your accountant told you what your breakeven point is for the year? _____Yes ___ No



6. Do they tell you what your overhead is
a. daily, __Yes ___No
b. monthly __Yes____No
c. yearly ___Yes___No

7. Do you know the difference between tax accounting and cost accounting? _____Yes ___ No
8.. Is your accountant a tax accountant or a cost accountant? _____Yes ___ No

9. Has your accountant given you a recommendation for accounting software and estimating software? _____Yes ___ No

10. How much construction experience does your accountant have?


Computers/Software

Do you have a computer?

Are you familiar with the computer?

Do you have a laptop?

What do you use the computer for?

What do you use your laptop for?


How do you do your estimating?

By hand
By spreadsheet
By estimating software
Hire an estimator?

How much did you pay for your software?

Who recommended it?

How much time did it take for you to learn the software?

Did you get any professional training?

How much did you pay?

Do you get ongoing services from the software company?

How often do you use your estimating package?

What do you like about your software?

What do you not like about your estimating software?

How does you software determine what overhead is assigned to the job?


Do you use computer-estimating software?

What estimating package

Does your accountant recommend any software for accounting?

Does your accountant recommend any software for costing or estimating?
Who keeps your book?
You family member or employee


How often do you consult with your accountant on your business?

Do you separate your costs from running the office to running the job?

Does your accountant n the office or you hand it to your accountant monthly, quarterly, every six months or yearly

Who uses it in the office?

Do you have a laptop?

Do you use a book/such as national estimator to do your bids?

How much do you pay for accounting a year?

How much do you pay for estimating a year?

Are you making the kind of money that you would like?

Do you make money on each job?

If not—what goes wrong?

Unique Features of Price It Perfect Cost Control Program

Small Business Solutions, LLC
Phone: 412-828-2550
Fax: 412-828-2616

Unique features
of
Price It Perfect

1. Develops an accurate Gross Margin for the company
Separates the Cost of Sales from the Administrative Expenses for the particular business.
2. Develops a Break Even Point of Sales for the company.
1. Monthly
2. Weekly
3. Daily
4. Hourly
3. Allows the operator to choose time periods of operation to recover Administrative Expenses. This is important for seasonal businesses.
1. Weeks per year
2. Days per week
3. Hours per day
4. Includes recovery of capital investment in pricing.
5. Allows planned Return on Investment to be included in pricing.
6. Offers a Production Sheet which develops
1. Different labor rates and labor burden for crews or divisions
2. Cost per hour and day for each crew or division.
3. Charge per hour and day for each crew or division.
4. Total wages paid per day.
5. Total wages billed per day.
6. Total Administrative Expenses distributed per day.
7. Allows Administrative Expenses to be distributed unequally among products or services.
8. Allows different Gross Margins to be planned for different products or services.
9. Offers a Pricing Sheet for each division which is automatically loaded with the labor rates and labor burden for that division.
10. Allows duplication of an estimate to record actuals to determine how accurate the estimate was.
11. Offers the opportunity to build an inventory of estimates and jobs which can be duplicated to provide similar estimates quickly.
12. Indicates accurately the amount of Administrative Expenses, which must be picked up by each estimate.
13. Shows how a credit card sale affects the Administrative Expenses earned.
14. Allows Sales Tax to be paid on items purchased or added to the final price.
Allows a commission to be calculated in the price.

PRICE IT PERFECT TAKES THE MYSTERY OUTOF YOUR ESTIAMTING. QUIT GUESSING GIVE US A CALL AT 412-828-2550 FOR YOUR INITIAL DEMONSTRATION.

Is Your Pricing Creating A Crisis in Your Business

PRICE it PERFECT!

IS YOUR PRICING
CREATING A
CRISIS
IN YOUR BUSINESS?

Are you plagued by:
Ø Changing Market Conditions
Ø Economic Downturn
Ø Small Challenges Becoming Major Obstacles
INSTANT COST CONTROL
With PRICE it PERFECT Cost Management
ü GAIN control of your business
ü STABLIZE your business.
ü INCREASE your business
ü CREATE options
ü COMBAT Economic “bad” times
ü CONTROL the Factors in Your Business
ü DECIDE Your Future
ü PRODUCE Dollars You Need to Prosper

Price It Perfect
The Perfect Solution for a Prosperous Business!!!!

Call today for your initial no charge consultation.
Website: www.sibusinessassociates.com
Phone: 412-828-2550

PRICE it PERFECT is a division of S I Business Associates an established small business growth management firm serving W. PA since 1975

Cost Accounting vs. Tax Accounting

PRICE IT PERFECT

COST ACCOUNTING vs TAX ACCOUNTING

Biggest difference is direction.
Tax accounting reports history, events of the past. It does not provide decision making information. Tax accounting is just that. Accounting to determine the amount of Tax you owe the government.

Cost accounting is a financial tool that tells you where you are today, what to charge for your product and how much you have to sell at that price. Cost accounting also allows you to perform future projections based on today’s data.

No where on your tax statement do you see an accurate Gross Margin. For instance the Government has set guidelines for depreciating long term assets. They do not consider that a car that may last 10 years may need replaced in 6 months, or a year, or two years, depending on use. This depreciation (tax accounting) amount is used in determining your Gross Margin for tax purposes. You need to recover the cost of that car in 6 months, not ten years. Cost accounting allows you to specify the useful life of any item, or the number of months/years you need to recover the cost of such an investment.

Common Small Business Comparison

COST ACCOUNTING TAX ACCOUNTING
Price per item sold X
Capacity of your business X
Market variables X
Completed Sales X X
Cost of Sales X X (historical)
Total Expenses X X (historical)
Depreciation X
Recovery of Investment X
Net profit of Business X X
Net profit by product X
Establish prices X
Establish sales & production targets X
What if projections X
Shows impact on pricing based on
daily changes X
Minute Costs X
Hourly costs X
Daily Costs X
Weekly Costs X
Monthly Costs X X
Yearly Costs X X
You are or have been keeping all the information necessary to do Cost Accounting and until now have only benefitted from tax accounting report. Tax accounting only reports. Cost accounting allows you to analyze your company.

Big Business does detailed cost accounting with expensive departments and software.

Price it Perfect makes cost accounting available to small businesses at a price they can afford..
Don’t wait to be in charge of your business.
Get the facts TODAY
Know what it costs today to run your business
and win profitable bids.


For further information and a
no cost demonstration
call S. I Business Associates
412-828-2550
and ask for JoAnn R. Forrester
for your no-cost demonstration

Business Growth Diganostic Check-up!

Business Growth Diagnostic Check-Up!
TAKE THE FOLLOWING TEST*
If you have one of these warning symptoms, it is time to seek
Professional help!

1. Your employees are getting a paycheck
regularly and you don’t
2. Using credit cards to finance your business.
3. Receivables and payables are BOTH late!
4. No strategy to accommodate growth.
5. No executive education about cost control.
6. You win bids, but NOT always profitable.
7. Your salesmen's commission is eating into your profit!
Don’t wait for critical symptoms!
IT’S TIME TO GET HELP!
JoAnn Forrester & SI Business Associates

SI BUSINESS ASSOCIATES
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF US! GET A FREE CHECK-UP
412-828-2550
www.sibaworld.com

Price it Perfect™
Your CFO in a Box!