​A Guide to Coronavirus and the Food World

Restaurants across the country have been forced to close their doors in order to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, either by choice or as a result of state or municipal orders to enforce social distancing. So now, many are in trouble. Diners can help in a number of ways — by ordering delivery or buying gift cards, for example. But some companies, nonprofits, and grassroots initiatives are allowing individuals to make a direct financial contribution to the restaurants and bars that make their cities a better place to live — as well as the workers behind those establishments — during this difficult time.
Below is a list of funds to which diners can donate and restaurants or their staff can find financial help. While a number of restaurants have launched independent drives to raise money from their own loyal customers, the campaigns below are working to distribute larger funds across many restaurants. The list will be updated as new information becomes available

For More Information Please Click the Link Below
https://apple.news/AgRrdfLeeQLqiuSma7mHggg

Guest Blogger: Paul B. Davis, MBA
NextStep Marketing
 
LinkedIn is a wonderful tool for companies to use to gain new relationships, partnerships, and clients. Using the site in the correct way is paramount, however, to reap the full spectrum of business rewards. Here are 5 of the best ways to gain new prospective customers on LinkedIn.
 
Connect and interact with them whenever possible.
If you've found a new prospective customer, you'll need to connect with them, initially through LinkedIn, to create a more direct line of communication. This can be done by messaging on social media, phone calls, or a meet-up. By doing this, you will create a line of first-degree connections. After you have established a professional relationship with these connections, you can then connect with the people your connections know, thus, building your circle of prospects.
 
Target customers of your competitors to give yourself a “leg up.”
If a company or client you would like to reach is already being serviced by a competing company, you will have better luck gaining their patronage than if you were starting with someone who knows nothing of your product or line of work. They will already have some background knowledge on your service or product, and are more likely to switch to a cheaper or more efficient provider than they are starting a fresh relationship in unknown territory.
 
Find opportunities in unexpected places.
Look through your current client list; if they have connected with other companies or people you can reach with your service, you will have a better chance of making a sale. These people currently or formerly may have worked for a company you had no idea existed, and can open doors you may not have seen before.
 
Ask for introductions to new prospects by using your LinkedIn feed.
LinkedIn provides updates on the people you have connected to. Using these people as a catalyst, you can explore new business opportunities by asking them to introduce you to the people they know. Each time you do this, you open up new channels of communication. Soon, a “no” from a prospect you have tried in the past may turn into a “yes” after a few levels of networking through your feed.
 
Keep up with what your clients care about.
Nothing satisfies a customer more than being catered to. Even future clients will notice that your interest in a current client's needs are taken into consideration, lending credibility and relevance to your company's existence, or the need for your services. Being aware of what your competitors are offering their clients is extraordinarily helpful.
 
For more tips on how to increase marketing exposure and increase sales performance, contact us at NextStep Marketing today.

Facing Succession Plans Head On

​Robert Cogan, Principal at StrategyB4Tactices, shares his insight on one of the industry’s most often talked about topics, which is seldom followed through: Succession planning. Robert also explains how Pershing’s Insite16 conference takes into account all of the steps in the process, and provides a great way for attendees to learn more about the topic.

Following the FPA Major Firms Symposium in Boston, eight tenured consultants in the financial services industry gathered to discuss trends,  opportunities and challenges facing financial advisors and the larger firms that support them.  An excerpt of the conversation will be published by Investment Advisor Magazine. Click Here for a PDF Download of the Executive Roundtable White Paper

My mother always said, “You only get one chance to make a good first impression”. That is absolutely true in business if you want your business taken seriously. As a marketing consultant firm, one of the things I do on a routine basis is evaluate the content of a business’ website and its marketing collateral. In evaluating these materials, the one thing that creates the greatest difficulty for some businesses is writing. One of the ways you can damage your professional image is through poorly written collateral and content. It can be particularly harmful if that collateral is a press release meant to bring buzz to your business. The last thing a business needs it to send out a press release that is poorly written and full of grammatical errors. I recently came across this article on Inc.com on​ How to Write a Press Release.