Come Let Us Share: January 2006

Monday, July 04, 2005

Coke Addiction And The Six Cs Of Super-Rich

And ‘too much money’ is exactly what you need to have if you’re planning to snort some of the ‘white stuff.’

C FOR... CASH

At last check, cocaine was being sold for anywhere between Rs 3000-5000 per gram. A regular user who’s been snorting for a year would require a daily fix of at least 2 grams — Rs 10,000. ‘‘I was an unwelcome guest inside the washroom of a well-known lounge bar recently,’’ says Kartik Verma, a banker. ‘‘And of course, money is no bar at all. What is... ... 10 grand to someone who has a turnover in crores? Cocaine is the habit of the super-rich,’’ says a party animal who’s ‘‘tried it once.’’ Bollywood insiders speak of a star son and a star daughter who do drugs regularly on the party circuit, and a big star who is known to throw parties where alcohol is passe and cocaine is openly passed around for the guests.

C FOR... CHARLIE

Coke, Charlie, C, White Horse — these are some of the common names for cocaine. Crack is an adulterated form of cocaine which is called so because of the sound it makes when it is smoked. ‘‘You have to be introduced to the pusher by someone who’s already in the coke circle,’’ says in insider on the circuit. ‘‘There’s generally a code word that you need to give before the dealer will talk shop.’’

C FOR... COOL QUOTIENT

Snorting up is more of a lifestyle trend than anything else in the metros. Check out the scene in a washroom in a city nightspot, post a fashion even: ‘‘If you’re doing it, do it right girl,’’ laughs a stylist. She’s teaching an upcoming model how to snort up — both are in one cubicle and the giggling doesn’t seem to stop. The model, having managed to do it right has finally arrived!

C FOR... CELEBRITY

This comes close on the heels of fashion choreographer Prasad Bidapa getting caught at the Dubai airport for alleged possession of drugs. Film industry insiders say the use of drugs is a done thing in Bollywood. Alcohol is a thing of the past. It’s cocaine and designer drugs that have been... .. the in thing for years now. The ‘inner circle’ is treated to the best drugs money can buy. But most are not addicts. It is just another way of bonding,’’ says a prominent film-maker.

C FOR... CURE?

Cocaine stimulates the reward-centre in one’s brain — otherwise stimulated by good work, great sex and the like — with an insistence that is unmatched. All other drugs fail in comparison — which is the basis of the chemical dependence on coke. Repeated use leads to a higher level of tolerance that requires larger doses of the substance to pacify the psychological addiction.’’

C FOR... CRIME

Many had to be sent home in police vans as they were too high to walk or drive. Police sources in Mumbai say that several film personalities host parties at their bungalows and farm houses, where cocaine is available freely to the guests. ‘‘We have just heard about such parties. But we have never been able to nab a drug user. Many times, we have gatecrashed into a party. But the addicts are smarter and they dispose off the cocaine when they see the cops,’’ a deputy commissioner stated. ‘‘If a small quantity of drug is found on a person and if the court is convinced that the narcotic was meant for personal consumption, the accused can be jailed for upto a year. But in most cases the person is awarded a sentence for a couple of months. If the accused pleads before court that he wishes to be rehabilitated in a deaddiction centre even that sentence is waived.’’ For drug peddling or trafficking, a person can be jailed for upto 10-20 years and pay a fine of Rs One lakh or upwards. Repeat convicts in trafficking cases face a death sentence, he adds.

(With inputs from Somit Sen, Meena, Farida and Aneesh — Mumbai; Vinita A Shetty — Bangalore)

Friday, July 01, 2005

How to prepare for your web conference.

Basic Presentation Skills

Here are few guidelines which I found very helpful in conducting a web conference. Usually there is a lot that can be quickly gained or quickly lost from a presentation. A little bit of guidance goes a long way toward making a highly effective presentation.

The following guidelines are intended for general presentations. These guidelines can be applied to face-to face meetings, web presentations, and desktop video meetings.

Basic Guidelines For Designing Your Presentation

List and prioritize the top three goals that you want to accomplish with your audience. It's not enough just to talk at them. You may think you know what you want to accomplish in your presentation, but if you're not clear with yourself and others, it is very easy - too easy - for your audience to completely miss the point of your presentation.
Be really clear about who your audience is and about why is it important for them to be in the meeting. Members of your audience will want to know right away why they were the ones chosen to be in your presentation. Be sure that your presentation makes this clear to them right away. This will help you clarify your invitation list and design your invitation to them.
List the major points of information that you want to convey to your audience. When you're done making that list, then ask yourself, "If everyone in the audience understands all of those points, then will I have achieved the goal that I set for this meeting?"
Be clear about the tone that you want to set for your presentation, for example, hopefulness, celebration, warning, teamwork, etc. Consciously identifying the tone to yourself can help you cultivate that mood to your audience.
Design a brief opening (about 5-10% of your total time presentation time) that:

a. Presents your goals for the presentation.
b. Clarifies the benefits of the presentation to the audience.
c. Explains the overall layout of your presentation.
Prepare the body of your presentation (about 70-80% of your presentation time).
Design a brief closing (about 5-10% of your presentation time) that summarizes the key points from your presentation.
Design time for questions and answers (about 10% of the time of your presentation).

Basic Guidelines About Presentation Materials

If you plan to use a PowerPoint presentation as part of your meeting, then be sure to carefully review your presentation sequence before the web conference meeting, your objective is to synchronize your audio conference presentation with your PowerPoint slide presentation.
Use a consistent layout, or organization of colors and images, on your visuals.
If you use PowerPoint, a good rule to follow is to allocate one image for every 3-5 minutes of your presentation. Include 5-8 lines of bulleted phrases on each image.
If you provide supplemental information during your presentation, then your audience will very likely read that information during your presentation, rather than listening and following you. Therefore,send out this information after you have completed your presentation. Or, send it out at the beginning of your presentation and ask them not to read it until you have completed your presentation.

Basic Guidelines About Your Delivery

If you're speaking using desktop video conferencing along with your web presentation then try to accomplish eye contact with the web camera throughout your delivery. Look up from your materials, or notes, every 5-10 seconds, to look into the audience.
Speak a little bit louder and a little bit slower than you normally would do with a friend. A good way to practice these guidelines is to speak along with a news anchor when you're watching television.
Vary the volume and rate of your speech. A monotone voice is absolutely toxic to keeping the attention of an audience.
Keep your hands relatively still, that is, not waving in front of you which can be distracting to the viewer.

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

India Heading Towards The Broader Adoption Of Open Source Software

The President of India, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, in one of the speech during the opening ceremony of International Institute of Information Technology in the University city of Pune, India said "We were discussing the future challenges in information technology, including the issues related to software security, I made a point that we look for open-source codes so that we can easily introduce the users built security algorithms. Our discussions became difficult, since our views were different." This was the in the context to the conversation he had with the Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates.

Microsoft has become an increasingly harsh critic of the open-source model, in which the underlying code for software is freely shared for users to modify and distribute, saying the approach is risky and undermines innovation. The open-source Linux operating system has become a growing threat to the dominance of Microsoft's Windows.

Kalam said open-source software offers developing nations such as India the best opportunity to modernize.

"The most unfortunate thing is that India still seems to believe in proprietary solutions," he said in the speech. "Further spread of IT, which is influencing the daily life of individuals, would have a devastating effect on the lives of society due to any small shift in the business practice involving these proprietary solutions. It is precisely for these reasons open-source software needs to be built, which would be cost-effective for the entire society. In India, open-source code software will have to come and stay in a big way for the benefit of our billion people."

Monday, June 27, 2005

Secret #7: Tracking

Now each letter campaign you send out gives you the ability to precisely track what your return on investment is. This way you know to the penny if your marketing is working or not. Unlike many other forms of advertising you do to just get your "name out", direct mail gives you an easy way to track your returns.

Subtracting your expenses (cost of postage, printing, and list rental) from how much business your direct mail campaign brought you gives you your profits.

You must keep track of each and every prospect calling from your letter and responding to your specific offer (secret # 4).

That's why you'll want to assign unique priority codes, extension numbers for each promotion. Each letter you send should have a unique code. Then you will be able to credit that letter with the inquiry or sale. So you know what works and what does not.

Many times I'll use a priority code at the top of the letter. When prospects call in your staff should be trained to ask for the priority code.

Or if you do face-to-face business, an easy way is require people to bring the letter with them/or present it to your staff in order to get the special offer.

Tracking is critical or else you'll still be flying blind. Now you can track your revenues and results from each mailing. Plus, you get a clear handle on where your business is coming from and which
promotions are working.

Adding direct mail to your marketing is a surefire way to produce immediate results for your business. And by applying these seven little-known secrets, your next mailing can't help but be more profitable and successful.

Secret #6: Testing

With direct mail you have the precision to test any offer on a small group before mailing on a massive scale. Even if you think you have the greatest idea in the world for a letter, you can still test it to a few names, instead of mailing to 50,000 people. Then if you get a good response you can move on to mail a higher number of pieces because with a high probability you know it will work again. Depending on how many names you have on your list. You can even test with as little as a few hundred -- but you won't get a statistically valid response. However, you will get an indication of the letter's success. Once you've created a letter that works well this is called your "control" and now you can use testing to see if you can do better.

Here's how:

On your next mailing you change only one element like the headline, offer, pricing, etc. and then you split your list in half. One half gets letter#1 (your control) and the other half gets letter#2 (the test) then see which one does better.

Secret #5: Continuous Mailings

Why do people believe they can send out one mailing, one time, and all of a sudden become bombarded with new customers? It's ridiculous to believe any one shot mailing is going to uncover *everybody* interested in your service or product.

Think about your own life. You've probably received some offers that you were interested in but you never acted on. Perhaps you put it aside for a phone call or maybe one of your kids came running in and distracted you, or any number of other reasons. Your prospects are the same way. To overcome this, you've got to create a plan for multiple contacts. Also, this way you can take advantage of the "moving parade of life". You are not selling to a standing army, but rather a moving parade of prospects. People will move in and out of different needs and wants as they go through changes in their life.

Secret #4: No offer = No Response

Without an offer, your letter is doomed. It is not enough just to send out a mailing hoping people will call if they're interested. You've got to tell people exactly what next step they should take, and if you don't, your mailing has failed.

The best type of offer is something that is non-threatening and completely irresistible. If you can offer anything for free this works best. Such as a free educational report, tape, seminar, consultation, service, etc. Try to come up with such an irresistible offer that anyone would be foolish not to take advantage of it. Plus by making a compelling offer you can then keep track of how many people responded to your mailing.

Secret # 3:A Letter Means Action

Brochures and self-mailers do not work. What do you do when you get a brochure in the mail? Most people will either toss it out or file it away. Hardly anyone gives it more than just a casual glance on the way to the circular file.

What you need is an action device, and that's what a letter will give you. You need to take advantage of the greatest benefit direct mail has for you - personalized, intimate conversations.

A letter allows you to "talk" one-on-one to your prospect. That means you should use "I" and "me" and "you" freely in your letter. Don't use the corporate sounding "we".

Remember just one person is reading your letter at once. So don't write in the plural, even if your mailing is going out to thousands and thousands of people. Just sit down and write the same way you'd talk to a friend over dinner explaining the advantages and benefits of the product or service you're offering.

Start your letter with a compelling, benefit-driven headline. Prospects will decide to continue reading by the headline. If your headline fails to capture their attention and keep them engaged, your letter will quickly end up in the trash.

The most common mistake you can make is to put your company name, big and bold on top of the letter. This is the worst thing you can possibly do. You see, every person is concerned with one thing: *What's in it for me?*

Your company name does not show what, if any, benefits, the prospect will get from your letter. So put your company name at the bottom of the page where it belongs.

Saturday, June 25, 2005

Secret #2:   How To Get Your Letter Opened and Most Importantly, Read

The first thing you need to do is to get your letter delivered. I know this sounds silly, but it's more difficult than you think. Many consultants will tell you to save money by using 'bulk-mail' postage or as its now called 'standard rate'. Bulk rate is the dumpster rate. After taking the proper steps to get the best list, don't blow it by being cheap on the postage.

In fact, the Post Office freely admits that 20%-30% of all bulk mail gets thrown out for various reasons. The reason is simple; when your mailman's sack gets heavy, which letters do you think he would dare not deliver? That's right - bulk mail.
So if something looks like it's junk mail it is more likely to get tossed.

So in order to get your mailings respected (by the post office and your recipient) all your mailings should go out first class and use a real "live" stamp. That also means don't use mailing labels or even worse than that, is a "postage indicia".

All these smack of "junk mail". The closer you can make your envelope look like personal correspondence the better since people sort their mail over the trash can. That means you only have only a split-second for them to decide if they'll open your letter or not.

Thursday, June 23, 2005

Direct Mail Secrets To Create A Stampede Of New Business

Secret #1: Your List Is The First And Foremost

Here are few excellent tips for writing an effective Business Letter from Yanik Silver

Your mailing list is essential to your success.Well as silly as this sounds, many people will make this same mistake. You cannot just pick a random resident list of nearby Zip codes to your office. What you need to do is consider who your ideal customer would be and then find a way to target your message directly to them.

With direct mail, you're given the opportunity to use laser-beam, pinpoint accuracy to specifically target your message.

There are two major types of lists available.

1. The first kind of list is simply compiled information, taken from directories, phone books, motor vehicle records, etc.

Probably the most common way of using a compiled list is to buy a geographic list, like all the residents around a 5 mile radius of your office. Usually this will not yield the greatest results.

Another way is to segment a compiled list is by demographics (that's the fancy term for age, sex, income, whatever). This is a little better way to target.

But there is an even better way is to combine them using "Geo/Demo" characteristics.

You can pick certain geographic areas and certain demographic characteristics that you desire. Think of your ideal prospect, the more you know about them the better targeted lists you can purchase.

For most people a good starting point is to comb through your customer records to find common characteristics, like region, age, etc. Or if you sell business to business then you should try to look for common industries or SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) codes that a majority of your business comes from. Your goal is try to *clone* your best customers!

2. The second type (and much more valuable) is called a direct response list. These are lists of people who have bought or responded to direct marketing.

In some cases it will make more sense for you to buy a mail order list. The people on this list have bought something from direct response methods (mail, print ads, infomercials, etc.).

This kind of list is the most specific you can get.

What you want is a "starving crowd," somebody who has expressed an interest in looking better. Somebody who has paid money. And that's exactly who you can find using direct response lists.

But there's one more list that almost everyone forgets. It's literally a gold-mine lying at your feet. And that's your *own* list!

If you have not put all your customer's names and addresses into a database you're overlooking an incredible source of added business. This list will be the most powerful list and responsive list you can use for any offers because these people already trust you and like doing business with you.

This is critically important. Especially if you're in a business that typically doesn't keep their customer names and addresses because you're missing an incredible amount of money.

Friday, June 17, 2005

Telephone Manners and Etiquette

Through experience, you'll develop your own telephone style. You'll also find customers and prospects responding positively when you and your employees smile, listen and show personal interest!

The following tips will help you use your "telephone tool" to its fullest:

Smile when you're on the phone; your customers will hear it!

Answer the phone pleasantly and maintain a pleasant demeanor while on the phone.

When you place a call that you know might be lengthy, ask if it's a good time to talk before you dive into your spiel.

Know what you want to say before making an important call. Practice the words out loud until they feel comfortable.

Don't read from a script during a call. Instead either memorize your script as an actor would or use "thought starters" such as a word or two on index cards to guide you from one idea to another.

Make a telephone appointment when you want to have a focused, longer (15 or more minutes) conversation with someone who is normally busy.

Don't do things such as open mail, flip through the newspaper or do paperwork while on the phone. The person you're talking with will know you're distracted.

Listen and respond to the person on the other end of the line. When you focus on them rather than on what you're going to say next, the phone call becomes much more conversational.

When you're doing a lot of telephone work, energize yourself after every hour.

Evaluate Your Telephone Voice

Your voice is your personality over the telephone. It makes an immediate impression that can portray you as friendly or distant, confident or timid, spontaneous or mechanical, relaxed or nervous.

So, how do you come across over the phone? Evaluate the following attributes:

Pitch - The more inflection you use, the more interesting your tone of voice is. The pitch of your voice is an index of confidence and poise.

Volume - Is it too soft or too loud? Often when people are tired or upset their voices tend to fade, and they will be asked to "speak up." Be sure to speak loud enough to be heard, but not so loud that you sound forced.

Rate - If you speak too slowly you'll likely lose the attention of the listener. Conversely, your listener won't be able to follow you if you speak too rapidly. In either case, your message won't get through.

Quality - The quality of your voice is its most distinctive and individual characteristic. This is where the essence of warmth, understanding and "likability" come into play. Being angry, upset or in a hurry negatively affects your vocal quality.

Articulation - The price of poor articulation is high, particularly in business. You must enunciate or pronounce your words very clearly or your listeners will misunderstand you. Faulty articulation and incorrect word pronunciation give your listener the impression that you are sloppy, careless and lack knowledge.

Got Into The Blogging World

Hi friends,
This is my first blog. Its not very long time that I've started blogging, but from the first day I've been feeling that blogging has improved my communication skill. Blogging helps me a lot in learning new things. There are many things which blogging makes me acquainted with, it is really very exciting to learn new things while blogging. The blogging is the best way to develope your conversational skill and it also teaches you how to present yourself in the midst of different kind of gatherings. It also makes you aware of new things, technologies, ideas, strategies and many more things which are really very nourishing for the personality development. When I started to blog, I found it really very hard to blog. After few days I found that I was getting fond of blogging. I was very much excited to go through the blogs once a day. Everytime when I went through it, I found something new and exciting. Sometimes I came across some of the facts which I didn't knew before. It was blogging through which I came to know some of new things. I think that blogging is one of the technique through which the knowledge of reading and writing can be improved and developed. I think that the blogging is like a big tree of knowledge where the fruits are different posts and each and every fruit has got its own taste and you will like the taste of every fruit because every fruit has different taste, that is, different kind of knowledge. Well if you find that this post needs to be modified then the suggestions will be gratefuly acknowledged.

posted by Moses Paik | 3:20 AM | 0 comments

Come Let Us Share

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Spreading knowledge through Moodle.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

music

Monday, January 02, 2006