Issue December 2003 - Chicago                 "Keeping Businesses Moving Towards Success"

Editor's Note

Happy Holidays to each and everyone of you! I hope this holiday season finds you in good health and good spirits. I know everyone is busy this time of year each for their own reasons. As the year 2003 comes to a close and you reflect on your business successes and shortcomings take some time to evaluate, make some plans and have the determination to achieve your business goals for the new year.

We've included some great articles this month to help you improve your marketing and some helpful ideas on drumming up new business. Check out our recommended resources for your business needs.

Be sure to watch for our next issue in which you will find more marketing tips, sales strategies, and business services that will help you succeed in your business endeavors. Good luck and enjoy!  Please feel free to forward this page to an associate.

Sales and Marketing Strategies In This Issue:

Improving Your Brochure -  Make sure your brochure is a great marketing piece. 

Great Presentations  - Learn the keys to giving a great sales presentation.

Finding Sales Prospects  -  Learn ways to increase your customer base.

Small Talk - You can get big results from small talk in business situations. Learn how to use small talk to help build a network of associates.

So What Can the Small-Business Owner Do to Control Health Care Costs?

Review the following important cost-containment strategies with your health insurance agent. Your agent or broker will be able to provide you with some specific options and the associated costs of insuring your employee group.

• Investigate managed care options. The key to cost containment is assuring that employees use medical services only to the extent needed. When they do need services, it is important to assure that they are receiving the most cost-efficient quality care available. Managed care's key objective is to assure that patients receive high-quality care in the most efficient setting. Avoiding excessive or unnecessary services enhances patient care. Insurance companies are working closely with doctors and hospitals to make managed care options available to you.

• Increase employees' contribution percentages, deductibles, and co-payments. Employees should have strong financial incentives

• to be economical in choosing providers and in using medical services. Give them a financial stake in weighing the costs and benefits of medical care before making decisions. Employees are more cost conscious when paying part of their own health care bill, thereby reducing levels of medical care utilization overall. Significant employee cost-sharing can be part of a successful approach to reducing costs while retaining quality care.

• Develop prevention and wellness programs for employees. Keeping employees healthy is the best way to avoid unnecessary health care costs. For most people, life-style choices will have a greater impact on their health than anything the medical system can do. Health promotion can be an easy service for small businesses to provide without making a costly investment.

Facilitate a more health-conscious environment by providing:

• Vending machines with healthy food alternatives;

• Fitness/stress management breaks during the day;

• A newsletter (hardcopy and on-line) with health/ wellness tips;

• Discounts with fitness/health centers;

• A no-smoking policy, a smoke cessation program, and bonuses for quitting smoking; and

• Guest speakers on safety, substance abuse, mental health, elder care, stress reduction, smoking cessation, and other topics. (Consider your local college or university as a source for free speakers. 
  
  For the most comprehensive information on insurance benefits for your Chicago area business contact Frank Zaviska from F. J. Zaviska & Assocs. at 1-800-882-6061.  
  Or you can click here for more info.

"Achievement seems to be connected with action. Successful men and women 
keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit."

Conrad Hilton  

directory of resources

Marketing Support -

 creativeBUSINESSworks

Number One Rated Web Sites - Save time searching through thousands of web sites.  Use this free web site to search the best of the web.

The Number One Web Site

Workplace Stress Reducer - Employees are so important to a company's success. Click here to learn how to improve the work place environment. 


The Small Business Marketing Bible  -  Tips,Tricks and Techniques to Help Your Small Business Grow

Purchase ACT! 6.0 for 2004 and any handheld and get up to $100 back!

Great Ideas for Great Gifts for Business!

Group Health Insurance Services - For the Chicago area F J Zaviska & Assoc.

FUN FACTS & TRIVIA:

• On the average 100 people choke to death on ballpoint pens each year.

• The tongue of an adult giraffe is about 17 inches long.

• Washington D.C. has 1 lawyer for every 19 residents.

• The most productive day of the work week is Tuesday.

• An iceberg contains more heat than a lit match.

• The population of the earth as more than doubled since 1950.

Monthly Riddle:

Helpful Links:

if you would like to help just click on the link: 

24,000 die of hunger each day.  Help The Hunger Site -    

The Hunger Site

Help fund mammograms for underprivileged women -

  The Breast Cancer Site

Campbell's Will Send Money To Food Banks - 

Click For Cans

• Valuable Marketing And Sales Support

• "How To" For Business Success

• Pre-written business letters and forms

You can receive one month free to this valuable, business resource site by completing a brief survey on a unique marketing program that could greatly increase your sales efforts.

I'll take the survey.  My company has no web site.

I'll take the survey but my company already has a website.

Marketing Tip of The Month:  

When it comes to good customer service, good listening skills is a valuable asset. The golden rule of customer service is: Listen! Listen! Listen! (to your customers). Don't be quick to defend yourself or interrupt customers. Let them explain their problem fully. A good listener often hears what's going on between the lines and can smooth ruffled feathers quickly. So, always, listen with biz-friendly ears.