Business Builder

Guest Blogger Vicki Bell is a professional recruiter for FedEx Office. She has worked in Human Resources for over 20 years, including 10 years as a recruiter at FedEx.

As a professional recruiter, I’ve had quite a few resumes cross my desk over the years. When sifting through piles of applications – particularly in a tough job market like the last year – a well written and targeted resume always catches my attention. If you’re applying for jobs and need to spruce up your resume, here are a few tips to help you stand out from the crowd.

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• Be Relevant: Make sure to highlight job skills and experience that align with the job description for which you’re applying.
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• Use Bullets: Resumes are often reviewed very quickly, and short bulleted sentences help the person reading your resume to easily scan it.  
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• Include Bold Font: When used sparingly, bold font calls attention to your accomplishments and make them pop.

Riddle me this, small business owners: What stays in one place but moves all over? A promotional vehicle magnet, of course! With this mobile advertisement, you can keep your company name top of mind and get exposure as you drive each day. This type of signage can serve you in ways that static advertising can’t, so consider adding them to your marketing strategy to pique the interest of potential customers. 

The best part is that the magnets are removable, so you can change them out and replace as often as you like! Or, if your personal car doubles as your company car, you can remove them when you’re off the clock. Depending on your business, you could even do something seasonally or offer special discounts to customers who mention seeing the promotional magnet. ...read more

Recently, my cousin asked for help proofing a brochure she created, and as a student of journalism, I was happy to help. Upon first review, I noticed several layout and design elements that needed improvement. And that got me to thinking — I bet a lot of small businesses face the same issues. Making custom brochures is a surefire way to promote and grow your business, and with so many resources available, it has never been easier or more cost-effective.

The vast array of design and printing options available at retailers like FedEx Office and on the Internet give you more flexibility than ever to create professional brochures in no time. You can choose bi-fold, tri-fold, full-color, black and white, glossy finish, premium papers, colored papers…the list goes on and on. If you prefer to produce them yourself, check out the Web and Microsoft Word for free templates to get you started. 

Following are some tips I gathered to help our small business readers create a captivating brochure:  ...read more

You may have seen our new FedEx Office TV spot where a business guy asks his colleagues “who is our best presentation guy?” and someone calls out “Carl!” Carl then turns out to be a whiz at CREATING presentations, but not the best at GIVING presentations, as the audience finds out. It’s a funny TV ad, and it also demonstrates how difficult presentations can be sometimes. 

We see a lot of presentation documents printed in our centers, and we’ve gathered some tips for how to put your best foot forward with your printed presentations. ...read more

My refrigerator is littered with sticky fingerprints, photos, sporting tickets that I don’t want to lose, emergency numbers, and yes, magnets. Every time the appliance repair company pays us a visit, they leave with us a magnet with their number. They’re quite handy and I’m sure they are a great business builder – we see them every time we reach for the ice cream. 

Businesses of all sizes can keep their name and number visible with these magnets. You can even pick a shape that fits your business – our realtor has a house-shaped magnet, and our emergency vet has a magnet that is shaped like a heart, but that’s a number I hope I don’t have to call! 

...read more

While FedEx Office centers were running full force through the holiday season, the world of event planning for the company paused – and I was allowed some much-needed time for self-reflection. In the spirit of being a better person in the New Year, I have decided to put as much emphasis on perfecting my relationships and projects outside the office as I do on the job. So before we get any further into January, I’m laying my resolution out there so the world can hold me accountable. I will achieve work-life balance in 2010! ...read more

Sometimes it’s nice to shake things up a bit. Since there are so many holiday parties, dinners and get-togethers (trust me, my waistline knows), you may find an unconventional celebration to be refreshing. 

That’s exactly what we’re doing in our office this year. Instead of a traditional office party, we’re sharing in the spirit of the holiday season by volunteering together. It’s a fun, easy way to give back and spend time together, which is what the holidays are all about, right?  Our office is helping with the Frisco Fire Safety Town holiday lights event in Frisco, Texas. Safety Town is a community education program run by the Frisco Fire Department that resembles a miniature town complete with real buildings that represent area businesses, including a FedEx Office retail center! We will help the children write letters to Santa, distribute coloring books and more. This volunteering event should be lots of fun, and we’re encouraged to bring our families. ...read more

I hear the term “personal branding” a lot these days – it seems that it’s become one of those dreaded corporate buzzwords.  But it’s actually very important to establishing a business and forging relationships.

Presentation is one of the most important elements of personal branding. Start by determining what you want to represent to others and then live that brand in everything you do and say. The good news is that online resources are making it easier than ever to market yourself or your small business in the same way corporations have been marketing themselves for years.

Here are some tips to creating and maintaining your personal brand: ...read more