5 Ways to Leverage That Business Lull

• Employees. Remember them? Recognize them. Write handwritten notes. Hey, maybe you could even rent a big tent, haul in a couple of grills and cook up some burgers and dogs, and have a party in honor of your hard-working team. RGM event-planning support is available.
• Customers. Tell customers how much you appreciate them. Send a thank-you note that shares a specific attribute or action that's really made a difference in your business or life. RGM writing services are available.
• Web Site. Clean and refresh that Web site of yours. If your content is more than a year old, it's probably a bit stale. Consider "Action-izing" your written content and evaluate your "look and feel." Does it share your company message? We know who can help here too!
• Social-ize your company. Social media can be an effective way to reach out to customers, suppliers, prospects and more. Figure out the best ways to use your Web site, Facebook, LinkedIn--even enterprise-type tools--to expand your reach. RGM knows how.
• Announce It. Good news is everywhere. Your company has more success stories than you can imagine. Sniff them out, get the details and announce the story as news. Press releases and customer success stories work. Guess who can help you do this too.
• Relax. Get away from the office. Play with the dogs. Spend time with the kids. Read a darn good book. Just take a little time to decompress. RGM can help here too, especially if you're relaxing anywhere near Maui, Barbados or Cozumel. Hello ...

5 Answers to "Why Communicate?"

We've heard that question more than once. The answer? Here are 5 reasons to communicate:

#1 OPEN UP. OR NOT.

Whether You Ever Open Your Mouth Or Not, You're Communicating (Something). Silence isn't golden. And if you're not consistently communicating with employees, customers, prospects, strategic partners, suppliers, regulators, community organizations, media  and others, you're doing damage to yourself, your company. Your future.

#2 A RAP ON YOUR REP.

When The Good Times Roll, Communicate.  When The Bad Times Knock, Communicate More. Clamming up in bad times is like nailing the coffin shut on your personal and corporate reputation. Establish ongoing rapport with media in the good times. It helps you and the media relate, trust and work together, especially in the bad times.

#3 ROSES & THORNS.

Which will it be? Employees rarely get the honest communications they deserve. Communications help you grow a rose garden of employees, or a bunch of thorns and thistles. Treat them right, they advocate your company for life. Treat them poorly, you get trashed. Forever.

#4 CRISIS AVERTED.

Accidents, Incidents & Accusations. They Happen. Communications starts with a planning process, including crisis communications. When accidents, incidents, disasters--even accusations (justified or not)--communications get you ready. Be prepared. Be ready.

#5 FLEXING THE SALES MUSCLE. 

When your sales team hits the trade show floor, or calls on prospects, what's helping them make the sale? Have buyers seen your ads, visited your Web site, asked industry analysts about corporate and product quality? Communications helps spread your story. It flexes the sales muscle of your organization.

Practical Stuff

• Share and collaborate online, see www.fileqube.com
• Sign documents electronically and securely, see www.echosign.com
• When data really matter, use Carbonite, www.carbonite.com
  
  
• When the IRS is hassling you, where do you go? The Schlichting Group, that's who! See more.
• Recycle old PCs, DVD and VCR players and anything with a power cord. E-recycling is paramount for today's business. Being eco-friendly isn't an option. It's critical to your business' corporate responsibility initiatives. Get plugged in with the leader, Techway Services, Learn more.