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Archive for the ‘General’ Category

There is a new thief on the block.  An identity thief and YOU are at risk! 

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime today and is effecting approximately 900,000 NEW victims each year!

Everyday transactions such as writing a check, using your cell phone, making a charge purchase, applying for a credit card, mailing your tax returns, even simply placing your outgoing mail in your mail box may put you at risk.

Can identity theft be completely prevented—No, but there are steps you can take to minimize your risk by managing your personal information better.

1.  Protect Your Social Security Number
Don’t carry your Social Security card with you or in your wallet.  Leave your drivers license, social security and  home telephone numbers off your personal checks.  
    
2. Shop Online at Secure Web Sites
Always make sure you are dealing with a secure web site.  Look for https:// displayed in your web address bar located near the top of your screen.   The “s” after “http” stands for “secure”.  https://
    
3.  Destroy Information and Papers You Throw Away
Shred (crosscut shredders are best) bank  information, credit card information, offers for credit and payments made with receipts given.
    
4.  Know Your Credit Accounts Billing Cycles  
 In case your bills are late coming in, you can call the company and request a duplicate copy.  This will help you see   right away if there is a problem on your account.
    
5.  Check Your Credit Report
Once a year check your credit report with the three major credit reporting agencies.  Don’t overlook the Inquiries” section of the report.  This will give you an overview of creditors, accounts and  inquiries made on your report.  
     
Even though you can’t totally prevent identity theft from occurring, following these few steps will help you lower your risk.  When the time (credit report) comes….The Real You IS Standing Up!

This is our new Write Business Blog theme and look! We are still designing and tweaking the elements and new features within the site, but I’m so excited about our new look! Please keep checking back to view our progress. All should be completed around the first week in May.

Write Business Blog is currently redesigning the blog for a totally new look and more features. Please check back in a few weeks.

Saturday my daughter and I went to the new IKEA here in Charlotte, NC. Their furniture showroom had everything you could imagine and they had it in every color. It was quite an experience…a very good experience!

This experience started with the parking. Even the parking attendants were organized. You would have thought you were going to a huge concert the way they were directing traffic…for a minute I thought I was going to have to pay for parking. As one car left, the parking attendants would direct another car into that very space. No cruzing the parking lot to try to find a spot…they directed you right to it!

Next we went inside and up to the showrooms. Every inch of space was organized with a theme and furniture to match. Even with the large number of people there, the inside traffice kept flowing. If you ran into a problem, there were plenty of the IKEA staff there to answer any questions.

These employees made you feel like you were the only visitor they had with their one-on-one customer service. They didn’t rush you or brush you aside, they simply took the time to listen and answer your questions.

In Summary…IKEA had anticipated their clients needs …were prepared to meet them…and went the extra mile in doing so.

Which brings me to you and your business. Are you taking the time to simply listen and answer your clients questions? Have you anticipated their needs? This can be as simple as a brochure with frequently asked questions, a web site, an information product, a report, or a combination of all these.

Maybe you have some or all the above mentioned items…how long has it been since they’ve been updated?

We are living in the age of “instant gratification”, your clients want information and they want it now. Anticipating your clients needs and being prepared says a great deal about who you are…you are a company that’s interested in meeting your client’s needs by solving their problems.

Bottom line: You want them to know you not only HAVE their solution…you ARE their solution! Then you are on your way to being a…WOW…IKEA!

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Livvie Matthews, freelance writing services/Owner of Write Business has been helping businesses with their online and printed marketing content including Brochures, Web Site content, White Pages, e-mail Marketing, and Newsletters since the late ’90′s. e-mail Livvie@writebusiness.net or Visit http://www.WriteBusiness.net.

There is so much going on in our country right now, loss of jobs, loss of homes, loss of savings, but yet there is much to be thankful for.

We can be thankful for HOPE. We are a country full of innovative people, entrepreneurs, and survivors. We will get through this. We had never been through anything like 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and some of the other disasters…but we came through them. We WILL come through this.

We Americans are a resourceful people, and when our backs are pressed to the wall, we push forward with a new zest! New ideas, new opportunities, new businesses, new jobs, and yes…new dreams will spring from this moment in history.

But for now, let’s be thankful for what we do have…families, friends, and people who love us and who we love. Now…right now, that support is very much wanted, needed, and welcomed!

Recently at work this was brought to my attention in three ways:

1) A co-worker’s husband lost his job at the company he worked for. They have 2 teenage sons enjoying their teen years and looking forward to the holidays…now their dad is unemployed.

2) My employer had to put a co-worker on a “day by day” basis. With production being down, there wasn’t enough work to keep both the employees in that position.

3) A mom brought her son in for his appointment and while talking with one of the ladies at the front desk, the mom started crying. Come to find out, it had been a very tough year for her…she had just gone through a divorce and things were very tight. She said she was concerned there wouldn’t be a Christmas for her son, but her main concern was… there may not be food on the table!

Financially most of us are in a bind now with all this going on, and there may not be a lot of money. But we can let our friends, family, and co-workers know…we’re here and we care.

So when you sit down for your Thanksgiving dinner…no matter where it is or what it is, if there is someone beside you…reach out and let that person know you’re here and you care…as you thank God for the MANY blessings you DO have…after all, you woke up this morning, didn’t you!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!