Alternatives to business travel - such as web conferencing with Microsoft Office Live Meeting or similar products - continue to improve with advances in internet and related technologies, most agree. We'll address the options, including video conferencing, teleconferencing, online collaboration tools and the web conferencing in detail below.

But first: When do you absolutely need to meet? Here are some scenarios mentioned by experts:

• You are meeting a new client.
• You are introducing new people - perhaps your replacement - to an ongoing but important business relationship.
• You are attempting to close a significant sale or cut an important deal.
• You are delivering a product that you must demonstrate.
• You need to resolve a controversial
  Setting Up Your Job Search Control Room
  "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Seneca (Roman Philosopher, Mid 1st Century A.D.)Good fortune, in some way or form, comes to us all. It is they who are prepared to receive it that notice its arrival and reap the rewards. When it comes to your job search, you should leave nothing to chance and employ as many strategies and tools as possible to ensure the best chance for success. Here are some recommendations for maintaining your work area that will make you more search efforts more efficient and effective:The Different Divisions of "Mission Control"If executed with diligence, your job search will have many facets. You will manage searches with multiple online job boards (some highly specialized), record contacts and conversations with multiple personnel from various organizations, customize res
  cases where meeting face to face is best. But there are also good ways to meet virtually that can make many of your business trips unnecessary."

  Alternatives to business travel - such as web conferencing with Microsoft Office Live Meeting or similar products - continue to improve with advances in internet and related technologies, most agree. We'll address the options, including video conferencing, teleconferencing, online collaboration tools and the web conferencing in detail below.

  But first: When do you absolutely need to meet? Here are some scenarios mentioned by experts:

  • You are meeting a new client.
  • You are introducing new people - perhaps your replacement - to an ongoing but important business relationship.
  • You are attempting to close a significant sale or cut an important deal.
  • You are delivering a product that you must demonstrate.
  • You need to resolve a controversial
    Logos - A Thing Of the Past?
    Designers seem to be scaling back on the ‘in your face’ logo bags. There is so much one can do to a bag besides add a handle and a zipper. Designers are stretching their creative muscles and reaching for individuality.Of course, there are your typical big name players that will always have their logos strewn across their bags (Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Fendi, etc.) in every collection. But even these brands have found triumph in removing their names and replacing them with wonderful designs, colors (metallics are popping everywhere) textures (patent leather and patchwork), and shapes. This season, translucent bags will be home to Dolce & Gabanna, Oscar de la Renta, Chanel, and many more. Even patent leather will find warmth with Marc Jacobs, Valentino, and others .Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Yves Saint Laurent all have coveted bags in the m
    Meeting or similar products - continue to improve with advances in internet and related technologies, most agree. We'll address the options, including video conferencing, teleconferencing, online collaboration tools and the web conferencing in detail below.

    But first: When do you absolutely need to meet? Here are some scenarios mentioned by experts:

    • You are meeting a new client.
    • You are introducing new people - perhaps your replacement - to an ongoing but important business relationship.
    • You are attempting to close a significant sale or cut an important deal.
    • You are delivering a product that you must demonstrate.
    • You need to resolve a controversial
      A Mistake Not Worth Repeating For The New Freelancer
      Many new freelancers who start out in their first projects have the unfortunate tendency to go in over their heads. I know for sure since it happened to… yours truly. I’m sure most freelancers can agree that when first starting out, they worry more about how you will find your next projects instead of focusing on the one they already have. Well, I happened to have found a quick project and upon looking at my qualifications, my employer thought it would be good to hire me for a different, longer term project. A freelancer’s dream, right? At least I thought so. It was my very first project and I thought I hit a home run at my very first at bat. Now, I’m a computer programmer/web developer, but I’ll spare the gory techie details for those of you not in this field. I started out being given usernames, passwords and my proje
      ing in detail below.

      But first: When do you absolutely need to meet? Here are some scenarios mentioned by experts:

      • You are meeting a new client.
      • You are introducing new people - perhaps your replacement - to an ongoing but important business relationship.
      • You are attempting to close a significant sale or cut an important deal.
      • You are delivering a product that you must demonstrate.
      • You need to resolve a controversial
        Change in Four Steps: How to Make Effective Changes at Work
        I know I want to change… Yet, every time I set a goal and decide to change, I seem to get sidetracked or lose sight of the end point. It never seems to work out as I planned. How can you effectively make a change? You know how to set goals. You even have a framework for this: SMART – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Tangible. So you set up your goals using this framework. You get specific and say that you want to become better at participating in team meetings so you can have more influence in decisions. You set up a measurable outcome by saying that you will have your ideas adopted in an upcoming meeting. You see this as attainable; you know your ideas are good. It is a realistic goal and there will be tangible benefits for you and your team when it happens. So where is the problem? Why is this t
        n ongoing but important business relationship.
      • You are attempting to close a significant sale or cut an important deal.
      • You are delivering a product that you must demonstrate.
      • You need to resolve a controversial or complex problem, or discuss top-secret matters such as an acquisition or merger.
      • You need to meet with an attorney to discuss legal matters.
      • You need to solicit money from an investor.
      • You are making sales or training presentations and your materials are best presented in person.
      • Your competitors are meeting face to face with a client you want.
      Perhaps you could add other scenarios specific to your company or industry. The point is, meetings remain critical to the success of your business.

      However, there are many meetings where technology can substitute for travel easily and effectively.

      "You generally need to find the wherewithal to make that initial contact face to face," says Diane Parks, an information technology products reseller. "But once you have established a relationship, technology can save you time and money