'Software Version Numbers: What Do They Mean and Why
Should I Care?'
Welcome to The Next Level!
This issue contains one of the best and easiest networking icebreakers yet, 10 reasons why you should use email marketing and 10 excellent ways to start a sales letter.
Our non-marketing feature is a continuation from our last issue, discussing repetitive motion injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome. This time we review prevention and proper workplace set up.
As always, your only dues for receiving The Next Level are to pass it along to anyone you think may benefit and to visit our advertisers.
Best regards,
-John M. Libonati, Editor
Want To Trade Cards?
By John Libonati
The next time you are at a networking event and need to introduce yourself, break the ice or cure a lull in conversation try the following. Smile and ask, "Want to trade cards?" They almost always respond yes. This simple question is non-threatening and powerful. It also acts as a great screener. If they say no or duck out, then you immediately know where you stand.
I gained this valuable networking tip from a speech I saw given by Matt Abelson, a sales and networking coach at Sales Alliances. mattpa06@aol.com 267-337-0337
John is a partner at Ascension Design, a full service graphic design firm outside Philadelphia. He can be reached at John@ascensiondesign.net or 215-591-1010.
10 Great Reasons to Utilize Email Marketing
By Lisa Pfleger
Permission based, or Opt-in email marketing is rapidly become a preferred direct medium among business-to-business and business-to-consumer marketers, as well as corporate communications executives. There are many reasons why this medium is quickly growing in popularity. In this article we will review ten benefits to digital direct marketing.
Interactivity - A visually stimulating HTML or Rich Media message can quickly get a recipient's attention and entice them to take action. When the prospect clicks over to a web site or micro site, the marketer has the ability to captivate them with additional details about new products or services and offer or encourage them to reply through a form or email link on the site.
Dramatically higher response rates - Opening and responding to an email is just a click away. Because of email's interactivity and ease of response, recipients are often more likely to take action. A properly designed and crafted email campaign typically delivers five to ten times the response rate of traditional direct marketing.
Cost-effectiveness - Email marketing eliminates costly printing and postage costs, which greatly reduces the impact to marketing budgets.
Immediate lead generation - You'll start receiving inquiries the same day you email. In fact with business-to-business email, you'll typically get the majority of your inquiries within the first 2-3 days.
Trackable - Learn how well your message is getting through to your audience. You have the ability to see who opened your message, who read it and on which links they took action.
Fast to implement - In a rush to announce something big? With email it's easy. There's no waiting for mail pieces to come back from the printer and delivery is almost instantaneous.
Precision timing - Need to make sure that your message is timed to hit on a specific date? Messages can be sent and received the same day.
Easy customization - To increase response rates even further, advanced customizable services offer you the ability to personalize your message with the recipient's name in the subject line and/or the body of the message. Content can also be dynamically altered based on predetermined recipient preferences.
Testing - Email provides quick reactions to different subject lines, content selections and creative designs. An organization can easily choose the most effective combination after conducting inexpensive email testing.
Privacy and Control Issues - Subscribers choose to receive email communications through an opt-in process. In addition, each email communication provides the recipient the opportunity to stop receiving further messages. These stringent steps are taken to respect the email recipient's right to opt-out, increase response rates and boost your organization's integrity.
Email marketing is not the end all, be all of marketing solutions but it is fast becoming an integral part of the essential marketing mix. When implemented correctly, email marketing assists in maximizing an organization's existing marketing initiatives.
*Lisa Pfleger is Business Development Manager at ANNODYNE iNTERACTIVE, an Email Marketing and Communications Agency in Montgomeryville, PA. Contact her at lpfleger@annodyne.com or 215.412.9449 www.annodyneinteractive.com
What Are Repetitive Motion Injuries and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
By Joanna Libonati
Tens of thousands of injuries each year are caused by repetitive motions. There are different ways injuries can happen, but they all result from stress or strain imposed on some part of the body from a task's repetitive nature. This includes typing, computer mouse use and recurring motions such as twisting, turning and grasping.
Repetitive Motion Injuries can be quite painful and become progressively worse without treatment, possibly resulting in complete loss of function in the affected area. Tingling, numbness, or pain in the affected area, and loss of flexibility or strength are common symptoms. Hands, fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders and backs are the most common areas affected.
Tendons connect the muscles to the bones. If movement is repeated too often without rest, the tendons surrounding the muscles can become inflamed and blood flow becomes restricted. When tendons become inflamed, they can press against nerves often resulting in numbness and tingling.
What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one of the most common disorders among the repetitive motion injuries. The Carpal Tunnel, at the base of the palm, is a snug canal through which tendons and nerves pass on their way through the wrist from the forearm to the hand and fingers. The nerve that passes through this narrow tunnel to reach the hand is called the median nerve. The Median nerve runs the length of the arm providing motor function to the hand and feeling to the thumb side of the hand including the first three fingers and thumb. If swelling and inflammation from overuse occurs, everything becomes compressed and the median nerve in the carpal tunnel becomes constricted or "pinched". The result is a decrease in nerve transmission to the hand causing numbness and weakness.
Causes of Repetitive Motion Injuries and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:
Repetitive Motion Injuries and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome develop slowly over time. They can be caused by:
• Long periods of steady hand movement doing tasks that are repeated over and over
• Holding the same position for a long time
• Working in an awkward position
• Forceful movements
• Not enough time to rest between repetitive tasks
Am I at Risk?
A sampling of the more common places where Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and
Repetitive Motion Injuries occur include:
• Graphic Designers from typing and using the computer mouse
• Computer Illustrators
• Programmers
• Other computer users
• Musicians
• Dental Hygienists
• Cashiers
• Work that demands repeated grasping, turning and twisting
• Some sports such as rowing, golf and tennis
What are the Symptoms?
• Weakness in hands and fingers - dropping objects
• Numbness and tingling in hands and fingers
• Burning in hands and/or wrists
• Pain in wrist sometimes feeling stiff or sprained
• Pain radiating from neck to fingertips or from fingertips to your neck
• Shooting pains from your wrist or hand to your elbow
• Numbness, tingling and sometimes shoulder pain on waking from sleep
If you are experiencing some of these symptoms, don't ignore them. Your doctor can make a proper diagnosis whether Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or Repetitive Motion Strain is the cause. Early treatment is key in preventing further damage. My next article will explore prevention and proper workplace set up.
Joanna is a partner and creative director at Ascension Design, a full
service graphic design firm outside Philadelphia. She can be reached at Joanna@ascensiondesign.net or 215-591-1010.
You decide our next issueís topics! Choose from the below list or note topics you would like to see covered and e-mail us with the word 'topic' in the subject line at editor@ascensiondesign.net.
Subjects include anything related to advertising, graphic design, marketing strategy, website development, illustration, photography and media placement.
Your input determines how our newsletter evolves. We will adapt the newsletter to your needs. Please send your comments and suggestions to editor@ascensiondesign.net. Thanks!
Glenstock at McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon
11/23 - 461 N. 3rd Street in Center City - Large, heated tent in the
parking lot. Bands will include Love Seed Mama Jump, the Collective, and Sugarfoot Farm. First band goes onstage at 1 PM. Last band concludes about 10:30 PM.
Sponsored by YoungProfessionalsUpdate.com.
Enter the Glenstock contest at YoungProfessionalsUpdate.com. http://www.ascensiondesign.net/youngpros.html
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