I work in a small office where we work hard, 5 of us as a team, we build, develop and market websites, each area of our enterprise is kind of symbiotic, mutually supportive and generally intertwined with each other. A designer designs a site in order for the task of development to be as easy as possible, he/she also takes into consideration how the elements of the design will perform with regards to search engine optimisation and customer retention. So you see, we are a team with many disciplines working towards a common goal.
We, as an agency, make use of some of the major web players as marketing tools, we use Google, Overture and other such companies to make online marketing a more profitable process.
One of these companies, who I should not name, though I will : “Google”, makes a well appreciated effort each year in sending out Business Gifts to agency staff. In the past they have famously distributed Google radios, Computer Accessories and other such well received gifts.
Last year the search engine company decided to present marketing staff worldwide with some beautiful LCD screens. This would have been a great idea had the search engine company not taken the decision to award these most enviable gifts to only 2 members of our team. To see the two ‘marketing’ people swaggering around with their corporate gifts irked me hugely. I took this up with the search engine company immediately, I emailed complaining that their antics had caused division and resentment in our office.
Now you may wonder how a company gains global dominance in a few years, reaches a turnover of billions and sits, along with the untrendiest man on the planet, as pioneering leaders and shakers of the Internet can be trendier than sliced bread. Well the answer is this, they sent me and my other colleagues LCD Screens as Business Gifts, they saw the humour in my request and ensured that their logo made it into our hearts and Christmas stockings.
It’s that time of year again and everyone is out to impress with the best Christmas Gifts money can buy.
If you are not willing to brave the hoards of militant Christmas shoppers then maybe it’s about time you succumbed to the tranquil past time of Internet Shopping for your presents this year. There has never been a better time to do all your Christmas shopping via the web and you are bound to find a gift to suit any family member or friend, even those that are notoriously hard to buy for.
Our top tips for gift buying:
Order your Gifts Early.
Shopping on the internet means you are sometimes relying on the postal service to deliver all your precious gifts on time. Make sure you check with the website when their last delivery day for Christmas is, you don’t want to spend hours surfing all the wonderful gift websites only to have your items not arrive in time for Christmas. Try and give at least 10 days for your order to arrive, especially if it is a personalized gift.
Be aware of delivery costs
Although you will be able to pick up some great bargains on the web, remember to factor in the delivery charge. These can be anything from 1 to 5 or even more. Look for sites that offer free delivery if possible or delivery of all your items for under 2. Why pay more that it costs to send a gift?
Find an unusual gift
Now you are at your computer, cup of tea at your side, make sure you use the internet to your full advantage to find something extra special that you would never find on your local high street. This is where the internet comes into its own. Even typing the word unusual gift into your chosen search engine brings up thousands of websites and gives you the chance to surf around until you find what is right for you. Remember to compare websites that are offering the same gift, some may offer more choice while others may charge you more. The beauty of the internet is that you can purchase a really unique gift from the other end of the country, without even stepping out of your front door.
Personalize your gift
Buying a personalized gift on the internet could not be easier. They show that you have taken the time to find a gift specifically for that special someone. Personalized gifts can be anything from a personalized football book, personalized calendar and even a personalized mug. Simply type the name and message, click to buy and wait for the postman. Although personalized gifts cannot be delivered immediately, they are certainly worth the wait, many being delivered as quickly as 5 working days. Be aware of certain websites charging for personalization. Many offer a free personalization service, so start surfing.
Surprise someone
If you don’t manage to personally deliver all your Christmas presents this year you are in luck. Many gift websites gift you the option of inputting an alternative delivery address to your card’s billing address. This way you can order your gift and have it delivered directly to a friend or relative. Clever sites do not include an invoice in the packaging, you do not want your friends to know how much you have spent do you?
Finally, take your time buying your gifts
If you are patient you should be able to find the perfect gift website to suit all your needs. All budgets are covered and to save you time look for a site that sells gifts for everyone rather than just gifts for women or gifts for men. Save yourself days of trawling the shops with just a few precious hours on the internet.
Why is it that Christmas seems to creep up on you unannounced every year? No matter how well you plan and prepare for it, there are still some people in your life that are hard to find gifts for. If you want to avoid going the traditional route and resorting to socks, it pays to think about what each person is interested in before you hit the shops in search of that unique gift.
If you know anyone who is obsessed with computers, you’ll no doubt be aware of the huge range of gift ideas that are out there. The problem is that if you aren’t knowledgeable yourself you could end up buying the wrong thing, a computer game that doesn’t play on your recipient’s computer for example. So why not resort to the wide range of novelty Christmas presents available to put a smile on the face of any computer fanatic?
USB gadgets are proving extremely popular, with anything from a fan to a desktop vacuum available to plug into any standard USB port. There are so many USB toys to choose from, you are sure to find something that will appeal to the person you are buying a Christmas gift for.
The one item that all computer users find handy are mouse mats. These mats come in all shapes and sizes and they make an ideal Christmas gift if you want something fairly simple and inexpensive. Because they are small and light, they are also very cheap to post, making them a perfect choice for friends and relatives who live overseas. As with the USB gadgets, there are also plenty of different options to choose from.
While on the subject of computer mice, why not buy a mouse to remember? Most people have a plain old mouse that has seen better days, and would welcome receiving a new computer mouse that will bring a smile to their face every time they sit down at their computer. How about a bright orange mouse in the shape of a goldfish? Or perhaps a mouse in the shape of a car for the younger member of the family who has just passed their driving test? This mouse even comes with working headlights. There are plenty more to choose from, including ones with animal stripes and spots, and even one in the shape of a ghost.
The key to choosing the right gift is to give yourself plenty of time – don’t get caught in the trap of running around the shops on Christmas Eve and panicking because most of the best gifts have long since sold out. Think about the person you need to buy a gift for, and consider what other interests they have apart from computers.
In short, a little advance planning will ensure you buy the right gifts for the right people and enjoy a Christmas to remember.
This article is specifically speaking to business owners, hiring managers or recruiters that live and breathe the process of managing incoming job applicants.
Even though applicant management software doesn’t sound sexy, for businesses across the country it can make hiring far easier and more efficient. With the new job stimulus kicking into effect, many companies that were previously downsizing for the past two years will begin to fire up their hiring programs again.
This means that hiring managers and recruiters will need to get up to speed. What better way than utilizing a cutting edge Applicant Tracking solution? I’d like to list the top five reasons for your company to start utilizing applicant tracking, and what to look for in your particular solution:
1. Applicant Tracking Software loves the Internet
Many software solutions require lengthy and large downloads that can bog down your machine and time. Welcome to the era of the internet. You should never have to download software to your computer, or worst, use one of those old fashioned CD-ROM installation disks.
The great applicant tracking solutions will live completely online. This will make it far easier to manage across multiple hiring managers and recruiters. It will also boost productivity. Recruiters can log in at work, at home, on the road, at the airport or on vacation (if they are really devoted). Pretty much anywhere they have online access, which today consists of a large portion of the modernized world.
2. Applicant Tracking Software is EEOC Compliant
Running a business often involves loads of paperwork and filings to Uncle Sam. One of those important and stressful filings is to the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission), if your has over 100 employees. This can be a laborious process to keep track of the necessary data for submission. Luckily, the state of the art hiring software should possess the features to keep your EEOC compliance up to date, and ready to go when the time comes.
3. Applicant Tracking Software has the Right Stuff
More features aren’t always better. In fact, a product with a bevy of useless features can hinder an efficient hiring process by distracting your hiring managers. Make sure your hiring solution has the important features that will make it cheaper and easier for the end goal of hiring people. Tools that allow recruiters to collaborate, inform, and recruit are always more successful.
4. Applicant Tracking Software is Easy
This one is simple. The initial stages of product use is an indicator of what the entire process will be like. If the software is easy to access and set up, it probably will be easy to use throughout. The best applicant management solutions will be a breeze.
5. Applicant Tracking Software should say ‘Thank You’
Sure, applicant tracking is all about getting the right talent in place with the end goal of making a hire. Very often, those applicants that don’t get the job are thrown to the wayside, forgotten and left hanging, even during the holiday season. A good Applicant Management solution (in the sense Santa would define) should have the ability to automate ‘Thank You Letters’ to let those that didn’t get the job know its time to move on, and perhaps even wish them a Merry Christmas.
Each year around this same time it happens. We embark on that quest to find the perfect Christmas gift. Something a little less bland. Something a little more unique.
Make your quest a little easier this year by giving a digital gift.
And don’t let the name fool you. While the term “digital gift” doesn’t exactly inspire visions of Christmas day delight, a digital gift could just be the most imaginative present you give this year.
But what exactly is a digital gift?
A digital gift is a product like an ebook, a video, or a software program. You typically buy it from an online Web site, and it is immediately available after your purchase for downloading to your computer.
Perhaps you’ve never before thought of giving this kind of gift, because it’s not something that you can physically hold in your hands. It just doesn’t seem real enough.
But that’s exactly what makes it so unique. It’s a gift that embodies the essence of our modern Internet age a lifestyle boldly seasoned with electronic belongings.
And the range of ideas for a digital gift goes on and on:
- For that budding chef you might consider a recipe book of healthy Chinese food.
- Golf enthusiasts might enjoy an ebook and video instructional set about how to improve their golf swing.
- Perhaps the techie on your list could use a year’s worth of quality Web site hosting.
- The exercise buff would undoubtedly appreciate in-depth information about how to develop chiseled abdominal muscles.
Of course after you purchase a digital gift, the question becomes, How do you wrap the thing? After all, the first “thing” you receive after you purchase a digital gift is an email describing how to download or access your purchase. And then the “things” you download are usually a set of computer files. What kind of wrapping paper could you possibly use for that?
This is where giving a digital gift can get really fun.
One idea is to include the download instructions in a Christmas eCard. Arrange for the eCard to be delivered on Christmas day. Imagine the puzzled look on your loved one’s face as he or she tries to figure out what the eCard instructions are all about.
Or you could burn the computer files to a CD. Then, wrap the CD in a big box, one about the size that would be needed if the digital gift were actual physical books and/or videos.
My personal favorite method is to purchase a USB flash drive (or thumb drive) and copy all of the computer files onto it. To do this, carefully cut a small slit in the thumb drive packaging. Then, without damaging the packaging, remove the drive and copy your files. When that’s done, carefully slip the drive back into the packaging and wrap it up.
Just imagine the fun you’ll have watching the gift recipient try to drum up enthusiasm for the gift of a thumb drive. Think about how you’ll enjoy dropping hints as you lead the gift recipient to the realization that the actual present is what’s contained on the drive.
So give a gift that’s sure to be unlike anything the special people on your list have ever received before. It’s an out of the ordinary present that will spice up your gift giving. What could be more unique?
