Global Guru

Open Your Business to the Global Marketplace

2009-11-02T11:46:00.000-08:00

Our first article in today's newsletter states that soon, every person in the world will be part of a global small business. As we have recently seen, the world has become much more flat and small. That is, it is now much easier to connect with someone who is further than a short car ride away from you. Additionally, all around the world, more people than ever before have access to the Internet and other technological tools. So, while it has become easier to compete, there is more competition than ever before.

If there is more competition than ever before, what can you do to differentiate your business? One step your business could take is building a blog and strengthening your company's internet strategy. Through building a blog, you can prove to prospective customers that you are an expert in your industry or niche, while promoting your company on the Internet.

We have written about the many ways a blog can help your company connect with industry leaders and customers, and how they can build your company's brand. But how can you quickly, yet effectively, take advantage of that technology to integrate it into your businesses' operations?

Some of our recommendations in our webinar included setting goals for your company's blog, surveying the Internet to see the different kinds of blogs available, and using other social media sites to promote your own blog. You can learn more about all of these strategies by reading the newsletter, which can be found here.

When reading the newsletter, try to record your thoughts on the various topics. Record strategies and ideas that could help your business, and write down anything that comes to your mind. Develop strategies and a plan, and start writing.

Does Your Company Have a Blog?

2009-10-30T14:14:00.000-07:00

As we mentioned in our webinar earlier this week, blogs are now an important marketing strategy. Blogs are inexpensive, they help companies to connect with other leaders in their industry and current and prospective clients, make them a trusted leader, build your company's brand, and help with search engine optimization.

Yet, many companies, especially small businesses, do not have blogs, and they do not know of their Return on Investment. They are missing out on tremendous opportunity. In fact, a recent study concretely shows how blogs can improve a business' operations. In the study, businesses that had blogs experienced:

55% more visitors to their website
97% more links to their website
434% more indexed pages

Continue reading our blog and newsletter for more tips on how your company can build or improve its blog.

Analyzing Your Company's Supply Chain

2009-10-22T11:49:00.000-07:00

If you attended our webinar, one of the things you probably took from it was the importance of continually analyzing your company's supply chain. You cannot change what you cannot see, so you cannot make any improvements on your company's supply chain unless you really know what you are dealing with. So how do you figure out what you are dealing with?

Here are some tips on what to look for when analyzing your company's supply chain:

1. Look for problems
Obviously, if something is a big enough problem, you may not necessarily have to look for it. However, smaller problems that may fall through the cracks may be costing your company money. Go through your company's departments and ask if there are any production problems, and ask if things could be done more efficiently.

2. Look at your company's processes
Could any processes be done more efficiently with a bit of tweaking? See what it would take to achieve more efficient production. Short gains can lead to big rewards.

3. Look at your company's relationship with distributors and suppliers
Do you have a good relationship with your company's distributors and suppliers? Are your orders on time and of the highest possible quality? If not, you may want to reevaluate your company's suppliers.

4. Develop contingency plans
Does your company have contingency plans for natural disasters, international issues, logistical accidents, and changes in supply and demand? If not, think about developing plans.

5. What is your company's supply chain doing well?
You can learn from what your company is doing well in its supply chain. Analyze your company to determine what its competitive advantages are, and then see if you can use that to improve the remainder of the supply chain.

Webinar: Top 10 Tips to Build and Improve Your Company's Blog

2009-10-19T11:47:00.000-07:00

Top 10 Tips Webinar Series

Top 10 Tips to Build and Improve Your Company's Blog

Tuesday, October 27th 2:00PM – 2:45PM ET

Top Ten Tips is a series of practical, fact-based webinars using the Path To Success methodology developed at IntellaCore. The webinars are short, hard-hitting, and are always combined with a whitepaper. Each webinar breaks down an important way that a company can increase revenue, reduce costs, and become a sustainable, competitive business.

You probably know what a blog is. You may even have one for your business. But you may not be aware that blogs can enhance your company's marketing capabilities by attracting a larger audience to your company and its website. Attend this webinar to learn how to set up your company's blog, and how to start using it to effectively reach new customers and engage current customers.

This webinar will be held on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 2:00 ET. Click here to register (http://actevarsvp.com/event/a0E80000002gWnc). Please enter RCA in the Invitation Code text box.

The top ten tips you will learn about in the webinar are:

Set goals for your company's blog
Survey the Internet and other blogs
Decide on a blogging platform
Customize your company's blog
Add web analytics to the blog
Start writing
Market your company's blog
Build your blog's personality
Increase the traffic to your company's blog
Build participation on your company's blog

While there are many international experts or technology experts, we are both. IntellaCore has a unique point of view because we are positioned at the critical crossroad where very few are -- that place where the global economy meets the Internet. Based on decades of experience in both International business and Internet-based activity, Path to Success aligns technology to the business plan, internally transforms the operations of the business, and expands their market presence into new domestic, international, and virtual markets.

The Productivity Loop

2009-10-09T14:24:00.000-07:00

As we discussed in our webinar earlier this week, supply chain management is quickly becoming an important business discipline. Many companies are finding that they can study their supply chains, make improvements, and reduce costs tremendously.

The supply chain covers everything involved in moving a product or service from suppliers to customers. This process of converting raw materials into finished goods involves people, information, and resources. The goal of supply chain management is to fulfill customer demands as efficiently as possible.

However, there needs to be a shift in the way companies fundamentally view their competition. Companies no longer compete against other companies. Instead, networks compete against networks, supply chains compete against supply chains.

Take Wal-Mart as an example. It sells similar products as its competitors, yet it is more successful than its competitors. The Wal-Mart and Kmart in the same shopping complex do not compete against the each other. Instead, the supply chains of each company compete against each other. How? Wal-Mart has always focused on improving sales, cutting costs, achieving greater efficiency in distribution, and using innovative IT tools. All of these strategies allow Wal-Mart to lower prices. Additionally, the company has a bigger supply chain, with more suppliers, and then has more opportunities to bring customers into their stores. Therefore, Wal-Mart is more competitive. This example illustrates the productivity loop - lower costs, then lower prices, sell more, and then increase profits.

What is your business doing to make the supply chain more efficient? Is your company in the productivity loop?

You can see more about supply chain management in our newsletter, Intelligent World, that will be released on Monday.

Top 10 Tips to Improve Your Company's Supply Chain Management

2009-10-01T11:04:00.000-07:00

Top 10 Tips Webinar Series

Top 10 Tips to Improve Your Company's Supply Chain Management

Tuesday, October 6th 2:00PM – 2:30PM ET

Companies are always focused on cutting costs, especially now in this economy. The supply chain is one of the best places for businesses to cut costs. When taking a closer look at the supply chain, companies often find that they can improve their efficiency as well. It is not always who can reduce costs the most, but it is about who has the most flexibility when it comes to their supply chain. Attend this webinar to learn how your company can analyze its supply chain to cut costs and become more efficient.

The next Top Ten Tips webinar will be held on Tuesday, October 6th at 2:00 PM EST. The topic will be Top 10 Tips to Improve Your Company's Supply Chain Management. Click here to register. Please enter BLOG in the Invitation Code text box.

The top ten tips you will learn about in the webinar are:

Analyze your website's current traffic
Research your target audience, and develop relevant keywords
Review your website design if needed and focus on delivering relevant information to the identified audiences
Establish an online strategy
Keep the design of your website simple
Search Engine Optimize your website
Ask other relevant sites in your network to link to yours.
Try to create buzz around your products and company by using social media daily
Advertise
Add your website address to your packaged products and business cards

What Will Be the Focus of the G20 Summit?

2009-09-23T10:31:00.000-07:00

The City of Pittsburgh is making its final preparations before over 20 of the world's leaders converge on the city on Thursday and Friday. Many of the people who live and work in the city are thinking more about the travel restrictions and protests than the actual summit, or what will be discussed during the meeting. So, what will the G20 members be meeting about later this week?

The main topic that the G20 members will discuss is the worldwide economic situation, and how they can bring balance to the global economy. In a document that outlines the U.S. position on this topic, the US believes that exporters (like China, Germany, and Japan) should consume more, while countries with a lot of debt (like the US) should boost their savings. The document claims that "The world will face anemic growth if adjustments in one part of the global economy are not matched by offsetting adjustments in other parts." The US also imagines that the International Monetary Fund will have a greater hand in policy recommendations and assessments.

This kind of approach makes sense to us at IntellaCore. The world is no longer run by only a handful of large countries. Instead, as countries develop, they are gaining even footing with the once dominant countries. Many countries should be included in the solution to the problem.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to push for a larger role for developing countries in the global economy. He is also expected to restate India's position against all forms of protectionism, including trade, goods and services, and investment.

There will also be some focus on tightening financial regulations. There will be proposals to restrain bank executive pay and tightening the standards in the banking system to prevent another economic meltdown. Recently French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called to limit banker bonuses, and has actually promised to walk out of the summit if there is no agreement to cap executive pay and compensation.

But with all of this hype that we are experiencing in Pittsburgh, will anything actually come of the summit? The G20 has no real lawmaking power, so any changes that come from this summit will be the result of the lawmaking authorities for each of the countries. Some experts who have covered meetings like this in the past state that there will be a lot of self-congratulation, and the participants will say it was a great success. If any changes do come about because of this summit, don't expect anything to really start until November.

5 Easy Steps to Build a Blog for Your Business

2009-09-18T10:39:00.000-07:00

By now you have probably heard about blogs and somewhat of what they entail. What you may not know is how it can help your business. Many businesses have found that blogs are a great way to express your company's opinions, keep your company in your customers' minds, and create discussion among your readers. Blogs are a social media that can enhance your company's marketing capabilities.

Blogs can attract a larger audience to your business. When used in combination with other social media strategies, like Twitter and LinkedIn, visitors who are attracted to your products or services may be able to find your website more easily. Most blogs are constructed to offer a high degree of search engine access, creating even more chances for consumers to come across your business.

We have compiled five easy steps to start building your own blog. Read them below and start writing!

1. Set Goals for your Blog
First, you need to pick out what you are blogging about. If you do not determine what you are blogging about, your blog will soon die. Find your blog's niche and then go from there. Choose a topic you have a lot to talk about, pick something that interests you, and pick something that will further your career.

Then, you need to set goals for yourself and determine what you are trying to accomplish with your blog. Ask yourself questions like: Do I want to start a blog to complement my business, products, and services? For notoriety? To open doors to other opportunities? To help others? After you have answered these questions, develop a mission statement outlining what the blog is meant to achieve and how it will benefit your company as well as your readers.

Next, you need to create an interesting title, one that will spark curiosity in its viewers and intrigue them to click the link and read on. Humor is always the best way to catch a viewer's eye, but your title does not have to be funny as long as it remains alluring to readers. Consider the title an extension of your company's branding.

2. Decide on the Platform You Will Host Your Blog on
You will have to choose if you want your blog to be on a hosted or non-hosted platform. There are pros and cons to each. More serious bloggers use non-hosted blogs, while some less experienced bloggers use hosted blogs. With a hosted platform like Blogger or Type Pad, your blog will be housed on the platform’s server. Choose this option if you do not have a website, or if you are unsure of how to host the blog on your own website. Also, if you are a beginner, hosted blogs are definitely easier to use. On the other hand, these types of blogs usually look less professional.

A non-hosted blog, like Wordpress, is housed on your server. Use this option if you or someone in your company can easily determine how to host a blog on your website. Non-hosted blogs do give you more control over the way your blog works, but you should be comfortable with HTML, CSS, and PHP.

3. Customize Your Blog
Once you have your blog set up, you will want to begin customizing it. You definitely want your blog to be unique and stand out from other blogs in both voice and style. If you are experienced with HTML and CSS, you can probably build your own template, or build off other available templates. However, if you are a beginner, you will want to first start with a template that appeals to you.

Once you have a template, start changing it to your own specifications. You can add a new banner at the top of the page. This could be your company's logo. Change the color scheme if you would like to. And add some widgets, but not too many because you don't want to drag a reader's attention away from your content. Add your company's Twitter feed or a custom RSS newsfeed to a sidebar. And definitely add photos. Whether the pictures are of you, your business, or pictures that pertain to the content of your blog, they will catch a reader's eye and draw them in. If you are using Wordpress, install some plugins for Search Engine Optimization (SEO), social networking, and plugins that enhance the performance of the blog.

4. Add Web Analytics to Your Blog
Who is reading your blog? What are the most popular posts? How are visitors finding your blog? Web analytics can show you this. When web analytics are installed on your blog, you can see which posts are your most popular, and then write more like them to keep people coming back to your website.

You can also analyze referring links - the links on other websites that people click on to get to yours. Figure out which sites are linking to yours, and then build a relationship with those sites so they will continue to link to your site. You can also see what visitors are typing into search engines to get to your site. If there are some keyword searches that show up many times, focus on those. If there are some keywords that don't see in the results, focus on them and write more posts about them.

5. Start Writing
To start off, make an interesting first post about you and your blog. You want to catch the reader's attention, so tell a little bit about what makes your company and your blog unique and why this blog will interest them.

Once you have the first post done, start to focus on writing actual content for your blog. This may be the biggest challenge. Make sure you are writing about something that intrigues you, that way you will have more to say and will avoid the common blogger dread of getting "burned out." In order to stay true to your audience, research and be sure about your facts to maintain your blog's credibility. However, your content does not have to remain heavy and packed with pure information. Write in your own voice and provide interesting thoughts and opinions. Your readers should enjoy reading your blog, find value in it, and want to stay tuned to see what is to come.

Finally, socialize with other bloggers. Begin by fraternizing with bloggers like you. Be yourself but be warned not to give out any personal data, passwords, or even your analytics report.

The Importance of a Website

2009-09-11T09:48:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't it be great if your business were open to the world 24/7, 365 days a year? Customers could access information about your products and services, you could promote your services, you could make sales, and gather leads. You could do many of the things you do Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, without doing anything. But how could you do this?

You can easily do all of this with a website.

Websites are essential to becoming a 21st century company. Michael Dell, of Dell Computers was once quoted as saying, "Show me a business that's not on the Internet, and I'll show you a business that's out of touch with the future." Websites, along with the Internet, are the future of business. It is how businesses are reaching customers, and how customers are reaching out to businesses.

Think your business is too small to have a website? Small businesses can benefit tremendously from websites. A professional website can help a company to grow in ways that traditional marketing cannot.

Yes, customers can access a website from wherever they are - domestically, and internationally - but customers can also reach local businesses through the Internet. Many people have found businesses by going to Google and typing "city, product/service". What do prospective customers find when they type in your town and your product or service? You no longer have to rely on traditional forms of advertising to market your products and services locally.

Your company does not even have to sell products on a website. If you provide basic information about your company and your products or services, and have contact information or inquiry forms on a visible part of the website, customers will come to you.

Websites can even help your company refine its operations. You can include a Frequently Asked Questions section on your company's website that has answers to common issues with your products and services. Instead of calling your company's customer service line, customers may seek out the FAQ page first, leaving your customer service representative free to answer other calls. Additionally, you can use forms and surveys on your website for lead generation and information gathering. This would save you time from manually entering the information and actively finding leads.

Finally, and perhaps more importantly, a well-designed website can give your business a strong, professional image. A professional web presence and a unified marketing message is important, especially if your competitors already have a website. If your competitors do have a website, analyze it, and then figure out how you can make your website better.

If you have any questions about building a website, or if you have a website and would like it to make it easier for your customers and prospective customers to find, join our webinar on Tuesday, September 15th at 2:00 PM ET titled Top 10 Tips for Increasing Your Website's Visibility. You can learn more by viewing the blog post below.

You can sign up for the webinar by clicking here.

Webinar: Top 10 Tips for Increasing Your Website's Visibility

2009-09-10T14:21:00.000-07:00

Top 10 Tips Webinar Series

Top 10 Tips for Increasing Your Website's Visibility

Tuesday, September 15th 2:00PM – 2:30PM EDT

The next Top Ten Tips webinar will be held on Tuesday, September 15th at 2:00 PM EST. The topic will be Top 10 Tips for Increasing Your Website's Visibility. Click here to register. Please enter NEWSLETTER in the Invitation Code text box.

Are you using your website as a sales and marketing tool? Are your strategies effective? Join this webinar to learn tips and tricks you can use to make more customers and prospects aware of your products and services through your website.

The Top 10 Tips you will learn more about in the webinar are:

Establish an online strategy
Analyze your website's current traffic
Research your target audience, and develop relevant keywords
Review your website design if needed and focus on delivering relevant information to the identified audiences
Keep the design of your website simple
Search Engine Optimize your website
Ask other relevant sites in your network to link to yours.
Try to create buzz around your products and company by using social media daily
Advertise
Add your website address to your packaged products and business cards

Click here to join the webinar.

Join IntellaCore: Surviving and Thriving in a Flat World Economy Event

2009-09-04T12:01:00.000-07:00

The "ENTREPRENEURIAL THURSDAYS" Happy Hour Show

Live Music by City's Great Jazz/R&B Artists!
Interviews @ Musical Break with City's Leading Entrepreneurs/Innovators!
Great Business & Professional Networking!

Where: Little E's Jazz & Blues
949 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
2nd Floor above Mahoney's Restaurant
412.392.2217

Cover Charge: Only $5.00!

September 10, 2009

"Surviving & Thriving in a Flat World Economy "

Featuring Interviews with:

Michael Malloy & Ian Rudy, IntellaCore

Bernie Hockswender, I-Squared

Les Dutka, Echo International

Surviving the Recession to Become Globally Competitive

2009-08-28T09:05:00.000-07:00

In this week's newsletter, we highlight some of the things businesses are doing to survive the recession. The highlighted companies in the stories are real businesses that are implementing various strategies in order to survive these turbulent times.

The good news is that businesses have many options to improve their business. The hard part is determining which option is best for your business. Choosing the correct route will be different for every business. However, if you choose the right strategy for your business, you may be able to not only survive the recession, but also become competitive in a global economy.

Below are some of the many ways businesses can improve their business to become globally competitive:

Use the Internet
The Internet is the easiest and fastest way to reach a worldwide audience online. Because of the ubiquity of technology in the marketplace, every business should have a website and an online sales strategy.

Pay Attention to International Market Conditions and Learn to Adapt to Them
If you know what current market conditions are, and can forecast future market conditions, you can formulate better strategies for your business.

Diversify Your Business' Supply Chain
Have any of your suppliers simply not been able to supply your business with raw materials before? What did that do to your production? It is always good to have a relationship with other suppliers if a situation like this ever arises.

Enter New Markets
Whether you enter new markets domestically or internationally, you are diversifying your sources of sales. That means if one market experiences a decline in growth, your business' overall sales will not suffer. You are not "putting all of your eggs into one basket."

Focus on Customer Service
Your customers may be the most important part of your business. Focus on them, and make sure they know that you genuinely value their business.

Pay Attention to Emerging Markets
Many experts claim that emerging markets like India, China, and Brazil are going to grow faster than developed markets once the recession is over. Could your product be in demand in one of those markets?

Increase Marketing
Many companies are cutting their marketing budgets now, and consumers may notice your products because of this.

Plan for After the Recession
If you have the resources, focus on building your business to gain competitive control in your industry, or in the markets your business competes in.

Click the picture bellow to read more about these examples in the latest edition of Intelligent World.

5 Tips to Meet the Right People for Your Business

2009-08-24T11:10:00.000-07:00

Meeting the right people in your industry is a key to any business' success, especially if your business is focused on expanding. The right relationship can open new networks and channels that may be great opportunities for your business. But how do you meet the right people? Below are 5 tips to help you to get started meeting the right people for your business.

How to find the right people:
1. Networking Events - Networking events are still a great way to meet people in your region and in your industry. If you are going to a trade show, try to review the people who will be attending the trade show before you go. If you know who will be in attendance, you have a better chance of meeting the people you want to meet and of making the most of the trip. Additionally, remember to network intelligently. Distribute your business cards, and if you think the person may be able to help your business, make a genuine connection with that person.

2. Personal Recommendations - If you know that someone in your network knows someone that you are interested in talking with, ask your contact to introduce you, and possibly help to set up a meeting. Again, focus on making a genuine connection with each party you talk with.

3. Industry Associations - Look into associations within your industry to connect with people. The people you are looking for may work with or are very involved with the association, or they may simply belong to the association. If you are not already a part of an industry association, you may want to join one. Not only will they help you to network, but they will also keep you up to date on your industry, including what your competitors are doing.

4. Social Networking - You have probably heard much about social networking sites like Twitter and LinkedIn. One of the surprising things is that sites like these can help you to build a virtual network of people in your industry. Join LinkedIn and start connecting to people you already know. You may connect with other people through these connections. Join Twitter and start Tweeting about things that you think are interesting to the people you want to connect with. Start a blog and do the same thing. Try to sort through the people who are just looking to boost their follower count, and instead are actually looking to connect. Additionally, if you are going to pursue a social networking strategy, you will want to make sure that your website is easy to use - that is where contacts and consumers will go after they make the initial contact with you to learn more about you and your company.

5. Use Your Website - What results pop up when you type the name of your most popular product into a search engine like Google or Yahoo? If it is not your website, but a competitor's website, or simply a review of your product, you might want to put some attention to Search Engine Optimization (SEO). This will help to bring your website to the top of the searches. If necessary, redesign your website to make it easier for contacts and customers to understand your company and its products. If people can find your website, and can learn about your company on the website, you may not have to search for the "right people." The right people may come to you.

One important thing to remember: once you have the relationship, keep building the relationship by staying in contact. Additionally, if you do decide to develop a social networking strategy, remember that it will take a firm commitment to continue to update the Twitter stream and blogs. This content generation does not require much of your time, but it will need to be present in your mind.

The IntellaCore Experience

2009-08-21T18:42:00.000-07:00

We enjoy working with interns at IntellaCore. The interns work with us to gain experience, and we benefit from their unique perspectives. We had a few great interns with us this summer, and we thought that it might be interesting for you to read one of the interns' perspectives.

Dear readers,

I’m Lucile, a French student who is completing a summer internship at IntellaCore. To do my internship abroad, in an international company, was the best opportunity I ever had in my young life. In 3 months, I was able to use my English in a global working environment thanks to IntellaCore.

In US, internships are really considered as a job, executives trust young students who have just graduated from college. They give you the chance to have some responsibilities inside the company and they train you to become efficient with many tasks and independent.

I was so surprised the first time when an employee or my supervisor asked me: What’s your opinion? Which value could you bring to the enterprise? My first French reaction: I’m just an intern, why they need my point of view?

This way to manage people, especially for interns in France, that doesn’t exist. Who cares about the point of view of a 22-years-old girl? In France, you have to follow the boss, he’s the only one who has an opinion and you have to be agreed with him at anytime. The hierarchy is really important in my country of origin.

I learned from that: your thoughts have the power to create (both good and bad things) but sometimes when you let others know your mind that is the problem. Let’s think about it, you have grand dreams and things you want to accomplish. This is the number one killer of dreams, sometimes it is good to work on your aims silently. That means to stay positive and motivated. I need to be more confident with myself and to act as a specialist in my own field. How to sell myself? That’s the question.

A good point in US job environment is COLLABORATION; you have to work with your team and your manager to achieve a common goal. In an American company everyone is an important part, managers adapt the tasks to the employees’ strengths and capabilities, and people are more efficient with this method. They know what are your skills and your personality, so they give you a task in ad equation with that. In my opinion, I learn more like that, and when you’re ready, you have more responsibilities and you can feel free to take some initiatives. I think it’s a cultural difference; American people don’t like uncertainty so they explain to you everything and your role is so much explicit in a corporation.

More about my job at IntellaCore:

During the last past 3 months, I learn so many things on how to do business in US, to analyze different kind of markets, to work in a global environment, to improve my computing skills by using social media and software. I was able to work with the marketing team and the sales department on several projects.

Regarding my job in marketing and communications, we set up the marketing plan for the company with a calendar, we try to find the best tools to have an efficient Internet presence, we write the newsletter, the Global Guru blog. We organized several webinars (online seminars) with the CEO, Michael Malloy, it was the first time I use this tool to share some knowledge. The world changed, and businessmen don’t need to travel anymore in this global Internet economy! I translate informative documents in French for IntellaCore. An important part of my work is to find good articles in economics news focused on the businessmen’s interests. It’s a daily task, useful for me because I have to read professional articles in English and be able to do a selection, in order to post them on Twitter.

The main goal for this part of my internship was to understand exactly: Which are my company’s needs, which capabilities I can bring to them, how I can help them to succeed and give them a new point of view on their company.

Regarding my job with the sales department, I was able to work on a project for a client. How they can go into new markets: Canada and UK. For this part, my first language, French, is really useful to call resellers and distributors in Quebec. I noticed that these prospects really appreciate to talk first with someone in French. Don’t be worried, most of them speak really well English so our client and IntellaCore will be able to continue to build these relationships. It’s one of the main advantages to work with IntellaCore, they give to companies really good advices in international business and Internet technologies.

I learn a lot on how to analyze a market, how to find appropriate people in these companies, how to stay in touch with them, how to adapt my communication to their culture.

I’m sure you will be interested to know, what are the differences between working in France and in US:

Hierarchy is more important in France than in the US.
In France you never include religion, stories concerning your private life, or a sense of humor when you call a partner in a work environment, it is common in the US.
In the US it’s harder to organize an event outside the office to gather all the co-workers; they don’t like to share their private life and professional life. In France, it’s common to go out with your co-workers, to offer them some gifts for occasions and become friends with them.
In France, interns are not well treated like in US, we do the same job as a employee for free and without recognition by your boss. In US, they believe in young people like interns, and you can easily give your point of view.
American businessmen and young graduated people don’t hesitate to travel in US or abroad to find the job of their dreams, whereas French people don’t like to leave their country.
French students speak more foreign languages than American students, even if we have the reputation to not speak English with a good accent (I agree on this point…). Everybody has to learn 2 foreign languages until the High School Exam.
In France, we have more laws to protect workers from bad working conditions like a maximum working hours of 35 hours per week, which doesn’t exist in US. Americans work more than French.

Is There A Perfect Time to Expand Your Business?

2009-08-17T18:25:00.000-07:00

There may never be a perfect time to expand your business - especially if you are thing of national and international expansion - but there are always good times to expand.

You may not realize it, but now is a very good time to expand your business regionally, nationally, and internationally. For a recent example, look at Volkswagen. They previously moved into China and Latin America. Their involvement in the American economy is minimal when compared to their competitors (Ford, GM, Toyota, etc.). Because of this, VW is suffering least. They have diversified their markets, and are gaining market share.

As another example, McDonalds realized that its products are very competitive in many markets. The company knew that if the products were competitive, they should be able to expand within the markets, and become a greater competitive force. At the beginning of the year, McDonalds decided to open 1000 new stores. Once the recession hit, McDonalds focused on its efforts on their dollar menu. Because of this, McDonalds has seen its sales rise because of the low prices. The company took a look at its market, focused on the trends, and improved its products to compete effictively.

You should also consider expanding your business because chances are your competitors are thinking the same thing. In their January 2009 State of the Market: Mid Year Insights Report, the Aberdeen Group found that 43% plan to create or expand sales channels, 39% want to develop strategic partnerships, 36% are focused on developing new products and services, and 30% will try to improve brand visibility. This study shows that the recession is creating opportunities to innovate, expand, and steal marketshare. A more recent Ernst & Young survey found that 93% of small business owners are maintaining or increasing their focus on expanding into new markets. Additionally, companies that can expand during a recession while other companies are shrinking will outpace the competition and build a strong competitive advantage.

Some economists are claiming that we have reached the bottom of the economic decline and the economy is slowly on its way up again. If you have the resources, you may want to invest in your business and make your move now.

So, if you really want to expand now, what should you be doing?

Stay focused on your company’s goals, but reexamine them if you feel it is necessary - Consumer attitudes are changing. Make sure your business reexamines the marketplace for any threats or opportunities.
Invest in effective, money-saving technology
Pay attention to the people who pay you – your employees and customers
Always watch for new opportunities.

Is Your Business Ready to Expand?

2009-08-14T10:04:00.000-07:00

Last week, our webinar was focused on deciding if your business was prepared to export. During the webinar, and in the follow-up, we learned that some businesses were not exactly ready to export. Some businesses were actually afraid of exporting.

One thing companies should know is that they do not necessarily need to export to grow their business. Instead, companies can expand their business to different regions within their own country. It could be to a different state or province, or to a different area of a state or province.

And if a company does believe that they are ready to export, but they do not want to go into many different markets, or want to start out slow, try exporting to a country that is close to yours or borders yours. There may be similar languages and customs, and the transport costs would not be very high. Additionally, there may be free trade agreements in place between the countries. A good example of this would be the US and Canada, and even the US and Mexico.

If you want to expand your business, but you don't want to work on breaking into new markets, work on making the customers come to you. 21st century businesses compete regionally, nationally, and internationally, but also virtually. The Internet is a new market that many businesses are not focusing on as much as they should be. With the Internet, and with proper marketing and positioning of your company and its products, you can access many more markets than you previously would have been able to. Plus, because the technology tools are so inexpensive, you can possibly save money while reaching more people.

So, what are you doing to expand your business?

If you are interested in expanding into the virtual market, contact IntellaCore, or keep watching this blog for more information and details on future webinars.

Webinar: Top 10 Tips for Expanding Your Business into New Markets

2009-08-13T11:20:00.000-07:00

Top 10 Tips Webinar Series

Tuesday, August 18th 2:00PM – 2:30PM EDT

The challenges that come with expanding your business domestically and internationally are not as great as they once were. You no longer have to do business only within your regional box. You can easily find markets nationally and internationally that have a need for your products. Attend this webinar to learn how you can conduct market research, develop market entry strategies, evaluate prospects, and learn to communicate over distances. This webinar teaches IntellaCore's perspective that it is global, Internet economy, and as such Internet tools and activities make it easier, cheaper, and less complicated to expand your business.

The next Top Ten Tips webinar will be held on Tuesday, August 18th at 2:00 PM EST. The topic will be Top 10 Tips for Expanding Your Business into New Markets. Click here to register. Please enter BLOG in the Invitation Code text box.

The Top 10 Tips you will learn more about in the webinar are:

1. Research specific markets

2. Research regulations and fees

3. Finalize potential markets to enter

4. Develop a pricing strategy

5. Develop a localization strategy

6. Use virtual marketing to establish a presence in the new markets

7. Finalize market entry strategy

8. Find buyers and distributors, and build the relationship

9. Develop factors to consider when choosing a foreign representative or distributor

10. Strategize how to communicate with foreign companies who submit inquiries, and handle requests for information and price quotes

Click here to join the webinar.

What Should You Look for When Gathering Initial Market Intelligence?

2009-08-10T14:24:00.000-07:00

You are going to need Market Intelligence if you plan to expand your business in any way, especially if you plan to export. But how should you start? And what should you look for when gathering the Market Intelligence?

Start the process by selecting a few markets you are interested in. The markets can be domestic or international -- wherever you think your company and your products and services can do best. First, think of 8-12 markets that you think would be easy for your company to enter. Look for markets where you or someone from your organization have contacts or know the language, and markets where there is a demand for products like yours, where there are no significant barriers to entry, and where foreign competition is limited. As you gather Market Intelligence you will be able to cut those markets down to a more manageable 5-7 target markets. You can continue to cut the markets until you have the number you think you can enter.

Once you have a list of markets you are considering entering, you can start your research based on some of the below factors:

Information on customers in the market - Research things like demographics, buying habits, etc.
Culture - How does the culture vary? Will you have to change your product because of it?
Market trends - What is the outlook for the markets?
Market conditions and practices
Key differences between current markets and new markets
Competition - Are your competitors in any of the markets?
Economic Initiatives - Are there any funds that may help you in your efforts?
Industry associations in the markets - Do you belong to any industry associations that have contacts in the markets you are interested in?
Trade statistics for a market or product - Search for markets with largest and fastest growing imports of products like your company's. Also, look for the largest and fastest growing export destinations for your product - this means that there is a market for your product.
Fastest growing markets - Look for markets that are growing the fastest - there may be a demand for your products in them.
Market barriers - Research tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and import restrictions.

That is a lot of specific information to start out with. But what should you do if you do not have the resources to find that information, or if your company is not ready to start a marketing research campaign?

You can start by paying attention to the news. Watch CNN, read a newspaper, or read RSS feeds. Use whatever method would keep you best informed. Keep an eye on world events that influence your business, your current markets, and any future markets. You may find that a certain market has a problem that your products can fix, or you could learn that a new political agreement opened a new market for your company's products.

You can also consult with experts. The "experts" can be a speaker at a seminar you attend, someone at the U.S. Department of Commerce, someone in an industry association you belong to, an importer in one of your target markets, or someone who has exported a similar product. Ask to have lunch or coffee with any of these people. The worst case scenario is that they will say they are busy. In the best case scenario, they may help you enter a new market.

This blog post contained a lot of information. If you have any questions or comments, or would like to learn more about any particular topic described above, feel free to contact IntellaCore or leave a comment.

G-20 Preparations

2009-08-07T18:15:00.000-07:00

The G-20 summit is about a month and a half away, and the City of Pittsburgh is certainly preparing for the meeting. Two of the major things in the news about the summit is the focus on preparing the police force to handle situations that come with events like these, and the beautification of the city.

Although it is not being reported, we at IntellaCore hope that the business owners in Pittsburgh and other areas like Pittsburgh can realize that there is more to their business environment than their geographic region. We hope that when people see the various world leaders from the 20+ countries on the news or in the papers, they will think about expanding their business into one of those countries, or simply think about becoming globally competitive. We are now living in a flat world. The term "flat world" simply means that a company can no longer 'hide"in the hills and the valleys of its regional market. Every company operates in the global, Internet marketplace whether they operate domestically, internationally, or virtually on the Internet.

Many businesses in this region understand these ideas. In fact, within the Pittsburgh region it is estimated that international business accounts for an estimated 130,000 jobs, and almost 80 percent of the public companies in the region operate or conduct business internationally. Equally as impressive, the delegates from the G-20 nations represent 90% of global GNP, 80% of world trade (including EU intra-trade), and 2/3 of the world's population.

We hope that everyone enjoyed the webinar. We hope that you learned that International business is not as intimidating as you might have thought before. Be sure to join our next webinar if you want to learn more about international business, or if you just want to become globally competitive within your own region - the details are below.

Top 10 Tips for Expanding Your Business into New Markets
Tuesday, August 18th 2:00PM – 2:30PM EDT

Top Ten Tips is a series of practical, fact-based webinars using the Path To Success methodology developed at IntellaCore. The webinars are short, hard-hitting, and are always combined with a whitepaper. Each webinar breaks down an important way that a company can increase revenue, reduce costs, and become a sustainable, competitive business.

The challenges that come with expanding your business domestically and internationally are not as great as they once were. You no longer have to do business only within your regional box. You can easily find markets nationally and internationally that have a need for your products. Attend this webinar to learn how you can conduct market research, develop market entry strategies, evaluate prospects, and learn to communicate over distances. This webinar teaches IntellaCore's perspective that it is global, Internet economy, and as such Internet tools and activities make it easier, cheaper, and less complicated to expand your business.

Click here to join.

The Top 10 Tips you will learn more about in the webinar are:
1. Research specific markets
2. Research regulations and fees
3. Finalize potential markets to enter
4. Develop a pricing strategy
5. Develop a localization strategy
6. Use virtual marketing to establish a presence in the new markets
7. Finalize market entry strategy
8. Find buyers and distributors, and build the relationship
9. Develop factors to consider when choosing a foreign representative or distributor
10. Strategize how to communicate with foreign companies who submit inquiries, and handle requests for information and price quotes

Click here to join.

While there are many international experts or technology experts, we are both. IntellaCore has a unique point of view because we are positioned at the critical crossroad where very few are -- that place where the global economy meets the Internet. Based on decades of experience in both International business and Internet-based activity, Path to Success aligns technology to the business plan, internally transforms the operations of the business, and expands their market presence into new domestic, international, and virtual markets.

How Do You Know Your Business is Ready to Export?

2009-08-04T05:51:00.000-07:00

There are many reasons why businesses decide to begin doing business internationally. Some include increasing your company's sales and profit, making your company more competitive, reducing reliance on domestic market. It can also include reasons like expanding the business, gaining credibility for the business, or just because you desire a change for your business.

Every business is going to select at least one of these motivations. But before you make any commitments, you want to make sure that exporting fits into your business. Once you have made the decision that exporting does indeed fit into your business' mission and vision, there are several other areas of your business that you should consider. These areas include:

Management Commitment - Motivating your company's management is one of the keys to success. If your management is receptive to the idea, the whole process will be much easier for everyone involved.

Export Resources - There will be a greater demand when you are exporting. Can your company keep up with the demand and be able to produce, distribute, and sell? The benefits of exporting are substantial, but the costs and investment into exporting can be significant. Are you prepared to wait up to a year before you see any profits from your exporting activities?

Product Aspects - Could your products be competitive or be in demand internationally? If so, will you have to modify them in any way to make them more competitive?

International Market Intelligence - You will need some amount of market intelligence before you enter a market. Research health, electrical, and technical standards and cultural preferences for ideas on how you may have to adapt your products. Do any of your employees have international experience? Talk with them to see if there might be a demand in their market of expertise.

These topics above are just a brief summary of the topics we will cover in tomorrow's Top 10 Tips webinar. Click here to learn more about the webinar and to sign up for it.

Bringing Technology into Your Marketing Plan

2009-07-31T12:34:00.000-07:00

Integrating technology into your marketing plan can have positive and significant effects on your business. With the right tool and the right message, you can easily become globally competitive.

We are at a very dynamic moment in business. The economy is weak, consumer confidence is low, and a record amount of people are unemployed. Budgets are being cut and businesses are being forced to do more with less. But how? One way is to find new ways to reach out to customers. As technology continues to evolve, business and marketing change along with it. Using social media is just one way you can use a different perspective to become globally competitive.

Whether it is because of competition, or because of a need in the international markets, many companies are finding it necessary to start expanding their businesses internationally. By using the Internet, and specifically, social media, companies can break out of their regional box and find success internationally.

Even if you have no plans for your business to "go international," building technology into your marketing plan is still a good idea. People are finding ways to avoid traditional forms of advertisement. At the same time, people are using the Internet more and more. A good website, a Twitter account, and a regularly updated blog are a good start. Read Intelligent World for more examples. The point is, Bringing technology into your marketing plan can reach far more people than a radio or newspaper advertisement. If you do this correctly, you can even get more local traffic to your website.

These technology tools do not cost much money, and in some cases, they may be less expensive than traditional forms of advertisement. The biggest expenditure you will have is that of your time spent learning about social media, and starting to use it. The time and creative energy will pay off.

Below are some tips you can use to integrate social media into your business:
1. Define your target audience
2. Refine your website based on your target audience. Build one if you do not have one.
3. Make sure your message is clear.
4. Build your brand on social networking sites if it makes sense for your business.
5. Manage your online reputation.
6. Stay in contact with your customers
7. Follow up with news and trends, and take advantage of it if possible.

Read Intelligent World for more examples.

Webinar: Top 10 Tips to Decide if Your Business is Ready to Export

2009-07-30T14:05:00.000-07:00

IntellaCore has launched a webinar series to help small and mid-sized businesses. Top 10 Tips will be a twice a month series of 30 minute webinars with specific tips on how to compete and to win in today’s marketplace. Participants can download a whitepaper after the webinar dedicated to the topic of the day.

For each webinar IntellaCore will provide 10 Top Tips relating to a wide range of specific topics ranging from international business to Internet Communications Technology (ICT) that will fall into the following categories: Increasing sales and distribution, strengthening the supply chain and reducing costs, aligning technology and Internet activity to the business plan, and to creating a sustainable business in today’s market environment.

For each webinar IntellaCore will provide 10 Top Tips relating to a wide range of specific topics that will fall into the following categories: increasing sales and distribution, strengthening the supply chain and reducing costs, aligning technology and Internet activity to the business plan, and creating a sustainable business in today’s market environment.

Top Ten Tips series is a short, high-impact webinar series that offers specific recommendations and Q&A in 30 minutes.

The first Top Ten Tips webinar will be held on Tuesday, August 4th at 2:00 PM EDT. The topic will be Top 10 Tips for Deciding if Your Business is Ready to Export. Click here to register.

We all hear a lot about exporting. Today it is just not that hard, and the use of the Internet makes it easier than ever. Even thought the US economy is in shambles, other economies are growing and have a need for a variety of products and services. With 95% of world economic growth occurring outside of the USA every business most determine if it can diversify its distribution and sales efforts. Can your business benefit from exporting? Attend this webinar and you will gain valuable insight into your business, and how you can make your company sustainable, no matter what industry you are in.

The Top 10 Tips you will learn more about in the webinar are:
1. Determine why your company should export
2. Review your company's finances
3. Determine your company's scope for expansion
4. Make sure you have the staff, premises, and equipment to handle the increase in demand
5. Assemble a team to develop the exporting process
6. Set goals for the export project
7. Select the product that would sell best in an international marketplace
8. Make sure your management has expressed long-term commitment to the new business plan
9. Use your website to explore international opportunities
10. Gather initial market intelligence

Click here to register for the webinar.

What We Are Reading

2009-07-27T13:09:00.000-07:00

Everyone has an opinion about something on the Internet. People have opinions on topics from what ice cream topping they prefer to which politician they will be voting for in the next election. But many people have blogs and Twitter accounts, and there are many interesting articles published daily. There is too much content published each day to keep up with. All of the opinions can be overwhelming. Who should you pay attention to?

We decided to sort through some and find the best sources that we use that relate to business and technology. IntellaCore has put together a list of some writers we like and some magazines and newspapers that offer blogs from their writers that we find value in. We hope you can take a minute and review their blogs. Many of them offer advice and excellent tips for business and technology issues.

Chris Brogan
In this blog, Chris Brogan takes a closer look at social media and the effect is it having on popular culture and the business world.

Copyblogger
This blog helps you become a better blogger and gives tips to help you write more effectively.

Problogger
This is a blog to review if you are interested in starting your own blog. There are tips for

Global EDGE
The blog, created by International Business Center at Michigan State University, provides readers with information, insights, and learning resources on global business activities.

Harvard Business Review
The Harvard Business Review Blog is one of the top sources for business information and resources.

CNN International Business
CNN International Business' anchors and correspondents blog with the issues affecting world of business.

Freakonomics
This is one of the more interesting blogs. If you read the book "Freakonomics" and you enjoyed it, read the author's blog on the New York Times website. They claim there is a hidden side to every story, and they try to explain what that hidden side is.

Business Week
There is a lot of blogs on this page to pick from. The topics cover almost anything business related from the auto industry to management to stocks. Business week is one of the premier magazines devoted to business and management.

Global Business Perspectives
This blog's authors are series of people who write on different international topics ranging from business to cultural understanding. The blogs focus on globalization and how it affects businesses and individuals. Their writers are professional business leaders and senior managers at U.S. and international companies.

The Counterintuitive CEO
As founder and CEO of Forrester Research, George F. Colony is one of the most influential thought leaders in the world of business and technology. This blog focuses on CEOs and contains ideas, research, observations, and analysis pointed at increasing the success of CEOs.

EveryDay CIO
This blog, written by IntellaCore's CIO Ian Rudy, discusses how to take this ever changing world of technology and apply it practically to your everyday life to truly improve it and empower yourself and others to accomplish great things.

Wired - Epicenter
This blog is Wired's take on technology business news and the Silicon Valley scene. Explore Wired's other blogs for Wired's thoughts on other topics.

Information Week
This magazine is one of the best when it come to technology and information. The blogs cover many different topics such as but not limited too: cell phones, Google, cloud computing, IT issues, security, analytics, and tech stocks.

This list covers what we look to daily for interesting opinions and breaking news, but this list does not cover all of the sources we read. We will list more in the near future.

If there is a blog that you read or write, let us know and post the link in the comments.

The Changing Landscape of Business

2009-07-24T23:10:00.000-07:00

Businesses are competitive even in strong economic times, and they are especially competitive in challenging economic times. Over the past week we found many articles about how the competitive landscape is changing in several industries. As you are reading this blog, consider how your industry is changing. Are your competitors embracing new technologies or processes? What will you do to regain your company's competitive edge?

What happens when your company's suppliers begin to make their own products very similar to yours? And what can companies do when competition introduces a new product that quickly accounts for 20% of the market? Companies like Dell, IBM, Apple, and HP are about to find out.

Some companies are actually teaming up with their rivals in order to increase business. In this article, business owners - some of whom were competitors - realized a problem or a section of the market that needed to be served, they came together, and they were able to profit.

On a more global scale, and to continue the question we asked last week, the US, along with other major countries, must make the effort to stay globally competitive. Instead of promoting cutthroat competition, countries from around the world should come together to collaborate, and to make it easier for companies to collaborate across national borders. This article suggests that the US work on its public diplomacy with India by importing ideas and talent to promote innovation, especially with regards to energy and healthcare.

So, what can your business do to become more competitive today? You can focus on cutting costs. This article gives some guidance on how you can cut IT costs effectively. But what if you have already cut all of the costs you can?

You can try to increase your visibility on the web by getting involved in social media. Maybe look into a Twitter account for your business - this shows how businesses are using it to connect with their customers in a new way. Think about making a LinkedIn profile for yourself - you might be able to build your network. Use these tips for luring local traffic to your website.

When there is a new technology, take a minute to understand it, and then think about how you can use it in your business. Look at this article to learn how some companies are using trends to succeed. But remember: don't try to work every trend into your business. There are far too many to keep track of, and many may not fit with the goals of your business.

As the business landscape continues to change, it is important to take a moment out of your busy day and try better understand what is happening in the world around you. This can be physical and virtual. The world is changing at a rapid pace and you could be left behind. Some of these global trends may apply to you while others may not. It is important to understand that some of the new technology trends can make your life easier. You can try to ignore these trends, but then you will fall further behind. It is not enough to follow the trends, but you must also engage them. Even though you may not be twittering today, tomorrow you may be closing the business deal in china on Twitter.

When is it a Good Time for Your Business to Seek Help or Advice?

2009-07-21T14:22:00.000-07:00

Should you wait until your sales drop? When a competitor enters your region? When a supplier goes out of business? When you are ready to export? Or do you think you need to talk to someone when your revenue and profit are the highest in the last several years? Or is it when you have full market potential?

We have found that it is always a good time to talk to someone. However, that person does not need to be a high paid professional who will charge you for his or her time. There are groups of people who will listen to your concerns and may give you advice on your particular situation. Some of the most successful people are the ones who are not afraid to ask for help on issues or problems they are having.

A good place to start is with your local chamber of commerce, if you belong to one. The president usually has a fair amount of business experience. He or she may or may not have an answer to your specific problem, but he or she can point you towards someone who will help you. Also within your chamber of commerce, there may be other companies who are experiencing similar problems. If it is a local or regional issue that business owner could discuss his or her challenges with you, and may even team up with you to solve the issue or problem.

There are also government agencies and non-profits that may help you too. State and federal agencies, like The United States Department of Commerce and U.S. Commerce Services may be able to discuss the challenges with you. SCORE is a nonprofit that teams business owners with retired executives. The retired executives can work with you to help you solve veracity of problems. The Small Business Administration also offers help to small businesses.

Another place you can turn to are trade associations. There are thousands of them and they work with businesses within a particular industry. If you do not belong to one, you may want to look into joining one. They solve problems for the common good of their members. Some trade associations have conferences each year where members can network with others within their industry. These members may be your competitors, but they will talk with you. Your competitors may be having a problem that is affecting them and they want to learn from you how you handle the situation or what they are doing about it.

As an example of competitors working together to reach a common goal, we only have to think a few weeks back. When GM was eliminating dealerships, the closing dealerships came together to fight the process. While they were unsuccessful, they had a better chance of fighting GM together than they did by themselves. Some dealerships even combined their locations so they could stay open. These dealers combined staff, inventory, and sales. Competitors became allies and the businesses were stronger as a result.

You might even be able to talk with a friend or mentor. The person does not necessarily have to be in the same line of business as you. In fact, it may be good to talk to someone who knows nothing about your industry. They may see the situation in a different way, and help you find the solution you need.

Many of these resources are free, so you can get helpful advice without much of an investment. On the downside, because these resources have no cost associated with them, they may take up a great deal of your time. If you need immediate solutions, you might want to think about talking to a paid consultant.

There are few things to remember when asking for paid consultants help. Always ask for their fees are up front. Ask them what industries they have experience in, and always ask for references . Always read the fine print before you sign anything, and have some one else review the contract too. The consultants should be honest with you and if they can’t help you they need to tell you that. If you are talking to a consultant and they are selling you a product or service before they hear your problem, hang up the phone and look for some one else.

Can the US stay globally competitive?

2009-07-17T13:34:00.000-07:00

Pop quiz: which country was the richest in the world, had the largest military, was the center of world business and finance, had the strongest education system, was the world's center of innovation and invention, had a currency that was the world's standard of value, and had the highest standard of living?

It was England. In 1900.

One thing that the current economic conditions are telling us is that the US and US companies may not be as competitive as they need to be. Over the past few weeks we have seen stories that claim that the US is falling behind other countries in terms of innovation, like this recent article from The Economist. As it states in the article, emerging markets are making steady gains, while the US has dropped one spot. The rankings, which measure innovation through the number of patents granted and factors that help or hinder the ability to innovate, are a sign that other countries are catching up to the US. The big question is: will the US go through the same changes that England did?

Innovation and technology is one area where the United States can grow and expand. Competition is always good for the global market. Competition breeds innovation, which helps the market to continually evolve. Businesses, especially businesses in the US, need to realize that they are competing on a global front, not just domestically.

Businesses need to focus on technology and innovation in order to have sustained global competitiveness. One example of a company experiencing hardships right now is GM. We all heard the joke "Government Motors". This is because the U.S Gov. loaned them billions of dollars. We can argue back and forth if this was the correct thing to do or not, but the point was that GM failed to be competitive globally when it was facing new threats from foreign auto makers. There were many articles about the company's emergence from bankruptcy last week. Many people say that one of GM's biggest challenges is to build cars that people want to drive. The company is also competing against various foreign car companies -- companies that consumers feel more confident in. It will be interesting to see what GM is able to do against this competition.

Can GM build customer confidence and innovate in order to become more competitive in the US and throughout the world? Can other US companies focus their business on innovation to become more globally competitive?

So what can the US, and other countries that need to become more globally competitive do? As stated in one of the articles we highlight in this month's Intelligent World newsletter, the countries can develop an innovation policy. Many leading Asian nations including Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and China have explicit national innovation policies that include generous tax incentives and direct funding for innovation. These incentives could be the thing that helps the economy to recover more quickly and not become the England of 1900.

Top 10 Tips Webinar Series

2009-07-16T15:29:00.000-07:00

IntellaCore has launched a webinar series to help small and mid-sized businesses. Top 10 Tips will be a twice a month series of 30 minute webinars with specific tips on how to compete and to win in today’s marketplace. Participants can download a whitepaper after the webinar dedicated to the topic of the day.

For each webinar IntellaCore will provide 10 Top Tips relating to a wide range of specific topics ranging from international business to Internet Communications Technology (ICT) that will fall into the following categories: Increasing sales and distribution, strengthening the supply chain and reducing costs, aligning technology and Internet activity to the business plan, and to creating a sustainable business in today’s market environment.

For each webinar IntellaCore will provide 10 Top Tips relating to a wide range of specific topics that will fall into the following categories: increasing sales and distribution, strengthening the supply chain and reducing costs, aligning technology and Internet activity to the business plan, and creating a sustainable business in today’s market environment.

Top Ten Tips series is a short, high-impact webinar series that offers specific recommendations and Q&A in 30 minutes.

The first Top Ten Tips webinar will be held on Tuesday, July 21st at 2:00 PM EST. The topic will be Top 10 Tips for Deciding if Your Business is Ready to Export. Click here to register.

We all hear a lot about exporting. Today it is just not that hard, and the use of the Internet makes it easier than ever. Even thought the US economy is in shambles, other economies are growing and have a need for a variety of products and services. With 95% of world economic growth occurring outside of the USA every business most determine if it can diversify its distribution and sales efforts. Can your business benefit from exporting? Attend this webinar and you will gain valuable insight into your business, and how you can make your company sustainable, no matter what industry you are in.

The Top 10 Tips you will learn more about in the webinar are:
1. Determine why your company should export
2. Review your company's finances
3. Determine your company's scope for expansion
4. Make sure you have the staff, premises, and equipment to handle the increase in demand
5. Assemble a team to develop the exporting process
6. Set goals for the export project
7. Select the product that would sell best in an international marketplace
8. Make sure your management has expressed long-term commitment to the new business plan
9. Use your website to explore international opportunities
10. Gather initial market intelligence

What are Market Makers?

2009-07-13T14:52:00.000-07:00

One role we have at IntellaCore is that of a Market Maker. The definition of the term Market Maker is, simply, a company that "makes" markets for their products or for another company's products. That sounds simple enough, but what does it really involve?

Market Makers help companies to better penetrate existing markets and to expand into new regions or industries. With business intelligence, Market Makers provide visibility and understanding of market opportunity, competition, and the topography of the marketplace. With global networks and resources, Market Makers support and drive market entry to identify, qualify, and engage appropriate people in the various markets. IntellaCore combines this with a focus on aligning technology to the business, we assist a company to implement business appropriate ICT services and the business practices needed to properly utilize Internet and Communications Technology (ICT) to operate as a 21st century company.

In sum, Market Makers access physical infrastructure and information networks to enter regions. IntellaCore also uses an Internet presence and ICT services to create the cyber dimensions of a company's marketplace. More and more business environments are not only physical locations but a mixture with information networks and online communities.

We work with a business to access physical and information infrastructure and networks. We show them how to connect to people, ideas, and information needed to expand. We direct a company to integrate these capabilities into a powerful ability to bring greater value to their markets and their customers.

The goal is to help the company compete globally and to increase the company's ability to operate, to innovate, and to compete in order to grow and build shareholder value.

Now that you know what a Market Maker is, can you be a Market Maker for your own company?

Examples of Global Competitiveness

2009-07-10T12:02:00.000-07:00

We are at a time in history where everything is changing quickly. Of course, that could be said of any point in history as people live through it, but it really feels as if the decisions people are making today will affect many people in the future. Unemployment is high. Consumer spending is down. We are in a recession, and the timeline for recovery is questionable.

But there is hope. Many businesses are focused on becoming more competitive in their market, and on a national and international scale because they realize that the world is becoming a smaller place. Below are some examples of change helping, or forcing, companies to compete in the global, Internet economy.

Technology is changing rapidly, allowing us to connect and collaborate with ease. Even the way we connect with people is changing. Professionals are using Twitter and LinkedIn to network with others in their field. The continued spread of technology will only promote online collaboration.

A report about household broadband use highlighted the importance of the Internet in everyday life. The report claims that 640 million households will have broadband by 2013. More intriguing, the Asia-Pacific market will account for 49% of it.

Because of the changes in technology and the global economy, companies are modifying the way they do business. Some are changing because they have to. Others are changing to adapt with the change.

The New York Times asked their readers if they would be willing to pay for online content. This might be a good way to save this newspaper, and other newspapers worldwide.

There have been many articles about GM and its emergence from bankruptcy this week. Many people are saying that the hard part is actually beginning for GM now because GM has to design cars that people will want to drive, and the company's reputation could hurt it. What can GM do to compete again? Some are suggesting that GM looks to its competitors.

It might have been easier and less expensive for carmakers and newspapers to more fully understand their market and the external forces influencing them.

IBM recently looked at midsized companies and found that, around the world, midsized companies are working smarter and leaner in terms of IT. The highest-priority tech solution is information management, and the most pressing business challenges include increasing efficiency and productivity, improving customer care, and better use of information.

Also in the news this week is an article that claims that exporters of service are doing less badly than traders in goods. The article also claims that, "Nevertheless, those who sell services to rich countries do face increasing pressure to quote lower prices, and new information-technology development contracts, which are discretionary, are getting harder to come by."

Business owners should try to look into the future. This does not mean peering into a crystal ball. Instead, look at the news for trends, and imagine how they might affect your business. And then try to do something about it. Become the leader of change.

We cannot overlook the growing importance of developing countries in the global economy. Just this week, many other countries outside of the Group of 8 attended the G-8 meeting in Italy. In a global, Internet economy that is increasingly driven by developing countries, some are saying that 8 is not enough.

In another article, an economist from the World Bank claimed that low-income countries need to make small, local banks the mainstay of their financial systems. How will this affect US banks?

Gas prices are low now, but what level will they be at in the future? Could they reach $20.00 per gallon? How will that change your business?

These stories are just some of the things that we notice in the news, but you must pay attention to the news and look for things that can affect your business specifically. Is there a new law that will pass in a country in which your company does business, or is there a new regulation that will affect your company's service? If you are proactive, then the news is not as bleak.

What is Global Competitiveness?

2009-07-06T14:28:00.000-07:00

Unemployment is up, profits are down, costs are rising, and the future is uncertain. How can companies succeed in this economy? One option that companies have is to focus on becoming globally competitive.

Globally competitive companies use an extensive knowledge base, a global human network, and Internet technology to succeed against international competition (regionally, nationally, or internationally) -- without the use of significant capital investment, travel or even an international presence.

You may not have to spend much time organizing a knowledge base to make it be useful for you. In fact, you may have much of it already in place. Items in a knowledge base could be past sales data, customer survey results, information on public websites, and experts in your network. The key to using the knowledge base effectively is to ask the right questions of it.

Business owners interested in becoming globally competitive should focus on building relationships abroad with many people you come into contact with. Even if a contact cannot help you to distribute your product in their country or region, they may know someone who can help.

There is no denying that technology has spread across the globe. Because of this, technology has made the world a smaller place. With webinars, conference calling, and video conferencing, people no longer have to travel to build relationships. Additionally, once the relationships have been built and companies are working together, the businesses can easily collaborate. A business in the US can talk to a supplier in Brazil, and they can order products and resolve problems in hours instead of days. We will give real-life examples of some of these collaboration tools in the coming weeks.

It is important to remember that business owners do not need to travel or invest in physical locations to become globally competitive. As the use of Internet technology increases, a company's website is becoming its virtual storefront. Brick and mortar locations in various countries is no longer a requirement to doing business internationally.

At the same time, being globally competitive does not mean "Going global" and not focusing on your local market. Nor does it require much work to be outsourced. Instead, a globally competitive company can innovate, operate, and grow in a manner that strengthens a local business community, creates viable jobs, and brings confidence to business owners and regional leadership.

What Happens After The Recession?

2009-07-02T13:00:00.000-07:00

Much of this week's Intelligent World is focused on current international events. Many commentators and business owners are focused on what is happening right now in the global economy. And who can blame them for keeping their head down to focus on their business so they can become more competitive. But it is important to not lose sight of what will happen in the long term. How will the long-term effects of the recession affect your company? It is good to be aware of this now so you are prepared for it later.

The past decades of prosperity have made Americans consumption-oriented, possibly more so than any other nationality. We have spent more than we have taken in for some time now. This debt-to-income ratio proved to be too much for us to handle. As a result, consumer spending may decrease after the recession ends. Along with this idea, the recession has fundamentally changed the way people spend their money. It has changed their motivations and the psychology behind purchases. We will have to pay attention to consumer spending data worldwide to see how this will affect the global economy, as well as your local economy and your own business.

Remember $4.00+ gas last summer? Well, don't be surprised if gas reaches that figure again. Recently, prices have increased with even slightly positive economic news. And prices will most likely increase now that there will be more of a demand for fuel in developing countries.

And businesses in the US can also expect higher taxes. Because of the cost of the bailout, along with the funding needed for government programs like Medicare and Social Security, and the goals of the Obama administration, there is no way to pay for it all except with higher taxes.

This recession has changed people and governments around the world. It will definitely be interesting to see what changes as the economy recovers. And who knows what surprises will pop up along the way?

The G-20 Summit and Community Involvement

2009-06-29T13:32:00.000-07:00

In one of our previous blogs we wrote about the G-20 Summit that will be held in Pittsburgh this September. As we stated, Pittsburgh was chosen because the city is a model for the restructuring of the US and the global economies. Pittsburgh's economy, once based on steel and manufacturing had to change in the 1980s. Now the city's economy is focused on technology, healthcare, and robotics. Additionally, many of the new businesses and building in Pittsburgh are environmentally friendly.

Community involvement and interest has exceeded many peoples' expectations. In fact, hundreds of community members and business owners have attended several planning meetings. An IntellaCore representative attended one of these meetings and found that the community was very supportive of the summit.

Their ideas included the following:

Put welcome signs inside the airport and outside, in all foreign languages presents
Take delegations on a tour of Pittsburgh highlights
Make lobby posters to welcome all 19 countries
Downplay the sports
Promote local food and no bottle of water
Exhibition of green businesses
Opportunity for protestors to speak
A short video to present the city – in social media
Jazz concerts to highlight African American culture
Create a drama of public voice
Manufacture a yellow and black button with “I’m from Pittsburgh” for citizens
Teach what is the G20 to children and students of all age
Organize public transportation
Emphasize the medical research & role of this sector in the local economy
Promote the local economy, local companies in each event

Many of these ideas came from business owners hoping to benefit from the summit. As the conference approaches, we are hoping that there are more ideas that will benefit the Pittsburgh region as a whole. With the community's ideas, we can see that the people of Pittsburgh are recognizing that the G-20 Summit is an excellent opportunity to highlight Pittsburgh's economic opportunities for continuous growth. As the Summit approaches, we hope that Pittsburgh businesses try to move out of their regional box and into the global, Internet economy.

Do You Know What You Don't Know?

2009-06-26T14:03:00.000-07:00

So you're a regional business planning to stay regional. Should you care about doing business nationally, or even internationally? Companies must know how to break out of their regional box. Competitors, domestically and internationally are planning to enter your market. You must have a game plan to deal with these competitors.

-Did you know that 90%+ US GDP is produced by companies with fewer than 25 employees?

-In 2007, US exported $1,6 trillion worth of goods and services, a 13,1% increase and imported $ 2,3 trillion goods and services, a 6,8% increase

-10 industries most likely to be extinct in 10 years : record store, camera film manufacturing, crop dusters, phone books, newspapers, pay phones, used book stores, piggy banks, telemarketing, coin operated arcades

-More than 100 million Americans belong to groups that have an Internet presence

Do you realize that the US is no longer the leader in technology advances? The rest of the world adopts new technologies at a rate that is between 3 to 10 times greater than the US. The internet and technology can help sustain your business into the 21st Century. As technology evolves you must stay ahead of it.

-70% of the global PC sales are outside of the US

-86% of internet users are outside of the US

-The US ranks 7th in the innovation category

-The amount of new technical information is doubling in two years

The Path To Success: Many entrepreneurs ignore the above facts because they have no desire to go global. The good news is, it's not about “going global”... just focus on becoming "competitive” in this global, Internet marketplace.

Now the good news. As a business owner you can empower yourself to control your business's destiny. Every business needs three things to compete in this new borderless Internet economy:

- Information: Market data and competitive information that will provide a path to success.
- People: Connections to properly vetted individuals and strategic resources to help you compete.
- Resources: The best possible Internet Communications Technologies …the tools to compete!

By using people and resources in the correct manner to achieve maximum efficiency you can increase sales and decrease costs. Your Path to Success starts with you analyzing your business and taking the corrective actions to improve your network.

A Local Perspective of the G-20 Summit

2009-06-22T14:40:00.000-07:00

As many people know, the next G-20 summit will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in September. This summit will bring together leaders from Australia, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Japan, and Russia, among others. These countries represent 85% of the world's production and 80% of the world's trade.

Pittsburgh was chosen for the summit because the city has transformed itself from an industrial city that lost 250,000 steel-related jobs in the 1980s, to a city that embraces the health care, technology, and robotics industries, and has an unemployment rate more than a percentage point below the national average. The city's growing focus on green engineering and green technology also played a part in the decision to hold the conference in Pittsburgh. Along with being a symbol for economic recovery, Pittsburgh was recently named the United States' Most Livable City by The Economist.

IntellaCore is based in Pittsburgh, and we will be documenting the ways the conference affects this area on this blog. We know that it is a global, Internet economy, but many businesses in this area do not. We are hoping that this summit helps many business owners to realize that there is a great amount of opportunity available to them. Many local businesses have already offered their services to the planning committee. Many more will seek international business to develop their business, and to further improve the local Pittsburgh economy.

Keep reading this blog for a local perspective of the G-20 summit.

How to Improve Your Competitiveness in a Global, Internet Economy.

2009-06-19T14:14:00.000-07:00

Now that you understand that your business competes not just domestically, but internationally, virtually, and environmentally, how can you use it to your advantage? You can take this knowledge to make decisions and take action to make your business more competitive in the global, Internet economy.

We have laid out a few strategies you can easily take action on to become more competitive. These strategies are fairly easy to initiate, and they can help you to reduce costs, innovate, become environmentally sustainable, empower your company and yourself, and build your network.

Reduce Costs:
This is something every business constantly tries to achieve. But are you focused on reducing the right costs? You might want to think about looking into your supply chain management options. You could work on collaborating with your suppliers to consolidate goods into fewer shipments, reduce packaging costs, and work on simplifying your process, among other strategies.

You could also cut costs by looking at the technology you use every day. Are there any programs with monthly subscription fees that you don't really use? Are there other programs that you use, and you know there are less expensive versions available? Do you have the right collaboration tools for your workforce?

Innovate:
In stiff competition, the companies that can innovate and adapt to the ever changing business environment are the ones that succeed. One way that companies innovate is through research and development. This could be as simple as surveying your customers to understand what your company could be doing better. You may spend a bit more money in the short term, but the results will pay off well into the long-term. If you focus on improving your products and services to a point where you are better than your competitors, customers will notice.

Become Environmentally Sustainable:
Environmental sustainability is not just another buzzword. In fact, the idea will grow in importance as we realize that the world's non-renewable resources are becoming scarce. Improvements that you can undertake in your own business include starting a recycling program, and building improvements that help to cut down on your use of electricity. You can also reduce your travel by taking advantage of Internet and Communication Technology to collaborate with employees and clients.

Empower Your Company and Yourself:
Gathering market intelligence on domestic, international, virtual, and environmental markets is one of the most important things you can do to empower your business. If you know what is going on in all of the various markets you compete in, and the ones you do not compete in, you can clearly define your challenges, and devise strategies to overcome those challenges.

Additionally, you can take the time to improve yourself. No one is perfect. Attend a seminar, join a professional organization, or even take some time to read case studies pertaining to your industry. Whether you are in management, sales, or HR, there are always chances to develop professionally.

Network:
How many times have you heard that "It’s not what you know, it's who you know?" Well, that model of thinking is somewhat true, especially now. Your company does not need to own manufacturing plants or distribution centers to get products to customers. You can develop a global and virtual business network to orchestrate a network of suppliers, manufacturers, and buyers. On a smaller scale, who do you know, and how can they help you to make your network more powerful?

You can even use social media like Twitter, blogs, and LinkedIn to expand your virtual network, and make your company active in the global, internet economy. Sign up for an account, build your profile, and watch how your network grows.

Compete, Innovate, and Grow... Today

2009-06-15T13:32:00.000-07:00

Webinar: Why Your Marketplace Has Changed and What You Can to Do About It

Thursday, June 18th 2:00PM – 3:00PM EDT

Join Us for IntellaCore’s Webinar

"Path to Success"

Today you are doing business in a global, Internet economy. It is not a matter of choice. It is a fact. Learn what has happened to your current marketplace in the last three years and what you can do about it today.

This impactful, fast-paced webinar will give you the direction you need to make decisions and to take action. We will discuss how to view today's rapidly changing business environment, and you will learn how you can become more competitive in your industry.

What you will learn: How small businesses are taking advantage of today's marketplace to reduce costs and increase sales.

What you will take away from the presentation: A simple, clear understanding of how business leaders must approach their business today as well as the threats and opportunities of their marketplace.

What it means for your business: Simple, practical, steps you can take now. Empower yourself to grow your sales, to reduce your costs of business, to remove uncertainty about your marketplace, and to make your business sustainable for the future.

Please register for this free event by clicking here

There is no cost to attend this event.

For more information you may contact:
info@intellacore.com

The Importance of the 21st Century Business Perspective

2009-06-12T15:32:00.001-07:00

In the last post we explained the 21st century business perspective. This perspective is important as the business environment continually evolves.

Below are links to stories that describe how the business environment is changing today. We have divided these links into sections that relate to the domestic, international, virtual, and environmental aspects of the 21st century business perspective.

Domestic

Even though we are in a recession, some companies, like Intel, are still spending on research. NOTE: You must click on the video "Research, development and recession."

International

George Soros claims that China's economy will grow faster than people think it will. Along with that growth, China's economic influence will also increase.

Thinking about outsourcing? Do some research first. Here are the 10 Riskiest Locations for Outsourcing. Additionally, here are the 10 Safest Places for Outsourcing.

Virtual

This study claims that 46% of UK CIOs are hesitating to adopt the cloud computing concept because they don't know exactly what it is. This article states that cloud computing is going global, with researchers in Russia, South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, and China, and projects in other countries around the world. Which viewpoint do you have? Do you know what cloud computing is? Or are you part of the global group that has taken advantage of it?

Are you taking advantage of technology now? Here are 6 ways tech can help your business in the recession.

Environmental Sustainability

As more and more resources become scarce, the environmental perspective will become more and more important. Here is an article on innovating sustainably to emerge from the recession and achieve long-term growth.

Finally, it is also important to look within your company. A company cannot compete in domestically, internationally, virtually, or environmentally if it has weak leadership. Are you or your managers guilty of any of the 10 fatal flaws that derail leaders? Have you built an "innovation factory" to make your company's innovation repeatable? Do you have an open-book management style that empowers your employees to feel responsible for the success of the business?

What is a 21st Century Business Perspective?

2009-06-09T14:34:00.000-07:00

Businesses must realize that they must now operate in a 21st century business model with the perspective of a 21st century company. But what is a 21st century business perspective? A 21^st century business must operate with the perspective that it is a global, Internet economy. As a result of this, all companies must have 4 perspectives – Domestic, International, Virtual, and Environmental.

Most businesses begin life as local or regional businesses. As a result, many business models operate in a “regional box”. But, now that we are living in the 21^st century, that model is outdated. Because of globalization each company must be integrated with the Internet and technologies appropriate for each business.

If a business is not prepared to compete internationally, management should develop a game plan to achieve specific goals. At the very least, a company must know what to do if it receives a foreign, unsolicited inquiry. Additionally, companies may start to seek foreign business through a partnering model or an international sales department.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, businesses must also have a plan to sell their products online. Think of it this way – what is the first thing you do when you are researching a company to do business with? You Google the company, right? Even prospects looking for employment will Google a business before the job interview. Do you want prospective customers and employees to view your website as it is right now? Will they be able to find all of the information they need to decide to do business with your organization? A strong website is necessary in the new global, Internet economy.

Just a few caveats for businesses:

Make sure to devise a plan that makes sense for your business

Manage your growth - Don’t grow too fast too soon. Just make sure that you are able to adapt effectively.

Keep an eye on your competition.

We can use Blockbuster as an example of a company not adapting to the 21^st century business environment. Blockbuster was a billion dollar company that failed to recognize that the current business model they had would soon be outdated. When Netflix started, Blockbuster decided that Netflix was not a major threat to them. Netflix rented movies exclusively online. Blockbuster thought that their 5,500 stores could compete against a company that did not have even one physical store. Within a few years, Netflix has become the biggest movie company, surpassing Blockbuster. Netflix would eventually force Wal-Mart out of the online video rental industry as well.

Over the next several weeks we will discuss ways that companies have changed their business model to meet the demands of a global, Internet economy.

Communicate, Collaborate, and Innovate

2009-06-05T10:57:00.000-07:00

This Month's Intelligent World continues to bring you the most important information that is relevant for your business activity... today. Our research group chooses the best articles published on both global business and internet technology that will help you think about your business now. Our multimedia approach finds the best in print, video, and audio and brings it to you directly.

In this issue of Intelligent World, we have highlighted a few of the major changes happening in today’s business environment – a global, internet marketplace for every company. Technology is one of the factors driving the rapid pace of those changes. As technology advances it allows us to communicate, collaborate, and innovate with unprecedented ease.

In our past few entries we have tried to emphasize the fact that change is the only constant in the global, Internet economy. Because the Internet has accelerated the rate of change, it is not about what happened in last 10 years, about what has changed in the last 3 years.Now, even small businesses are finding markets online through company websites and social media. In fact, in a recent study, Warrillow & Co. found that 40% of small businesses used blogs in their business, and small business blog readership increased by 122%. These are numbers that small business owners need to pay attention to.

In this global, internet economy, you can watch change happen and see the world pass you by, or you can be a part of the change. Every business must realize that it is a global, internet economy. The companies that realize this and transform their operations in a way that will allow them to use technology to communicate, collaborate, and innovate will flourish in this new, dynamic environment. The companies that don’t realize this – or worse, realize it and choose to do nothing – will fail.

Some questions for business owners to consider:

Do you have an Internet presence?

How are you using technology in your business?

How do you collaborate with your company’s staff?

If you are a business owner and cannot answer all of these questions, you might want to put some thought into it before the global, Internet economy shifts again.

5 Ways Technology Has Changed the Way We Do Business

2009-06-01T13:59:00.000-07:00

In technology, it’s not about the last 10 years. It’s about the last 3 years. In the past 3 years, the rate of change in regards to technology has increased drastically. Businesses processes have changed and made organizations more efficient. At the same time, technology has opened lines of communication, allowing businesses to communicate and collaborate beyond borders with ease. Collaboration is the future of business competitiveness as companies become more innovative, connect to people better, and overall act faster in the "flattened" marketplace of today's global, internet economy.

1. Technology has made business faster
It is undeniable that technology has made business move much faster than before. Personal computers and the Internet have revolutionized the way we work. E-mail interactions have replaced memos, phone calls, and faxes. Smartphones can connect you with your entire business network while you are out of the office, allowing you to respond quickly. Workflows and automated tasking systems have cut down on organizational bureaucracy, streamlining operations. Speed, matched with technology, adds flexibility and responsiveness to interactions.

2. Technology has allowed for far-reaching collaboration
The Internet has allowed geographically dispersed teams to virtually meet from anywhere in the world. Conference calling, video conferencing, e-mail, cloud computing, Skype, and instant messaging have flattened the world. Additionally, with social networking sites like LinkedIn, businesses can connect to an even larger business network. The result is greater productivity and a wider blend of talents, abilities, and viewpoints.

3. Technology has flattened the marketplace
In the same way that technology has allowed for collaboration beyond geographical borders, technology has also reduced the barriers to entering markets around the world. This allows buyers and sellers from around the world to connect and do business. Skype, video conferencing, and online translation services help people to communicate and close deals.

4. Technology in business encourages innovation
Don’t like the way something works? Do you notice that customers have a certain need that is not being met? Do something about it. An example is Zillow, a website created by two former Microsoft employees that helps people get through the maze of real estate transactions. When they launched the site, real estate agents were initially against the idea, but now they collaborate with buyers through the website. The two noticed a need for transparency in the market. With the site, they have created a way for buyers and sellers to share information on houses for sale.

As technology advances, the prices are dropping and it becomes more user-friendly. Many people have the tools to design new and innovative software to solve common problems and improve efficiency. Additionally, technology is becoming more accessible to users all around the world, including users in developing countries. The next big thing could be in development at this moment in Rwanda.

5. Technology has changed how we connect and sell to clients
Perhaps the most important change, technology has allowed businesses to connect and sell to clients in new ways, including mass e-mails, blogs, and recently, Twitter. These tools allow businesses to stay relevant in a customer’s mind, and they help prospective customers to find new companies to do business with.

When a prospect learns of your business, the first thing they will do is Google your name. Next, they click on the link to your website to learn about you. The prospect comes to you informed about what you do and who you are. Do you have a plan to capture the business?

Can Your Business Adapt to Change?

2009-05-29T14:55:00.000-07:00

“It is not the strongest among the species that survive. Nor is it the most intelligent. It’s those that are most adaptive to change.”

(Charles Darwin)

Change seems to be the only constant in today's global, Internet economy. How can you manage it? How can you keep up with it?

One theme we have noticed recently is the growing importance of social media in a business environment. Social media is opening new avenues to contact, to engage, and to build relationships with current and new customers. In today's Intelligent World, social media is necessary for any business that wants to become a 21st century business. It is one part of how small companies can do so much more that they actually operate as a much larger company... they can "Play Big". However, social media will differ in its importance to your business depending upon what you do and what your goals are.

What is most important is to know your business vision and your objectives for the next year.
What is your marketplace currently and what new markets do you need to expand into?
What are you trying to tell the marketplace?
What is the personality of your business.. the story you are telling about yourself?
Who is your target audience and traditionally what do they pay attention to during the day?
Who is your decision maker of tomorrow, and if different than above how will you reach them?

These are the important questions to ask as you get into social media, which you should do... but which media and how fast depends on these answers.

So to end the week we provide you with the most important links to information we found this week. They are to the point and significant for you.

Also, click here to get information on how we "find the path" for companies to navigate the above questions.

Have a good weekend, take care, and let's talk soon.

Explore the links below to learn more.

Change is inevitable. Here are 7 lessons to get change right.

Is it time for your organization to blog? If not now, then soon! A recent study found that small business blog readership increased by 122%.

Is it time for your organization to Tweet? Maybe Yes... Maybe No!

For businesses that are new to social media, here are some mistakes to avoid.

Witness the power of Youtube - Domino's: How One YouTube Video Can Ruin a Brand

Here is an interesting article that claims the biggest emerging economies will recover faster than the US.

Is your business innovating? Here are some trends in innovation that are paying off for other companies.

What is Informal Learning, and why should businesses promote it? Learn here.

Google’s Wave – described by the developer as “What e-mail might look like if it were invented today” – will redefine collaboration.

It Is A Global, Internet Economy

2009-05-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

On December 31, 1999 we talked about the dawn of a new millennium, the Information Revolution, and the importance of IT.

Things have changed since then and changed fast:

The incredible speed of information exchange
The vast amount of facts we must know
The huge scale of a globalized marketplace
The unpredictable impact of the Internet on business

The immediate and daily impact of these trends on local economies means your business has changed in the last 3 years, and will keep changing again every 3 years... whether you know it or not.

Change is the one constant.

Darwin's statement holds true that it is not the most intelligent, nor the strongest that will compete and survive... it's is those who are most adaptive to change.

What is overlooked as well is that it is a global, and it is an internet, marketplace... it's both. It is not about technology or globalization; it is about their combination and interaction.

96% of the world’s consumers are outside of the U.S.
86% of Internet Users are outside of the U.S.... and growing at 10 times the rate of U.S. growth
You Tube and Skype each have virtual populations larger than Mexico, UK, and Italy combined
400 million Indian consumers will demand new housing in the next 20 years
- more real estate than the U.S. has built since the second world war
24.5 million new Chinese households will be classified as middle class by the end of 2008

Lots of folks might really be tuned into internet technology, cool web 2.0 practices, and how to use an iPhone. Many others are international experts, speak lots of languages, and talk about import/export.

But who has both perspectives? Who has combined them to see the real trends affecting real businesses in this global, Internet, economy?

Who is involved in daily and intimate conversations with business leaders and business organizations at a "grassroots", warm-blooded level around the world, to dial-in the real problems that real business leaders deal with everyday?

IntellaCore has a unique point of view, because we are positioned at the critical intersection, at the crossroads, where very few are... that place where the global economy meets the Internet and Communications Technology (ICT).It is a simple fact that every company operates and competes in a global, and an Internet, marketplace.

The answer is not to “Go Global” . The answer is to “Be Competitive” in this "Globalized Marketplace."

What are you doing to lead a competitive business successfully in the 21st century?

Do you know what you don't know?

Once you know... what are you going to do about it?

What's your game plan?

Read what a leading Business Expert observed:

"I recently spent a day speaking to more than 100 owners and managers of private businesses... The majority of the attendees were not doing well in a globalized economy...

The good news: almost all of the attendees “got it” in terms of understanding the need to re-conceptualize themselves and their business models...

The bad news: even in the face of declining results, the vast majority of the attendees have no intention of changing their behavior or their business models... they were too tired, too old, too poor, etc. to make any meaningful changes. In effect, they intend to keep drawing a salary until they are forced to shut the business down.

"Wow."

Here is another statement:

"... as the world economy becomes larger and more interconnected, many Americans feel totally disconnected. They are being flattened in this new flat world. Nowhere is this quiet desperation more pronounced than in the private business segment.... At best, America's privately owned businesses are getting only half the benefits of globalization.

"So what?" you might be asking yourself. Well, if our private companies aren't globally competitive, then they're in trouble. And if they're in trouble, we're all in trouble. Privately owned businesses generate more than 50 percent of America's gross domestic product and account for 80 percent of new jobs... we should be alarmed: Currently about 75% of owners of private businesses are not increasing the value of their firms. I'll say it again: If the private business sector fails, America fails."

-Rob Slee 2006

It's not about information. It's about collaboration.

2009-04-09T06:48:00.000-07:00

Hey, is your bank going to be around tomorrow?

Welcome to the global, internet, economy of 2009.

So assume the fetal position in the corner of your office when staff isn't looking, or get moving.

What actionable steps should business leaders take -- today -- concerning the Internet and communications technology (ICT) to grow revenue and cut costs quickly?

The Business Criteria on Technology Decisions

Every business that survives 2009-2010 will be a business that has become Globally Competitive -- Period. So get over it and get moving.

Be clear, it's not about "Going Global"!

First, it's about your backyard. Be competitive in your region or current markets; because a competitor anywhere on earth can sell in your region via the Internet or direct entry, today.

Secondly, it's about new business. Be aggressive and opportunistic to make a sale or source a new supplier anywhere, today.

Hey, is Mom and Pop running the small Chinese business wringing their hands about selling in the USA? Or are they just taking over your customers.... today.

To be globally competitive leaders must focus the business on activities that achieve 4 objectives:

Innovation
Growth
Competitiveness
Increase Shareholder Value

The criteria for your use of Internet and Communications Technology (ICT) are simple: Will it effectively and efficiently address one of these criteria?

Effectively means giving a good ROI in a short time.
Efficiently means your organization and staff can adapt the ICT service quickly to their business day.

IntellaCore's ICT approach means it's about your business and making more profit (increase revenue while reducing costs); it's NOT about cool technology for technology sake or 'keeping up with the Jones', because.... well, "because everyone else is doing this".

Here is the starting point: It's about collaboration, not information.

Everything that you consider about the Internet, and the buzz words above, should be approached from the criteria of how to increase collaboration across your enterprise.

How can staff in different units collaborate more effectively?
How can your company become truly customer oriented so that customers and prospects are engaged and "handled" across the enterprise?
How do you communicate and build better relationships with suppliers, distributors, and key "strategic partners"?

The answer is in building efficient and seemingly "personal" ways to communicate and engage all of these actors -- with the goal being that people collaborate in ways that will move your business forward to achieve its revenue and growth goals.

Intelligent World 's global team picked articles to explain why collaboration and Web 2.0 technologies are important. We will go through some of the main buzz words and provide you with simple definitions, as well as explain why they are important to collaboration in your company and your communication with the marketplace.

Read these articles with your business in mind. Our goal this month is to help you understand why technology and the Internet are important to your business and how it can help you become globally competitive.

Click here to read Intelligent World

Business Beyond Borders

Business Beyond Borders means that your business must use Internet technology effectively to increase your organization's ability to communicate and collaborate. Now your perspective shifts as a company and business can be developed wherever the opportunity presents itself -- regionally, nationally, and even internationally.

Get Additional Assistance... Today

A monthly newsletter can only do so much. What other help can you get from IntellaCore today?

1. Throughout the month Global Guru, our blog, we provide specific tips and recommendations, and will answer your questions.

2. IntellaCore has developed 2 assessment tools.

They take 2 hours of your time.
They cost $300.
In two weeks, they give you specific answers and recommendations based on your business.
You get actionable results on how to positively impact your business in two week or you get your $300 back.

The ICT Scorecard assesses your current use of Internet and Communications Technology (ICT) and what practical steps you can do now to improve your business.

The GR Scorecard assesses your current Global Readiness to identify strengths and weaknesses, to show Opportunities and Threats to your business. It states what practical steps you can do now to find new sales now, and where to reduce costs now.

3. Call us, we'll talk to you.

Anyone who is part of our Global Business Network can contact us and we will talk with them for 30 minutes, no cost, and no strings. We will answer your questions and provide guidance on your challenge based on a brief evaluation of your situation.

Learn more about what we do at IntellaCore at: www.IntellaCore.com

Understand who we are and what we stand for at: http://intellacore.com/mission.html

A Single Approach, a Single Effort, a Single Outcome.

2008-07-22T08:54:00.001-07:00

By accessing the right resources and expertise SMBs can get the information and the support that is effective. By using internet communications technology in a simple, cost effective manner, an SMB owner of a regional company can develop a single approach -- for sales and distribution, for sourcing supply and coordinating their supply chain. An owner can develop a single effort based on an awareness of the global marketplace as it affects their company, their region, and their industry.

Yes, it is that straightforward. No, it is not easy... at first. But successful business is not about easy. It’s about simplifying what others claim is complex and confusing: Know your marketplace, be decisive in gaining the advantage of your niche, take practical actions that grow the company. Now US SMB owners are in their comfort zone, in their region, and competitive in the Global Supply Chain.

Business without Borders

2008-07-14T08:33:00.000-07:00

Secondly, make decisions – with the right knowledge and understanding you can make the right decisions for your business. It’s not about your regional company launching new efforts in foreign lands; it’s about reexamining how your current regional efforts can strengthen your regional position, while expanding across the US and abroad. It’s about doing the same things you are doing now, with slight modifications, but in combination with the Internet. With the mystery removed and the Internet in play, you now make decisions in the same way you always have to grow your business.

Third, take action – appropriate action to increase your sales, reduce your costs, and grow. It is critically important to use the Internet to communicate and interact with new suppliers and buyers outside of your current regional area. Utilizing international expertise and resources from government agencies and the right kind of private sector service companies is important. With the right support -- alongside your business -- selling to California or selling to Mexico becomes the same thing as selling to Youngstown, Ohio.

Think Globally, Act Locally

2008-07-07T13:29:00.001-07:00

The Internet, inexpensive technology, and communications services are radically changing the marketplace faster than anyone can imagine, “flatting the world” as Friedman states.

This is good news for US SMBs. These trends play into our strengths. Empowered with this perspective it is important to do three things:

First, gain knowledge and understand -- Take the mystery away from the global marketplace. How is the global economy relevant to your business in your region, in your industry? The important shift in your perspective is to understand that it is about becoming globally competitive. SMB owners are overwhelmed with negative news coverage of globalization and the sole focus on exporting by many institutions. Therefore they procrastinate. They will deal with the global economy, “tomorrow”, once they are confronted with an international challenge that finally threatens their status quo.

That is too late. But businesses take this reactive, passive, approach because they have been told to “Go Global” requires spending significant money and taking on new initiatives in distant places. If they realized that they can stay local, but be globally competitive, an important shift in perspective occurs.

Welcome to the IntellaCore Global Guru

2008-03-22T16:18:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my first posting. Our purpose is to help people understand the global, internet, economy and how it is affecting them in their region.

What is going on anyway?

What can I do about it at home first?

How can I take advantage of it to expand my business and activities to a more national or international level?

I will be discussing observations and insights from the world's formost leader in assisting companies to become globally competitive, and I will be taking your questions to answer your specific challenges.

Global Guru

Open Your Business to the Global Marketplace

Does Your Company Have a Blog?

Analyzing Your Company's Supply Chain

Webinar: Top 10 Tips to Build and Improve Your Company's Blog

The Productivity Loop

Top 10 Tips to Improve Your Company's Supply Chain Management

What Will Be the Focus of the G20 Summit?

5 Easy Steps to Build a Blog for Your Business

The Importance of a Website

Webinar: Top 10 Tips for Increasing Your Website's Visibility

Join IntellaCore: Surviving and Thriving in a Flat World Economy Event

The "ENTREPRENEURIAL THURSDAYS" Happy Hour Show

Live Music by City's Great Jazz/R&B Artists!

Interviews @ Musical Break with City's Leading Entrepreneurs/Innovators!

Great Business & Professional Networking!

"Surviving & Thriving in a Flat World Economy "

Featuring Interviews with:

Surviving the Recession to Become Globally Competitive

5 Tips to Meet the Right People for Your Business

The IntellaCore Experience

Is There A Perfect Time to Expand Your Business?

Is Your Business Ready to Expand?

Webinar: Top 10 Tips for Expanding Your Business into New Markets

What Should You Look for When Gathering Initial Market Intelligence?

G-20 Preparations

How Do You Know Your Business is Ready to Export?

Bringing Technology into Your Marketing Plan

Webinar: Top 10 Tips to Decide if Your Business is Ready to Export

What We Are Reading

The Changing Landscape of Business

When is it a Good Time for Your Business to Seek Help or Advice?

Can the US stay globally competitive?

Top 10 Tips Webinar Series

What are Market Makers?

Examples of Global Competitiveness

What is Global Competitiveness?

What Happens After The Recession?

The G-20 Summit and Community Involvement

Do You Know What You Don't Know?

A Local Perspective of the G-20 Summit

How to Improve Your Competitiveness in a Global, Internet Economy.

Compete, Innovate, and Grow... Today

The Importance of the 21st Century Business Perspective

What is a 21st Century Business Perspective?

Communicate, Collaborate, and Innovate

5 Ways Technology Has Changed the Way We Do Business

Can Your Business Adapt to Change?

It Is A Global, Internet Economy

It's not about information. It's about collaboration.

A Single Approach, a Single Effort, a Single Outcome.

Business without Borders

Think Globally, Act Locally

Welcome to the IntellaCore Global Guru