

August 2009 From the Desk of \| Tip \| Announcements \| Industry News \| Special Offer \| In-Depth Learning I’m a relationship guy. I like to be social and I enjoy keeping in touch with people. Reaching out to new prospects and maintaining relationships with past and existing clients is a huge part of my job; and, it’s my favorite part. But, even as a technology-related company owner, I find that it’s best to speak to clients in a more traditional way – the telephone (gasp!). I talk over 3,000 minutes per month on my cell phone; and, that doesn’t include the time I spend talking on my internet and office phones. Combined with how much I e-mail, it’s no wonder I’m out of words by the end of the workday and secretly wishing my computer would spontaneously combust. Yet, no matter how much I thrive on communication, until recently I was the world’s biggest naysayer about Facebook, or any form of social networking. I thought it was a silly waste of time; nothing more than a way to spy on people with whom you aren’t good enough friends to talk to in the “real” way. It seemed like a fad suited for college kids who have nothing better to do; and, that it would be just one more item to overcrowd my inbox and my day. I couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about; and, why the media constantly was talking about Facebook and Twitter. My wife is in the marketing field, and became engaged with social media a few years ago. She’s been ‘on my case’ for at least a year to join Facebook. Every time one of MY friends would find her on Facebook, or communicate with her in some way, she’d use it as another opportunity to remind me of what I was missing. I wanted to hear nothing of it. I continued to razz her every time I caught her on some sort of social media site. Recently, she announced that Zerion was way overdue to have a Facebook fan page. To make matters worse, as part-owner of the business I couldn’t possibly justify not being a “fan” of my own company (especially when my two business partners already are on Facebook; and, if you can believe it, my mom and mother-in-law are on it, too!) So, Kelly said she was going to create a page for me, whether I liked it or not. As someone who appreciates some level of control in my life, I couldn’t let her do that. So, I bet you can guess the outcome of our conversation … Hi, my name is Tony and I joined Facebook. Now, I catch myself updating my status from my Blackberry, seeing what old friends are up to, and perking up when some lost pal from 9th grade homeroom sends me a friend request. Well ... you know, only occasionally. I mean, I still think it’s for college kids; but, some little birdie told me it has over 250 million users, two-thirds of which are not in college; and its fastest growing audience is those 35 and older. I still think a lot of it is time-sucking nonsense, but I guess I can admit that I’ve used it a few times for work. Maybe it’s helped me connect with a potential contract employee when I didn’t have his phone number. Or it may have prompted an old customer to catch up with me. And, maybe I can see how staying in front of people, knowing what’s going on in others lives’ and having an “easier” less invasive way to connect, or an excuse to do so is good for business. I even might be starting to see how it can disseminate information quickly and easily to those in your network and benefit companies in any industry, including distribution (an area that I personally think is more about relationships than many believe it to be). I haven’t yet delved into Twitter (even though Zerion has a feed); but, I hear I can stay on the cutting edge of industry trends and share my knowledge and expertise there. Alright, alright … I like it! I’m a reformed social media-hater. And, if you haven’t joined Facebook already, you’re way more behind the times than I ever was. So, get with the program! And, don’t forget to become my friend. Maybe next time I’ll try to be a little more on top of technology trends so I don’t have to hear “I told you so” for the rest of my life from Mrs. You Know Who. To learn a little more about using social media for business, check out our in-depth learning article below. Tony King, Vice President 321.229.1089 Back to Top What’s happening with distribution, software and business? Zerion is committed to being a resource for our clients and friends. In the newsroom on our Web site, we have an RSS feed supplying new articles all the time. We also have some links to industry news. Here are some of the recent articles we found most interesting: Rexel Inc. Chooses Activant as Go Forward ERP Software Provider Fixing the Warehouse (with RFID) Warehouse and DC Management: Lift truck financing: Time to wheel and deal Devine Cites Positive Signs For Housing At SWA Want more news? Visit us at: www.zeriongroup.com/newsroom/industrynews.html Back to Top Get a FREE half day of consulting ... Do you know someone who would benefit from our services? Tell them about us. For every one day of business that is secured with your referral, you get a free half day of consulting (travel not included). This offer is only available for newsletter subscribers for a limited time. Contact Tony King (321.229.1089) by Sept. 30 with your referral to receive the discount. Back to Top Is Social Media Worth Your Time? by Meredith Liepelt Everyone - from politicians, businesses, musicians, celebrities and many other groups of people - use social media such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or other social networking outlets to spread their message, build their businesses and connect with others. Do they know something we don't? Networking, whether online or offline, is a great use of time when done properly. As with anywhere you spend your time, knowing why you are doing it, how you will measure success and having a plan is the best approach. With that said, I jumped in with both feet last year with the guidance of a social media expert, and I have found clients, joint venture partners, speaking engagements and other great connections through various social media outlets. I am a member of more social media outlets than I can count, but I currently focus on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. While I am not an expert in social media, here are five reasons to take some time to learn the benefits of social media. 1. There Is No Cost There is no direct cost unless you opt for an upgrade, if one is offered. I haven't paid for an upgrade and have steadily increased my list to include over 1000 followers between just three social media outlets, and without much effort. 2. Build Your Business by Connecting With Peers Are you interested in finding joint ventures, affiliates, guest experts or other peers you can bounce ideas off of? In the last few weeks alone, I have located one large joint venture partner and have had several other partnership opportunities cross my desk. Business owners just like you are using social media to connect with others who are interested in using your articles, hosting you as a guest expert on teleseminars, webinars and live events, and even creating projects together! 3. Build Your Business by Following Reporters You Are Targeting Would an article written by a certain reporter make your year? Follow them on Twitter or Facebook and see what is of interest to them and what they are writing about. You never know what golden nugget you'll find by following them online that may open the door at the right time. Follow them and invite them to follow you as well! Or with LinkedIn you can find out how many degrees you are from them. You may surprise yourself by being only one or two degrees away from your target! 4. Showcase Your Expertise, Build Your Platform and Attract New Clients Social media is an interesting animal. While many people use it to increase their businesses, you must be mindful about outright promotions. Generally speaking, heavy marketing of your products and services on these sites is a big no-no. Here's how I do it. I'll post something like this: "Just got off the phone with social networking guru Nancy Marmolejo. Now I'm off to finish writing my sales page for the Business Breakthrough Series." People who are intrigued will check you out and may end up deciding to follow you and ... bingo! They have just entered your world! 5. Reach Large Audiences The world is your oyster in social media. There are only a few businesses that are truly limited by geographic boundaries, especially if you are in the information marketing business. Being active on social networking sites eliminates geographic boundaries and allows you to reach a vast number of people from all over the world. If you have products and services that can be purchased by anyone in the world, being active in social media is an absolute must for you. I recently held a teleseminar with people from over 10 countries in attendance, all from the comfort of my home office! And my sweat pants! So, is social media worth the time? It depends. Social media is absolutely the wave of the future, and you will need to know something about it as some point. However, whether you work it into your plan for 2009 depends on your goals. If you have a goal of increasing your reach to prospects either locally or internationally, you can do that quite effectively through social media. However, if you can cannot and will not commit to learning how to "tweet" on Twitter or communicate on Facebook or use your connections on LinkedIn, it will not be worth your time. My advice to clients when they are just starting out is to select one social media outlet, whether it's Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter, and master it before jumping into every outlet possible. You obviously need to schedule time for connecting, so select the social networking outlets that will benefit you the most. Now that I am experiencing the financial results of my online efforts, I understand why this is such a great use of my time and I'm hooked! Copyright (c) 2009 Meredith Liepelt © 2009 Meredith Liepelt, Rich Life Marketing Meredith Liepelt, President of Rich Life Marketing, offers a free report called "101 Ways to Attract Ideal Clients, Build Your List and Raise Your Profile," which can be downloaded immediately at http://www.RichLifeMarketing.com . Article Source: Articles 4 Reprint - Back to Top	Keeping PIL in Check Don’t forget to review negative onhands and keep your backorders in sales and purchasing up-to-date. Both of these can affect your PIL (projected inventory level) in a negative manner and provide a poor suggested purchase. Zerion Celebrates Four Years This August marked Zerion's fourth birthday. "Today’s milestone provides an opportunity for reflection; and, I’m so proud of the vision my partners and I brought to fruition. I’m humbled by the support we’ve received from our customers. I’m honored by the work our team has done; and, I’m excited to call us four years young,” said Jack Whitwam, president and CEO at Zerion. “It’s a great day at Zerion.” Read the news release ... Calling All Fans and Followers Become a fan of Zerion on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. We'll keep you posted on where our team is and what we're doing, as well as provide industry news and Zerion updates and specials. UFO Regional Training Returns After a summer hiatus, the Eclipse Users Group regional training sessions are returning this fall. The first offering will be in Salisbury, NC on Sept. 23-25. Classes include RF Warehousing, Paper Warehousing and Purchasing. Live within driving distance? Register today at eclipseuser.com.

August 2009

From the desk of Tony King I’m a relationship guy. I like to be social and I enjoy keeping in touch with people. Reaching out to new prospects and maintaining relationships with past and existing clients is a huge part of my job; and, it’s my favorite part. But, even as a technology-related company owner, I find that it’s best to speak to clients in a more traditional way – the telephone (gasp!). I talk over 3,000 minutes per month on my cell phone; and, that doesn’t include the time I spend talking on my internet and office phones. Combined with how much I e-mail, it’s no wonder I’m out of words by the end of the workday and secretly wishing my computer would spontaneously combust.

Yet, no matter how much I thrive on communication, until recently I was the world’s biggest naysayer about Facebook, or any form of social networking. I thought it was a silly waste of time; nothing more than a way to spy on people with whom you aren’t good enough friends to talk to in the “real” way. It seemed like a fad suited for college kids who have nothing better to do; and, that it would be just one more item to overcrowd my inbox and my day. I couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about; and, why the media constantly was talking about Facebook and Twitter.

My wife is in the marketing field, and became engaged with social media a few years ago. She’s been ‘on my case’ for at least a year to join Facebook. Every time one of MY friends would find her on Facebook, or communicate with her in some way, she’d use it as another opportunity to remind me of what I was missing. I wanted to hear nothing of it. I continued to razz her every time I caught her on some sort of social media site. Recently, she announced that Zerion was way overdue to have a Facebook fan page. To make matters worse, as part-owner of the business I couldn’t possibly justify not being a “fan” of my own company (especially when my two business partners already are on Facebook; and, if you can believe it, my mom and mother-in-law are on it, too!) So, Kelly said she was going to create a page for me, whether I liked it or not. As someone who appreciates some level of control in my life, I couldn’t let her do that. So, I bet you can guess the outcome of our conversation …

Hi, my name is Tony and I joined Facebook. Now, I catch myself updating my status from my Blackberry, seeing what old friends are up to, and perking up when some lost pal from 9th grade homeroom sends me a friend request. Well ... you know, only occasionally. I mean, I still think it’s for college kids; but, some little birdie told me it has over 250 million users, two-thirds of which are not in college; and its fastest growing audience is those 35 and older. I still think a lot of it is time-sucking nonsense, but I guess I can admit that I’ve used it a few times for work. Maybe it’s helped me connect with a potential contract employee when I didn’t have his phone number. Or it may have prompted an old customer to catch up with me. And, maybe I can see how staying in front of people, knowing what’s going on in others lives’ and having an “easier” less invasive way to connect, or an excuse to do so is good for business. I even might be starting to see how it can disseminate information quickly and easily to those in your network and benefit companies in any industry, including distribution (an area that I personally think is more about relationships than many believe it to be). I haven’t yet delved into Twitter (even though Zerion has a feed); but, I hear I can stay on the cutting edge of industry trends and share my knowledge and expertise there.

Alright, alright … I like it! I’m a reformed social media-hater. And, if you haven’t joined Facebook already, you’re way more behind the times than I ever was. So, get with the program! And, don’t forget to become my friend. Maybe next time I’ll try to be a little more on top of technology trends so I don’t have to hear “I told you so” for the rest of my life from Mrs. You Know Who.

To learn a little more about using social media for business, check out our in-depth learning article below.

Tony King, Vice President
321.229.1089

What’s happening with distribution, software and business?
Zerion is committed to being a resource for our clients and friends. In the newsroom on our Web site, we have an RSS feed supplying new articles all the time. We also have some links to industry news. Here are some of the recent articles we found most interesting:

Rexel Inc. Chooses Activant as Go Forward ERP Software Provider

Fixing the Warehouse (with RFID)

Warehouse and DC Management: Lift truck financing: Time to wheel and deal

Devine Cites Positive Signs For Housing At SWA

Want more news? Visit us at: www.zeriongroup.com/newsroom/industrynews.html

Get a FREE half day of consulting ...
Do you know someone who would benefit from our services? Tell them about us. For every one day of business that is secured with your referral, you get a free half day of consulting (travel not included). This offer is only available for newsletter subscribers for a limited time.

Contact Tony King (321.229.1089) by Sept. 30 with your referral to receive the discount.

Click here for our special of the month.

Is Social Media Worth Your Time?
by Meredith Liepelt

Everyone - from politicians, businesses, musicians, celebrities and many other groups of people - use social media such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or other social networking outlets to spread their message, build their businesses and connect with others.

Do they know something we don't?

Networking, whether online or offline, is a great use of time when done properly. As with anywhere you spend your time, knowing why you are doing it, how you will measure success and having a plan is the best approach.

With that said, I jumped in with both feet last year with the guidance of a social media expert, and I have found clients, joint venture partners, speaking engagements and other great connections through various social media outlets. I am a member of more social media outlets than I can count, but I currently focus on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. While I am not an expert in social media, here are five reasons to take some time to learn the benefits of social media.

1. There Is No Cost

There is no direct cost unless you opt for an upgrade, if one is offered. I haven't paid for an upgrade and have steadily increased my list to include over 1000 followers between just three social media outlets, and without much effort.

2. Build Your Business by Connecting With Peers

Are you interested in finding joint ventures, affiliates, guest experts or other peers you can bounce ideas off of? In the last few weeks alone, I have located one large joint venture partner and have had several other partnership opportunities cross my desk. Business owners just like you are using social media to connect with others who are interested in using your articles, hosting you as a guest expert on teleseminars, webinars and live events, and even creating projects together!

3. Build Your Business by Following Reporters You Are Targeting

Would an article written by a certain reporter make your year? Follow them on Twitter or Facebook and see what is of interest to them and what they are writing about. You never know what golden nugget you'll find by following them online that may open the door at the right time. Follow them and invite them to follow you as well! Or with LinkedIn you can find out how many degrees you are from them. You may surprise yourself by being only one or two degrees away from your target!

4. Showcase Your Expertise, Build Your Platform and Attract New Clients

Social media is an interesting animal. While many people use it to increase their businesses, you must be mindful about outright promotions. Generally speaking, heavy marketing of your products and services on these sites is a big no-no. Here's how I do it. I'll post something like this: "Just got off the phone with social networking guru Nancy Marmolejo. Now I'm off to finish writing my sales page for the Business Breakthrough Series." People who are intrigued will check you out and may end up deciding to follow you and ... bingo! They have just entered your world!

5. Reach Large Audiences

The world is your oyster in social media. There are only a few businesses that are truly limited by geographic boundaries, especially if you are in the information marketing business. Being active on social networking sites eliminates geographic boundaries and allows you to reach a vast number of people from all over the world. If you have products and services that can be purchased by anyone in the world, being active in social media is an absolute must for you. I recently held a teleseminar with people from over 10 countries in attendance, all from the comfort of my home office! And my sweat pants!

So, is social media worth the time? It depends. Social media is absolutely the wave of the future, and you will need to know something about it as some point. However, whether you work it into your plan for 2009 depends on your goals. If you have a goal of increasing your reach to prospects either locally or internationally, you can do that quite effectively through social media. However, if you can cannot and will not commit to learning how to "tweet" on Twitter or communicate on Facebook or use your connections on LinkedIn, it will not be worth your time.

My advice to clients when they are just starting out is to select one social media outlet, whether it's Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter, and master it before jumping into every outlet possible. You obviously need to schedule time for connecting, so select the social networking outlets that will benefit you the most.

Now that I am experiencing the financial results of my online efforts, I understand why this is such a great use of my time and I'm hooked!

Copyright (c) 2009 Meredith Liepelt

© 2009 Meredith Liepelt, Rich Life Marketing Meredith Liepelt, President of Rich Life Marketing, offers a free report called "101 Ways to Attract Ideal Clients, Build Your List and Raise Your Profile," which can be downloaded immediately at http://www.RichLifeMarketing.com .

Article Source: Articles 4 Reprint -

Keeping PIL in Check
Don’t forget to review negative onhands and keep your backorders in sales and purchasing up-to-date. Both of these can affect your PIL (projected inventory level) in a negative manner and provide a poor suggested purchase.

Zerion Celebrates Four Years
This August marked Zerion's fourth birthday. "Today’s milestone provides an opportunity for reflection; and, I’m so proud of the vision my partners and I brought to fruition. I’m humbled by the support we’ve received from our customers. I’m honored by the work our team has done; and, I’m excited to call us four years young,” said Jack Whitwam, president and CEO at Zerion. “It’s a great day at Zerion.” Read the news release ...

Calling All Fans and Followers
Become a fan of Zerion on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. We'll keep you posted on where our team is and what we're doing, as well as provide industry news and Zerion updates and specials.

UFO Regional Training Returns
After a summer hiatus, the Eclipse Users Group regional training sessions are returning this fall. The first offering will be in Salisbury, NC on Sept. 23-25. Classes include RF Warehousing, Paper Warehousing and Purchasing. Live within driving distance? Register today at eclipseuser.com.