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","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9186"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;business-careers-money&quot;,&quot;business&quot;,&quot;marketing&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781394318759&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-681d1b93f1efb\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;business-careers-money&quot;,&quot;business&quot;,&quot;marketing&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781394318759&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-681d1b93f354d\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":144758,"title":"4 Secrets for Social Media Marketing Success","slug":"4-secrets-for-social-media-marketing-success","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","marketing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/144758"}},{"articleId":144759,"title":"Online Resources for Social Media Marketing","slug":"online-resources-for-social-media-marketing","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","marketing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/144759"}},{"articleId":144757,"title":"Keeping Your Social Media Marketing Under Control","slug":"keeping-your-social-media-marketing-under-control","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","marketing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/144757"}}],"content":[{"title":"4 secrets for social media marketing success","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>What you already know about online marketing will stand you in good stead. Start with these marketing basics and work from there to create a social media plan:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Create a hub website or blog with a domain name that you own.</strong> Social media lets you cast a wider net for your products or services. Ultimately, you still need to drive traffic to a core website or blog for additional information or purchasing.</li>\n<li><strong>Develop a standard set of eight keywords or phrases and a page description for search engine optimization.</strong> Just like you optimize your website, optimize your social marketing content and profiles. Use the same description and terms over and over to <a href=\"/article/business-careers-money/business/marketing/driving-traffic-via-sem-seo-marketing-campaigns-244843/\">improve your ranking on search engines</a> and to appear higher on internal search results for each social media outlet.</li>\n<li><strong>Plan your marketing and work your plan.</strong> Like with all other forms of marketing, your target audience drives your decisions. Market on the media outlets they use. Before you do anything, define your market, establish your goals, and decide how you will measure success.</li>\n<li><strong>Keep it simple!</strong> Unless you have many people on your marketing team, you need to keep your social media efforts under control — or they will control you. Generally, you get better results by posting more often on a few sites than posting occasionally on many sites. Create a simple monthly schedule of activities that includes posting somewhere at least weekly.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Online resources for social media marketing","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>The first phase in writing your social media marketing plan is research. Use the websites in this table to put together the best possible social media marketing plan for your company.</p>\n<table width=\"638\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"319\"><strong>Website</strong></td>\n<td width=\"319\"><strong>Description</strong></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"319\"><a href=\"https://alltop.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Alltop</a></td>\n<td width=\"319\">Directory of blogs, broken down by niche</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"319\"><a href=\"https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Business News Daily</a></td>\n<td width=\"319\">Small business solutions and inspiration</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"319\"><a href=\"https://feedly.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Feedly</a></td>\n<td width=\"319\">Aggregates news for any topic of choice</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"319\"><a href=\"https://trends.google.com/trends/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google Trends</a></td>\n<td width=\"319\">The current buzz and trends on any topic</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"319\"><a href=\"https://www.hootsuite.com/tools/social-roi-calculator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hootsuite Social ROI calculator</a></td>\n<td width=\"319\">Online ROI calculator for social networking campaigns</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"319\"><a href=\"https://blog.hubspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HubSpot Blogs</a></td>\n<td width=\"319\">Inbound internet marketing blog</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"319\"><a href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/groups/66325/profile\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LinkedIn Social Media Marketing Group</a></td>\n<td width=\"319\">Professional discussion group; approval required to join</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"319\"><a href=\"https://www.marketingprofs.com/marketing/library/100/social-media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MarketingProfs Marketing Resources</a></td>\n<td width=\"319\">Social media marketing tips, including B2B</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"319\"><a href=\"https://www.marketingsherpa.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MarketingSherpa</a></td>\n<td width=\"319\">Social networking research with B2B focus</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"319\"><a href=\"https://mashable.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mashable</a></td>\n<td width=\"319\">Premier site for online news with social media focus</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"319\"><a href=\"https://www.quantcast.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Quantcast</a></td>\n<td width=\"319\">Demographic research on most sites</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"319\"><a href=\"https://muckrack.com/media-outlet/smallbiz-resources\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SmallBiz-Resources</a></td>\n<td width=\"319\">Social media, online, and offline marketing tips</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"319\"><a href=\"https://technorati.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technorati</a></td>\n<td width=\"319\">Real-time blog search engine and curation</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"319\"><a href=\"https://www.toprankblog.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TopRank Online Marketing Blog</a></td>\n<td width=\"319\">Blog about online and social marketing</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n"},{"title":"Keeping your social media marketing under control","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Using social media as a marketing tool doesn’t have to be a chore. These helpful tips and techniques to manage your social media campaigns can save you time, money, and stress:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Repetition is wonderful when it comes to keywords, tags, and labels.</strong> Utilizing the same core search terms and page description over and over on your website and all social media outlets not only saves time, but also improves ranking on search engine results.</li>\n<li><strong>Use tools such as Hootsuite, X Pro or Sprout Social to post similar content multiple places at the same time.</strong> For instance, you can upload photos to multiple social media sharing outlets at the same time or simultaneously post to your blog and Facebook.</li>\n<li><strong>Schedule posts in advance so you don’t need to remember to log on with timely messages.</strong> Posting once or more a day can be a nuisance, but you can use tools such as Hootsuite, SocialOomph, or Buffer for scheduling.</li>\n<li><strong>Keep track of daily social media activities.</strong> Schedule tasks for a month at a time or more with a simple calendar on Google or Yahoo!.</li>\n<li><strong>Correlate data from multiple sources.</strong> Configure one standard analytical package, such as Google Analytics or Woopra, to measure all your social media results.</li>\n<li><strong>Get organized! </strong>Create a master dashboard that includes links and tiered log-ins to all your social media outlets, tools, calendars, and analytic sites in one place. Configure Netvibes or Hootsuite to meet your needs.</li>\n</ul>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Advance","lifeExpectancy":"One year","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2025-04-21T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":207545},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2025-05-08T17:17:03+00:00","modifiedTime":"2025-05-08T17:17:03+00:00","timestamp":"2025-05-08T18:01:04+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Business, Careers, & Money","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34224"},"slug":"business-careers-money","categoryId":34224},{"name":"Business","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34225"},"slug":"business","categoryId":34225},{"name":"General Business","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34255"},"slug":"general-business","categoryId":34255}],"title":"Brand Licensing For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"brand licensing for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"brand-licensing-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Ready to explore brand licensing? Our cheat sheet offers inside knowledge to help you navigate the licensing landscape and boost your sales.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"When you’re ready to get into brand licensing, you can benefit from some inside knowledge of how the business of licensing works. The goal of this cheat sheet is to provide you with a basic understanding of brand licensing’s key elements.","description":"When you’re ready to get into brand licensing, you can benefit from some inside knowledge of how the business of licensing works. The goal of this cheat sheet is to provide you with a basic understanding of brand licensing’s key elements.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":35580,"name":"Steven Ekstract","slug":"steven-ekstract","description":"<b>Steven Ekstract</b> co-founded <i>License!, </i>a leading business publication and news source for the global consumer products licensing industry. He is also Founder and Organizer of NYC Summit: The Business of Brand Licensing—an annual conference for global licensing industry executives. Ekstract also writes a regular column for <i>License Global.</i>","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/35580"}},{"authorId":35581,"name":"Stu Seltzer","slug":"stu-seltzer","description":"<b>Stu Seltzer</b> is the president of Seltzer Licensing Group, a leading global agency (SeltzerLicensing.com). He is a member of the Licensing International Hall of Fame (Class of 2024) and has taught Brand Licensing at New York University for over 20 years.","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/35581"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34255,"title":"General Business","slug":"general-business","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34255"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":[{"articleId":192609,"title":"How to Pray the Rosary: A Comprehensive Guide","slug":"how-to-pray-the-rosary","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/192609"}},{"articleId":208741,"title":"Kabbalah For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"kabbalah-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","kabbalah"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/208741"}},{"articleId":230957,"title":"Nikon D3400 For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"nikon-d3400-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","photography"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/230957"}},{"articleId":284787,"title":"What Your Society Says About You","slug":"what-your-society-says-about-you","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","humanities"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/284787"}},{"articleId":140269,"title":"How to Change the Location of User Folders in Windows 10","slug":"how-to-change-the-location-of-user-folders-in-windows-10","categoryList":["technology","computers","operating-systems","windows","windows-10"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/140269"}}],"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":301876,"title":"Buying a Business For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"buying-a-business-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","general-business"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/301876"}},{"articleId":271244,"title":"Design Thinking: Making Ideas Clear and Tangible","slug":"design-thinking-making-ideas-clear-and-tangible","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","general-business"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/271244"}},{"articleId":271238,"title":"Design Thinking: Creativity Techniques","slug":"design-thinking-creativity-techniques","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","general-business"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/271238"}},{"articleId":271232,"title":"Design Thinking: The Customer Journey","slug":"design-thinking-the-customer-journey","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","general-business"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/271232"}},{"articleId":271227,"title":"Design Thinking: Using an Empathy Map","slug":"design-thinking-using-an-empathy-map","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","general-business"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/271227"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":302925,"slug":"brand-licensing-for-dummies","isbn":"9781394290178","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","general-business"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1394290179/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1394290179/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1394290179-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1394290179/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1394290179/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/brand-licensing-for-dummies-9781394290178-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Brand Licensing For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><b><b data-author-id=\"35580\">Steven Ekstract</b></b> co-founded <i>License!, </i>a leading business publication and news source for the global consumer products licensing industry. He is also Founder and Organizer of NYC Summit: The Business of Brand Licensing—an annual conference for global licensing industry executives. Ekstract also writes a regular column for <i>License Global.</i> <b><b data-author-id=\"35581\">Stu Seltzer</b></b> is the president of Seltzer Licensing Group, a leading global agency (SeltzerLicensing.com). He is a member of the Licensing International Hall of Fame (Class of 2024) and has taught Brand Licensing at New York University for over 20 years.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":35580,"name":"Steven Ekstract","slug":"steven-ekstract","description":"<b>Steven Ekstract</b> co-founded <i>License!, </i>a leading business publication and news source for the global consumer products licensing industry. He is also Founder and Organizer of NYC Summit: The Business of Brand Licensing—an annual conference for global licensing industry executives. Ekstract also writes a regular column for <i>License Global.</i>","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/35580"}},{"authorId":35581,"name":"Stu Seltzer","slug":"stu-seltzer","description":"<b>Stu Seltzer</b> is the president of Seltzer Licensing Group, a leading global agency (SeltzerLicensing.com). He is a member of the Licensing International Hall of Fame (Class of 2024) and has taught Brand Licensing at New York University for over 20 years.","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/35581"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;business-careers-money&quot;,&quot;business&quot;,&quot;general-business&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781394290178&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-681cf161246ea\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;business-careers-money&quot;,&quot;business&quot;,&quot;general-business&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781394290178&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-681cf16125bef\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":0,"title":"","slug":null,"categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/"}}],"content":[{"title":"Things to know about a brand licensing deal ahead of time","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Finding the right brand license to help you sell more products means doing research on the brand licensing marketplace. Here are some key questions to consider when seeking the right license:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>What’s the best license to connect with my product or service?</li>\n<li>Where do I look for licenses? How can I compare licenses that are available?</li>\n<li>What are the financials involved in acquiring a license? Is it a standard rate, or do different licenses price differently?</li>\n<li>What if the license I want is already being used for a similar product? Will the brand consider licensing for a similar product?</li>\n<li>What steps do I need to take before approaching a brand licensor?</li>\n<li>How difficult is it to secure a license for my product/product category and retail distribution?</li>\n<li>How complex is a licensing contract? Do I need a lawyer to go over it before I sign it?</li>\n<li>How long does the licensing contract last? What about renewals?</li>\n<li>Does this license require an advance on the minimum royalty payment guarantee when I sign the contract?</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"What you need to know to get started in brand licensing","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Licensing is a great marketing tool to sell products using the equity of well-known brands. To get started, you need to figure out what brand goes best for the product or service you’re trying to sell. Here are a few guidelines to follow to find the best license for your product:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>What’s your budget? How much do you have available to spend on acquiring the license? </strong>Certain licenses are more expensive than others, so figure out your budget before you approach a licensor.</li>\n<li><strong>What’s your track record?</strong> Most licensees have a track record of selling products at retail. Your ability to show a licensor your sales record at retail goes a long way toward helping you get a license. Don’t worry if you’ve never had a license before; the licensor just wants to know you have a viable product and have sold it successfully at retail.</li>\n<li><strong>Is your product unique?</strong> A unique product gives you a leg up in getting a licensor to say yes.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Dos and don’ts for a new licensee","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>As in any business, there are some basic rules you will want to follow as you start to establish yourself as a new licensee. Here are some of the basics that will assist you as you begin your journey:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>Do </em>be positive when speaking to a licensor about its brand.</strong> Even if the licensor initially turns you down, stay positive.</li>\n<li><strong><em>Don’t</em> argue with a licensor over set royalty rates in the first meeting.</strong> If the rates are too high for you to pay, politely decline the license. You never know when you may want that same license down the line, so don’t burn that bridge.</li>\n<li><strong><em>Do</em> do your research ahead of your first call or meeting with a licensor.</strong> Understand the brand and why it’s so valuable for licensing.</li>\n<li><strong><em>Don’t</em> forget everything you need in your first meeting with the licensor.</strong> Make sure you have product samples, retail references, and your previous successful track record handy.</li>\n<li><strong><em>Do</em> do your homework on different brands that can work as licenses for your products.</strong> This way, if your first brand choice says no, you have other options to choose from.</li>\n<li><strong><em>Don’t </em>make a licensing deal if you don’t believe 100 percent that the brand is right for your product.</strong></li>\n<li><strong><em>Do</em> stay up to date on available licenses that align with your product.</strong></li>\n<li><strong><em>Don’t</em> be late in making your royalty payments. </strong>Late payments are what trigger audits and also make licensors very unhappy.</li>\n<li><strong><em>Do</em> utilize the licensor resources available for you. such as style guides, retail development. and marketing updates.</strong></li>\n</ul>\n<p><strong><em>Don’t</em> get discouraged if you have a difficult time securing a license.</strong> Hundreds of great brands are available for licensing. Eventually you’ll find the right one.</p>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Advance","lifeExpectancy":"Two years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2025-05-08T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":302929},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2025-03-12T19:55:06+00:00","modifiedTime":"2025-03-12T20:04:38+00:00","timestamp":"2025-03-12T21:01:10+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Business, Careers, & Money","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34224"},"slug":"business-careers-money","categoryId":34224},{"name":"Business","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34225"},"slug":"business","categoryId":34225},{"name":"Data Management","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34244"},"slug":"data-management","categoryId":34244}],"title":"Knowledge Automation with Generative AI","strippedTitle":"knowledge automation with generative ai","slug":"knowledge-automation-with-generative-ai","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Unleash the power of Generative AI in knowledge management. Download our free guide to see how it can elevate your business's efficiency.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is a catalyst for innovation in knowledge management, driving transformative experiences and operational excellence in businesses. At the same time, GenAI needs a knowledge foundation to deliver trusted answers. We see our clients experiencing a 6X increase in getting trusted answers and a 5X increase in speed of knowledge creation and curation when they leverage GenAI with a modern knowledge foundation.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >What is GenAI?</h2>\r\nUnlike other AI technologies that recognize patterns and make predictions, GenAI can create content — text, audio, video, and more — opening exciting opportunities for creativity, productivity, and operational excellence. GenAI uses large language models (LLMs) to predict and create text based on the data and content on which it has been trained.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >GenAI and knowledge management: inseparable BFFs!</h2>\r\nMany businesses are having an aha moment as they realize that knowledge management and GenAI are destined to be best friends forever (BFFs). GenAI promises to speed up the end-to-end knowledge management process, accelerate time to business value, and tear down barriers to knowledge management adoption across the enterprise, while knowledge management provides a wealth of trusted information and know-how that can be used to inform and train GenAI.\r\n<h3>How GenAI helps knowledge management</h3>\r\nGenAI can enhance and automate the knowledge management life cycle:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Discover: </strong>GenAI can help scope an effective knowledge base by extracting likely questions from interaction history and using best-practice contextualized prompts in the knowledge platform.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Create/curate: </strong>GenAI can draft knowledge content using long-form, complex documents and other enterprise sources to make it more consumable. It can tailor content for brand voice, interaction channel, and consumer persona, and suggest knowledge taxonomy based on question patterns and user profile.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Deliver: </strong>GenAI helps find the answer needles in the content haystacks, including long-form documents with accurate but unconsumable content.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Optimize: </strong>GenAI identifies knowledge gaps, suggesting improvements to maximize business value.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h3>How knowledge management helps GenAI</h3>\r\nA modern knowledge management system (KMS) — such as the eGain AI Knowledge Hub™ — helps organizations leverage GenAI with the following capabilities:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Trusted content: </strong>Knowledge management can ensure that correct data and content are used to feed and train GenAI.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Controls and governance: </strong>A modern knowledge hub comes with controls to determine which queries to process with GenAI and which ones not to. The knowledge manager can control GenAI’s “creativity” as the situation warrants and configure additional accuracy checks as needed.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Closed-loop analytics: </strong>Knowledge management provides actionable insights on the use and effectiveness of GenAI.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Process orchestration: </strong>In addition to GenAI, a modern knowledge hub leverages other AI technologies, like reasoning and machine learning (ML), as well as critical capabilities such as content management and conversational guidance. The hub orchestrates these capabilities to deliver great experiences to customers, employees, and business managers.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"articles-tip tip\">The symbiotic relationship between GenAI and knowledge management is powerful. Without GenAI, organizations struggle to build and maintain knowledge at speed and scale. Without robust knowledge management, GenAI projects will struggle with the “garbage in, garbage out” phenomenon and may get relegated to mere prototypes.</p>\r\nTo learn more about how GenAI and knowledge management are essential BFFs for mutual success, <a href=\"https://www.egain.com/knowledge-management-for-dummies/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-testid=\"bookSponsorDownloadButton\">download</a> a free copy of <em>Knowledge Management For Dummies.</em>","description":"Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is a catalyst for innovation in knowledge management, driving transformative experiences and operational excellence in businesses. At the same time, GenAI needs a knowledge foundation to deliver trusted answers. We see our clients experiencing a 6X increase in getting trusted answers and a 5X increase in speed of knowledge creation and curation when they leverage GenAI with a modern knowledge foundation.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >What is GenAI?</h2>\r\nUnlike other AI technologies that recognize patterns and make predictions, GenAI can create content — text, audio, video, and more — opening exciting opportunities for creativity, productivity, and operational excellence. GenAI uses large language models (LLMs) to predict and create text based on the data and content on which it has been trained.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >GenAI and knowledge management: inseparable BFFs!</h2>\r\nMany businesses are having an aha moment as they realize that knowledge management and GenAI are destined to be best friends forever (BFFs). GenAI promises to speed up the end-to-end knowledge management process, accelerate time to business value, and tear down barriers to knowledge management adoption across the enterprise, while knowledge management provides a wealth of trusted information and know-how that can be used to inform and train GenAI.\r\n<h3>How GenAI helps knowledge management</h3>\r\nGenAI can enhance and automate the knowledge management life cycle:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Discover: </strong>GenAI can help scope an effective knowledge base by extracting likely questions from interaction history and using best-practice contextualized prompts in the knowledge platform.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Create/curate: </strong>GenAI can draft knowledge content using long-form, complex documents and other enterprise sources to make it more consumable. It can tailor content for brand voice, interaction channel, and consumer persona, and suggest knowledge taxonomy based on question patterns and user profile.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Deliver: </strong>GenAI helps find the answer needles in the content haystacks, including long-form documents with accurate but unconsumable content.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Optimize: </strong>GenAI identifies knowledge gaps, suggesting improvements to maximize business value.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h3>How knowledge management helps GenAI</h3>\r\nA modern knowledge management system (KMS) — such as the eGain AI Knowledge Hub™ — helps organizations leverage GenAI with the following capabilities:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Trusted content: </strong>Knowledge management can ensure that correct data and content are used to feed and train GenAI.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Controls and governance: </strong>A modern knowledge hub comes with controls to determine which queries to process with GenAI and which ones not to. The knowledge manager can control GenAI’s “creativity” as the situation warrants and configure additional accuracy checks as needed.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Closed-loop analytics: </strong>Knowledge management provides actionable insights on the use and effectiveness of GenAI.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Process orchestration: </strong>In addition to GenAI, a modern knowledge hub leverages other AI technologies, like reasoning and machine learning (ML), as well as critical capabilities such as content management and conversational guidance. The hub orchestrates these capabilities to deliver great experiences to customers, employees, and business managers.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"articles-tip tip\">The symbiotic relationship between GenAI and knowledge management is powerful. Without GenAI, organizations struggle to build and maintain knowledge at speed and scale. Without robust knowledge management, GenAI projects will struggle with the “garbage in, garbage out” phenomenon and may get relegated to mere prototypes.</p>\r\nTo learn more about how GenAI and knowledge management are essential BFFs for mutual success, <a href=\"https://www.egain.com/knowledge-management-for-dummies/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-testid=\"bookSponsorDownloadButton\">download</a> a free copy of <em>Knowledge Management For Dummies.</em>","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34244,"title":"Data Management","slug":"data-management","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34244"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33576,"title":"Generative AI","slug":"general-ai","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33576"}},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":[{"articleId":192609,"title":"How to Pray the Rosary: A 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10","slug":"how-to-change-the-location-of-user-folders-in-windows-10","categoryList":["technology","computers","operating-systems","windows","windows-10"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/140269"}}],"inThisArticle":[{"label":"What is GenAI?","target":"#tab1"},{"label":"GenAI and knowledge management: inseparable BFFs!","target":"#tab2"}],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":301483,"title":"Five Must-Have Features of Data Observability","slug":"five-must-have-features-of-data-observability","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","data-management"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/301483"}},{"articleId":296111,"title":"Components of a Data Governance Framework","slug":"components-of-a-data-governance-framework","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","data-management"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/296111"}},{"articleId":296105,"title":"Tools Used for Data Governance","slug":"tools-used-for-data-governance","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","data-management"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/296105"}},{"articleId":296085,"title":"What Is Data Governance?","slug":"what-is-data-governance","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","data-management"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/296085"}},{"articleId":295904,"title":"Data Governance For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"data-governance-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","data-management"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/295904"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div 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Edition","sponsorEbookLink":"https://www.egain.com/knowledge-management-for-dummies/","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/knowledge-management-fd-egain-special-2nd-edition-9781394291250-165x255.jpg","width":165,"height":255}},"primaryLearningPath":"Solve","lifeExpectancy":"One year","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2025-03-13T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[{"adPairKey":"sponsored","adPairValue":"customsolutions"}]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":302760},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:58:41+00:00","modifiedTime":"2025-01-03T13:50:02+00:00","timestamp":"2025-01-03T15:01:09+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Business, Careers, & Money","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34224"},"slug":"business-careers-money","categoryId":34224},{"name":"Business","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34225"},"slug":"business","categoryId":34225},{"name":"Human Resources","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34241"},"slug":"human-resources","categoryId":34241}],"title":"Performance Appraisals & Phrases For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"performance appraisals & phrases for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"performance-appraisals-phrases-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Master modern performance appraisals with our comprehensive guide. Explore tips for continuous feedback, coaching, and fostering employee motivation.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Today’s performance appraisals have undergone major changes that have led to a wide range of positive and productive outcomes for employees, managers, and their companies. These changes start with continuous feedback that is based on managers meeting regularly with their employees throughout a given evaluation period, typically on a scheduled basis as frequently as once a week. These sessions focus on performance, goal progress and attainment, coaching and development, new initiatives, and any other topics, questions, or points of interest that may arise. While these sessions include a discussion of performance and progress, there is equal focus on coaching related to employee growth, upskilling, and career development, as the entire process now focuses on feedforward as well as feedback.\r\n\r\nA related change is the movement away from annual appraisals and toward more frequent appraisals, typically on a quarterly or biannual basis. The entire process is now more open, transparent, forward-focused, and premised on two-way communication at every step. This leads to performance appraisal sessions that are void of the surprises, angst, stress, and distress that typified annual appraisals and limited contact and communication during the evaluation period. The entire appraisal process is now structured to provide constructive feedback and feedforward that include plans, strategies, and support to improve performance and productivity, enhance learning and growth, strengthen career development, and build employee motivation, satisfaction, and commitment, all in alignment with the goals and mission of the company.\r\n\r\nThe checklists and tips below will help you carry out today’s performance appraisal process successfully, effectively, and productively, especially in terms of providing continuous feedback, preparing for performance appraisal sessions, conducting employee appraisals, avoiding common mistakes and pitfalls, and following up with employees after the appraisal sessions.","description":"Today’s performance appraisals have undergone major changes that have led to a wide range of positive and productive outcomes for employees, managers, and their companies. These changes start with continuous feedback that is based on managers meeting regularly with their employees throughout a given evaluation period, typically on a scheduled basis as frequently as once a week. These sessions focus on performance, goal progress and attainment, coaching and development, new initiatives, and any other topics, questions, or points of interest that may arise. While these sessions include a discussion of performance and progress, there is equal focus on coaching related to employee growth, upskilling, and career development, as the entire process now focuses on feedforward as well as feedback.\r\n\r\nA related change is the movement away from annual appraisals and toward more frequent appraisals, typically on a quarterly or biannual basis. The entire process is now more open, transparent, forward-focused, and premised on two-way communication at every step. This leads to performance appraisal sessions that are void of the surprises, angst, stress, and distress that typified annual appraisals and limited contact and communication during the evaluation period. The entire appraisal process is now structured to provide constructive feedback and feedforward that include plans, strategies, and support to improve performance and productivity, enhance learning and growth, strengthen career development, and build employee motivation, satisfaction, and commitment, all in alignment with the goals and mission of the company.\r\n\r\nThe checklists and tips below will help you carry out today’s performance appraisal process successfully, effectively, and productively, especially in terms of providing continuous feedback, preparing for performance appraisal sessions, conducting employee appraisals, avoiding common mistakes and pitfalls, and following up with employees after the appraisal sessions.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":10263,"name":"Ken Lloyd","slug":"ken-lloyd","description":"<strong>Ken Lloyd, PhD</strong>, is a nationally recognized consultant, author, and columnist who specializes in organizational behavior, communication, and management coaching and development.","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10263"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34241,"title":"Human Resources","slug":"human-resources","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34241"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":[{"articleId":192609,"title":"How to Pray the Rosary: A Comprehensive Guide","slug":"how-to-pray-the-rosary","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/192609"}},{"articleId":208741,"title":"Kabbalah For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"kabbalah-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","kabbalah"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/208741"}},{"articleId":230957,"title":"Nikon D3400 For Dummies Cheat 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Follow Up after a Job Performance Appraisal Session","slug":"how-to-follow-up-after-a-job-performance-appraisal-session","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","human-resources"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/196411"}},{"articleId":196412,"title":"Preparing to Appraise Job Performance","slug":"preparing-to-appraise-job-performance","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","human-resources"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/196412"}},{"articleId":196407,"title":"How to Conduct a Performance Appraisal in the Workplace","slug":"how-to-conduct-a-performance-appraisal-in-the-workplace","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","human-resources"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/196407"}},{"articleId":190367,"title":"Types of Employee-Performance Rating 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Competence?","slug":"what-leaders-should-know-about-cultural-competency","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","human-resources"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/298096"}},{"articleId":295930,"title":"How Organizations Can Combat Unconscious Bias in Hiring","slug":"how-organizations-combat-unconscious-bias-in-their-hiring-practices","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","human-resources"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/295930"}},{"articleId":295924,"title":"The Secret to Avoiding a Hiring Disaster: Job Fit","slug":"the-secret-to-avoiding-a-hiring-disaster-job-fit","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","human-resources"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/295924"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282453,"slug":"performance-appraisals-and-phrases-for-dummies","isbn":"9781394276059","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","human-resources"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1394276052/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1394276052/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1394276052-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1394276052/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1394276052/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/performance-appraisals-and-phrases-for-dummies-2e-cover-9781394276059-165x255.jpg","width":165,"height":255},"title":"Performance Appraisals & Phrases For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><strong><b data-author-id=\"10263\">Ken Lloyd</b>, PhD</strong>, is a nationally recognized consultant, author, and columnist who specializes in organizational behavior, communication, and management coaching and development.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":10263,"name":"Ken Lloyd","slug":"ken-lloyd","description":"<strong>Ken Lloyd, PhD</strong>, is a nationally recognized consultant, author, and columnist who specializes in organizational behavior, communication, and management coaching and development.","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10263"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = 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skills</li>\n<li><strong>Creative thinking: </strong>brainstorming, embracing change, generating new ideas, innovation, open-mindedness, originality, problem solving, and thinking outside the box</li>\n<li><strong>Ethics: </strong>diversity, fairness, health and wellness, honesty, inclusion integrity, judgment, professionalism, and sustainability</li>\n<li><strong>Job knowledge and expertise: </strong>applying expertise, computer literacy, embracing technology, knowledge base, mentoring, proficiencies, researching, sharing knowledge, and supporting technology</li>\n<li><strong>Leadership: </strong>accessibility, coaching, communicating, conflict management, decision making, delegating, developing, empathy, feedback and feedforward, listening, modeling, motivating, proactive, recognition, responsiveness, teambuilding, and training</li>\n<li><strong>Planning, administration, and organization: </strong>adhering to schedules, adjusting to change, controlling costs, creating plans, goal attainment, goal setting, management skills, meeting deadlines, and prioritizing</li>\n<li><strong>Quality and quantity of work: </strong>accuracy, accomplishment, achieving results, detail-mindedness, focus, meeting goals, multitasking, productivity, setting priorities, thoroughness, time management, and working remotely</li>\n<li><strong>Self-development and growth: </strong>adding value, advancement, career development, development goals, education, enhancing expertise, learning, pursuit of knowledge, strengths, and upskilling</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Preparing for the appraisal session","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>When conducting performance appraisals, one of the key steps in establishing a productive dialogue is for you to be well prepared. Here’s a checklist that will help you set the stage for meaningful, motivational, and impactful feedback and feedforward sessions with your employees:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>See yourself as a leader and a coach. </strong>By approaching these sessions with this type of mindset, you’ll be able to accurately and fully discuss and review your employees’ performance, while also collaborating with them in order to design and implement plans and strategies to upgrade their performance as well as their knowledge, skills, and proficiencies.</li>\n<li><strong>Set positive expectations. </strong>If you expect performance appraisals to go smoothly, effectively, and productively, it’s far more likely that they will do so. And conversely, if you expect a difficult or stressful conversation, that’s quite likely to be the kind of session that you’ll encounter. By engaging in continuous feedback throughout the evaluation period, you’re likely to have built a solid working relationship with your employees while removing any surprises related to their performance, hence opening the door even wider to highly effective appraisal sessions—and that’s exactly what you should expect.</li>\n<li><strong>Engage in continuous feedback. </strong>Through your ongoing feedback and feedforward with your employees throughout the evaluation period, you will be highly familiar with your employees as individuals, as well as with their areas of strengths, their progress in pursuit of their goals, and the areas in which further improvements are needed. Importantly, you will have discussed all of these topics with them during the evaluation period, and this means the appraisal sessions can further review and document the employees’ performance, while focusing a good deal of the conversation on performance improvement, employee growth, and career development.</li>\n<li><strong>Know the system. </strong>Companies have different performance appraisal systems, and it’s important to have a clear understanding of the system that is in place in your company. You should be able to explain the process in its entirety to your employees, as their increased understanding will further enhance their engagement as well as their receptivity to the feedback and feedforward that you provide.</li>\n<li><strong>Handle the logistics. </strong>Rather than unilaterally setting the day for the formal appraisal sessions, you should discuss the possible dates with your employees and either include their inputs in selecting the dates or even let them establish the dates. At the same time, once the dates are established, it will be important for you to clear your calendar at least 30 minutes before and after the scheduled times, avoid cancelling or rescheduling the meetings if possible, select an appropriate venue whether onsite or virtual, prevent any interruptions or distractions, and make sure that the session is private.</li>\n<li><strong>Gather and review data from various sources. </strong>A key step in the preparation process is to make sure that you’ve accessed the full range of performance-related data for each of your employees. This means reviewing your notes from the discussions that were held as part of continuous feedback, taking a look at the completed evaluations from previous periods, specifically reviewing the progress that your employees have made on their goals related to performance and development, checking out the employees’ files for any performance information that may have been added during the period, and reviewing your employees’ self-evaluations and 360-degree feedback. In addition, today’s performance management software can provide excellent support in helping you track and appraise employee performance.</li>\n<li><strong>Avoid the most common mistakes.</strong> As part of your preparations, it’s also important to recognize and prevent the most common mistakes that can occur in the appraisal process. This includes being aware of and taking active steps to avoid such errors as bias or stereotyping, the halo effect, the horns effect, the impact of recent events, the impact of your emotions, the central tendency, skewed ratings, bargaining, arguing, inattentive listening, and surprises.</li>\n<li><strong>Complete the evaluation forms. </strong>Depending upon the kinds of forms that your company uses in this process, the best step it typically to start with written comments and phrases, and then select numerical ratings that align with what you’ve written.On an administrative note, you should provide the completed forms to your employees prior to the session in order to set the stage for open and focused conversations during the actual sessions. You can give the completed forms to your employees at any point from a couple of hours before the sessions all the way to a day or two before the sessions.</li>\n<li><strong>Jointly plan the agenda for the meeting. </strong>It’s important to have an agenda in place before these meetings, and the best way to put one together is to do so in collaboration with your employees. With this approach, you’re further demonstrating your respect for the employees, increasing their involvement in the process, ascertaining that topics of interest to them will be included, and further highlighting the open two-way communications that underlie these appraisals.</li>\n<li><strong>Identify the key takeaways.</strong> It’s also helpful for you to have a clear idea of the main points that you would like your employees to take with them following these sessions. In this regard, by the time these sessions end, some of the more compelling takeaways include an understanding of the specific areas in which they are performing well, an understanding of the areas in which performance improvement is needed, an understanding of the kinds of steps and actions to generate improvement, and the training and upskilling options to be pursued. It’s also important for your employees to leave these sessions with increased insight regarding the steps they should take in drafting their performance goals and development goals that will be discussed soon in goal-setting meetings that follow the performance appraisal sessions.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"How to conduct a performance appraisal session","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>As you conduct performance appraisal sessions with your employees, here are some key steps that will help you increase the likelihood of having a positive and productive exchange:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Open on an upbeat note. </strong>Start the discussion by offering friendly greetings, expressing appreciation, and maintaining a clearly positive outlook and orientation. If there has been a recent achievement or win by your employee, this is a good time to provide some extra recognition, as your opening comments will set the tone going forward.</li>\n<li><strong>Lay out the framework. </strong>Before opening the discussion on employee performance, progress, and plans, take a minute to review the agenda that you jointly established with each employee. This is an opportunity to clarify and confirm the content, direction, and objectives of this discussion.</li>\n<li><strong>Discuss performance and goal attainment. </strong>The discussion now turns to employee performance during the evaluation period. This includes such topics as attitude, quality and quantity of work, teamwork and cooperation, and engagement, along with competencies and proficiencies associated with their specific positions. This part of the discussion also focuses on the progress related to their performance goals and development goals. In addition, this is the time to share the overall findings that you generated from the 360-degree feedback. With all of this in place, the stage is set for you to explain, clarify, and discuss the various ratings that you provided in the review itself.</li>\n<li><strong>Focus on development.</strong> After discussing your employees’ past performance and your ratings, you can then turn the discussion forward per your shared agenda and provide the employees with guidance, coaching, and encouragement to create and implement specific steps and strategies to build their performance, skills, and progress in any areas in which improvement is needed. These actions will help establish a framework for the forthcoming goal-setting meeting. While some companies include goal-setting as part of the performance appraisal sessions, many companies find it to be more productive, efficient, and focused to carry out goal-setting in separate sessions that follow performance appraisals. This approach removes possible distractions that may be associated with the feedback and feedforward that the employees just received, while also providing employees with time to think about their goals and incorporate some of the data that they received during the appraisal session. With this in mind, the setting of performance goals and development goals is noted as part of the follow-up steps listed below.</li>\n<li><strong>Listen actively. </strong>As part of the two-way communication that is central to this process, it’s also important to listen actively and attentively to your employees. This not only sends a message of respect, engagement, and interest in them, their work, and their development, but it also clarifies the points that you and your employees are sharing regarding performance and plans going forward.</li>\n<li><strong>Ask for questions. </strong>Before the discussion ends, it’s helpful to ask the employees if they have any questions. Their queries can focus on the appraisal itself, or they can focus on any other work-related matters that are important to them. Importantly, if they raise a question that you’re unable to answer, let them know that you will check it out and get back to them as soon as possible. By specifically including questions and answers, you’re raising the employees’ comfort level and understanding of issues that are important to them, while also eliminating nagging concerns that could be a source of distraction going forward.</li>\n<li><strong>End the sessions positively. </strong>As you wrap up these sessions, there are a few key steps that will help maintain positive momentum. They include summarizing the discussion, clarifying and agreeing upon actions going forward, asking for any suggestions, jointly establishing follow-up dates for the goal-setting meeting, and having the employees sign hard copies of their evaluation. And, just as you started these sessions, you should end them with positive expectations.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"How to follow up after performance appraisal sessions","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>After you’ve conducted and completed performance appraisal sessions with your employees, there are some follow-up steps that help enhance employee performance, productivity, and engagement. They are primarily focused on continuing and implementing forward-focused actions that were addressed in the sessions.</p>\n<p>These steps will help enhance your employees’ performance, engagement, motivation, and satisfaction, while also strengthening your overall working relationship with each member of your team:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Jointly establish and/or update performance goals. </strong>One set of goals for you to jointly establish and/or update with your employees is focused on performance-related actions, behaviors, and desired measurable benefits, outcomes, and results. These are your employees’ performance goals, and they’re specific, achievable, measurable, and supported by action plans that include priorities, target dates, deadlines, and benchmarks. These goals focus on such topics as productivity, quality and quantity of work, teamwork, cooperation, communication, collaboration, engagement, and other performance-related actions that are central to success in their position, while also supporting the overall goals of the company.</li>\n<li><strong>Jointly establish and/or update development goals. </strong>As part of the goal-setting session noted above, this is also the time to jointly establish and/or update the employees’ development goals. These goals focus on further enhancing your employees’ knowledge base, expertise, competencies, skills, and abilities. These goals can include classes, readings, conferences, courses, webinars, certifications, and licenses. Such goals not only lead to improvements in your employees’ current effectiveness and performance, they also establish a foundation that supports your employees’ potential advancement and career development, both of which are highly important to employees today.</li>\n<li><strong>Maintain continuous feedback. </strong>As was the case prior to the evaluation sessions, it’s important to maintain your continuous feedback with each of your employees and meet with them as frequently as once a week to discuss the progress they are making toward their goals, provide them with additional coaching and guidance as needed, address any questions or issues that may have arisen, and continue to maintain open lines of two-way communication with them.</li>\n<li><strong>Engage in informal contact. </strong>In addition to your continuous feedback and other meetings that you may have with your employees during a given evaluation period, it’s also helpful to have informal contact and communication with them. For employees who are working onsite, this can occur through casual chats in the hallway, in their work areas, or in any other common or convenient areas. For your remote employees, you can establish such contact by touching base with them via texting, email, cellphone, messaging apps, or virtual meetings. Whether onsite or remote, these conversations have no specific agenda, but can be used to provide on-the-spot recognition for excellent performance, feedback and feedforward related to a recent problematic performance incident, or simply to check in, say hello, catch up, provide some updates, answer questions, or provide an overview on how things are going.</li>\n<li><strong>Implement a performance improvement plan (PIP). </strong>In some instances, you may have employees whose performance may continue to be subpar, in spite of the coaching, guidance, support, feedback, and feedforward that you have provided through continuous feedback and formal appraisals. If you have employees who continuously demonstrate questionable performance, and you have formally and specifically advised them of the issues and possible consequences, the next step is to provide them with a performance improvement plan (PIP). This written plan spells out the specific performance problems, the acceptable performance standards, the problematic impacts that are being generated by subpar performance, steps for the employees to take to bring performance back to acceptable levels, and the dates and deadlines associated with such improvements. The PIP also includes information regarding your follow-up actions and guidance, as well as the consequences if the employees do not upgrade their performance as indicated. These outcomes can include a transfer, reassignment, demotion, or termination, based on the specifics of the PIP and the situation itself. This form is signed by the individual employee and manager, and a copy is placed in the employee’s file.</li>\n</ul>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Advance","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-02-01T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":209493},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2024-11-13T21:17:30+00:00","modifiedTime":"2024-11-14T14:43:26+00:00","timestamp":"2024-11-14T15:01:09+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Business, Careers, & Money","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34224"},"slug":"business-careers-money","categoryId":34224},{"name":"Business","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34225"},"slug":"business","categoryId":34225},{"name":"Business Communication","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34232"},"slug":"business-communication","categoryId":34232}],"title":"Effective Business Communication For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"effective business communication for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"effective-business-communication-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Master the essentials of business communication with our Cheat Sheet. Discover tips on active listening, nonverbal cues, and networking strategies.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Communicating effectively in business requires far more than writing clearly and delivering persuasive presentations. It requires mastering fundamental skills such as active listening, nonverbal communication, and audience analysis, and then applying them to specific business situations — presenting, negotiating, resolving conflicts, getting hired, collaborating with colleagues, and more.\r\n\r\nThis handy Cheat Sheet is a quick reference for business communication basics. It offers tips for eliminating distractions, choosing the right communication medium, listening actively, choosing the right words, and avoiding common networking mistakes.","description":"Communicating effectively in business requires far more than writing clearly and delivering persuasive presentations. It requires mastering fundamental skills such as active listening, nonverbal communication, and audience analysis, and then applying them to specific business situations — presenting, negotiating, resolving conflicts, getting hired, collaborating with colleagues, and more.\r\n\r\nThis handy Cheat Sheet is a quick reference for business communication basics. It offers tips for eliminating distractions, choosing the right communication medium, listening actively, choosing the right words, and avoiding common networking mistakes.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":35453,"name":"Jill Schiefelbein","slug":"jill-schiefelbein","description":"<strong>Dr. Jill Schiefelbein</strong> taught business communication at Arizona State University for 11 years before venturing into entrepreneurship. Jill’s business, The Dynamic Communicator®, helps organizations attract customers, increase sales, and retain clients. She is the author of <em>Dynamic Communication: 27 Strategies to Grow, Lead, and Manage Your Business</em>.","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/35453"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34232,"title":"Business Communication","slug":"business-communication","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34232"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":[{"articleId":192609,"title":"How to Pray the Rosary: A Comprehensive Guide","slug":"how-to-pray-the-rosary","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/192609"}},{"articleId":208741,"title":"Kabbalah For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"kabbalah-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","kabbalah"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/208741"}},{"articleId":230957,"title":"Nikon D3400 For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"nikon-d3400-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","photography"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/230957"}},{"articleId":284787,"title":"What Your Society Says About You","slug":"what-your-society-says-about-you","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","humanities"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/284787"}},{"articleId":140269,"title":"How to Change the Location of User Folders in Windows 10","slug":"how-to-change-the-location-of-user-folders-in-windows-10","categoryList":["technology","computers","operating-systems","windows","windows-10"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/140269"}}],"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":302029,"title":"Business Writing with AI For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"business-writing-with-ai-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","business-communication"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/302029"}},{"articleId":300913,"title":"Know Your Audience to Create Engaging Presentations","slug":"know-your-audience-to-make-engaging-presentations","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","business-communication"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/300913"}},{"articleId":300906,"title":"Finding Stories for Your Presentations","slug":"incorporating-your-experiences-into-your-presentations","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","business-communication"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/300906"}},{"articleId":300880,"title":"How to Create Truly Engaging Presentations","slug":"how-to-create-an-engaging-presentation","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","business-communication"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/300880"}},{"articleId":300479,"title":"Storytelling in Presentations For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"storytelling-in-presentations-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","business-communication"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/300479"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":302403,"slug":"effective-business-communication-for-dummies","isbn":"9781394181148","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","business-communication"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1394181140/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1394181140/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1394181140-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1394181140/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1394181140/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/effective-business-communication-for-dummies-cover-9781394181148-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Effective Business Communication For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><strong>Dr. <b data-author-id=\"35453\">Jill Schiefelbein</b></strong> taught business communication at Arizona State University for 11 years before venturing into entrepreneurship. Jill’s business, The Dynamic Communicator®, helps organizations attract customers, increase sales, and retain clients. She is the author of <em>Dynamic Communication: 27 Strategies to Grow, Lead, and Manage Your Business</em>.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":35453,"name":"Jill Schiefelbein","slug":"jill-schiefelbein","description":"<strong>Dr. Jill Schiefelbein</strong> taught business communication at Arizona State University for 11 years before venturing into entrepreneurship. Jill’s business, The Dynamic Communicator®, helps organizations attract customers, increase sales, and retain clients. She is the author of <em>Dynamic Communication: 27 Strategies to Grow, Lead, and Manage Your Business</em>.","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/35453"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;business-careers-money&quot;,&quot;business&quot;,&quot;business-communication&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781394181148&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-673610b6348e4\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;business-careers-money&quot;,&quot;business&quot;,&quot;business-communication&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781394181148&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-673610b635783\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":0,"title":"","slug":null,"categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/"}}],"content":[{"title":"Reducing the sources of noise that can disrupt your communication","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p><em>Noise</em> is anything that detracts from the transmission, meaning, reception, or understanding of a message. Recognize the following four sources of noise, and look for ways to eliminate them in your daily business conversations:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Physical noise:</strong> Anything in the environment that can interfere with communication — sounds (such as a noisy espresso machine), distracting décor, rancid odors, or an uncomfortably hot, cold, or crowded room. To address physical noise, you have two options: Eliminate the distraction or move to a less distracting environment.</li>\n<li><strong>Psychological noise: </strong>Thoughts and emotions that interfere with the mental processing of information. If you’re distracted or you sense that your communication partner is distracted, address the source of the distraction immediately or reschedule your conversation.</li>\n<li><strong>Semantic noise: </strong>Differences in language, dialect, or meanings of words or phrases that impact understanding. To reduce semantic noise, define key terms, spell out acronyms at first usage, and check in regularly during communications to ensure that everyone is on the same page.</li>\n<li><strong>Hierarchical noise:</strong> Any interference resulting from a difference in status; for example, interpreting the same message differently depending on whether it’s coming from a supervisor or a coworker. Organizations can reduce hierarchical noise by building a more collaborative culture, encouraging direct communication (instead of requiring that it be filtered through hierarchical layers), and rewarding open, honest communication.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Choosing the right communication channel","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>A <em>communication channel</em> (or medium) is the means by which two or more people converse or interact — face-to-face, text, email, phone, videoconferencing, and others. You can break down communication channels into these two categories:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Synchronous: </strong>Two-way, real-time communication that enables immediate interaction. Synchronous channels include face-to-face, phone calls, videoconferencing, and chat.</li>\n<li><strong>Asynchronous:</strong> One-way or time-delayed interaction. Asynchronous channels include written documents (memos, reports, policies), print media, email and text messages, and broadcasting (radio and TV, for example).</li>\n</ul>\n<p>Generally, choose an asynchronous channel for conveyance and a synchronous channel for convergence:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Conveyance:</strong> The transmission of information or specific instruction—when you need to <em>convey</em> a message. For conveyance purposes, asynchronous media can result in higher efficiency.</li>\n<li><strong>Convergence:</strong> The process of communicating to achieve a mutual understanding, reach a consensus, or coordinate action between or among two or more people. For convergence purposes, synchronous media are needed to ensure that everyone’s on the same page.</li>\n</ul>\n<p>Your choice of communication channel also depends on <em>media richness,</em> which is a measure of the following three criteria:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Number of social c</strong><strong>ues: </strong>Channels that are media-rich support more social cues — words, body language, gestures, facial expressions, touch, and tone of voice.</li>\n<li><strong>Amount and immediacy of f</strong><strong>eedback: </strong>Synchronous media channels are richer than asynchronous channels.</li>\n<li><strong>Degree of personalization: </strong>The richer the communication channel, the greater the opportunity you have to personalize your messaging.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"7 active listening best practices","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Effective business communication is a two-way street. It requires as much (if not more!) listening as it does speaking. Follow these seven best practices to listen actively and check your understanding:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Give the other person your undivided attention. </strong>Listen to understand, without thinking about what you’re going to say next. Stay in the moment.</li>\n<li><strong>Give the other person the benefit of the doubt. </strong>Believe they had good reason to say or do whatever they said or did, at least until you have a fuller understanding of their situation and motives.</li>\n<li><strong>Don’t interrupt. </strong>Let the other person speak freely until they’ve completed whatever they have to say. If you’re not sure if they’re done sharing their thoughts or not, ask.</li>\n<li><strong>Listen without judgment.</strong> Set aside any preconceived ideas, biases, or judgments about the speaker and what they’re saying. Keep an open mind and remain curious.</li>\n<li>Try to put yourself in the speaker’s shoes. Consider what you would think and how you would feel if you were in the speaker’s position or had the speaker’s experience.</li>\n<li><strong>Ask clarifying questions. </strong>Ask questions about anything that’s unclear. Ask open-ended questions (as opposed to yes/no questions) to encourage the speaker to share information and insights you may not even think to consider.</li>\n<li><strong>Check your understanding. </strong>Summarize your understanding and share it with your communication partner to give that person the opportunity to correct or enhance your understanding.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"4 simple word choices to enhance your business communication skills","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>In many business situations, it’s not what you say but how you say it that matters most. Here are four simple word choices for more effective business communication:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Start with <em>I</em> instead of <em>You</em>.</strong> Rather than start a statement with a phrase like “You need to . . .” or “You always . . .,” which may put someone on the defensive, start with an “I+verb” statement, such as “I noticed . . .” or “I need . . . .”</li>\n<li><strong>Avoid <em>always,</em> <em>never,</em> and other all-or-nothing words.</strong> Generalizations are rarely accurate and typically result in exaggerated claims that the target of the accusation immediately objects to and can easily prove wrong.</li>\n<li><strong>Use small <em>yeses</em> to get to bigger ones.</strong> Whenever you persuade someone to make a choice, any choice, and they say yes, it lowers their barriers to saying yes to subsequent choices you ask them to make.</li>\n<li><strong>Purge the words <em>sorry</em> and <em>just</em> from your vocabulary.</strong> By simply eliminating these two words from everything you say and write, you’ll become a more effective and confident communicator. (Unless, of course, you truly do have something to apologize for!)</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"6 networking no-no’s","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>You can do more harm than good for your business or career by making these common networking mistakes:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Speed dating:</strong> Don’t fly through the room shaking as many hands as possible, telling everyone about yourself, and shoving your card in their hands. Spend time getting to know each person you meet, and learn how you can mutually benefit each other.</li>\n<li><strong>Tuning out: </strong>As you’re conversing with someone, stay in the moment. Don’t be the person who introduces yourself, asks a question, and then, while they’re answering, scours the room to identify the next person you want to meet.</li>\n<li><strong>Asking for too much too soon: </strong>Take time to build a relationship before requesting any big favors. Nobody likes a premature request!</li>\n<li><strong>Monopolizing the conversation:</strong> Focus on asking questions and encouraging others in the conversation to open up about themselves. Then be sure to reciprocate in kind.</li>\n<li><strong>Remaining in your comfort zone:</strong> Be courteous to anyone you already know, but don’t spend all your time talking with them. Focus on expanding your network and meeting new people. Or, if you’re new to networking, you can work with your existing connections to meet people together.</li>\n<li><strong>Failing to follow up:</strong> When you meet someone by way of your networking efforts, that’s the beginning, not the end. Be sure to exchange contact information. Reach out to your new contact the following day to remind them of who you are and where you met. If appropriate, ask the person to meet for coffee or lunch to get to know them better or make a plan for future follow-up and collaboration.</li>\n</ul>\n<p>Take an other-centric approach. Try to find ways to assist the other person before exploring ways that the other person can benefit you and grow your network.</p>\n"},{"title":"The anatomy of a prompt","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Outputs from AI are dependent on human inputs. That’s right. We aren’t at the point of sentiency. To make sure that your inputs — your prompts — have the best chance of generating communication that fits your needs, here is a basic anatomy of a prompt that you can use.</p>\n<p>Each prompt should contain:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Audience: Who is the message for</li>\n<li>Channel:\n<ul>\n<li>Where/how is this being delivered</li>\n<li>What are the specifics (length, etc.)</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n<li>Purpose:\n<ul>\n<li>Inform</li>\n<li>Persuade</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n<li>Goal: What is the goal of the communication</li>\n<li>Element(s): What needs to be included (brand lines, keywords, etc.)</li>\n<li>Customization: What should the system base the output on (website, existing documents, brand guidelines, etc.)</li>\n</ul>\n<p>Let’s take a look at how this looks in action.</p>\n<p>You could ask an AI tool, such as ChatGPT, to write an email to schedule a meeting by only entering the channel (email) and the goal (schedule a meeting), which would result in a generic email as an output, much like this:</p>\n<p>Subject: Request to Schedule a Meeting</p>\n<p>Dear [Recipient&#8217;s Name],</p>\n<p>I hope this email finds you well. I would like to schedule a meeting with you to discuss [topic or reason for the meeting]. Please let me know your availability over the next few days, and I will do my best to accommodate.</p>\n<p>Some suggested times from my side are</p>\n<p>[Date and Time Option 1]</p>\n<p>[Date and Time Option 2]</p>\n<p>[Date and Time Option 3]</p>\n<p>If these times do not work for you, please feel free to suggest alternatives.</p>\n<p>Looking forward to hearing from you.</p>\n<p>Best regards,</p>\n<p>[Your Name]</p>\n<p>[Your Position]</p>\n<p>[Your Company]</p>\n<p>[Your Contact Information]</p>\n<p>Instead, you can rephrase the prompt to read something like this:</p>\n<p>Write an email of no more than 150 words [channel a + b] to a prospective client [audience] to persuade [purpose] them to schedule a meeting with our team to get to know our product better [goal]. Please include the brand line “humanizing automation” and the phrase [element]. Additionally, please cater persuasion that matches our service of “personalized communication at scale” [element] with the business details located at [your email address].</p>\n<p>The result is a much less generic invitation to connect:</p>\n<p>Subject: Unlock Personalized Communication at Scale with Our Solution</p>\n<p>Dear [Client’s Name],</p>\n<p>I hope this message finds you well! We’d love the opportunity to introduce you to our innovative solution that truly “humanizes automation.” Our platform is designed to deliver personalized communication at scale, helping your business engage with customers in a way that feels unique and authentic — even across high volumes of interactions.</p>\n<p>We understand the importance of creating meaningful connections, and our approach ensures every message is tailored and impactful. Let’s schedule a brief meeting where we can explore how our service can elevate your customer engagement and drive real results.</p>\n<p>Looking forward to connecting!</p>\n<p>Best regards,<br />\n[Your Name]<br />\n[Your Title]<br />\n[Your Website]<br />\nHumanizing Automation, One Message at a Time</p>\n<p>I’d argue that the second result is significantly improved. With only a couple of sentences typed, you can create a more customized email, refine and personalize it, and send it out to prospective clients quickly.</p>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Advance","lifeExpectancy":"Two years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2024-11-13T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":302479},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2017-04-04T19:59:25+00:00","modifiedTime":"2024-10-28T17:49:23+00:00","timestamp":"2024-10-28T18:01:08+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Business, Careers, & Money","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34224"},"slug":"business-careers-money","categoryId":34224},{"name":"Business","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34225"},"slug":"business","categoryId":34225},{"name":"General Business","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34255"},"slug":"general-business","categoryId":34255}],"title":"What Is a Bullet Journal (BUJO)?","strippedTitle":"what is a bullet journal (bujo)?","slug":"what-is-a-bullet-journal","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"A bullet journal or BUJO for short, is an organizational system that helps you keep track of everything in your busy life. It’s a life hack, a physical place to","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"A bullet journal or BUJO for short, is an organizational system that helps you keep track of everything in your busy life. It’s a life hack, a physical place to store everything you need to do, remember, or give attention to. Created by Ryder Carroll, a designer in New York City, the <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm15cmYU0IM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bullet journal</a> is a way to keep organized in a fast-paced world.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_236999\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"535\"]<a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/bulletjournal.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-236999 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/bulletjournal.jpg\" alt=\"A bullet journal is a life hack to help you keep organized.\" width=\"535\" height=\"356\" /></a> Photo credit: g-stockstudio[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis system is a hard copy version of a to-do list, reminders, upcoming tasks, and anything else you need it to be, all in one place. And you don’t need any fancy gadgets or digital devices. All you need is a pen and a notebook.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Elements of a bullet journal</h2>\r\nThe bullet journal is comprised of five main elements. These include:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Index:</strong> The index will be the first element in your bullet journal. Adding an index helps you find what you need when you need it. All of that information may seem like a waste if it is jumbled and you are unable to locate information in a pinch.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Rapid logging:</strong> As the name implies, rapid logging is a quick and easy way to record anything. Many people lose interest in journals or complicated lists because they become arduous and cumbersome, rather than helpful. Using rapid logging, you make quick work of any meeting notes, journal entries, or to-do lists. This involves notations using short sentences and abbreviations, when possible.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Logs:</strong> Your bullet journal should contain logs that help you identify what you need to accomplish. Ryder Carroll recommends that you use a future log, a monthly log, and a daily log. This way you can see what you need to accomplish on a small and large level. This logging system also provides you with a way to track your progress over time.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Collections:</strong> Collections are a way of consolidating related topics. You can add a collection for books you want to read, restaurants you’d like to try, or even a separate collection for tracking fitness goals.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Migration:</strong> Migration involves moving uncompleted tasks into current or future logs so that the tasks remain visible. If you are unable to complete a task from a previous month, simply migrate the task to your present or future set of goals. One of the main purposes of migration is to help you identify which goals and tasks are truly important to you.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips remember\">Your bullet journal can contain whatever information you want. The goal is to accomplish more by weeding out irrelevant tasks and continuing to work towards the ones that matter. Bullet journaling is about the system more than the content. Fill it with whatever matters to you!</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Getting started on your bullet journal</h2>\r\nYour bullet journal is a flexible system that allows you to keep track of all things. Follow these steps to get started:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>Choose your notebook and pen.Make sure it is big enough to hold everything. You will consolidate everything (really, <em>everything</em>) into this notebook.</li>\r\n \t<li>Open your notebook to the first spread and title them <em>Index</em> at the top of the page.A spread consists of two blank pages next to one another.<a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/bullet-journal-spread1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-237007 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/bullet-journal-spread1.jpg\" alt=\"bullet journal spread\" width=\"535\" height=\"401\" /></a></li>\r\n \t<li>Open to the next blank spread and title the pages <em>Future Log</em>.Write the page numbers in the bottom corner of your page.</li>\r\n \t<li>Go back to your index and log your Future Log.This could say simply, “Future Log 1-4.”\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">It is important that you log entries into the index as you add them to your journal. This will help you find entries quickly when you need them.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>Go to the next spread and title it <em>Monthly Log</em>.</li>\r\n \t<li>Create spaces for monthly entries. Often, this takes the shape of large boxes for each month, similar to the structure of a monthly planner.Don’t forget to record the page number in your index.</li>\r\n \t<li>Open to the next spread and title these pages <em>Daily Log</em>.</li>\r\n \t<li>To enter your first entry, record the date.</li>\r\n \t<li>Begin recording tasks, events, or notes.You want to keep each entry short, as with a bulleted list. This is the rapid logging process. Use the following symbols:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Tasks use a dot bullet (•)</li>\r\n \t<li>Events use an open circle bullet (o)</li>\r\n \t<li>Notes use a dash or hyphen (-)</li>\r\n \t<li>Use a star (*) to signify important tasks</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>Once you have completed your first month, begin a new monthly log.</li>\r\n \t<li>Go back and scan your previous month.</li>\r\n \t<li>Mark completed tasks with an <em>x</em>.</li>\r\n \t<li>Review open tasks. Consider whether the task is still relevant.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>If the task is no longer relevant, mark it through with a line (<span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">task</span>).</li>\r\n \t<li>If your task needs completed in future months, make the dot a left arrow (<) and migrate it to the appropriate place in the future log.</li>\r\n \t<li>If the task needs completed in the current month, use a right arrow (>) and record the entry in the current month.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>Next, begin any collections on a new spread to keep track of related topics.For example, you may have a grocery list or track ideas for an upcoming birthday.</li>\r\n \t<li>Record the page number and collection in your index.</li>\r\n \t<li>Begin bullet journaling.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">To see this process in action, check out <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm15cmYU0IM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ryder Carroll’s YouTube video</a> describing the basics of bullet journaling.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Why people love the bullet journal</h2>\r\nThe bullet journal is a great way to stay organized. But most importantly, bullet journals are easy. Here’s why:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>You can put everything is one place. No more lost or half-fulfilled to-do lists.</li>\r\n \t<li>Bullet journals are easily modifiable to fit your needs, habits, and schedule.</li>\r\n \t<li>They don’t require a huge time investment.</li>\r\n \t<li>All topics are indexed and can be found when needed.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips remember\">You are already doing this. Bullet journals just make it easier. With these journals, you can identify what is truly important to you and your goals are always visible.</p>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">Check out <a href=\"https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=bullet%20journal&rs=typed&term_meta%5B%5D=journal%7Ctyped\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pinterest </a>for ideas on how you can use your bullet journal to stay organized.</p>","description":"A bullet journal or BUJO for short, is an organizational system that helps you keep track of everything in your busy life. It’s a life hack, a physical place to store everything you need to do, remember, or give attention to. Created by Ryder Carroll, a designer in New York City, the <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm15cmYU0IM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bullet journal</a> is a way to keep organized in a fast-paced world.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_236999\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"535\"]<a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/bulletjournal.jpg\"><img class=\"wp-image-236999 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/bulletjournal.jpg\" alt=\"A bullet journal is a life hack to help you keep organized.\" width=\"535\" height=\"356\" /></a> Photo credit: g-stockstudio[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis system is a hard copy version of a to-do list, reminders, upcoming tasks, and anything else you need it to be, all in one place. And you don’t need any fancy gadgets or digital devices. All you need is a pen and a notebook.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Elements of a bullet journal</h2>\r\nThe bullet journal is comprised of five main elements. These include:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Index:</strong> The index will be the first element in your bullet journal. Adding an index helps you find what you need when you need it. All of that information may seem like a waste if it is jumbled and you are unable to locate information in a pinch.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Rapid logging:</strong> As the name implies, rapid logging is a quick and easy way to record anything. Many people lose interest in journals or complicated lists because they become arduous and cumbersome, rather than helpful. Using rapid logging, you make quick work of any meeting notes, journal entries, or to-do lists. This involves notations using short sentences and abbreviations, when possible.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Logs:</strong> Your bullet journal should contain logs that help you identify what you need to accomplish. Ryder Carroll recommends that you use a future log, a monthly log, and a daily log. This way you can see what you need to accomplish on a small and large level. This logging system also provides you with a way to track your progress over time.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Collections:</strong> Collections are a way of consolidating related topics. You can add a collection for books you want to read, restaurants you’d like to try, or even a separate collection for tracking fitness goals.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Migration:</strong> Migration involves moving uncompleted tasks into current or future logs so that the tasks remain visible. If you are unable to complete a task from a previous month, simply migrate the task to your present or future set of goals. One of the main purposes of migration is to help you identify which goals and tasks are truly important to you.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips remember\">Your bullet journal can contain whatever information you want. The goal is to accomplish more by weeding out irrelevant tasks and continuing to work towards the ones that matter. Bullet journaling is about the system more than the content. Fill it with whatever matters to you!</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Getting started on your bullet journal</h2>\r\nYour bullet journal is a flexible system that allows you to keep track of all things. Follow these steps to get started:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>Choose your notebook and pen.Make sure it is big enough to hold everything. You will consolidate everything (really, <em>everything</em>) into this notebook.</li>\r\n \t<li>Open your notebook to the first spread and title them <em>Index</em> at the top of the page.A spread consists of two blank pages next to one another.<a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/bullet-journal-spread1.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-237007 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/bullet-journal-spread1.jpg\" alt=\"bullet journal spread\" width=\"535\" height=\"401\" /></a></li>\r\n \t<li>Open to the next blank spread and title the pages <em>Future Log</em>.Write the page numbers in the bottom corner of your page.</li>\r\n \t<li>Go back to your index and log your Future Log.This could say simply, “Future Log 1-4.”\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">It is important that you log entries into the index as you add them to your journal. This will help you find entries quickly when you need them.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>Go to the next spread and title it <em>Monthly Log</em>.</li>\r\n \t<li>Create spaces for monthly entries. Often, this takes the shape of large boxes for each month, similar to the structure of a monthly planner.Don’t forget to record the page number in your index.</li>\r\n \t<li>Open to the next spread and title these pages <em>Daily Log</em>.</li>\r\n \t<li>To enter your first entry, record the date.</li>\r\n \t<li>Begin recording tasks, events, or notes.You want to keep each entry short, as with a bulleted list. This is the rapid logging process. Use the following symbols:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Tasks use a dot bullet (•)</li>\r\n \t<li>Events use an open circle bullet (o)</li>\r\n \t<li>Notes use a dash or hyphen (-)</li>\r\n \t<li>Use a star (*) to signify important tasks</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>Once you have completed your first month, begin a new monthly log.</li>\r\n \t<li>Go back and scan your previous month.</li>\r\n \t<li>Mark completed tasks with an <em>x</em>.</li>\r\n \t<li>Review open tasks. Consider whether the task is still relevant.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>If the task is no longer relevant, mark it through with a line (<span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">task</span>).</li>\r\n \t<li>If your task needs completed in future months, make the dot a left arrow (<) and migrate it to the appropriate place in the future log.</li>\r\n \t<li>If the task needs completed in the current month, use a right arrow (>) and record the entry in the current month.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>Next, begin any collections on a new spread to keep track of related topics.For example, you may have a grocery list or track ideas for an upcoming birthday.</li>\r\n \t<li>Record the page number and collection in your index.</li>\r\n \t<li>Begin bullet journaling.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">To see this process in action, check out <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm15cmYU0IM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ryder Carroll’s YouTube video</a> describing the basics of bullet journaling.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Why people love the bullet journal</h2>\r\nThe bullet journal is a great way to stay organized. But most importantly, bullet journals are easy. Here’s why:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>You can put everything is one place. No more lost or half-fulfilled to-do lists.</li>\r\n \t<li>Bullet journals are easily modifiable to fit your needs, habits, and schedule.</li>\r\n \t<li>They don’t require a huge time investment.</li>\r\n \t<li>All topics are indexed and can be found when needed.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips remember\">You are already doing this. Bullet journals just make it easier. With these journals, you can identify what is truly important to you and your goals are always visible.</p>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">Check out <a href=\"https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=bullet%20journal&rs=typed&term_meta%5B%5D=journal%7Ctyped\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pinterest </a>for ideas on how you can use your bullet journal to stay organized.</p>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":8941,"name":"Ashley Watters, Abshier House","slug":"ashley-watters-abshier-house","description":"","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/8941"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34255,"title":"General Business","slug":"general-business","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34255"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":[{"articleId":192609,"title":"How to Pray the Rosary: A Comprehensive Guide","slug":"how-to-pray-the-rosary","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/192609"}},{"articleId":208741,"title":"Kabbalah For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"kabbalah-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","kabbalah"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/208741"}},{"articleId":230957,"title":"Nikon D3400 For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"nikon-d3400-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","photography"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/230957"}},{"articleId":284787,"title":"What Your Society Says About You","slug":"what-your-society-says-about-you","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","humanities"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/284787"}},{"articleId":140269,"title":"How to Change the Location of User Folders in Windows 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Map","slug":"design-thinking-using-an-empathy-map","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","general-business"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/271227"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;business-careers-money&quot;,&quot;business&quot;,&quot;general-business&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-671fd165602f3\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div 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year","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2024-10-28T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":236990},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:48:28+00:00","modifiedTime":"2024-09-25T15:29:17+00:00","timestamp":"2024-09-25T18:01:12+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Business, Careers, & Money","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34224"},"slug":"business-careers-money","categoryId":34224},{"name":"Business","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34225"},"slug":"business","categoryId":34225},{"name":"General Business","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34255"},"slug":"general-business","categoryId":34255}],"title":"Selling Your Business For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"selling your business for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"selling-your-business-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Make certain that selling your business is a success by knowing what documents you need and how to value your business assets.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Whatever reason you have for selling your business — finances, family, fatigue — you'll want to assemble the right group of professionals to assist you through the sale process, know which essential documents to have on hand, and understand how to value your business assets to ensure a successful sale.","description":"Whatever reason you have for selling your business — finances, family, fatigue — you'll want to assemble the right group of professionals to assist you through the sale process, know which essential documents to have on hand, and understand how to value your business assets to ensure a successful sale.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":8975,"name":"Eric Tyson","slug":"eric-tyson","description":" <p><b>Eric Tyson, MBA,</b> is a financial counselor, syndicated columnist, and the author of bestselling <i>For Dummies</i> books on personal finance, taxes, home buying, and investing. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/8975"}},{"authorId":9526,"name":"John Davies","slug":"john-davies","description":"","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9526"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34255,"title":"General Business","slug":"general-business","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34255"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":[{"articleId":192609,"title":"How to Pray the Rosary: A Comprehensive Guide","slug":"how-to-pray-the-rosary","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/192609"}},{"articleId":208741,"title":"Kabbalah For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"kabbalah-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","kabbalah"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/208741"}},{"articleId":230957,"title":"Nikon D3400 For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"nikon-d3400-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","photography"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/230957"}},{"articleId":284787,"title":"What Your Society Says About You","slug":"what-your-society-says-about-you","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","humanities"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/284787"}},{"articleId":140269,"title":"How to Change the Location of User Folders in Windows 10","slug":"how-to-change-the-location-of-user-folders-in-windows-10","categoryList":["technology","computers","operating-systems","windows","windows-10"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/140269"}}],"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":301876,"title":"Buying a Business For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"buying-a-business-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","general-business"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/301876"}},{"articleId":271244,"title":"Design Thinking: Making Ideas Clear and Tangible","slug":"design-thinking-making-ideas-clear-and-tangible","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","general-business"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/271244"}},{"articleId":271238,"title":"Design Thinking: Creativity Techniques","slug":"design-thinking-creativity-techniques","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","general-business"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/271238"}},{"articleId":271232,"title":"Design Thinking: The Customer Journey","slug":"design-thinking-the-customer-journey","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","general-business"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/271232"}},{"articleId":271227,"title":"Design Thinking: Using an Empathy Map","slug":"design-thinking-using-an-empathy-map","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","general-business"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/271227"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = 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On-Hand","slug":"selling-your-business-major-documents-to-have-on-hand","categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/157929"}},{"articleId":157930,"title":"Knowing Who's Who on the Business Sale Team","slug":"knowing-whos-who-on-the-business-sale-team","categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/157930"}},{"articleId":157928,"title":"Selling Your Business: What Are Tangible and Intangible Assets?","slug":"selling-your-business-what-are-tangible-and-intangible-assets","categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/157928"}}],"content":[{"title":"Selling your business: major documents to have on-hand","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Sooner or later in the business sale process you&#8217;ll need the following materials. Use this checklist to assemble everything as soon as possible to smooth the road ahead.</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Federal tax returns for the past three years (corporate or Schedule C)</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Income statements for YTD and the past three years</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Balance sheets for the past three years</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Statement of seller&#8217;s discretionary earnings for most recently completed year</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Financial ratios and trends</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Accounts receivable aging list</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Accounts payable list</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Inventory list including value</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Current building lease</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Franchise agreement, if applicable</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Fixtures, furnishings, and equipment list including fair market values</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Asset depreciation schedule from most recent tax return</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Current copies of equipment and facility maintenance agreements</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Current employee, customer, vendor, and distributor contracts or agreements</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Current business licenses, certifications, and registrations</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Copies of patents and trademark registrations, if any</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Copies of outstanding loan agreements</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">List of existing liens</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Product or service price list</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Employee records showing staff, hire dates, salaries, pension records, employee benefit plan outline</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Organization chart</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Business formation documents</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Current client list</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Current list of major suppliers and distributors</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Business plan</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Marketing plan</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Employment policy manual</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Business procedures manual</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Photos of business building, work areas, and equipment</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Knowing who's who on the business sale team","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Making the decision about who to bring onto your business sale team isn&#8217;t clear-cut. One thing is certain, though: Selling your business isn&#8217;t a time for flying solo. You need to bring aboard some professionals to assist you — from accountants to attorneys to business sale brokers to appraisers. The following list shows which professional resources are available:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Accountant.</b> This is probably the first business sale team member you&#8217;ll recruit. The financial condition of your business, and the way your financial story is presented, is fundamental to sale success.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Your accountant will have all the information at hand to help you prepare the numbers you need to plan your sale offering and present your business to buyers. If you&#8217;ve worked with an accountant over the years, be sure that person has experience in business sale transactions and the resulting tax implications. Your accountant will likely participate on your sale team at his or her regular hourly rate.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Attorney.</b> If you already work with an attorney to advise you on issues regarding your business structure, employees, contracts, and other legal matters, you probably want to involve that person on your sale team, maybe from the onset but certainly as you reach the negotiation stage and closing point.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Your attorney can help you with preparation of legal documents such as confidentiality agreements, seller disclosure statements, and, of course, the purchase and sale agreement that will finalize the sale. It&#8217;s especially important to bring an attorney with business sale-transaction experience on board if you&#8217;re trying to handle the sale on your own without a broker. You&#8217;ll pay either hourly rates or a flat fee.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Business broker.</b> Some business owners handle their sales with only the help of an accountant and an attorney. Others use a sale intermediary, most often a business broker, but sometimes a mergers and acquisitions (M&amp;A) specialist if the business is large and the deal is complex. The decision of whether to hire a broker weighs heavy on most sellers&#8217; minds, and no one answer prevails. Some sellers will tell you their sales went through just fine without a broker, and others will say the broker was essential to their sale success.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">In a nutshell, a broker can help maintain confidentiality about your sale, find and deal with prospective buyers, and free you from the demands of selling your business while also trying to run it. A broker can also provide advice on how to value your business. In return, you&#8217;ll pay a fee, which is usually about 10 percent of your sale price.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Appraiser or valuation expert.</b> If you need a formal appraisal — because of the size or complexity of your business, because you need to prove the validity of business value to the buyer or to the IRS, or because you doubt the accuracy of the value established by your broker or by your sale advisors — you can hire a professional appraiser.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Appraiser fees can range from several hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the complexity of your business and whether you want an oral appraisal or a formal, written document. Numbers between $2,500 and $5,000 seem to be most common for small business written appraisals, but most appraisers charge by the hour, and the final fee depends on how much time goes into the effort.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Before obtaining an appraisal, talk with your broker if you&#8217;re using one. Also talk with your accountant. It may well be that between these two resources, you can arrive at a good figure from which to start seller negotiations.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"Remember\">No one, no matter how small the deal, should sell a business without obtaining financial and tax advice. At the very least, you want an accountant to help you assemble and present your business financial records and to help structure your sale with the intent of managing taxes and facilitating buyer decisions. You may also want to involve an attorney, particularly if your business has established a relationship with a lawyer whom you trust to deliver good business and legal advice, or if you plan to sell your business on your own without a broker&#8217;s help.</p>\n"},{"title":"Selling your business: What are tangible and intangible assets?","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Getting ready to sell your business? You&#8217;ll need to separate your tangible and intangible assets because at sale time (or in the sale contract), the Internal Revenue Service requires you to break down the price into asset categories, which are taxed at varying rates.</p>\n<p class=\"TechnicalStuff\">To value your business assets, you create an inventory of all the assets of your business and assign a value to each based on what it would cost to create or replace that asset in similar condition.</p>\n<h2>Tangible assets</h2>\n<p><i>Tangible assets</i> include business furnishings, fixtures, equipment, leasehold improvements, inventory, real estate, automobiles, and other major physical assets.</p>\n<p>Tangible assets are probably the easiest part of your business to value, because by their very definition, tangible assets are ones you can see and touch. You can often even find comparable items on the market (through eBay and other online shopping sites, through equipment distributors, and through other used-equipment outlets) to help you determine current market values. When valuing your tangible assets, also talk with your accountant, who can help you figure the depreciated value of items you&#8217;ve held for multiple years.</p>\n<h2>Intangible assets</h2>\n<p>In businesses with well-known names, products, and reputations, up to half the business sale price often covers the purchase of <i>intangible assets</i> — things buyers can&#8217;t hold in their hands.</p>\n<p>Intangible assets fall into two general categories:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Intellectual property rights assets,</b> including trademarks, patents, licensing agreements, and trade secrets.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Other intangible assets,</b> including business name and reputation, processes, strategies, and general know-how, which together contribute to business value over and above the value of tangible assets. These intangible assets compose what&#8217;s called the goodwill of your business<i>. </i></p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Goodwill assets include</p>\n<ul class=\"level-two\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Your business name and brand identity</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">A trained workforce</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Loyal clientele</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Strong and durable supplier and distribution networks</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Phone numbers and websites</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Proprietary technology, systems, and processes</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Brand equity, which is the value of the competitive advantage of your name and reputation in the minds of consumers and business and industry partners.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Solve","lifeExpectancy":"One year","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-04-04T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":207773},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:47:55+00:00","modifiedTime":"2024-09-16T20:43:56+00:00","timestamp":"2024-09-16T21:01:17+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Business, Careers, & Money","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34224"},"slug":"business-careers-money","categoryId":34224},{"name":"Business","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34225"},"slug":"business","categoryId":34225},{"name":"Small Business","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34251"},"slug":"small-business","categoryId":34251},{"name":"Start-Ups","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34252"},"slug":"start-ups","categoryId":34252}],"title":"Starting an Online Business All-in-One For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"starting an online business all-in-one for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"starting-an-online-business-all-in-one-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Discover essential tips for starting and growing your online business with our All-in-One For Dummies Cheat Sheet. Simplify your journey to success today!","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Starting an online business or growing an existing e-commerce business doesn’t have to be hard. Lots of resources are available to help you do everything from creating content for your website to building a long list of loyal customers. Being a savvy online entrepreneur also means learning to use social media to promote your business. Try these suggestions and quick tips for launching your website and engaging your customers.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_269024\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"556\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-269024\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/start-online-biz.jpg\" alt=\"starting online business\" width=\"556\" height=\"474\" /> ©Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com[/caption]","description":"Starting an online business or growing an existing e-commerce business doesn’t have to be hard. Lots of resources are available to help you do everything from creating content for your website to building a long list of loyal customers. Being a savvy online entrepreneur also means learning to use social media to promote your business. Try these suggestions and quick tips for launching your website and engaging your customers.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_269024\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"556\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-269024\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/start-online-biz.jpg\" alt=\"starting online business\" width=\"556\" height=\"474\" /> ©Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com[/caption]","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9359,"name":"Shannon Belew","slug":"shannon-belew","description":" <p><b>Shannon Belew</b> is a nationally recognized digital marketing strategist, speaker and consultant for B2B brands, and leads an engagement marketing team for a global infrastructure software company.</p> <p><b>Joel Elad</b> is the head of Real Method Consulting, where he provides consulting and advice for e-commerce companies and entrepreneurs. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9359"}},{"authorId":9132,"name":"Joel Elad","slug":"joel-elad","description":" <p><b>Shannon Belew</b> is a nationally recognized digital marketing strategist, speaker and consultant for B2B brands, and leads an engagement marketing team for a global infrastructure software company.</p> <p><b>Joel Elad</b> is the head of Real Method Consulting, where he provides consulting and advice for e-commerce companies and entrepreneurs. 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an Online Business All-in-One For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><p><b>Shannon Belew</b> is a nationally recognized digital marketing strategist, speaker and consultant for B2B brands, and leads an engagement marketing team for a global infrastructure software company.</p> <p><b><b data-author-id=\"9132\">Joel Elad</b></b> is the head of Real Method Consulting, where he provides consulting and advice for e-commerce companies and entrepreneurs. <p><b><b data-author-id=\"9359\">Shannon Belew</b></b> is a nationally recognized digital marketing strategist, speaker and consultant for B2B brands, and leads an engagement marketing team for a global infrastructure software company.</p> <p><b>Joel Elad</b> is the head of Real Method Consulting, where he provides consulting and advice for e-commerce companies and entrepreneurs.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":9132,"name":"Joel Elad","slug":"joel-elad","description":" <p><b>Shannon Belew</b> is a nationally recognized digital marketing strategist, speaker and consultant for B2B brands, and leads an engagement marketing team for a global infrastructure software company.</p> <p><b>Joel Elad</b> is the head of Real Method Consulting, where he provides consulting and advice for e-commerce companies and entrepreneurs. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9132"}},{"authorId":9359,"name":"Shannon Belew","slug":"shannon-belew","description":" <p><b>Shannon Belew</b> is a nationally recognized digital marketing strategist, speaker and consultant for B2B brands, and leads an engagement marketing team for a global infrastructure software company.</p> <p><b>Joel Elad</b> is the head of Real Method Consulting, where he provides consulting and advice for e-commerce companies and entrepreneurs. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9359"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;business-careers-money&quot;,&quot;business&quot;,&quot;small-business&quot;,&quot;start-ups&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781394271085&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-66e89c9decf40\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;business-careers-money&quot;,&quot;business&quot;,&quot;small-business&quot;,&quot;start-ups&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781394271085&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-66e89c9deddd7\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":149998,"title":"Tips for Building Loyal Online Customers","slug":"tips-for-building-loyal-online-customers","categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/149998"}},{"articleId":149943,"title":"Important Website Resources for Your Online Business","slug":"important-website-resources-for-your-online-business","categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/149943"}},{"articleId":149999,"title":"Checklist for Launching a New Website","slug":"checklist-for-launching-a-new-website","categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/149999"}},{"articleId":149997,"title":"Using Social Media to Promote Your Business","slug":"using-social-media-to-promote-your-business","categoryList":["business-careers-money","business","marketing"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/149997"}}],"content":[{"title":"How to build loyal online customers","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Getting traffic, or visitors, to your website is only the first step in building your online business. To be successful, you want to convert visitors into customers who keep returning to your site. Use these simple tips to build a loyal following of happy, satisfied customers for your online business:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Offer multiple ways for customers to communicate with you (including e-mail, phone, real-time online support, online forums, and social media).</li>\n<li>Use video to provide a better view of your products or to offer suggestions on how to use the products.</li>\n<li>Engage customers by providing ways to interact with your site, such as participating in online communities, writing product reviews, and commenting on blogs.</li>\n<li>Connect with customers through social media sites such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn and keep customers interacting with your online brand.</li>\n<li>Make customers feel special by sending loyalty discounts and other exclusive offers to your registered users or frequent buyers.</li>\n<li>Send customers tips or brief articles or videos that are fun or innovative or that show how to use your products or services to save time or be more productive.</li>\n<li>Give customers several payment options, including deferred payments, to make buying easy.</li>\n<li>Offer free shipping — no strings attached.</li>\n<li>Make it easy to return products.</li>\n<li>Reward top customers with access to special online events or promotions and offer a sneak preview of new products. Solicit input on new products or services from customers who are frequent buyers or active brand advocates in social media.</li>\n<li>Find creative ways to thank customers for visiting your site and for making a purchase.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Important website resources for your online business","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>As an online business owner, it’s important to have access to many different types of information for starting and managing your website. The following online resources can help you with everything from protecting your site by registering trademarks to operating more efficiently by buying postage online:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.copyright.gov/registration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Electronic Copyright Office</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Register your site’s content.</li>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/businesses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Internal Revenue Service</strong></a><strong> (IRS):</strong> Review filing requirements and deadlines; access and print forms.</li>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Internet Crime Complaint Center</strong></a><strong>: </strong>Report online fraud and e-mail abuse.</li>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.uspto.gov/trademark\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Patent and Trademark Office</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Search the trademark database and apply for trademark registration.</li>\n<li><a href=\"http://www.usps.com/business\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>U.S. Postal Service</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Print postage and labels from your computer, ship from your location, and access other tools and resources.</li>\n<li><a href=\"https://www.sba.gov/loans-grants/see-what-sba-offers/sba-loan-programs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Small Business Administration</strong></a><strong> (SBA):</strong> Find financing information and loan applications.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Checklist for launching a new website","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>When creating a website, you must complete several steps before you can take your site live. The following checklist includes small but important details to help ensure that your website is functional and appeals to your online customers.</p>\n<ul>\n<li>The site map — the layout and structure of all web pages — is complete.</li>\n<li>The site map matches the web pages — exactly.</li>\n<li>Each website page is displayed and is fully accessible.</li>\n<li>Every link throughout the site works properly and opens the appropriate page.</li>\n<li>All graphics, photos, and videos load quickly and completely, and the images are crisp and clean.</li>\n<li>The content is free of misspellings and grammatical errors.</li>\n<li>Pricing information and product or service descriptions are correct.</li>\n<li>Pages with online forms or registration information function when you click the Submit button, and the information is sent (in the specified format) to the designated point of contact.</li>\n<li>Text boxes or drop-down boxes on forms and other pages work correctly.</li>\n<li>Buttons or links for top-level menus work. These buttons, like the one that returns users to the home page, function properly on every single page.</li>\n<li>Special commands that are spelled out with coding language (HTML or PHP, for example) are displayed properly when the site loads.</li>\n<li>The credit card processor or other payment service option is in place and working.</li>\n<li>All e-commerce-related functions, such as the shopping cart, operate correctly.</li>\n<li>Membership icons or logos, such as Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce member emblems, have been included.</li>\n<li>Social media sharing icons for X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and other social networks are promoted on applicable pages across the site and are easy to see.</li>\n<li>The site has been tested for browser compatibility and screen resolution.</li>\n<li>Pages are responsive and the site is displayed properly in all mobile formats.</li>\n<li>Contact information using the company’s e-mail address or phone number is clearly displayed and easy to find.</li>\n<li>Privacy, shipping, and return, and other use policies are clearly visible and easily accessible from every page.</li>\n<li>The copyright symbol and current year are placed prominently at the bottom of every page.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Using social media to promote your business","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Social media is an inexpensive way to promote your website and to keep new and existing customers chatting about your business. Here are some quick and easy tips for using some of the most popular social networking sites — Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Pinterest — to help drive interest and customers to your business:</p>\n<h3>Facebook</h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Set up a business page on Facebook and post special offers (at least once a month) to all those who Like your page.</li>\n<li>Use the Meta Business Suite to schedule your posts on Facebook and Instagram from one screen. You can still tailor your posts to each platform specifically, but only create the post once and schedule it for up to 30 days in advance.</li>\n<li>Ask customers to share pictures on your Facebook page that show them using their favorite product that they bought from your website.</li>\n<li>Reduce your workload while expanding your marketing efforts on Facebook: Instead of managing both a business page and a personal page, simply allow subscribers on your personal Facebook page. Subscriptions allow you to send public updates that your subscribers can view. Subscribers can be customers, vendors, and anyone else who is interested in seeing your public posts — just as they would on a business page.</li>\n</ul>\n<h3>X (formerly Twitter)</h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Use X to tweet interesting or unusual facts about your business or products and provide a link to that product page on your site.</li>\n<li>Send out short tips via X on how to use your services or products.</li>\n<li>Follow customers and vendors as well as influential bloggers, journalists, industry analysts, and others with a large following and significant influence on your business or industry.</li>\n<li>Get more visibility by tweeting pictures and videos related to you or your business to your followers.</li>\n</ul>\n<h3>YouTube</h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Create a YouTube channel for your online business, regularly add fun and useful videos, and then encourage customers to view and share your videos with others.</li>\n<li>Launch a video contest: Ask customers to create short videos of how they use your product or service and post them to YouTube, and then let other customers vote on their favorites.</li>\n<li>Every week, post a short (two minutes or less) video of yourself offering tips for your customers, such as demonstrating how to use a product that you sell.</li>\n<li>Ask customers to submit video testimonials and post them on your YouTube channel.</li>\n</ul>\n<h3>LinkedIn</h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Create a LinkedIn profile and add links to your website: Update your profile with new links, product reviews, books, or articles that you are reading, or other information so that this information appears to all the people in your network.</li>\n<li>Join LinkedIn groups that may be popular with many of your customers, and frequently post questions or comments related to the products or services you offer.</li>\n<li>Ask your customers as well as vendors and other business associates in your network to provide a recommendation for you or your business in LinkedIn.</li>\n<li>Add brochures, PDFs, SlideShare and PowerPoint presentations, and videos to your profile under the Summary section to provide interesting content that anyone viewing your profile can download or share.</li>\n</ul>\n<h3>Instagram</h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Set up an Instagram profile for your business, and post images with themes or product interests related to your business.</li>\n<li>Add Instagram Stories consisting of one or more pictures or short videos to increase attention to that content, as Stories exist in a separate but prominent part of Instagram users’ feeds.</li>\n<li>When posting an image to Instagram, add a short text description to provide additional information and interest.</li>\n<li>Post short videos to your Instagram profile or as an Instagram Reel. This opportunity can generate lots of views.</li>\n<li>Hold a contest on your Instagram by encouraging customers to post an image of one of your products and tag your Instagram profile. Offer a small prize to either a random user, or the user that has the most likes, comments, or shares.</li>\n</ul>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Advance","lifeExpectancy":"One year","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2024-09-16T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":207655},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2024-07-23T18:41:22+00:00","modifiedTime":"2024-07-25T17:59:56+00:00","timestamp":"2024-07-25T18:01:12+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Business, Careers, & Money","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34224"},"slug":"business-careers-money","categoryId":34224},{"name":"Business","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34225"},"slug":"business","categoryId":34225},{"name":"Marketing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34243"},"slug":"marketing","categoryId":34243}],"title":"Elevate Your Trade Show Lead Generation with Custom Dummies","strippedTitle":"elevate your trade show lead generation with custom dummies","slug":"elevate-your-trade-show-lead-generation-with-custom-dummies","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Elevate your trade show lead generation with Custom Dummies personalized branded books. Stand out, build authority, and differentiate your brand.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"<h2 id=\"tab1\" ><strong>The power of personalized branded books</strong></h2>\r\nIn the dynamic and competitive landscape of trade shows, businesses constantly seek innovative ways to stand out and generate high-quality leads. One powerful strategy that is gaining traction is the distribution of personalized branded books created by <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/custom-solutions\" data-testid=\"linkToPartnerwithDummies\">Custom Dummies</a>. These custom-tailored books serve as memorable, valuable, and impactful marketing tools that can significantly enhance your brand. Here's how you can leverage this unique approach to make your next trade show a success.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" ><strong>Why personalized branded books?</strong></h2>\r\n<strong>Engagement and memorability:</strong> Personalized branded books are more than just promotional materials; they are tangible, valuable assets that attendees can take away and revisit long after the event. A custom book from <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/custom-solutions\" data-testid=\"linkToPartnerwithDummies\">Custom Dummies</a>, filled with tailored content relevant to your audience, ensures that your brand remains top-of-mind. Unlike traditional brochures or flyers, these books offer a unique and lasting impression.\r\n\r\n<strong>Authority and trust:</strong> Distributing a well-crafted, informative book positions your company as an authority in your field. It demonstrates a commitment to providing value and showcases your expertise. Attendees are more likely to trust and engage with a business that invests in creating high-quality, educational content.\r\n\r\n<strong>Brand differentiation:</strong> In a crowded trade show environment, it’s crucial to differentiate your brand. <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/custom-solutions\" data-testid=\"linkToPartnerwithDummies\">Custom Dummies</a> books, featuring your branding and tailored content, help you stand out. They provide a unique way to communicate your message and highlight what makes your company special.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" ><strong>Strategies for effective trade show lead generation with Custom Dummies</strong></h2>\r\n<h3><strong>Pre-show preparation</strong></h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li><strong>Target audience identification:</strong> Understand who will be attending the trade show. Define your ideal customer profiles (ICPs) and tailor the content of your <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/custom-solutions\" data-testid=\"linkToPartnerwithDummies\">Custom Dummies</a> book to address their specific needs and interests.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Content development:</strong> Work with <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/custom-solutions\" data-testid=\"linkToPartnerwithDummies\">Custom Dummies</a> to develop a book that provides real value to your target audience. This could include industry insights, practical tips, case studies, or how-to guides that align with your products or services.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Promotion:</strong> Announce the availability of your personalized branded book in pre-show communications. Use email campaigns, social media, and your website to generate interest and encourage attendees to visit your booth to receive their copy.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h3><strong>During the show</strong></h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li><strong>Engaging booth design:</strong> Create an inviting and visually appealing booth that showcases your <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/custom-solutions\" data-testid=\"linkToPartnerwithDummies\">Custom Dummies</a> books. Use clear signage to highlight the unique value of your personalized content.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Interactive presentations:</strong> Use the content from your book to create engaging presentations or demos. This not only attracts attendees but also provides a natural segue into distributing your books.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Lead capture and qualification:</strong> Offer your <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/custom-solutions\" data-testid=\"linkToPartnerwithDummies\">Custom Dummies</a> book as an incentive for attendees to share their contact information. Use digital forms or lead capture apps to collect and qualify leads efficiently.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h3><strong>Post-show follow-up</strong></h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li><strong>Personalized outreach:</strong> Follow up with attendees who received your book. Reference specific content from the book in your communications to reinforce the connection and demonstrate your attention to detail.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Lead nurturing:</strong> Develop a lead nurturing campaign that builds on the content of your Custom Dummies book. Send additional resources, updates, or invitations to webinars that align with the topics covered in the book.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Analytics and feedback:</strong> Track the effectiveness of your book distribution strategy. Use analytics to measure engagement and gather feedback from recipients to continually improve your approach.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab4\" ><strong>The benefits of trade show marketing with Custom Dummies</strong></h2>\r\n<strong>Enhanced brand visibility:</strong> <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/custom-solutions\" data-testid=\"linkToPartnerwithDummies\">Custom Dummies</a> books not only attract attention at the trade show but also continue to promote your brand long after the event. Attendees are likely to keep and share valuable content, extending your reach.\r\n\r\n<strong>High-quality leads:</strong> By providing substantial value upfront, you attract leads genuinely interested in your products or services. This increases the likelihood of conversion and fosters long-term relationships.\r\n\r\n<strong>Networking opportunities:</strong> <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/custom-solutions\" data-testid=\"linkToPartnerwithDummies\">Custom Dummies</a> books can also be used as conversation starters, making it easier to network with industry peers and potential partners.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab5\" ><strong>Conclusion</strong></h2>\r\nUtilizing personalized branded books from <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/custom-solutions\" data-testid=\"linkToPartnerwithDummies\">Custom Dummies</a> at trade shows is a powerful way to generate high-quality leads, differentiate your brand, and establish authority. By focusing on delivering value through tailored content, you create a memorable experience for attendees and set the stage for lasting business relationships.\r\n\r\nReady to transform your trade show strategy with Custom Dummies? <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/custom-solutions\" data-testid=\"linkToPartnerwithDummies\">Contact us today</a> to start creating your personalized branded book and make your next trade show the most successful yet.","description":"<h2 id=\"tab1\" ><strong>The power of personalized branded books</strong></h2>\r\nIn the dynamic and competitive landscape of trade shows, businesses constantly seek innovative ways to stand out and generate high-quality leads. One powerful strategy that is gaining traction is the distribution of personalized branded books created by <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/custom-solutions\" data-testid=\"linkToPartnerwithDummies\">Custom Dummies</a>. These custom-tailored books serve as memorable, valuable, and impactful marketing tools that can significantly enhance your brand. Here's how you can leverage this unique approach to make your next trade show a success.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" ><strong>Why personalized branded books?</strong></h2>\r\n<strong>Engagement and memorability:</strong> Personalized branded books are more than just promotional materials; they are tangible, valuable assets that attendees can take away and revisit long after the event. A custom book from <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/custom-solutions\" data-testid=\"linkToPartnerwithDummies\">Custom Dummies</a>, filled with tailored content relevant to your audience, ensures that your brand remains top-of-mind. Unlike traditional brochures or flyers, these books offer a unique and lasting impression.\r\n\r\n<strong>Authority and trust:</strong> Distributing a well-crafted, informative book positions your company as an authority in your field. It demonstrates a commitment to providing value and showcases your expertise. Attendees are more likely to trust and engage with a business that invests in creating high-quality, educational content.\r\n\r\n<strong>Brand differentiation:</strong> In a crowded trade show environment, it’s crucial to differentiate your brand. <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/custom-solutions\" data-testid=\"linkToPartnerwithDummies\">Custom Dummies</a> books, featuring your branding and tailored content, help you stand out. They provide a unique way to communicate your message and highlight what makes your company special.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" ><strong>Strategies for effective trade show lead generation with Custom Dummies</strong></h2>\r\n<h3><strong>Pre-show preparation</strong></h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li><strong>Target audience identification:</strong> Understand who will be attending the trade show. Define your ideal customer profiles (ICPs) and tailor the content of your <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/custom-solutions\" data-testid=\"linkToPartnerwithDummies\">Custom Dummies</a> book to address their specific needs and interests.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Content development:</strong> Work with <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/custom-solutions\" data-testid=\"linkToPartnerwithDummies\">Custom Dummies</a> to develop a book that provides real value to your target audience. This could include industry insights, practical tips, case studies, or how-to guides that align with your products or services.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Promotion:</strong> Announce the availability of your personalized branded book in pre-show communications. Use email campaigns, social media, and your website to generate interest and encourage attendees to visit your booth to receive their copy.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h3><strong>During the show</strong></h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li><strong>Engaging booth design:</strong> Create an inviting and visually appealing booth that showcases your <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/custom-solutions\" data-testid=\"linkToPartnerwithDummies\">Custom Dummies</a> books. Use clear signage to highlight the unique value of your personalized content.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Interactive presentations:</strong> Use the content from your book to create engaging presentations or demos. This not only attracts attendees but also provides a natural segue into distributing your books.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Lead capture and qualification:</strong> Offer your <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/custom-solutions\" data-testid=\"linkToPartnerwithDummies\">Custom Dummies</a> book as an incentive for attendees to share their contact information. Use digital forms or lead capture apps to collect and qualify leads efficiently.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h3><strong>Post-show follow-up</strong></h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li><strong>Personalized outreach:</strong> Follow up with attendees who received your book. Reference specific content from the book in your communications to reinforce the connection and demonstrate your attention to detail.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Lead nurturing:</strong> Develop a lead nurturing campaign that builds on the content of your Custom Dummies book. Send additional resources, updates, or invitations to webinars that align with the topics covered in the book.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Analytics and feedback:</strong> Track the effectiveness of your book distribution strategy. Use analytics to measure engagement and gather feedback from recipients to continually improve your approach.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab4\" ><strong>The benefits of trade show marketing with Custom Dummies</strong></h2>\r\n<strong>Enhanced brand visibility:</strong> <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/custom-solutions\" data-testid=\"linkToPartnerwithDummies\">Custom Dummies</a> books not only attract attention at the trade show but also continue to promote your brand long after the event. Attendees are likely to keep and share valuable content, extending your reach.\r\n\r\n<strong>High-quality leads:</strong> By providing substantial value upfront, you attract leads genuinely interested in your products or services. This increases the likelihood of conversion and fosters long-term relationships.\r\n\r\n<strong>Networking opportunities:</strong> <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/custom-solutions\" data-testid=\"linkToPartnerwithDummies\">Custom Dummies</a> books can also be used as conversation starters, making it easier to network with industry peers and potential partners.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab5\" ><strong>Conclusion</strong></h2>\r\nUtilizing personalized branded books from <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/custom-solutions\" data-testid=\"linkToPartnerwithDummies\">Custom Dummies</a> at trade shows is a powerful way to generate high-quality leads, differentiate your brand, and establish authority. By focusing on delivering value through tailored content, you create a memorable experience for attendees and set the stage for lasting business relationships.\r\n\r\nReady to transform your trade show strategy with Custom Dummies? <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/custom-solutions\" data-testid=\"linkToPartnerwithDummies\">Contact us today</a> to start creating your personalized branded book and make your next trade show the most successful yet.","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34243,"title":"Marketing","slug":"marketing","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34243"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":[{"articleId":192609,"title":"How to Pray the Rosary: A Comprehensive 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AI tools such as the following can play a significant role in this process by providing valuable insights and data-driven analysis:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>CrowdView (<a href=\"https://crowdview.ai/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https://crowdview.ai/</a>)</li>\n<li>Gap Scout (<a href=\"https://gapscout.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https://gapscout.com/</a>)</li>\n<li>Userpersona (<a href=\"https://userpersona.dev/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https://userpersona.dev/</a>)</li>\n</ul>\n<p>Here are some ways AI can help you analyze your readings so you can tailor your content:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Audience analysis:</strong> Gain powerful audience insights at scale and in real-time to learn your audience’s preferred online channels, interests, and demographics. 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6,166 results
6,166 results
Marketing Social Media Marketing All-in-One For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 05-08-2025

The number of outlets for social media marketing is staggering. Blogs are just the beginning. Now you can choose from social networks (such as Facebook and X), social bookmarks sites (such as Digg), social pinning sites (such as Pinterest), social curating sites (such as Tumblr), social media sharing sites (such as YouTube), and even business networking sites (such as LinkedIn).

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General Business Brand Licensing For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 05-08-2025

When you’re ready to get into brand licensing, you can benefit from some inside knowledge of how the business of licensing works. The goal of this cheat sheet is to provide you with a basic understanding of brand licensing’s key elements.

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Data Management Knowledge Automation with Generative AI

Article / Updated 03-12-2025

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is a catalyst for innovation in knowledge management, driving transformative experiences and operational excellence in businesses. At the same time, GenAI needs a knowledge foundation to deliver trusted answers. We see our clients experiencing a 6X increase in getting trusted answers and a 5X increase in speed of knowledge creation and curation when they leverage GenAI with a modern knowledge foundation. What is GenAI? Unlike other AI technologies that recognize patterns and make predictions, GenAI can create content — text, audio, video, and more — opening exciting opportunities for creativity, productivity, and operational excellence. GenAI uses large language models (LLMs) to predict and create text based on the data and content on which it has been trained. GenAI and knowledge management: inseparable BFFs! Many businesses are having an aha moment as they realize that knowledge management and GenAI are destined to be best friends forever (BFFs). GenAI promises to speed up the end-to-end knowledge management process, accelerate time to business value, and tear down barriers to knowledge management adoption across the enterprise, while knowledge management provides a wealth of trusted information and know-how that can be used to inform and train GenAI. How GenAI helps knowledge management GenAI can enhance and automate the knowledge management life cycle: Discover: GenAI can help scope an effective knowledge base by extracting likely questions from interaction history and using best-practice contextualized prompts in the knowledge platform. Create/curate: GenAI can draft knowledge content using long-form, complex documents and other enterprise sources to make it more consumable. It can tailor content for brand voice, interaction channel, and consumer persona, and suggest knowledge taxonomy based on question patterns and user profile. Deliver: GenAI helps find the answer needles in the content haystacks, including long-form documents with accurate but unconsumable content. Optimize: GenAI identifies knowledge gaps, suggesting improvements to maximize business value. How knowledge management helps GenAI A modern knowledge management system (KMS) — such as the eGain AI Knowledge Hub™ — helps organizations leverage GenAI with the following capabilities: Trusted content: Knowledge management can ensure that correct data and content are used to feed and train GenAI. Controls and governance: A modern knowledge hub comes with controls to determine which queries to process with GenAI and which ones not to. The knowledge manager can control GenAI’s “creativity” as the situation warrants and configure additional accuracy checks as needed. Closed-loop analytics: Knowledge management provides actionable insights on the use and effectiveness of GenAI. Process orchestration: In addition to GenAI, a modern knowledge hub leverages other AI technologies, like reasoning and machine learning (ML), as well as critical capabilities such as content management and conversational guidance. The hub orchestrates these capabilities to deliver great experiences to customers, employees, and business managers. The symbiotic relationship between GenAI and knowledge management is powerful. Without GenAI, organizations struggle to build and maintain knowledge at speed and scale. Without robust knowledge management, GenAI projects will struggle with the “garbage in, garbage out” phenomenon and may get relegated to mere prototypes. To learn more about how GenAI and knowledge management are essential BFFs for mutual success, download a free copy of Knowledge Management For Dummies.

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Human Resources Performance Appraisals & Phrases For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 01-03-2025

Today’s performance appraisals have undergone major changes that have led to a wide range of positive and productive outcomes for employees, managers, and their companies. These changes start with continuous feedback that is based on managers meeting regularly with their employees throughout a given evaluation period, typically on a scheduled basis as frequently as once a week. These sessions focus on performance, goal progress and attainment, coaching and development, new initiatives, and any other topics, questions, or points of interest that may arise. While these sessions include a discussion of performance and progress, there is equal focus on coaching related to employee growth, upskilling, and career development, as the entire process now focuses on feedforward as well as feedback. A related change is the movement away from annual appraisals and toward more frequent appraisals, typically on a quarterly or biannual basis. The entire process is now more open, transparent, forward-focused, and premised on two-way communication at every step. This leads to performance appraisal sessions that are void of the surprises, angst, stress, and distress that typified annual appraisals and limited contact and communication during the evaluation period. The entire appraisal process is now structured to provide constructive feedback and feedforward that include plans, strategies, and support to improve performance and productivity, enhance learning and growth, strengthen career development, and build employee motivation, satisfaction, and commitment, all in alignment with the goals and mission of the company. The checklists and tips below will help you carry out today’s performance appraisal process successfully, effectively, and productively, especially in terms of providing continuous feedback, preparing for performance appraisal sessions, conducting employee appraisals, avoiding common mistakes and pitfalls, and following up with employees after the appraisal sessions.

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Business Communication Effective Business Communication For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 11-14-2024

Communicating effectively in business requires far more than writing clearly and delivering persuasive presentations. It requires mastering fundamental skills such as active listening, nonverbal communication, and audience analysis, and then applying them to specific business situations — presenting, negotiating, resolving conflicts, getting hired, collaborating with colleagues, and more. This handy Cheat Sheet is a quick reference for business communication basics. It offers tips for eliminating distractions, choosing the right communication medium, listening actively, choosing the right words, and avoiding common networking mistakes.

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General Business What Is a Bullet Journal (BUJO)?

Article / Updated 10-28-2024

A bullet journal or BUJO for short, is an organizational system that helps you keep track of everything in your busy life. It’s a life hack, a physical place to store everything you need to do, remember, or give attention to. Created by Ryder Carroll, a designer in New York City, the bullet journal is a way to keep organized in a fast-paced world. This system is a hard copy version of a to-do list, reminders, upcoming tasks, and anything else you need it to be, all in one place. And you don’t need any fancy gadgets or digital devices. All you need is a pen and a notebook. Elements of a bullet journal The bullet journal is comprised of five main elements. These include: Index: The index will be the first element in your bullet journal. Adding an index helps you find what you need when you need it. All of that information may seem like a waste if it is jumbled and you are unable to locate information in a pinch. Rapid logging: As the name implies, rapid logging is a quick and easy way to record anything. Many people lose interest in journals or complicated lists because they become arduous and cumbersome, rather than helpful. Using rapid logging, you make quick work of any meeting notes, journal entries, or to-do lists. This involves notations using short sentences and abbreviations, when possible. Logs: Your bullet journal should contain logs that help you identify what you need to accomplish. Ryder Carroll recommends that you use a future log, a monthly log, and a daily log. This way you can see what you need to accomplish on a small and large level. This logging system also provides you with a way to track your progress over time. Collections: Collections are a way of consolidating related topics. You can add a collection for books you want to read, restaurants you’d like to try, or even a separate collection for tracking fitness goals. Migration: Migration involves moving uncompleted tasks into current or future logs so that the tasks remain visible. If you are unable to complete a task from a previous month, simply migrate the task to your present or future set of goals. One of the main purposes of migration is to help you identify which goals and tasks are truly important to you. Your bullet journal can contain whatever information you want. The goal is to accomplish more by weeding out irrelevant tasks and continuing to work towards the ones that matter. Bullet journaling is about the system more than the content. Fill it with whatever matters to you! Getting started on your bullet journal Your bullet journal is a flexible system that allows you to keep track of all things. Follow these steps to get started: Choose your notebook and pen.Make sure it is big enough to hold everything. You will consolidate everything (really, everything) into this notebook. Open your notebook to the first spread and title them Index at the top of the page.A spread consists of two blank pages next to one another. Open to the next blank spread and title the pages Future Log.Write the page numbers in the bottom corner of your page. Go back to your index and log your Future Log.This could say simply, “Future Log 1-4.” It is important that you log entries into the index as you add them to your journal. This will help you find entries quickly when you need them. Go to the next spread and title it Monthly Log. Create spaces for monthly entries. Often, this takes the shape of large boxes for each month, similar to the structure of a monthly planner.Don’t forget to record the page number in your index. Open to the next spread and title these pages Daily Log. To enter your first entry, record the date. Begin recording tasks, events, or notes.You want to keep each entry short, as with a bulleted list. This is the rapid logging process. Use the following symbols: Tasks use a dot bullet (•) Events use an open circle bullet (o) Notes use a dash or hyphen (-) Use a star (*) to signify important tasks Once you have completed your first month, begin a new monthly log. Go back and scan your previous month. Mark completed tasks with an x. Review open tasks. Consider whether the task is still relevant. If the task is no longer relevant, mark it through with a line (task). If your task needs completed in future months, make the dot a left arrow (<) and migrate it to the appropriate place in the future log. If the task needs completed in the current month, use a right arrow (>) and record the entry in the current month. Next, begin any collections on a new spread to keep track of related topics.For example, you may have a grocery list or track ideas for an upcoming birthday. Record the page number and collection in your index. Begin bullet journaling. To see this process in action, check out Ryder Carroll’s YouTube video describing the basics of bullet journaling. Why people love the bullet journal The bullet journal is a great way to stay organized. But most importantly, bullet journals are easy. Here’s why: You can put everything is one place. No more lost or half-fulfilled to-do lists. Bullet journals are easily modifiable to fit your needs, habits, and schedule. They don’t require a huge time investment. All topics are indexed and can be found when needed. You are already doing this. Bullet journals just make it easier. With these journals, you can identify what is truly important to you and your goals are always visible. Check out Pinterest for ideas on how you can use your bullet journal to stay organized.

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General Business Selling Your Business For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 09-25-2024

Whatever reason you have for selling your business — finances, family, fatigue — you'll want to assemble the right group of professionals to assist you through the sale process, know which essential documents to have on hand, and understand how to value your business assets to ensure a successful sale.

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Start-Ups Starting an Online Business All-in-One For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 09-16-2024

Starting an online business or growing an existing e-commerce business doesn’t have to be hard. Lots of resources are available to help you do everything from creating content for your website to building a long list of loyal customers. Being a savvy online entrepreneur also means learning to use social media to promote your business. Try these suggestions and quick tips for launching your website and engaging your customers.

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Marketing Elevate Your Trade Show Lead Generation with Custom Dummies

Article / Updated 07-25-2024

The power of personalized branded books In the dynamic and competitive landscape of trade shows, businesses constantly seek innovative ways to stand out and generate high-quality leads. One powerful strategy that is gaining traction is the distribution of personalized branded books created by Custom Dummies. These custom-tailored books serve as memorable, valuable, and impactful marketing tools that can significantly enhance your brand. Here's how you can leverage this unique approach to make your next trade show a success. Why personalized branded books? Engagement and memorability: Personalized branded books are more than just promotional materials; they are tangible, valuable assets that attendees can take away and revisit long after the event. A custom book from Custom Dummies, filled with tailored content relevant to your audience, ensures that your brand remains top-of-mind. Unlike traditional brochures or flyers, these books offer a unique and lasting impression. Authority and trust: Distributing a well-crafted, informative book positions your company as an authority in your field. It demonstrates a commitment to providing value and showcases your expertise. Attendees are more likely to trust and engage with a business that invests in creating high-quality, educational content. Brand differentiation: In a crowded trade show environment, it’s crucial to differentiate your brand. Custom Dummies books, featuring your branding and tailored content, help you stand out. They provide a unique way to communicate your message and highlight what makes your company special. Strategies for effective trade show lead generation with Custom Dummies Pre-show preparation Target audience identification: Understand who will be attending the trade show. Define your ideal customer profiles (ICPs) and tailor the content of your Custom Dummies book to address their specific needs and interests. Content development: Work with Custom Dummies to develop a book that provides real value to your target audience. This could include industry insights, practical tips, case studies, or how-to guides that align with your products or services. Promotion: Announce the availability of your personalized branded book in pre-show communications. Use email campaigns, social media, and your website to generate interest and encourage attendees to visit your booth to receive their copy. During the show Engaging booth design: Create an inviting and visually appealing booth that showcases your Custom Dummies books. Use clear signage to highlight the unique value of your personalized content. Interactive presentations: Use the content from your book to create engaging presentations or demos. This not only attracts attendees but also provides a natural segue into distributing your books. Lead capture and qualification: Offer your Custom Dummies book as an incentive for attendees to share their contact information. Use digital forms or lead capture apps to collect and qualify leads efficiently. Post-show follow-up Personalized outreach: Follow up with attendees who received your book. Reference specific content from the book in your communications to reinforce the connection and demonstrate your attention to detail. Lead nurturing: Develop a lead nurturing campaign that builds on the content of your Custom Dummies book. Send additional resources, updates, or invitations to webinars that align with the topics covered in the book. Analytics and feedback: Track the effectiveness of your book distribution strategy. Use analytics to measure engagement and gather feedback from recipients to continually improve your approach. The benefits of trade show marketing with Custom Dummies Enhanced brand visibility: Custom Dummies books not only attract attention at the trade show but also continue to promote your brand long after the event. Attendees are likely to keep and share valuable content, extending your reach. High-quality leads: By providing substantial value upfront, you attract leads genuinely interested in your products or services. This increases the likelihood of conversion and fosters long-term relationships. Networking opportunities: Custom Dummies books can also be used as conversation starters, making it easier to network with industry peers and potential partners. Conclusion Utilizing personalized branded books from Custom Dummies at trade shows is a powerful way to generate high-quality leads, differentiate your brand, and establish authority. By focusing on delivering value through tailored content, you create a memorable experience for attendees and set the stage for lasting business relationships. Ready to transform your trade show strategy with Custom Dummies? Contact us today to start creating your personalized branded book and make your next trade show the most successful yet.

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Business Communication Business Writing with AI For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 07-23-2024

Unleash the power of AI to transform your writing process and revolutionize your creativity. This Cheat Sheet introduces you to some common AI lingo and popular AI tools to get you started, and helps you to identify your target audience, generate a writing brief, and polish and proofread your content.

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