In sales and business in general, we are always looking for ways to generate leads, make connections, promote our business, and network. With social networking sites and online tools, it has never been easier (or more overwhelming) to get connected and be heard. But with all of the options – what is the best and do we really need to have our name associated with every site out there? The answer to those questions is subjective but certainly one thing is undeniable – you can’t ignore it (it’s not going away)!

Click here for a graphic representation of some of the things that happen every 60 seconds on the internet (and think about how many of them could positively impact your business if you were connected to them).

With electronic devices changing so quickly some may be wondering what is the best way to discard the old.   Do my old electronics have any value, should I resell, should I donate to someone who could use them, where can I drop off products to be recycled?  All great questions and all depend on what the old electronic item is that you have to dispose of. Best Buy and Staples offer a cash-back program. Recyclebank allows you to earn points for recycling. Gazelle.com has paid out over $25M for used consumer electronics. Close the Gap refurbs your old computers and sends them to underprivileged individuals in Africa.

To help you decide what is best for you visit the following like for a variety of options.

http://greenergadgets.org/recycling-responsibly.html

The implications of this Forbes article are far ranging but from the standpoint of Employee Engagement the message is clear.  Companies that ignore the need to interact with their employees on a higher level than was normal in decades past risk finding themselves the victim of destructive undercurrents at the hands of their own staff.

Click here for the full story

In the article “The Top Ten Reasons Why Large Companies Fail to Keep Their Best Talent,” I believe that the writer omits one very significant reason.  Rewards and recognition clearly play a critical role in keeping top talent at both small and large companies — but were left out of the article.  Companies that choose to ignore this fact will notice that it is a contributing factor to their best and brightest walking out the door.

The fact is, no matter what a person’s position within an organization, they want to be recognized and rewarded for their hard work.  Many companies will say, “Well, that’s why they get paid the big bucks.”   And on some level that is true.  But compensation only goes so far.  Employees inherently desire to be patted on the back for a job well done.

According to a survey conducted by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM),  voluntary resignations are rising – 90% of employees cite lack of recognition and feeling underappreciated as reason for leaving.

So, while the writer of the article makes many valid points, rewards and recognition simply cannot be left off the list.  The benefits of a carefully structured rewards and recognition program go well beyond employee retention to encompass employee motivation and goal attainment, customer satisfaction and retention, and more.

Recently in the news we learned that many anonymous donors are paying the layaway balances of families less fortunate enabling them to fulfill their holiday hopes.
(Anonymous Donors Pay Off Kmart Layaway Accounts)

What I like most about this story is the spirit of “paying it forward” that comes to life.  This concept, while often plentiful at the holidays, truly is one that can be applied year-round not only in one’s personal life but also in the work place.  The beauty of the concept is that the gesture need not be a grand one for it to leave a lasting impression on fellow employees or the organization as a whole.

I firmly believe that paying it forward in the workplace – whether it be offering to help someone with a one-time project, being a person’s back-up while they are out of the office, or sharing a positive attitude can be inspiring to others and inherently encourage them to pass it along.  Employers can benefit by encouraging these types of pay it forward acts of kindness as a work environment that fosters teamwork and support is a happier, more engaged place to be.

Maybe my sentiments are overly filled with the joy of the season but none of the things I mentioned cost any of us anything – and these are the types of rewards from which our co-workers and employers can benefit way beyond the holiday season.  So, embrace the pay it forward mentality beyond December and you may just reap the rewards yourself.

Are you looking for the opportunity to strengthen your product offerings and selection with a luxury brand?

With Godiva your possibilities are endless:

• Employee / Customer Motivation, Retention and Appreciation Programs
• Loyalty / Point Redemption Programs
• Meetings / Events / Weddings

Godiva can help our Premium & Incentive and Special Markets customers create award-winning programs for their clients. Meeting all of your client’s objectives has never been easier… or more tastefully done.

Choose from Godiva’s most popular assortment of world-class chocolates, truffles, cocoa and delectable biscuits to find the perfect enticement at price points to meet any budget.

http://www.godiva.com/assets/pdfs/Corporate_Product_Catalog.pdf

At the end of September Sharp introduced their 80-inch Aquos LED TV.   This giant LED-lit flat screen television featuring Aquos technology will be the largest consumer available television, at the time of it’s release.   The 80” LED also feature Sharp’s signature Quattron quad-pixel technology. This means that a fourth color, yellow, is added to the traditional red-blue-green display.  The 1080p X-Gen LCD display also consumes less energy than standard CCFL LCD televisions.    Sharp also offers  60” & 70” LCDs.

These multimedia devices are designed for on the go, with small dimensions and lightweight designs.

What can you do with a tablet;

• internet access
• send and read emails
• read a book, write a book
• listen to music
• watch videos and movies
• take and send pictures
• beat the Angry Birds
• video chat
• create and review documents
• and so much more….

Not sure which one is right for you.   Click here to help you decide.

All Star offers several tablets to choose from in our reward programs.

Well, cold and flu season is upon us once again and with it the heightened concerns regarding contracting “what’s going around”, or “the plague”( as we dreadingly refer to it at All Star) from lingering germs.  Though there have been many studies which prove that good old-fashioned hand washing is the best preventative measure to keep from picking up or spreading these heinous microbes, hand sanitizing agents do help as well.    Claims of 99.9% effectiveness may be a bit over exaggerated – these are probably statistics collected in a controlled, ultra clean lab testing environment.    However, even if this percentage drops to 40 – 60% in “the real world”, anything clearly is better than 0%.  Alcohol-base antibacterial products have been proven to be the most effective.

All that said, as an ASI distributor, All Star can source anti-bacterial/microbial hand and surface cleaners from many ASI manufacturers that will brand these products with your logo and company information.  You can purchase products at costs that range from mere cents to a few dollars; from wipes to sprays to lotions.  This is a great way to show your clientele that you care about their health and wellness (a very current and significant initiative in corporate America today), especially during this time of year.

In an article I recently wrote for Occupational Health & Safety I detail the importance of employee engagement as a tactic towards improving safety. The entire article can be seen by clicking on This Link.

In the article I also cover the following topics:

• The need to brand and communicate your program
• The keys to building a successful recognition/rewards program
• The importance of culture and structure
• The mistakes to avoid

1. 1. Using cash
   2. Using high value awards
   3. Introducing the element of chance
   4. Rewarding groups for group behaviors