While anyone can publish online to a website, a small business, with a customer base that's local, and that's often not looking for that businesses story details activity; this sort of business would be wasting time and money with only an online presence.
So then, how do we reach the customers?
Press releases through the local newspaper. Have an event and promote the event, but include a large dollop of background about the business, the people who work there, perhaps the unique location and the historical significance of the building. Any information and background that will catch the readers eye, giving them a greater appreciation for the business itself. Don't forget to include the values and reasons for the existence of your business; anything that matters, and that will help to create a bond with the customers. A press release costs only some time to create. If published, it may reach a significant percentage of your community, your customer base.
Sales Flyers. Go ahead and promote the products and services that you wish to present to the community, but reserve a half page to say something about your values, what your business aspires to provide or solve for the greater good, that sort of thing. Only speak the truth. What drives you? Where is your passion, your reason for being? Give the customer a strong sense of who you are, and why they ought to do business with you.
Window Display. Why not? If you have a window, clean it, and post a welcome sign with a paragraph or two about the business and its people.
Business Cards that direct attention to a website with information that matters to your customers. This could be technical information. Maps or directions. PDF files that help the customer to use your products. Details about government regulations perhaps. Include your story on the website, include a PDF with a long version of the story if there is one. Include pictures – lots of them if possible.
Get ready to explain who you are, and what you do. You will use this planned information over-and-over.
Notice the four ways a story teller might tell their story, and why only the last should be used. Also, please play attention to telling just one aspect of the story at any one time, and why that's important.
Author PO'BPosted on January 7, 2018 January 6, 2018 Categories Telling the StoryTags Customers, Sales, Small Business, story, VideoLeave a comment on What Is Business Storytelling?
Maybe this will help with visualization of storytelling for your company.
Passionate commitment to your values and relentless attention to details can have its rewards. But tell the story! Being great doesn't matter if you are unknown to those that care.
My wife and I are currently doing some remodeling. We recently had a series of bad experiences at one of the big box retailers. Ultimately, to resolve our problems with the retailer we traveled between three of their stores. I don't want to waste my readers time on a rant about the experience, but what we noticed is that the service experience was bad in all three locations. There is something to learn from that.
Most of the problems had to do with the bad information. Items that were supposedly in inventory simply were not there. Bad inventory records. It's the end of the year and I'll bet they take inventory just now and may correct the records shortly. Nevertheless, it was the prime issue.
The customer service people involved were not really helpful. I'd say they were overworked, but we also noticed that many of the customer service personnel were talking with each other, wandering about, and just seemed underused and perhaps trying to find information. It makes me wonder about the record keeping and the software being used.
The items we needed were not available in one location in sufficient quantity to complete our project. The project is not overly large. The items were simply not stocked in sufficient quantities for an average project.
What does all this matter?
As an opportunity, these big box retailers are dropping the ball and giving others an opportunity to satisfy the customer demand. The demand is for the products needed, and it is in sufficient quantities to complete the work. Also, there is demand for reasonably good communications and customer service. It's just too hard to do business with a group of persons who are not engaged and haven't the tools, or the will to help.
Almost everyone has experienced this sort of treatment in one of these big box stores. Service and support are non-existent. Can your business capitalize on this? Maybe you don't have the size to compete on all fronts with these guys, but perhaps you are simply better at one or more things. Isn't that what you want to tell the customer base?
Beat them on your terms and tell the world about it.


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Tuition 2018 FAQ
The University plans to recommend to its Board of Governors an increase in tuition in accordance with new government legislation. Here are some frequently asked questions, and their answers.
What programs will see a change in tuition?
The proposed tuition increase, if approved, would apply across all faculties and will affect domestic and international students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs. The changes would come into effect for the 2018 Fall Term. Although tuition is increasing, it will be kept in check so that Manitoba still offers the lowest post-secondary tuition in Western Canada.
What are the new tuition fees for domestic and international students?
As an example of what a 6.6 per cent tuition increase translates to for an average domestic Faculty of Science undergraduate student taking a full course load (30 credit hours), the student will see tuition increase by $257 per year, from $3,897 to $4,154. It works out to about $26 more per 3-credit-hour course. The projected increase in tuition for an international student in the Faculty of Science, for example, is approximately $992 per year, an increase from $15,036 to $16,028. Even with this increase, international students will continue to pay less to study in Manitoba, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, than they do in almost any other province in the country, and domestic students will continue to pay some of the lowest tuition rates in Canada.
How is the new rate calculated?
The provincial government amended the Advanced Education Administration Act (the Act). The Act now allows Manitoba's post-secondary sector to increase tuition by 5 per cent plus the current Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is similar to inflation. CPI is currently 1.6 per cent so the maximum allowable tuition increase is 6.6 per cent. Since 2012, tuition increases had to match the annual inflation rate, and for the 12 years prior it was frozen.
How are decisions to change tuition rates made?
Post-secondary education tuition rates are regulated through policy set by the Minister of Education. In November 2017, the Manitoba legislature passed Bill 31, an amendment to the Advanced Education Administration Act. The amendment allows Manitoba's post-secondary institutions to increase tuition by 5 per cent plus the current Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is similar to the inflation rate. CPI is currently calculated as 1.6 per cent.
What other fees are changing?
Course-related fees are those that students pay for materials that facilitate instruction or support their studies, such as lab or co-op fees. These fees are approved after careful deliberation, and they often vary across faculties due to a variety of circumstances, so there is no single answer to this question. There are also unit-specific course fees, which are assessed and administered by faculties and departments. The University of Manitoba Students' Union also administers its own fees, which are subject to change by its members' voting. More information on fees can be found here.
Does my tuition cover my program costs in full?
Tuition fees do not cover the full cost of academic programs, which are primarily subsidized from provincial operating funds. In looking at tuition fees as a percentage of total program costs, tuition fees for the Faculty of Science, for instance, cover just under 40 per cent of the total costs, according to Office of Institutional Analysis.
Are more scholarships or bursaries available as a result of this increase? How do I apply?
The University annually disburses more than $17 million in scholarships and bursaries to students and this number is growing: To date, 573 new scholarships, bursaries and fellowships have been established as a result of funds raised through the Front and Centre campaign, which is raising millions of dollars for financial assistance to support undergraduate and graduate students.
Many current financial awards currently go unclaimed and students are encouraged to search the awards database to see what they are eligible to apply for.
The University will continue to provide student aid—and where possible increase it—to ensure students requiring financial assistance receive it. More information is available from the office of Financial Aid and Awards.
The University recognizes that any increase in tuition can present challenges for students, but we are confident that we have mechanisms in place to assist those students. Aside from the financial supports in place, the University of Manitoba also offers other programs such as an on-campus work-study program, and emergency loans. The University of Manitoba is committed to maintaining its tradition as an accessible and affordable university.
I have an unpaid balance on my account, will this change? Is this increase retroactive?
Charges posted to accounts prior to the increase will not be affected by the tuition rate change.
Can I pay my tuition before the increase comes into effect?
You cannot avoid the increase by paying early. Fee increases are based on an upcoming term and will be reflected in your student account when you register for courses in that term.
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Get Hired! Week of January 30, 2023
Are you looking for work, trying to get that first job, or want to gain experience in your field of study? You won't want to miss the weekly edition of Get Hired, by Career Services!
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Get to Know UM's Student Support services
Being in university is a time of new beginnings, challenging experiences and life-changing events. Explore the student support systems in place to help: Student Counselling Centre; Sexual Violence Resource Centre.
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Everything you need to know about UMConnect, the University's Experiential Learning Platform
If you are a new or returning student, UM has tools available to help as you continue your educational journey and as you develop your career. One of these essential tools is UMConnect, the university's platform for experiential learning.
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U.S. drone kills 5 al-Qaeda operatives in South Yemen
By Dr. Ashraf Ramelah| 2012-03-31T19:25:11+00:00 March 31st, 2012|News|
Al-Qaeda has strengthened its hold on southern areas of the Arabian Peninsula country during the past year of protests against veteran ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh, who left office in February.
In U-turn, Egypt's Brotherhood names presidential candidate
The Brotherhood said it changed tack after reviewing other candidates in the race and after parliament, where its Freedom and Justice Party controls the biggest bloc
Turkey passes school reform law viewed by critics as Islamic
By Dr. Ashraf Ramelah| 2012-03-31T18:14:13+00:00 March 31st, 2012|Reports|
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan sent shudders through the secular opposition earlier this year when he said his goal was to raise a "religious youth." Earlier this month, his AK Party sprang the surprise proposal to overhaul the education system.
In Toulouse suburb, 'scooter killer' is considered 'one of us'
The self-styled Islamist militant tore a wound in France's fragile sense of community when he gunned down the soldiers, sons of North African immigrant families like his own, and then a rabbi and three Jewish children - all in the name of al-Qaeda.
Iran Supplying Weapons to Gaza, but Not to Hamas
Iran is still supplying weapons to Gaza, but they are intended for groups other than Hamas, according to the Israel Defense website.
Syria's Anti-Israel, So We'll Defend It
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei tells Turkish PM Erdogan: Iran will defend the Syrian regime due to its anti-Israeli stance.
Egypt's Islamists Prepare No-Confidence Motion
By Dr. Ashraf Ramelah| 2012-03-30T20:22:00+00:00 March 30th, 2012|News|
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood-led parliament begins drawing up a no-confidence motion against the military-appointed government .
Land Day Riot in Bethlehem
Soldiers in a watchtower in Bethlehem caught Arab rioters hurling stones and firebombs at their position on video.
French police arrest 20 suspected Islamists in dawn raids
The arrests in Toulouse in the southwest, Nantes and Le Mans in western France, and in the Paris region, were carried out by mostly by DCRI domestic intelligence agency, with the national police's elite RAID unit providing support in some cases
As Expected – Land Day Turns Violent
Masked rioters attacked IDF troops at Kalandia as a part of Land Day protests; tear gas, high-frequency sound, and 'skunk' spay employed.


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People need assistance to access government services and schemes
Long road to Smartpur could be made much shorter ?
Published: Sep. 01, 2018
Updated: Sep. 25, 2018
People often ask us why we at the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) are trying to impart digital literacy or create wi-fi hubs in villages when poor people need food, shelter and clothing.
The answer is very clear. Internet is not the end goal for us. It is merely a means to achieve the end goal. Allow us to illustrate. For a simple photocopy, we urban dwellers will find a service a few steps from our homes at Rs 1 per page. A poor person living in a remote village will, however, pay `240 for one page. If that surprises you, let us explain.
Imagine there is a man named Shivam who lives in a remote village in Rajasthan. He wants to apply for a government scheme. But he has to submit a copy of his government ID to avail of the scheme. To travel to the nearest village or town that has a photocopying service, Shivam will have to skip a day's work and forego his wages of `200. He will also need to pay about `0 for a two-way ride to reach this village or town. Given the low demand for photocopying services and the high cost of the machine, the shopkeeper, in all likelihood, will charge him between `5 to `10 per page.
As public distribution shops across the country become biometric-dependent, they need functional Internet connections to match the thumb impressions of their customers with the one stored on the cloud. Financial services, too, depend on an Internet connection. Banks require the Internet to connect with their servers and cloud to assess their data, ATMs require the Internet and eWallets need mobile Internet.
Digital tools and technology are critical for our marginalised communities. Today, all government schemes are available online and require an Internet connection for people to be able to apply.
And the onus of making this basic infrastructure available to the masses lies with the government.
It is the government alone that has the resources to implement an initiative that can envelope the entire country.
India is a country of great paradoxes. This nation has contributed 101 Indians to the Forbes list of the world's billionaires. But more than 260 million Indians live below the poverty line. Officially, India has a literacy rate of 74.07 percent. But about 50 percent of Class 5 students cannot read texts meant for junior classes. Facebook has the highest number of users in India at over 240 million. But only 30 percent of Indians have access to the Internet. India is a country where one billion SIM cards are in use, yet, ironically, 72 percent of women don't have access to mobile phones.
In the past 71 years, subsequent governments have launched plans, policies, schemes and programmes to develop India and its people. There have been efforts in sectors like health, education, governance, finance and livelihood. Alongside, efforts have been made to provide access to digital infrastructure, most recently through the ambitious Digital India plan.
However, India is not known for effectively implementing its plans, policies, schemes and programmes. It is often hampered by population, geography, efficiency, corruption, information dissemination, budget allocation and other factors.
These challenges are being faced by the National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM) and the National Optic Fibre Network (NOFN) or BharatNet. The two government-driven programmes are the foundation of the Digital India vision, and so their importance and the need to ensure their effective and efficient roll-out can't be stressed enough.
More and more services and opportunities, both public and private, are going online and getting an impetus with the push for a Digital India. It is, therefore, imperative that people have access to digital tools and technologies, know how to use them and are able to leverage the opportunities that the Internet holds for everyone.
The mission of the government-driven NDLM is to provide digital literacy to every Indian. To promote the adoption of Digital India, the government revamped the NDLM in 2016 when it raised its goal to reaching 60 million individuals. Implementing partners began working day and night to meet this target but they did not all share the government's vision.
While the intention of the NDLM and the plan to scale up is correct, its approach isn't. Had the government taken an institutional approach to digital literacy rather than randomly training any 60 million individuals in rural India, the outcomes would have had greater impact and created a ripple effect.
To get a perspective, imagine these scenarios. Had the government trained teachers in digital literacy across India's 1.4 million government schools, the teachers, in turn, would have been
able to train 227 million students and build digital capacities.
An institutionally targeted approach would have helped make our government officials, representatives, schoolteachers, frontline health workers, civil society representatives, the farming community and other institutional members digitally literate. They could then have used this knowledge to bring in efficiency and transparency in the public service delivery system and, at the same time, shared their knowledge with others. This would not only have created a pool of digitally literate individuals and institutions but also incentivised the penetration and adoption of digital tools and technology, thus creating a cascading effect.
We need to understand that merely meeting targets is not enough. If we chase numbers then the outcome will resemble our literacy standards where official literacy rates are far higher than functional literacy rates. Further, digital literacy will be of value if people have access to digital tools and technologies. What purpose will digital literacy serve if people can't use those skills in their homes or workplaces?
Given India's economic demographics, large population and vast geographies, there is dire need for low-cost, democratised and decentralised Internet connectivity. While the cost of mobile phones has come down significantly over the years, a large population still can't afford a feature phone, let alone a smartphone. Then there is the additional cost of an Internet connection. While Reliance Jio has changed that scenario considerably, there are still thousands of villages that lie in the dark regions of the telecom ecosystem.
BharatNet was supposed to dispel this darkness by providing broadband connectivity at 100 MBPS to 250,000 village panchayats. Previously known as NOFN (National Optical Fibre Network), BharatNet is a government project aimed at providing last-mile connectivity by extending fibre option from the block level to the village panchayats.
A special purpose vehicle, Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), was set up to implement and coordinate the project. This connectivity would have enabled timely, relevant and affordable access to welfare schemes and public information, which would have empowered and helped marginalised communities to develop.
BharatNet was originally supposed to meet its target for Phase I in 2014. It was extended to 2016. Since then, India has missed several deadlines, NOFN has earned a new name and millions of taxpayers' money has not been made accountable.
At the end of last year, the government finally declared completion of Phase I of BharatNet, making optic fibre cable allegedly available to 100,000 panchayats. However, when DEF's research team did a spot check of 269 of these gram panchayats across 13 states, the results were disappointing. Only 18.6 percent (50 locations) of the 269 gram panchayats had BBNL devices installed and 11.5 percent (31 locations) had a 'functional but slow' Internet connection.
This clearly meant that optic fibre cable has been laid, devices have been installed, and laptops have been allotted, but the critical task of actually making Internet connectivity available, functional and distributed has not been accomplished in thousands of panchayats.
Connecting all 250,000 panchayats across India's vast geography was never going to be an easy task. But if the government wants to force digital payments and digital identification in exchange for entitlements and public services to the most marginalised communities, providing functional Internet connectivity and the required tools to access it should have been a bare minimum requirement.
The two foundational pillars of Digital India —NDLM and NOFN — can transform India and pull millions of people out of information poverty and enable them to empower their own lives.
If government schoolteachers are trained in digital literacy across 1.4 million government schools and if these schools are provided broadband Internet, both teachers and students will be able to use digital tools and technologies for teaching and learning. They could even leverage technology to improve accountability and efficiency of school administration and management.
If the government takes digital literacy to all village council members across 250,000 gram panchayats and provides them with functional Internet connectivity, they would be able to have a comprehensive presence online. They could upload details of their annual allocated budget, expenditure, progress on rural development projects and even a repository of village information and updates.
If the government empowers 860,000 ASHA workers and 1.8 million anganwadi workers with digital literacy and digital tools, they will be able to leverage their skills and devices to improve health standards in their communities.
Realising this gap and learning from our 15 years of experience, DEF launched a project named Smartpur earlier this year under a Nokia CSR collaboration. The premise of Smartpur rests on the fact that mere availability of digital infrastructure is not enough. Rather, it is the efficient integration of technology in the daily lives of people that creates a smart and self-sustainable village.
The vision of Smartpur rests on the success of six development areas — education, health, governance, livelihood, finance and entertainment — that are powered by wireless Internet broadband connectivity.
The mission of Smartpur ensures that communities have access to affordable medical diagnoses and consultation through digitally literate ASHA workers and telemedicine services; students and teachers have access to digital content for learning and teaching; youth have relevant skills to find jobs or become entrepreneurs; people have timely and relevant access to welfare schemes or entitlements; households have access to digital financial services; and the community has access to quality audio-visual edutainment content.
India has leapfrogged digitally. It has made most of its services digitally enabled, forced Aadhaar-enabled identities, and pushed financial services through digital technology. So, it is only just and fair to concentrate all our efforts at digitally enabling the remaining 70 percent of our unconnected population that lives in rural India.
Osama Manzar is founder-director of the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF)
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Lecey – miejscowość i gmina we Francji, w regionie Grand Est, w departamencie Górna Marna.

Według danych na rok 2010 gminę zamieszkiwało 220 osób, a gęstość zaludnienia wynosiła 28 osób/km².

Bibliografia
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Miejscowości w departamencie Górna Marna

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