Promotional Services

Marketing Planning -- In these pages you have access to many articles and ideas for those who prefer to do it themselves, and consultation for those who want help.

Graphic Design -- We provide graphic design services for businesses, organizations, non-profits & corporations. We provide aesthetic sensitivity, professional ability and practical frugality. Writing, editing & layout -- Copy text for sales brochures, fliers, websites, and the development of business tag lines, mottos and presentation materials.

Website Design -- through our sister-site, WebProper.com, we provide state-of-the-art CSS/XHTML standards compliant website design. We can also improve existing sites without changing their look and feel, or we can provide complete redesigns from scratch.

Internet Advertising -- through our sister-site, NetLocalAds.com, we provide text ads that can be displayed in local geographic or regional areas through all major search engines, through one management portal with reporting of results including hits, page views, email addresses and telephone numbers, with or without a website.

Promotional Products -- through our sister-site, Business-Specialties.com we provide custom imprinted, screened and embroidered identity products. ]]> http://www.paross.com/ 2008 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss en-us Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:51:08 -0500 Wed, 5 Mar 2008 13:36:44 -0500 FeedForAll v2.0 (2.0.2.9) unlicensed version http://www.feedforall.com http://www.paross.com/images/PARoss2.gif http://www.paross.com/ Professional Enhancement & Promotion 144 98 Purpose is central to a good life.<br /> <br /> Pursuing a career, raising a family, devotion to a vocation (job), and acquiring wealth are perhaps the most widespread long-term purposes that make life meaningful. Service to others and helping the needy are also often cited.... http://www.paross.com/purpose.htm http://www.paross.com/purpose.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 13:30:03 -0500 Principles are tools for decision making that bring the moral basis of decisions into focus. Recognizing the moral context of our decisions must precede any attempt to resolve related difficulties. The failure to recognize the moral context of a decision does not make it morally neutral, it makes it morally unknown and uncontrollable. You can't control or avoid what you aren't aware of.... http://www.paross.com/principle.htm http://www.paross.com/principle.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 13:42:07 -0500 We usually think of passion as a kind of conviction, like love. We say, "I am passionate about this or that." And it is true that passion is a kind of conviction. The first definition of conviction means to be on the receiving end of a legal judgment. Convicts in prison have been convicted. To be convicted is to be guilty of a crime as charged. The second definition points to the act or process of convincing or of being convinced about something. It means that you believe something strongly, that you have a particular position or attitude about something.... http://www.paross.com/passion.htm http://www.paross.com/passion.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 13:53:28 -0500 There is nothing more out of style in the contemporary world than virtue. The concept of virtue is so neglected that not one in a thousand people even knows what it means. At its root virtue is doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong. It is action and activity that is based upon a particular set of values. It requires knowing the difference between right and wrong. Sounds pretty basic, right?... http://www.paross.com/virtue.htm http://www.paross.com/virtue.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 13:57:45 -0500 Why do we hire for skills, but fire for character? Why do some people succeed and others fail?<br /> <br /> The difference that makes a lasting difference is character. It is not heredity, not circumstances, not ability or disability, not favoritism or discrimination, not environment, not luck or chance. It's none of these. Rather, those who overcome obstacles are the people who succeed.... http://www.paross.com/character.htm http://www.paross.com/character.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 13:57:43 -0500 One's calling is his or her vocation, job, career or profession. But more than mere work, one's calling invokes a passion for work, a drive to accomplish, excel or master something. We usually think that calling applies to artists and clergy, who are called to their life work. The rest of us just go to work. The difference is working passionately vs. working dutifully.... http://www.paross.com/calling.htm http://www.paross.com/calling.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 13:57:33 -0500 A contemporary theory of leadership states that there are three basic ways that people become leaders. The first two explain the leadership development for a small number of people, the third explains how most leaders find their way into leadership positions. These theories are:<br /> <br /> The Trait Theory<br /> The Great Events Theory<br /> The Transformational Leadership Theory... http://www.paross.com/leadership.htm http://www.paross.com/leadership.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 13:58:45 -0500 The business world mistakenly calls it luck or fortune. They commonly speak of being lucky or fortunate when things go well. Einstein knew better. He knew that "God doesn't play dice." Nothing is uncertain for God, who knows everything. God knows that there is no such thing as luck or fortune. God knows because God is the giver of grace.... http://www.paross.com/grace.htm http://www.paross.com/grace.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:00:25 -0500 <b>The Foundation of All Truth</b><br /> <br /> The acceptance that anything at all can be true, that there is such a thing as truth and/or logic requires two things: 1) the acceptance that the universe is fundamentally consistent, and 2) that there are rules or laws that have a universal applicability. These two things provide the presuppositional foundation for the thoughts and ideas found on this website.... http://www.paross.com/christ.htm http://www.paross.com/christ.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:01:17 -0500 <b>There's more to having a website than having a website.</b><br /> <br /> A website is more than an Internet brochure on steroids! Why? Because the Internet makes your brochure interactive. People can -- and do -- respond to your website in the moment.<br /> <br /> The Internet is the Yellow Pages for the newer generations -- and for many of the older generation people, as well. It is far superior to the Yellow Pages for many reasons, interactivity and updatability among them.<br /> <br /> The key elements of website design are not splash and flash, but simplicity and clarity.... http://www.paross.com/webdesign.htm http://www.webproper.com/ Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:03:15 -0500
1. Aesthetic sensitivity. The art of graphic design requires more than knowing how to navigate a computer program. Aesthetic sensitivity involves an eye for color, balance, contrast, purpose, flow, etc. It knows and appreciates the essential difference between a home-made and a professional design.

2. Professional ability is more than using high-end graphic design programs and tools. Professional ability involves the knowledge and sensitivity to develop appropriate designs for various collateral involved in specific industries. For instance, designing for a trucking company requires a different approach and sensitivities than designing for a medical corporation.

3. Practical frugality. We design with materials and production costs in mind....]]> http://www.paross.com/graphicdesign.htm http://www.paross.com/graphicdesign.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:05:26 -0500 Our mission to provide total customer satisfaction. Our philosophy is simple: Offer a wide selection of leading products at competitive prices and provide high quality customer service.<br /> <br /> Our customers place orders with confidence, knowing they will be completed on time and accurately according to the high standards Business Specialties has become known for.... http://www.paross.com/promoproducts.htm http://www.business-specialties.com/ Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:07:06 -0500 This overview is a way to look at the development of the 20th Century's Marketplace Movement. This glance at a modern movement of God looks at descriptive book titles that have been published over the last seventy-plus years. It provides a way to see the development of major concepts and concerns in this renewal of everyday-faith. In this survey we can also see the issues that are being explored, or rediscovered. It also notes some of the key leaders who have made their contribution as authors. I have selected these from my collection of over 2,000 volumes on various dimensions of this renewal of the western church. Many books not listed here are very important works that make major contributions.... http://www.paross.com/books-marketplace.htm http://www.paross.com/books-marketplace.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:49:54 -0500 utting an emphasis on design (and therefore, purpose, principles and planning) brings creativity into an organization and increases the opportunity for developing and planning market-leading products and/or services. As the sophistication of the consumer and global competition increases, planning and design become increasingly valuable.... http://www.paross.com/application.htm http://www.paross.com/application.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:09:39 -0500 The key element to marketing success is working a practical or doable plan that takes a holistic approach to your business and marketing efforts. Marketing success is not rocket science, but is simply the consistency of working the plan. By design, our Action Steps will increase your marketing effectiveness by coordinating campaigns, building marketing momentum, and utilizing available cost efficiencies.<br /> <br /> Our MarketPlan Assessment is a data gathering tool from which analysis and specific Action Steps can be developed. Action Steps provide specific activities that will contribute to the accomplishment of your identified goals.... http://www.paross.com/marketplan.htm http://www.paross.com/marketplan.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:11:32 -0500 Determining your marketing target is the most difficult and most rewarding thing that a business or organization can do. The million-dollar question is, "Who will buy your products and/or services?" Figure that out and your business will soar.<br /> <br /> This is particularly difficult for new businesses who don't have sufficient sales history to examine for answers. But if the truth be told, many businesses and organizations simply do not have sufficient data about their existing customers to make a definitive determination of their markets either.... http://www.paross.com/ProblemCenteredMarketing.htm http://www.paross.com/ProblemCenteredMarketing.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:12:54 -0500 Often the more a thing is discussed the less it is understood. Words have a point of diminishing return. That point is crossed when the effort to be clear and precise counts every tree standing, but misses the proverbial forest. Such is the case with branding.<br /> <br /> Because the idea of branding is all the rage, people are tempted to think that it is a new idea. It is not. Its roots reach back into history.<br /> <br /> The Old West... http://www.paross.com/branding.htm http://www.paross.com/branding.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:14:03 -0500 Salespeople are always "people" people. People have to love people to do sales because the life of a salesperson is filled with people. Most sales people are natural "people" people before they enter the sales market. That's why they go into sales!<br /> <br /> Then comes sales training, and the natural people person gets canned. No, she doesn't lose her job. Rather, she is forced to learn and use a canned sales spiel and proven sales techniques. Much has been written about sales. And a lot of it is great, but a lot of it isn't.... http://www.paross.com/faultysales.htm http://www.paross.com/faultysales.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:15:11 -0500 Problem is when everyone is trying to succeed by being loud and obnoxious, things get pretty loud and obnoxious. Then, loud and obnoxious doesn't work anymore because no one can hear anything. So, they get louder and even more obnoxious. People in an argument often assume (or at least act like they think) that being loud improves their position. And advertising follows suit.<br /> <br /> Surely, there's a better way.... http://www.paross.com/right.htm http://www.paross.com/right.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:16:26 -0500 Thinking "outside the box" or "coloring outside the lines" is a popular idea in the business world today. People and organizations are told to think outside the box or color outside the lines as a way to stimulate creativity when they need to solve problems like streamlining production, establishing a new product, or developing a new process. And it's true that creativity and innovation often arise from unexpected and unconventional thinking.<br /> <br /> But there is a serious problem with trying to apply such thinking too broadly.... http://www.paross.com/outside.htm http://www.paross.com/outside.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:18:00 -0500 Everyone seems to hate spam — except Internet marketers. Admit it, we love email marketing because it's cheap and easy. In fact, it's so cheap and easy that Internet marketers are happy with a response rate of less than one percent. So, who cares about the ninety-nine percent who don't respond?<br /> <br /> Spam is not an Internet problem, it's a marketing problem. And marketers are frantically scrambling to make their marketing efforts more effective by better targeting the recipients. How?... http://www.paross.com/rotten.htm http://www.paross.com/rotten.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:19:41 -0500 Just about everyone knows that something is very wrong with the world in which we live. Problems are compounding everywhere. While we may be tempted to look for someone to blame, that effort, at best, will do nothing to alleviate the problems and, more likely, will only contribute anger and frustration to the mix. Blaming is not constructive. A better approach is to take personal responsibility for the situation, and look for opportunities to make a positive contribution to the solution.<br /> <br /> Certain industries already occupy positions that have more opportunities than others. Advertising, marketing, public relations, and other associated promotional industries enjoy the privilege of having many such opportunities.... http://www.paross.com/appealtovirtue.htm http://www.paross.com/appealtovirtue.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:21:03 -0500 <b>The Psychology of Problem Centered Marketing</b><br /> <br /> For most businesses word of mouth is still the best advertising money can't buy. But it can be nurtured.<br /> <br /> Your marketing materials may highlight the benefits, features and solutions your business or organization offers and still miss the proverbial boat. Why?... http://www.paross.com/wordofmouth.htm http://www.paross.com/wordofmouth.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:22:11 -0500 Do secular marketing principles work with non-profit organizations, i.e, churches, ministries, religious colleges, universities, etc.?<br /> <br /> Yes and no.<br /> Of course they do what they are designed to do -- bring maximum profits to the bottom line. But is that the mission of non-profit organizations?<br /> <br /> Not usually.<br /> <br /> Non-profit (non profit, not-for-profit) organizations must distinguish between fiscal responsibility and selling their fundamental mission for a mess of pottage.... http://www.paross.com/nonprofitmarketing.htm http://www.paross.com/nonprofitmarketing.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:23:26 -0500 "Remember, everything we do gets hijacked by marketing." That was the warning Sun Microsystems Inc. Chief Researcher John Gage had for developers working on emerging grid computing standards at the Global Grid Forum in Seattle in June, 2003. His comment reflects a general truth about what might be called marketing creep, the tendency toward the domination of marketing as the ultimate concern of every organization, including the church.... http://www.paross.com/christianmarketing.htm http://www.paross.com/christianmarketing.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:24:57 -0500 Our approach to marketing involves a holistic consideration of the many activities and processes necessary for successful marketing. There are a variety of overlaps, where one marketing element can be tweaked to serve in another area, making the marketing process more effective.... http://www.paross.com/successcycle.htm http://www.paross.com/successcycle.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:25:57 -0500 Most organizational problems have their origin the board room, which means that the fix must also occur in the board room. Organizational effectiveness begins in the board room.<br /> <br /> The classic symptoms of board of directors problems are micromanagement and rubber stamping. Micromanagement involves usurping management's authority, rubber stamping ignores board authority, respectively.<br /> <br /> Proper diagnosis is essential for proper treatment.... http://www.paross.com/boardroom.htm http://www.paross.com/boardroom.htm Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:27:23 -0500