Website for Global Consulting Firm Presents Professional Image

CLIENT: StratX

We helped StratX, a global consulting firm, to present itself as a leader in business simulations in order to attract new clients. Oriented to multinational corporations, the website describes how StratX uses computer simulations in group contexts to help global organizations improve their marketing across divisions and embrace organizational change. The website presents information in a well-organized way and emphasizes the benefits that StratX brings to its clients. The site features videos, drop down bios, a news section, and case studies.

StratX Website Interior Pages

> StratXCorporate.com

Links

Red Rooster Group IconRed Rooster Group is a New York based graphic design firm that creates effective brands, websites, and marketing campaigns to increase your visibility, sales, and communications effectiveness. Contact us at info@redroostergroup.com.

Direct Mail Brochures Promote New Clean Air Technology

CLIENT: King Freeze Mechanical

Did you know that UV light kills bacteria in the air? Designed to be located inside your air ducts, Air Probe Sanitizer destroys harmful bacteria before it gets into your room. To market this innovative device, we developed two brochures – one for consumers, focusing on the safety to the family (cover shown), and one brochure to businesses which emphasized the productivity gains from clean air versus those lost to airborne diseases.

Air Probe Business Direct Mail Brochure

Air Probe Business Detail

Links

Red Rooster Group IconRed Rooster Group is a New York based graphic design firm that creates effective brands, websites, and marketing campaigns to increase your visibility, sales, and communications effectiveness. Contact us at info@redroostergroup.com.

Innovative Hiring Technology

The website for this recruitment firm with 17 offices in the United States describes their traditional fee-based staffing services as well as their unique cost-per-unit staffing model for manufacturing firms and features a robust job search function.

LINKS

Red Rooster Group IconRed Rooster Group is a New York based graphic design firm that creates effective brands, websites, and marketing campaigns to increase your visibility, sales, and communications effectiveness. Contact us at info@redroostergroup.com.

Resourcing Publication Helps Buying Agents Gain Credibility

CLIENT: International Merchandise Group

With changing political climates and increasing demands from retailers, helping apparel companies in the United States to source manufacturing overseas is no easy feat. To help executives understand the complex issues involved, we created this newsletter for the International Merchandise Group. The newsletter was unique and helped establish credibility for the company as experts in overseas sourcing and manufacturing.

Links

Red Rooster Group IconRed Rooster Group is a New York based graphic design firm that creates effective brands, websites, and marketing campaigns to increase your visibility, sales, and communications effectiveness. Contact us at info@redroostergroup.com.

World Trade Institute Catalog

CLIENT: World Trade Institute

We handled the design of the annual course catalog for the World Trade Institute, an educational institution, featuring a listing of all courses, special programs, and registration information and form.

World Trade Institute Catalog

Links

Red Rooster Group IconRed Rooster Group is a New York based graphic design firm that creates effective brands, websites, and marketing campaigns to increase your visibility, sales, and communications effectiveness. Contact us at info@redroostergroup.com.

Top Ten Tips for Networking

So you want to be a ‘networker’
People often say that they wish they knew “how to network.”  There’s no doubt that networking is an essential
component of business success.  In fact, The Executive Forum was founded on that very principle.  What surprises me, however, is the extent to which many people think of networking as some sort of exotic art (it’s not) or something that’s only taught in business school (it isn’t).
Like many good things in life, networking takes practice, enthusiasm and patience.
And it works.  Imagine if I told you that people who are not part of your social network, or your family, or your profession would be willing to help you succeed.  Without charging you a penny.  They will, but only if you ask them.  Only if you tell them what you need.  And only if it’s a mutually beneficial relationship.
This takes time. It involves getting to understand other people’s needs and looking for ways to help them. For some people, interacting comes naturally; for others, it doesn’t. However, networking skills can be learned.  Here are my Top 10 Ways to become at better at networking.
1. Be a consummate professional.  People will respect what you have to say if it’s clear that you really understand your business.  It’s not enough to just have a mission statement and elevator pitch, though you need that; you also need to have a track record in solving your clients’ problems.  It also goes without saying, or should, that you also need to abide by the highest professionals standards in everything you do.
2. Know your audience.  Understand the size and nature of your market.  Know what problems you can solve for your clients.  And most important, listen to people talk about their problems.
3. Understand your spheres of influence.  Here’s where it gets interesting.  Most of us think about ourselves in narrow, simplistic terms.  You may be the best widget salesperson in the world, but you’re also a lot more than that.  Make a list of your spheres of influence and make sure to include the following:  professional relationships, associations, religious groups, hobbies and other activities, club memberships, alumni associations – you get the idea.  Then add in all of your family contacts and neighbors and friends, and you’ve got the beginnings of a great networking list.
4. Create a contact database.  This is potentially your most valuable asset, and most people can build a list of 200 to 500 names in a few years.  But it’s not enough to know these people – you have to maintain the contact in an electronic database that’s segmented by category, keywords and priorities.  Sound tough?  It’s not.  Most of us already use organizational tools like Microsoft Outlook.  And while more sophisticated tools exist (for example, ACT or Filemaker), Outlook is a good start.  Start keeping tracking of information like employment, family, key dates (anniversary, birthday, etc.), activities and interests, learning style (visual, auditory, kinesthetic) and communications preference (email over voice, face-to-face meetings over conference calls, etc.).
5. Get in front of people as often as you can.  Meet with your contacts on a regular basis.  See clients, don’t just call them.  Attend networking events on a regular basis.  Get involved in professional associations.
6. Know how to build relationships.  Identify common interests and passions.  Share common values.  Understand different personality traits and the things that motivate people (career, family, religion, hobbies, etc.).  Listen to what problems they are solving for others.  Have a routine or mechanism to stay in touch.
7. Look out for other people’s interests.  This is another way of saying do the other guy a favor before you ask for one.  Look out for their needs – send articles of interest, let them know of events and other opportunities in their industry.  Build rapport though social events.  Show your appreciation – say thank you (verbally, card, gift, dinner, etc.).
8. Understand how to ask for a referral.  Many people don’t like to ask for help.  The real issue is knowing how and when to ask for help.  Here’s what works for me.  With clients, a good time is when I know I’ve done a really good job that met their objective.  With non-clients, it’s when I know I could do a really good job for someone they know.  But with contacts in both categories, you first have to address their psychological reluctance against giving the referral.  How?  Tell them what you want to get out of the referral (introduction, sale, build relationship, introduction to others, etc.).  Tell them how you will handle the call and meeting (this is very important).  Assure them that you will exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality.  Ask about other connections (things you have in common, how they met, etc.).  Thank them – and always call the referral contact when you say you will and then keep the referrer in the loop.  Sounds simple?  It is, but you have to do it.
9. Make a commitment to networking.  This can’t be a once-a-year thing.  Seek to constantly meet new people and keep in contact with clients, referral sources and others.  Keep people updated about your situation — new job, new services, new groups, people they might be interested in meeting, etc.  Look for opportunities to bring people together even if it’s not directly for business (for example, an industry event they might be interested in).  And continually seek to improve your networking skills.
10. Trust your instincts.  This is the big one.  You know more than you think you know.  You know more people than you think you know.  And you have interesting things to say that cut across business or social lines.  All it takes is practice, enthusiasm and patienc

People often say that they wish they knew “how to network.”  There’s no doubt that networking is an essential component of success. What surprises me, however, is the extent to which many people think of networking as some sort of exotic art (it’s not) or something that’s only taught in business school (it isn’t).

Like many good things in life, networking takes practice, enthusiasm and patience. And it works.  Imagine if I told you that people who are not part of your social network, or your family, or your profession would be willing to help you succeed.  Without charging you a penny.  They will, but only if you ask them.  Only if you tell them what you need.  And only if it’s a mutually beneficial relationship.

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Nonprofit & Green Events

 

Looking for good networking? Check out these event calendars:

NONPROFIT

Charity Happenings – A large list of fundraising events, galas and benefits produced by nonprofits

Nonprofit Central – Good list of events and workshops for nonpofit professionals around the NY tri-state area

New York Council of Nonprofits – Events sponsored by NYCON

NYCON – New York Council of Nonprofits (based in Albany, NY) – list of their own workshops

United Way of Westchester & Putnam Counties, NY – list of events by nonprofits in those counties

The Long Island Way – Portal for connecting nonprofits and businesses in Long Island.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL & CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

Environmental Business Association of New York State – (based in Albany, NY) – list of their own workshops

CSR Wire – Corporate Social Responsibility Network: CSR-related events nationally

Green Biz – Business. The Environment. The Bottom Line.: CSR-related events nationally

Green-Links.org– Green events and resources around NYC

Red Rooster Group IconRed Rooster Group is a New York based graphic design firm that creates effective brands, websites, and marketing campaigns to increase your visibility, fundraising, and communications effectiveness. Contact us at info@redroostergroup.com.