Archive for the ‘Chris O. posts’ Category

This week I am on the prowl looking for a budding journalist, intern or freelance writer interested in pulling together the news every week.  There will be some required attendance at business events, some research and a lot of writing, but the main requirement is for the applicant to love what they do.  And yes, there is a paycheck to be had in this Web world where many things appear free.  Send inquires to editor@arundelbusinessnews.com.

The Chris O-pinion: When will real estate come back?  Who are the celebrities who read Arundel Business News?   Today is the annual Ask a Stupid Question Day, an occasion begun by teachers in the 80s because kids can fear asking questions if they think they’ll appear stupid.  If you have a zinger, let us know and we promise not to identify you.

Bonus Chris O-pinion: If you have something to say to your elected reps, attend Friday’s Legislative Breakfast of the AA Co. Council of Chambers, 8:30-10:30 am at Hella’s Restaurant in Millersville.  A Special Session of the Maryland General Assembly is planned for October covering potential issues of redistricting, transportation funding and tax increases.  If you don’t participate now, don’t complain later.

The Chris O-pinion: People actually click on links from strange-sounding names promising riches, leisure and enhanced libidos.  For business users, there’s a companion problem equally as sinister as spam: the misdirected email.  You type the recipient’s name, your email program populates the field and you click send before realizing it was Mary instead of Mark.  That’s more than an “oops” when it contains patient data, social security numbers or other confidential details.

MailArmour fixes that.  Pre-screening and one-time pass codes between senders and recipients authenticate each other, which creates a certain and secure pathway for future emails.  Look up South River Technologies to find out more about MailArmour and avoid costly disclosures.

But more talking actually means there is less worth hearing, and there is an equally true corollary: fewer words have more impact.  Hence the timelessness of well-conceived advertising.

We’ve gone from advertising on the printing press that ruled for hundreds of years, to radio/television for much of the last century, and now the Internet where Google dominates after only 13 years. The delivery mechanism will always need strategic, creative content as the foundation to create markets – how well are you executing?

The Chris O-pinion: There is a growing body of research showing that fish, crabs and other aquatic life actually line up at Sandy Point State Park to sacrifice themselves so they can be part of the Maryland Seafood Festival.  The iconic event takes place this weekend with the customary crab soup cookoff, entertainment by Cowboy Mouth (no, that’s a band) and the U.S. Navy Hockey Team that will be overseeing the slap shot exhibit.  A good time to be had.

These days with mergers and acquisitions among struggling financial institutions, today’s banker is likely to be out of state and almost out of a job.  Do they really know your business well enough to help you succeed?

Severn Savings Bank does.  From humble beginnings in 1946 when it was known as the Pompeii Permanent Building Association, our newest advertiser has many branches in the region that cater to local business and consumer needs.  Multiple lending programs, secure online banking and other contemporary financial practices mean SSB needs to be on your short list.  Click here or on the SSB banner ad to the right and you’ll get to know a truly local banker.

The Chris O-pinion: In the spirit of yesterday’s earthquake, alert reader Eric Ward of Bignell Watkins Hasser Architects has some shake, rattle & roll to offer about the recent ABN story on how budget cuts alone won’t solve the state’s fiscal woes.  Eric is a longtime member of the Board of Directors of the Court-Appointed Special Advocates program that works to improve the lives of needy children.

“The [report] suggests that salaries paid find their way back into the economy.  Could logic be applied in asking my boss to double my salary because funds will find their way back into the economy?  Here are other ways:

• Cut salaries and keep everyone currently employed, just making less.  This way the same amount finds its way into the economy, but with more folks participating in the process
• Eliminate some holidays and reduce the number of days of leave.  This would increase the level of service
• Have companies do away with their 401(k) match, or introduce/increase co-pays on group insurance.  These are measures the private sector has implemented
• Modify the public assistance program so that people are not rewarded with what amounts to a pay raise for having more children.

Yes, additional revenue may be needed, but there is plenty to consider before this EASY answer is pursued.”

The Chris O-pinion: If you’re looking to reach the vast ABN readership and just don’t have any news this week, there is an option: text ads.  Right here where you are looking, ABN will write and run a catchy ad about your business.  On a one-time basis, a mere $50 gets you noticed for what you do best (there are volume discounts for these and for the display ads on the right).  Are your current ads sounding kind of tired?  Give it a try.

The Chris O-pinion: Ever have a neighbor with a purple front door, or a car on blocks in the front yard? For decades the standards of homeowners associations (HOAs) have made this more difficult in the name of quality living and property values, although in some cases the standards are enforced so enthusiastically that they take away from quality of life.

What has been your experience? Are HOAs in need of an overhaul or necessary as is for maintaining civility and appearance?

The Chris O-pinion: The problem is that there is not enough time to read engaging material other than Arundel Business News. The solution is Biz Book Briefs, the brainchild of Bob Shannon of First & Main Business Advisors. Bob has teamed up with Jeff Cochran of Exclamation Communications! to provide summaries of various business books and lead discussions of them. They read and distill the highlights, and you sound brilliant in no time. Come to the first gathering August 12th where the book discussed will be Leadership Lessons of the U.S. Navy Seals.