Let’s say you are in a field that routinely provides so-so service to customers. It could be that customer expectations are low and no one expects top notch service. Maybe most customers are simply “price sensitive” and could care less about how fast or how well you deliver. However, you can bet that there are a percentage of customers out there who appreciate service that goes above and beyond the industry standard. These same customers typically will pay a little extra for service that really serves them. If you can tap into this customer base, you can create a niche, raise your prices, and make more money in the long run.

Depending on your industry, you could command a price premium of 10-25% over the average provider. That may not sound like a lot, but it could spell the difference between eating hamburger or eating steak. I don’t know about you, but I would prefer eating steak!

Naturally, providing a high level of customer service means you will have to break a sweat. You may have to happily redo [its all in the attitude, baby!] or improve on an existing project in order to satisfy a good paying customer. This is what sets you apart from the pack.

If you are satisfied with the “status quo” then that’s okay too. Just don’t expect to have customers beat down your doors for work. At least the better customers will not!

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Build that website and perfect your online presence.

The Internet is one place where, compared to print and other forms of electronic media, the playing field is relatively level. A website filled with loads of great content will be loved by the search engines like Google and Yahoo!, and because of that, customers that may not even know where you are can find you and buy online. If you own a retail store, start an e-store. If you own a restaurant or a service-related business, offer a gift certificate or printable coupon. Starting a mailing list on your website with the latest news, events and special offers is a great way to get (and keep) loyal, regular customers. The options are endless, and best of all, content is the Internet king, not slick, flashy, repetitive advertising. If you aren’t comfortable with all things Internet, there are many companies that are, and can help you with web design, web hosting, search engine optimization, and web marketing.

Join (or start) a co-op or business association.

“Strength in Numbers” is more than a catchy phrase, it is becoming a necessity in our current business climate. Trade organizations can purchase products together to get better rates and buys, they can advertise together with direct mail coupons and newsletters (another big money saver), and they carry more political clout by appointing representatives to call on state legislatures or even Congress in order to promote legislation favorable to small independent businesses. If your area doesn’t have a trade organization, or does but you feel it doesn’t meet your needs, start one! The National Federation of Independent Business is a great resource with representatives in all fifty states and Washington D.C.

Don’t mimic Corporate America

Advertising is not cheap, because the prices that the large corporations are willing to pay for it have priced it out of the reach of most small businesses. This is not necessarily a bad thing; let them have all of the cold, impersonal, beat you over the head repetitive advertising! People only care about this on Super Bowl Sunday anyway! Always go for the personal touch. If you own a restaurant or retail store, introduce yourself. Let them know you appreciate them coming by, and you can’t wait to see them again. Always offer coupons or incentives, and be as unique, creative and memorable as you possibly can. Remember that “word of mouth” advertising is so great you can’t put a price tag on it. Put yourself in the customers shoes, and stay there! Don’t ever do what you want; do what they want. Don’t just market your business, market yourself. It leaves an impression, and with the sorry state of customer service today in most (chain) businesses, people won’t forget it!

Remember, you are an independent business because you wanted to do something new or different, so promote yourself accordingly. Here’s to you “breaking the chains” and becoming successful with your chosen endeavor.

Digital asset management or DAM for short consists of annotating, cataloging, ingesting, storing and retrieving of digital assets such as videos, photographs, animation and music using various hardware and software systems. It also refers to the archiving, backing up, downloading, exporting, grouping, maintaining, optimizing, rating and thinning of these files.

Thanks to advances in technology, a digital asset may now be available in different formats. Examples of these cold be manuscripts, plays, music, and videos that could all be created digitally and then downloaded by whoever wants it. Some sites will give this to your for free while other will require you to pay a small fee.

So companies can avoid having problems with the information being uploaded to their site, it is best for them to invest in a software technology solution that can archive, categorize and catalog these digital files. Although it will cost them a lot of time and money, doing so will assure the public that these can be safely and easily stored and retrieved whenever it is needed.

Since viruses could corrupt these files, another component of effective digital asset management is through an efficient and regular back up process. This will allow the company to retrieve those files in the event that these were lost due to an emergency or a disaster.

Aside from online businesses, there are also others who use a similar digital asset management system. These include the following brand asset management systems, these are often used by companies for marketing and sales related efforts. Examples of the data they need to store are photos, logos and marketing paraphernalia.

Then there are library asset management systems which is why schools and others use to store data. Examples of these are newspaper clippings which is an improvement from the kind that was converted into microfilm.

Perhaps one of the biggest challenges in choosing which DAM system to invest in is who will be using the system and how it works. The people you hire should be familiar with it so they can easily store the files. However, if the average Joe will upload files, does he or she have the technical level to understand that?

You should assume that this person does not know anything so you have to get a DAM system that is very user-friendly.

Is there one company out there that can provide the best all in one digital asset management system? The answer is no because it is still growing making it a work in progress. This means that digital asset management is not just about buying the right equipment but also having the right people to manage the archiving process.

In conclusion, digital asset management is important in any business that has to store vast amounts of data. Without the system, it will take some time to find files that were uploaded several months ago when those who have such a system in place will be able to see it in a matter of seconds.

What makes for effective asset management?

Asset management should be on the forefront of the strategies being adopted by any industry. However, it will be futile to speak of asset management merely on the tangible sense, since the generation of businesses nowadays relies heavily on technological systems and data maintenance. Thus, in order to be wholly effective, asset management must allow for both the hardware and software assets of the company.

Essentially, asset management must make room for the effective organization of production, facilities, transportation, and even digital assets. The budgeting, procurement, maintenance, and depreciation calculation of the fixed assets must be undertaken with value maximization and cost minimization in mind. Asset management solutions being offered to various industries nowadays have organizational modules on managing assets, human resources, materials, and softwares.

Asset management systems must provide tools for improvement on assets return and cost-cutting of asset ownership. These systems must also assist in license compliance and promote enhanced security. Especially for businesses that span different branches in different locations, a good asset management solution must have facility for assets tracking, whether these assets are physical or intangible.

The growth goals of asset management

In order for asset management to be successful, it must be able to achieve several goals. First of all, it must assist industry managers in making the best use of its assets. It must be able to pinpoint which assets need to be worked on, and which of these are just being idle. Simply put, asset management is geared towards bringing about greater value from the assets of the company, and using them to achieve more competitive performance and productivity.

Asset management tools should also be effective in the curtailment of asset ownership and the calculation of asset-related risks. It should also be able to provide for accurate inventory control and data storage. Most of all, it must engender wiser decision making where assets management is concerned, in the face of consistently shifting technology and cutthroat competition.

Why asset management is essential for organizational growth

Asset management encompasses not merely the actual physical and intangible assets of any organization, but more importantly, the effective utilization of each. This essentially means that asset management caters to various disciplines- from administration to engineering, and from production to information management.

With successful asset management, growth is imminent. Labor and production becomes efficient, downtimes on equipment and facilities are minimized, and the total cost of fixed asset ownership is significantly reduced. Solutions for better asset management are available from providers, all offering different solutions to the more specific asset-related concerns. Organizations must be able to pinpoint the areas that need to be enhanced, seek the assistance from management solution providers, and to work alongside these management tools.

Asset management growth is not a one-way street, nor is it expected to happen in a momentary tick. Asset management will continue to shift and evolve, and industry managers must be able to understand this from the beginning, to achieve the most favorable results for the entire organization.

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