20 Jan 12 Promoting a Cleaning Service Business – What Are Customers Looking For?
The first thing that you should do when putting together a plan to promote your cleaning service to customers is to try and understand more about them and the factors upon which they will base their decision of which cleaning service to hire. doing some market research is essential before you can start effective marketing. Let’s look at the profile of your typical cleaning customer and try to understand some of the reasons why they would choose one service over another.
Likely users of a cleaning service include wealthy families, middle class families with both spouses working and the elderly to name a few examples. Households with a combined annual income of $60,000 a year can usually afford to have their home cleaned at least once a week.
The commercial market is much more broad and there is no set profile. Most commercial buildings require cleaning frequently and only the largest companies have in-house janitors these days.
Price will be of concern of course, but decisions are rarely based on price alone and there are many other points that clients will consider before making a decision.
Professionalism is important to many people and they like to know that they are dealing with a reliable operator who answers the phone when they call and shows up to an appointment on time.
Honesty and reputation are also important factors for most people, as cleaners will have access to their house or building at times when they may not be present. Customers will be worried about their privacy, theft and property damage so you should maintain the highest level of integrity in these areas at all times. Assure your customers by letting them know about your policy with keys, background checks on employees, your insurance policy or anything else that may ease their minds.
Some customers may be drawn to you because of your brand, if you have one established. if your brand represents values that they relate to, such as being a ‘green’ cleaning service then this may attract them. Others may respond to your advertising or your guarantee policy.
Some people are very personal when it comes to doing business and they may go with a cleaning firm based only on the fact that they like the owner or the salesman. some customers like to support a small, local, family business while others feel more secure with larger players such as franchises and brands.
These are just some of the reasons why a customer may choose your services over the opposition, or may choose your competitors over you. by learning more about people and why they make the decisions they do you can adapt your marketing strategies to take advantage of what you learn and thus begin to have a great deal of success with your cleaning startup.
20 Jan 12 Still Life Photography: Illustrated Composition Tips While Traveling
A travel photography trip can include still life photography as well, as I experienced during my 9-month trip to Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. while the surroundings are often noisy, bustling and full of photography subjects that require split second decisions – it is possible to find more peaceful photographic moments.
I am using the category “still life photography” loosely in this post, to be able to show a wider variety of examples. where I found it applicable, I overlaid the black and white versions of the images either with the Fibonacci ratio spiral or the rule of thirds grid.
Not all compositions are perfect but I want to show examples when ignoring these rules of photography is OK, but also when ignoring them was a mistake, resulting in less balanced photographs.of course compositions can dramatically be improved upon with cropping but I decided to show uncropped images as I created them in camera.
This used fan repair shop was in the busy, noisy, bustling old Quarter of Hanoi. All the windows of this business had a different assortments and arrangements of fans displayed in a very visually pleasing manner. like moth to flame, I was mesmerized and probably spent over 30 minutes exploring photographic opportunities just outside this small corner store.
Overlaying the Rule of Thirds grid, the intersections are not exactly above the most obvious points of interest as they should be according to The Golden Ratio. Nevertheless the composition works, proving that the rule of Rule of Thirds can be bent if not broken.I was lucky not only to stumble upon a symmetric window display but from my standpoint, where I had to stand to capture symmetry, even that square tool box in the background lined up perfectly.
The open shade of the porch was flooded with diffused, soft light, therefore all the colors were saturated and there weren’t any distracting shadows or a danger of blown out highlights.The beauty of travel photography, especially when it is merged with still life photography, is that the scene is always as is, in its purity. It is up to the photographer how successfully he or she can tell a story while every small decision will effect the final photo.
Overlaying the Rule of Thirds grid, we can see how I placed the main subject – the hat – where the grid lines meet. Rule of Thirds … Rule of Thirds … Rule of Thirds is not my mantra at all, but it is clearly a choice worth considering when deciding on a composition.especially when a decision has to be made in a split second, arranging the composition according to The Golden Ratio will usually not let the photographer down. here with still life photography I had plenty of time, so I was able to make sure that the bottom of the window shutter created a parallel line with the top edge of the picture.
A circular pond in the middle of a Zen garden like Buddhist religious site was the location for hours of peaceful photography – only interrupted once for a few minutes by a culturally ignorant / insensitive Western family with kids.using a circular polarizer filter, I could have cut the glare and be able to see underwater, but I like the realism of this photo – it shows the scenery as it really was.
Overlaying the Fibonacci spiral, we can see that the flower petal on the right is in the “proper position”. The round edges of the petals and how they arranged themselves gracefully created this textbook Golden Ratio composition.
The soft, diffused light in the shade of trees was essential lighting for a Zen-like scene this delicate. There is a great tonal contrast between the dark rock and creamy white fungus flakes.The image is almost black and white, even though it is shot in color. a further black and white conversion would make this photo even more wise.
Overlaying the Fibonacci spiral, we can see how important it was and how lucky I was, that the fungus slightly curved (following the curved rock underneath). if the fungus grew in a straight line, I would have had to artificially introduce curvature or diagonal arrangement by tilting the camera to end up with a composition that is according to The Golden Ratio. but most likely that forced manipulation of angles would not have looked as natural.
Blue and yellow are on the opposite sides of the color wheel so I knew I had a good color contrast.I also liked how the diagonal cutouts of the Buddhist pagoda wall were leading the viewer’s eyes towards the main subject – the vases.This still life image was photographed as I found it, I usually consider scenarios I stumble upon during travel photography, perfect anyways – and it is up to me how I decide to capture and translate what I see. therefore yes, the leaf at the base of the large vase was already there – I could not have placed it better myself.
Overlaying the Rule of Thirds grid, we can see that I did not follow the aesthetics of The Golden Ratio – and it shows. The image is not as powerful or memorable as it could have been. I could have placed the large vase more towards the right.
There is so much to see and to photograph in Hanoi! It is a breath of fresh air to be able to isolate small gems like this figurine, out of the 360 degrees of sensory overload, a foreigner is subjected to.The soft, diffused lighting was perfect, the tiled ground and the background was also picture perfect, ready to be photographed.
Overlaying the Rule of Thirds grid, we can study the composition and discover several great lines, straight and curved. but there isn’t much to see where the grid lines intersect, making this composition not in accordance to The Golden Ratio.I am sure I tried to place the figurine as off center as possible but most likely I encountered changes in the background which made me to revert to this final composition.
Another typical travel photography moment, when a still life scene is begging to be photographed. The sun through tree leaves created a whimsical pattern of light and shadow, coupled with the mossy stone, resulting in an artistic and organic background.
Overlaying the Fibonacci spiral, we can see that the main part of the subject is placed in the composition according to The Golden Ratio. The shadow if the handle is following the curve of the Fibonacci spiral, like a sun dial would.
The prominent red, white and blue U.S.a. patriotic colors presented a fun juxtaposition on the grounds of a Buddhist pagoda. Besides the oval shapes of the plates and the bowl, all other lines are hard and straight, which was the reason I walked up to this scene.
Overlaying the Rule of Thirds grid, I would say that the composition would be stronger if the photo were cropped more tightly. Then the large bowl would be at the bottom-left grid intersection and the composition would be more in accordance with the The Golden Ratio.
Not all Vietnamese people are happily willing to be photographed especially in a tourist trap like Hanoi, so I was glad to find this willing and stoic portrait model. I do like the colors in this picture, even though the lipstick may not be age appropriate.I also like repeating shapes: the silk tie of the conical hat and the pearl necklace have the same curvature. The colorful scarves also create repeating parallel lines.
Overlaying the Rule of Thirds grid, we can see that the top grid intersections are not exactly over the eyes of the mannequin but the composition works regardless, proving that bending the Rule of Thirds will still result in a photo that is in harmony with The Golden Ratio.Not all compositions need to be mathematically perfect, here I wanted to make sure that I didn’t cut the mannequin’s torso much lower than mid chest and also wanted to include enough colored scarves above the mannequin’s hat.
Different cultures have different sensitivities as these three hanging ducks may not be the most appetizing or uplifting to many Western tourists. The two straight lines somewhat violently cut through the ducks.The number three is almost always great for street photography and the three repeating shapes of the metal rings also add to the visual harmony – which may get lost due to how the subject matter is displayed.
Overlaying the Rule of Thirds grid, we can see that the right and left ducks are not exactly under the right and left grid intersections but the composition still works therefore not completely violating The Golden Ratio.
The exception happened this day as the trend of the otherwise painfully camera shy Hmong peoples were stopped for a few minutes. I didn’t want to intrude so I took only a few photos and spent only a couple of minutes. In one corner this sewing station and the wall with the bamboo forest print seemed interesting to photograph.
Overlaying the Fibonacci spiral, we can see that the circular shape was placed in the right area of the composition. The two parts of the sewing station draw a curved line, pointing towards the circular shape, which at least for me is a point of interest as my eyes scan the photo.
15 Jan 12 Four Measures to Prevent Marquee Hire Issues
Issues with marquee hire providers are normally experienced due to negligence. when this occurs, inconvenience will definitely take place. but if you can anticipate the situation and work on it without delay, this should not be a serious challenge. Here are a few tips that can help you deal with the various marquee hire issues that may cross your path.
Get in touch with most trusted your marquee hire provider.
It is essential that you talk with your selectedmarquee hirecompany to discuss the important aspects and requirements of your occasion. this can be achieved through email or telephone call but if you desire to have an all-inclusive dialogue, visiting their location will be a more sensible action. this should be completed before the event schedule in order to avoid making rushed decisions. this can be an opportune time to personally view and explore the services that that they can deliver.
Be precise with your event requirements
There are many marquee hire companies that can grant you with what you require if you can precisely define how you want it. what type of marquee are you planning to rent? how many visitors will be present? what size and design do you prefer to use? when will this be used and exactly where do you want it to be set up? would you like to decorate it yourself? Are there any services that you wanted to acquire for your event? These are some of the queries that you have to think about before you decide on hiring a marquee. this will allow you to make a smart selection that matches the occasion.
Be there when the marquee is being established.
Themarquee hireservice team usually demonstrates the steps in using marquees properly during an event. in their absence, this will work as your guide to handle and cope with different issues with the use of a marquee. With this, it will be easier for you to get rid of small marquee problems that comes your path. this will also enable you to guide them in setting up the marquee according to your liking.
Prepare for the adverse weather conditions.
There are instances wherein you can’t avoid scheduling your celebration on a bad weather condition. the best thing you could do is to deal with it through other methods. if you cannot cease the rain from pouring, at least make sure to keep the celebration going. Prepare for unfavourable wind or rain by setting up the right flooring or heating equipment before it occurs.
With these ideas, you can successfully tackle marquee hire problems and concerns that may attempt to destroy your event.
If you are looking for Marquee Hire, you may look at ozpartyhire.com.au today!
05 Jan 12 Why You Need an HR Consultant
The human resource consultation sector is a multi billion industry. In today’s world, clients’ needs are more complex than before. a lot of firms and companies are cutting costs by outsourcing human resource firms that are able to manage and handle such matters. the role of the human resource consultant is ever changing. In addition, it has also become strategic if any company or organization is to become successful.
A human resource consultant has the work of aligning the company’s employees with the strategies of the organization. They have the task of attracting the best-qualified candidates for job openings. Many companies have lost their best employees to rival companies and competitors. In addition, they have also seen their workers resign for different reasons. a HR resource consultant has the responsibility of ensuring that this never happens. the work Brisbane HR consultants is also in leadership training for the management.
The HR consultant also advices firms on the best forms of budgeting for employee’s salaries and wages. They will articulate the differences in remuneration between employees in the same or different departments. They also regularly advice the companies on remuneration decisions pragmatically.
Employers are finding it important to compensate their employee adequately in order to keep them productive. In addition, they are also learning why it is important to keep on attracting new talent to reap maximum results. Effective remuneration for employees allows the firms to keep track of the fiscal responsibilities. In that regard, an effective human resource consultant will help the company or a firm to develop programs that cut costs but also inline with the requirements of their diverse employees.
They will help the company develop an administrative plan in funding and arrangement, executive coaching, stop-loss alternatives and set performance standards for company employees. In addition, they also manage administrative agreements and quality scoring mechanism. a human resource consultant uses HR tool kits to solve employee and management issues. most clients who utilize the services of a human resource consultant have satisfied work force, which usually translates to beer yield from efficient production.
Translator
