Women in Business Radio - The Role of Money in Attaining a Life of Abundance

I am excited to announce Women in Business Radio will be hosting its first show for the year on Monday, 8th February at 11:00 am EST. Nicole Lewis-Keeber will be joining Dr. Cottle, our host to discuss the role of money in attaining a life of abundance.

The number to call in is: 1 -917-889-8229. You can call in to ask a question or to share your point-of-view.

See link:

Dr. Cheryl Cottle, Host of Women in Business Radio

Nicole Lewis-Keeber, Guest

We are booking guests to fill our GUEST ROSTER. If you will like to be a guest email Dr. Cottle at: drccottle@gmail.com

GUEST NEEDED FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS RADIO - 2016

Dr. Cheryl Cottle is in search of guests for her Women in Business Program an online Blog Talk radio show, to speak on the topic of "abundance". If you can speak on the topic, and will like to be a part of her Women in Business Radio program, email Dr. Cottle at for more details.

GUEST REQUIRED FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY CELEBRATION 2016

This year, Dr Cheryl Cottle will be celebrating International Women's Day by hosting a week long radio marathon on her online radio show at Women in Business Radio. It's scheduled to run from the 2st March to the 8th March, 2016. Our topic of discussion is on "Living a Life of Abundance - a Holistic Perspective". If you can speak on this topic, and is willing to share with our audience, please contact Dr. Dr Cheryl Cottle at her email. drccottle@gmail.com. Put in the message line — IWD Guest.

Developing a Social Media Plan

Written by Dr. Cheryl Cottle

A social media plan is becoming a part of large corporations and organizations’ strategic planning to economic positioning in the marketplace, to gain competitive advantage. Their strategy goes beyond meeting a local market; it extends to a wider international market. It is very global in its reach.


Larger corporations who are thinking about integrating social media into their design plan to achieve their goals have several questions that they must address in order to find the right solution to the adoption of social media.

Some questions that must be asked are as follows:

1. Should social media be a part of our computer technology plan or a part of our marketing and branding plan?
2. Should our social media plan be organization-focused or employee-focused?
3. Should each department be responsible for its social media needs?
4. Should a decentralized-approach be used or should a centralized-approach governed by a social media unit be utilized to introduce a social media plan within the organization?
5. Should a social media plan be a part of the IT Unit - - an approach used by some companies and organizations as they became technologically prepared in the 90s?
6. How should decisions be made regarding introducing a social media plan?
7. Should a collaborative approach to decision-making be used where employee representatives from across the organization is a part or should be it only involve upper management?
8. Which social media technology should we adopt that would best meet our needs?
9. Who should be prepared to used the new technology?
10. Should training be a part of the design plan to introduce social media?
11. Would all the employees’ be users of social media or only a selected few?
12. Would there be resistance to this new change? How should these issues be addressed?
13. Should new recruits be considered? Should a new recruitment strategy be instituted to find suitable candidates?
14. How much will it cost to introduce social media into our existing technology plans?

These are some questions that large corporation should be thinking about as they think about introducing social media into their marketing and branding strategy. I hope that these were helpful in assisting you to make the right decision around social media integration into the workplace?


Related topic: Social Media: Impact on How we Learn, Relate and Interact

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Dr. Cheryl Cottle is the author of this article. If you need any support Cottle’s Professional Consulting can assist you. Dr. Cottle draws from her implementation model to adopt new technology in the workplace and can provide you with workable solutions in the adoption, diffusion and infusion of social media. For more information you can contact her at:ccottle@drcottle.com

Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting.

Social Scope of Social Media

Written by Dr. Cheryl Cottle


When I first heard about social media, I thought that it was a forum that was dedicated to meeting people on a social and personal level where people made connection for the purpose of dating and eventually marriage. It was only after being invited by the third person that I decided to take a look at Facebook. On looking closer to what Facebook was about, I found that it had greater implications than making friend connections - - connecting with long lost friends and making familial connection and bridging the generational family gap.


Some of the wider implications that I discovered was that it has great business potential with great opportunities for meeting with and networking with like-minded business people across the globe and transcending various business industries and sectors: Connections that could also lend themselves to valuable opportunities for partnering and collaborating in joint projects.


I also found it to be a great space where you can learn about others and their culture. Social media enables you to connect with people in places that were once seen as far away. I have had the privilege to connect with and chat with people in India, Africa, Italy, Lebanon, the Caribbean, Latin America, to list a few places. Social media has brought the world closer together.


Social media also affords us with the opportunity to share experiences as they occur. For example when the Haiti’s earthquakes occurred, the catastrophic effect was quickly broadcasted keeping us informed of every aspect of it devastating effect. Similarly, when the miners trapped in Chile were rescued; news of that was broadcast to the world, and we were able to celebrate when they were freed and united with their families. More recently with the earthquake experienced in Japan, followed by the devastation of the tsunami and an imminent radio active explosion that threatened their way of living and possible opportunity for rebuilding; people globally were able to live the experience as it unfolded in Japan.


Social media, while it exposes us to what is happening across the globe; it also heightens our awareness and sensitivity towards each other. These experienced, though they might be far away, with social media there is a shared experience that also occurs. People are able to identify with each others pain, suffering, happiness, disappointments and accomplishments. Our sensitivity towards the pain and suffering of others makes us more human: we become more empathetic.


Besides, providing a platform for businesses both small and large corporation, social media also helps people to connect with friends and family members to maintain a social connection.  I also found that it serves as a great political platform for many governments across the globe. Both developed nations and developing countries a like use social media to keep their people informed, to garnish supporters and to maintain socio-political positioning. It is a conduit for getting information across the globe regardless of the issues and institutions within society.


In addition to the many effects that social media has on our social interaction and social connectedness, the implications for businesses are great. Large organization are using social media as a marketing and branding platform for their products and services. Similarly, many smaller businesses are also introducing it into their business strategic plan to ensure that they get their products or services before their niche market. Women-owned businesses are also a part of that change, in the way business is done; and they too are introducing social media into their marketing plan.


As a small business owner, do you have a social media plan? It’s important that you develop a plan proactively before delving into social media.

• Determine if this is something that will work for you right now?
• Identify which social media sites you will use in the short-term and in the long-term
• Identify a strategy that you would be using and come up with a schedule of activities for at least weekly, monthly or quarterly.
• Identify how much time you can dedicate to social media that will not affect your production and operation time
• Identify whether you have the personnel on board your team to facilitate your social media plan or whether you have to recruit or access outsourcing

As a small business owner do you have a social media plan? Which social media site or sites are you using? What are some of the benefits it has brought to your business since you have integrated it into your strategic plan?

Author:
Dr. Cheryl Cottle is the Consultant of Cottle's Professional Consulting company with a portfolio in education, organizational development, professional and business development. Dr. Cottle is also the creative entrepreneur behind CPC Women in Business.


© Copyright 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle of Cottle’s Professional Consulting. All Rights Reserved!

Cottle's Professional Consulting - - See what others are saying about us!

Cottle's Professional Consulting blog is names the "Top 50 Blogs About Consulting".

The post noted that:

Consultants need to be well versed in a range of topics, from marketing and Web design to leadership techniques. Blogs are a great source of free, expert information to help consultants develop their talents in these areas. We've compiled a list of the 50 best blogs out there that focus on business consulting and topics relevant to that profession. We hope you'll find some helpful consultancy information that's relevant to your particular line of work!

The post also stated that:

Cottle’s Professional Consulting is one of the top 50 Bogs about consulting. The post also noted that: Consultants will find a wide range of information on this blog, hosted by Consultant Dr. Cheryl Cottle. Topics include education, computer training, web design/development, web hosting, and organizational development. Furthermore, the blog contains expert advice on business development and professional development.

If you are interested in visiting a great blog you can check us out! We cover topics on education, organizational development, professional development and business development. It's very informative and beautifully designed with opportunities to share your thoughts, ideas and experiences.

To see source:

CaseManagementCertification.org

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Shared by Dr. Cheryl Cottle
Chief Executive Officer of Cottle's Professional Consulting.
Administrator of CPC Women in Business

© Copyright 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting. All rights reserved!

Article Review: 100 Ways to Use Social Media in the Classroom

Social media is no longer seen as a forum for making connection with friends, planning events, birthday parties, weddings, and anniversaries. Nor is it perceived as a place for organizations and businesses to brand and promote their products or services. It is also seen for its role as a social agent in how teaching and learning is conducted. Social media classroom has also emerged since its introduction and revolutionized how we teach and learn. Social media not only facilitates collaborative learning, but also global and intercultural understanding. Social media has a great impact upon how we communicate and therefore how we learn.


According to the article:

Social media may have started out as a fun way to connect with friends, but it has evolved to become a powerful tool for education and business. Sites such as Facebook and Twitter and tools such as Skype are connecting students to learning opportunities in new and exciting ways. Whether you teach an elementary class, a traditional college class, or at an online university, you will find inspirational ways to incorporate social media in your classroom with this list.

The article provides examples of projects and activities as well as strategies and techniques to effectively integrate social media into the curriculum.

To read more!


Shared by Dr. Cheryl Cottle
Chief Executive Officer of Cottle's Professional Consulting
Manager of CPC Women in Business

 

Business Tips Corner: Real success in one you cannot spend!

This Weeks’ Business Tips Corner brings you another quote for you to think about and reflect upon.

You can use almost any measure when you're speaking of success. You can measure it in a fancy home, expensive car or dress. But the measure of your real success is one you cannot spend – It's the way your child describes you when talking to a friend." – Martín Baxbaum

Success is important to a businessperson. However, you must remember that success in life is not imbalanced; it is not just how successful you are as a businessperson that counts. Success is a balance between business success and personal success. Personal success includes, how you manage your health, mind, body and spirit, together with the relationships that you form and nurture with your family and friends; and more importantly your spouse and child or children.

How would your child describe you if asked, How would you describe your mother, father?

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Shared by Dr. Cheryl Cottle

Chief Executive Officer of Cottle's Professional Consulting

Administrator of CPC Women in Business

Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting. All rights reserved.

Business Tips Corner: E-mail and Social Media

I recently wrote about using e-mail as a marketing strategy and I noted that it is a great and cost effective way to target your customers. We are seeing a move by businesses to integrate both the traditional and cost effective marketing tools with the use of social media. While social media is not difficult to use, companies are still in the process of learning the new technology and the implementation strategies to integrate it into their marketing plan.

Here are a few suggestions on how to utilize both approaches: E-mailing and social media. 

• Integrate your email marketing with your social media campaigns - - Your social media campaign should include the use of FaceBook, Twitter, You Tube and Blogging
• Design your e-mail messages so that it can be captured on mobile devices that so many customers are now using to access their emails
• Make sure that the text are brief and avoid using large images as well as to many - - Be economical in your marketing language
• Engage your readers - - you can either ask them to participate in an activity. You can engage them in a contest or offer them something FREE
• Plan you marketing campaign around holidays or special days
• Your Design Marketing Plan should be a yearly plan. Your DMP should identify the messages to be sent out and the activities you want to promote
• Every design plan must be evaluated. Identify what worked and what didn’t. Determine whether you received a return in your investment in terms of Time and Cost?

Created by Dr. Cheryl Cottle

Chief Executive Officer of Cottle's Professional Consulting

Administrator of CPC Women in Business

Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting. All rights reserved.

Season's Greetings!

Dear Readers,

Thanks for dropping by and reading my blog posts from time-to-time. I hope that they were interesting and informative. I will like to extend a heartfelt greetings to you, as we come to the end of the year to celebrate Christmas. Happy Holidays and as you welcome the New Years, may your life be filled with Love, Health and Prosperity.

Hoping to see you in the New Year. Yes, I will be taking a break to spend some quality time with my family.

Enjoy the holidays and stay save.

God's Blessings to you!

Dr. Cheryl Cottle

Take a pause and listen to the beautiful voice of Whitney Houston as she sings The First Noel!

An Overview of the Article: How to Use Social Media to Retain Customers

This article provides some useful tips on how to turn your new and existing customers into active customers.

The author states that: there are many times or reasons that a small business will receive an influx of new customers — such as around the holidays for retail stores, during a new product or service launch or after a local advertising campaign. While new customers are great, returning customers are even better. Social media offers a number of opportunities to turn your new and existing customers into repeat customers and fans.

The author also suggests that you can turn new customers into return customers who will in turn attract more new customers for you. To achieve this, the article suggests that you should:

1. Direct new customers to your social media sites by inviting them to become your friend, become a fan of your fan page or join your group or follow you on your blog or on Twitter.
2. Offer opportunities and incentives to keep them interested — engage them with new content, great information and resources and exclusive offerings.
3. Promote your business — your services or products. Offer exclusive deals.
4. Build a community around what you do.

 To read more:

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Author:
Dr. Cheryl Cottle is an Educator, Instructional Technologist and System Analyst. She is the Founder of Cottle’s Professional Consulting. Dr. Cottle is also the creator of two online forums — Women in Business on Facebook and CPC Women in Business.

Copyright © 2010 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle ● Cottle’s Professional Consulting

Business Tips Corner - - For People now Starting out into Entrepreneurship

Business Tips Corner!

by: Dr. Cheryl Cottle

Be sure to drop in every week on a Thursday to share my useful tips that would help you in your journey to successful entrepreneurship!

This week's tips are specifically designed for people who are now starting out into entrepreneurship.

Love what you do and the wealth will follow: Marsha Sinetar the author of Do What you love: The Money will Follow- - Discovering Your Right Livelihood suggests that you should work at what you love and you will find the satisfaction that you have been looking for. Oprah Winfrey's also says, " . . . if you do work that you love, and the work fulfills you, the rest will come." Many successful people believe in this philosophy. Some business owners have also vouched that having a passion for what you do, makes it much easier to go through the challenges you face as an entrepreneur. It is what helps to sustain your business.

• Get the support of others: Many entrepreneurs, particularly women tend to start a business alone because it often comes out of a great need. It can either be as a result of being divorced or the death of our spouse and we have to find alternative ways to support ourselves and children. It is wise that you get the support of someone to assist you in the event that difficult situations arise. If you are unable to get a friend or a family to support you, then it is wise to get a mentor. Join groups where you can also get the support. With the technology that are available, you can join online forums and others social media forum to network and share common experiences.
• Create a Business Plan: A business plan will provide you with the road map that you need when thinking of getting into a business venture. It will provide you with valuable information regarding how much money you will need to start up your business, identify who are your target audience, the best place to purchase your equipments, furniture and other inventories, who are your competitors, and how best to market and promote you product or services, and such business logistics.
• Education: It is important also that you increase you knowledge in the area of business that you want to get into. You must develop your expert knowledge of the industry you are in, as well as the product and or services that are the focus of your company. Engage in research, read books and attend workshops and seminars to stay current in your market. You would also want to know all about taxes as it applies to your business as well as business registration, and other operational logistics.
• Access Professional Support: Professional support is always touted as being to expensive as a result many business owner delay this process. Remember that you do not have all the skills needed to successfully run your business. You most likely would have the entrepreneurial skills, but not necessarily have all the managerial skills needed to manage your business. A business requires both entrepreneurial and management skills to be sustainable. It is a holistic approach to successful entrepreneurship. Therefore if you need an accountant to manage your books, or a website designer to build your website or blog, outsource their help.
• Professionalism: One of my advices that I gives to clients now starting out into the area of entrepreneurship is that they should always strive to be professional, and it does not only mean dressing great. Establishing a professional image from the beginning goes a long way in achieving business success. As a new business owner you should establish a business telephone number so that customers can easily contact you. A website is another feature that one should also consider having. In addition to online presence, an e-mail is equally important. These together with business cards, stationary and great customers’ service are a great start to establishing professionalism.

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Author:
Dr. Cheryl Cottle is the Chief Consultant of Cottle's Professional Consulting. Cottle's Professional Consulting has a multidisciplinary portfolio including education, organizational development, professional development, and business development. Dr. Cottle is also a coach and mentor in areas of professional and business development. Interested in a service, please contact her at: ccottle@drcottle.com

©Copyright 2010 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle and Cottle’s Professional Consulting

Business Tips Corner - - Things to consider when you are choosing a location for your business.

Business Tips Corner!

By: Dr. Cheryl Cottle

Be sure to drop in every week on a Thursday to view tips that would help you in your journey to successful entrepreneurship.

This week's tips are: 

1. First find out whether your type of business is permitted in the area according to zoning laws.
2. Make sure that your business location is accessible to allow your customers and employees easy access.
3. Consider the surrounding community. Can the community support your business? Does it attract your niche market?
4. Carefully choose whether you would have a ground floor location for your business or a second floor. Customers generally find it easiest to just walk in off the street. If you choose a second floor, make sure that you advertise to attract customers to your store.
5. Similarly if you choose to have a location in a Mall, make sure that the Mall also has great access and secure parking facilities.
6. Decide whether you want to be in an area where you don’t have any direct competitors, or decide whether they will provide a great business climate.

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Author:

Dr. Cheryl Cottle is the Chief Consultant of Cottle's Professional Consulting. Cottle's Professional Consulting has a multidisciplinary portfolio including education, organizational development, professional development, and business development. Dr. Cottle is also a coach and mentor in areas of professional and business development. Interested in a service, please contact her at: ccottle@drcottle.com

© Copyright 2010 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle and Cottle’s Professional Consulting

Résumé Writing and the Job Search Process!

By Dr. Cheryl Cottle
With the recessionary period, applying for a new job is none the easier. There are a lot of people also vying for that job that you have been looking for, so the competition is great. How to stand out above the competition and get the job is what you need to know. You can know how to, if you access an expert in job search, résumé and cover letter preparation, and job interviewing skills. You might have the educational background, skills and knowledge sets, work related experience, and wondering why I am not getting the job? Well, it just could be the approach that you are using.

Here are a few tips that will help you to move above the rest and get that perfect job.

Identify your skills and experiences:
You must identify the skills and experiences that you have as they relate to the job that you are applying. The question that you have to ask, is do I have these skills? Do I have the knowledge to perform the job? Having identified the skills and knowledge that you have within the context of the job, include them when responding to the job in your résumé and cover letter. What skills should I take into consideration? Identify your skills and experiences within the context of your past work experience and the position that you held, education and training, volunteering, and simply life’s skills.

Formatting your résumé:
This is critical to the organization and development of your résumé. You want your document to look professional and as if you have spent some time to details. You also want to show that you are detailed-oriented and organized. These are attributes that your employers are also looking for and they reflect in the way that you organize your résumé and write your cover letter.

Adhere to proper spelling and grammatical practices:
Once you have written your résumé and included all the necessary details, make sure that you review it for spelling errors and grammatical mistakes. Employees also evaluate your writing and form judgments about what type of worker you will be, by looking at the way that you pay attention to details, and it is often a critical attribute that they stress on their job postings. Get someone else to review your résumé and cover letter. Sometimes a second opinion helps. Note that a well written résumé gets notice for the very least. It is the same ones that gets called on the interview and the one to get the job.

Personalized your cover letter:
Personalizing your cover letter for each job that you are applying for is sometimes difficult to do. You have spent several hours coming up with the perfect résumé to meet the job requirements, and now you just have to complete the cover letter; but you are tired, and you simply just want to the application process to be over and done with. Similar to your résumé, you also have to pay great attention to details. A well written cover letter reflects your level of professionalism also. Always address your cover letter to the correct person within the company or corporation. The job position that you are applying for should also be indicated on your cover letter. It is also important to indicate where you saw the job advertised, and how your skills, educational background, and experience fits the job that they advertised. Always include a telephone number or an e-mail address so that they will be able to contact you should your letter of application is short listed.

The interviewing process:
If you are here in your job search process, you know that you are getting somewhere with finding a job. But this is also a very important stage that you must pay attention to. How you dress is very important in getting a job. This is your initial presentation. How you look or your image plays an important role in hiring. Make sure you wear clean and well coordinated colors, a beautiful pair of shoes, and a handbag, not to fashionable; if you are a female. Males, you too must pay special attention to how your look and yes smell. It is also important to pay attention to grooming; your hair must also be combed as well as your nails should be cut and cleaned. In addition, it is also important to be on time for your interview and you should also be prepared to answer any questions. In addition, it is great to have a number of questions that you can ask the panel especially when they ask you “Do you have any questions you will like to ask us?”

The Day of the Interview:
On the day of the interview, make sure that you are there on time. Some times it is best to go on a trial run if you are informed of the interview days before. This will allow you to identify road blocks that you may encounter and help you to circumvent them on the day of. Learn as much as you can about the company and particularly, how the position you are applying impacts the company’s functionality. Generally the interview questions are related to what you have written on your résumé. Remember you are talking about you, and the experiences that you have and how they apply to the position. Be confident when you respond. Remember always to have the names and contacts of your references. Another question that is commonly asked is, what you want from the job? And that generally translates into the question “Where do you see yourself in the next five years? Another generic question is; how will you be of benefit to the company? It is advisable that before going on an interview you must research the company. Learn about their company goals, mandate and culture. You also need to know if you will want to work with them. Just as they have to like you, you also have to like them. It is a two way relationship.

In summary: I hope that you find these tips useful to your job search, résumé preparation, and interview process. Good luck in your job search.

Interested in having us prepare a résumé and cover letter as well as prepare you for the job position that you are looking for. Call us! You can also have a telephone conferencing session with Dr. Cottle. For more information contact us at: ccottle@drcottle.com

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Author:
Dr. Cheryl Cottle is the Chief Consultant of Cottle's Professional Consulting. Cottle's Professional Consulting has a multidisciplinary portfolio including education, organizational development, professional development, and business development. Dr. Cottle is also a coach and mentor in areas of professional and business development. Interested in a service, please contact her at: ccottle@drcottle.com

©Copyright 2010 by Dr. Cheryl Cottle and Cottle’s Professional Consulting

CPC: Website Design and Development

Cottle's Professional Consulting web site design and development services are comprehensive and designed to meet your needs; including small business entrepreneurs, large businesses, organizations, government and community-based organizations, students, academics and educational institutions.

If you are thinking of introducing a web site to your business development plan or you are a professional looking to enhance your marketability, our customized, client-focused web design and development services can offer you the e-solutions you need. Our dynamic and impacting web designs will separate you and your web site from all the template generated web sites that exist online today.

We also offer services in the following areas:

1. Blog Designs
2. Blog Writing
3. Copy Writing
4. Logo Design
5. FaceBook Fan Page
6. FaceBook Group Design
7. Twitter Page Design
8. We also offer coaching to meet your Branding Needs

Cottle's Professional Consulting is committed to your success, and to developing your online presence that will draw visitor traffic and increase user commitment. To meet these goals: Your Web Site, Blog, Fanpage, Group, Online Community, Twitter and YouTube require a strategic approach to design and marketing.

To learn more about this service, please go to:http://www.drcottle.com/services/webservices.html.

If you are interested in having this service, please write to us at: Cottle's Professional Consulting

About Me

My name is Dr. Cheryl Cottle, and I am the designer of this blog; Cottle's Professional Consulting. Through this forum, I will be blogging about issues that bridge my consulting business website and Facebook where I created a group "Women in Business". I will be highlighting what we do at CPC as well as bring issues that impact women in business.
I hope that you will find our services at Cottle's Professional Consulting (CPC) of interest to you.

Courtesy,
Dr. Cheryl Cottle
Chief Consultant of Cottle's Professional Consulting
http://drcottle.com