Blogs

  • (Page 1 of 12)
  • « Prev
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • Next »

    • "LinkedIn - how to build a strategy"



    The following is a five step LinkedIn Strategy that contains techniques and recommendations on how your business can effectively leverage LinkedIn.

    I'm assuming that you already have a presence on LinkedIn profile and that you are seeking ways to enhance your visibility on the site through ongoing monitoring and increased participation. 

    Small companies should replace "your employees" with "you"

    Step 1: Identify Buyers and Conversations

    It is important toidentify people with whom you are looking to connect, and then determine if, and where, they are active on LinkedIn. Do this by using the Advanced Search facility with keywords and geographic data if appropriate.

    Step 2: Select Employees to Lead Participation

    Designate a few employees to be internal LinkedIn champions. To be most effective, these individuals should be social-network savvy; knowledgeable about your products, services and brand messaging; and have a desire to engage with target audiences.

    Step 3: Have Employees Optimize Their Profiles

    Encourage your employees to optimize their profiles. Be sure that all individual profiles are completely filled out — including the Summary, Specialties and Job Position sections — with keyword-rich descriptions. Also, include links to Twitter profiles, as well as optimized links to your company website and blog, if applicable..

    Step 4: Set Up a Monitoring System

    LinkedIn Answers and Groups provide the most opportunities to connect with prospects, customers, vendor partners and peers. For this reason, it's important to monitor these sections on a regular basis, and contribute meaningfully to discussions.

    When commenting, it is perfectly acceptable to share relevant blog posts and content pieces your company created. However, aim to be helpful and not overly self-promotional, and abide by group rules.

    Step 5: Participate & Engage in Conversations

    On an ongoing basis, encourage employees to actively participate in priority groups and respond to relevant LinkedIn Answers queries. In addition, employees should update their LinkedIn statuses often.

    Employees should also be encouraged to proactively request connections with business contacts, and to continuously work to nurture those relationships.

    Ian Hudson is the owner of www.IanHudson.org which run 2 hour internal LinkedIn workshops

    He runs PING Harlow (www.Pingharlow.com) – a monthly business networking group.

    He will be delivering aBusiness Briefing on LinkedIn at Harlow College on Feb 23rd (5-7pm)

    Assurances given over rail services

    I have received assurance from rail operator Abellio -which is to take over the West Anglia mainline service - that there will be no cuts to services.

    I raised a number of concerns and issues when I met Abellio management, and urged the company to explore increasing services in the area in the future.They agreed to do this.

    This is great news for the many commuters who use the local train services, using the stations at Harlow Town, Harlow Mill and Roydon, to get into and out of London every day.
    I was delighted to receive assurances from Abellio regarding the level of services and they told me that after 2014 - if they successfully win the next contract - they will actually look at increasing train services to Harlow, to ease congestion at rush-hour.
    If this goes ahead in the future there could be FOUR fast Stansted Express trains to Harlow an hour, as opposed to the current level of two.
    I also raised the issue of the current state of Harlow Town, Harlow Mill and Roydon stations.
    Abeillo agreed to look at undertaking some redecoration work at the stations -including repainting, and improvements such as a rain-shelter at Roydon.

    The firm has also pledged to keep Roydon and Harlow Mill stations open. In fact it agreed to hire 100 additional security staff - many of whom will patrol the trains passing through Harlow and the villages.

    I  also urged the company to do more to help the small businesses that depend on our railways - such as the shop in Harlow Town Station.

    They have agreed to visit the stations with me and to see if anything canbe done to help boost trade.

    Harlow MP Robert Halfon praised Harlow College as it is ranked top of the class


    Harlow MP Robert Halfon has praised Harlow College after the Government announced that it has been ranked number one for long courses out of the 223 further education colleges across the UK.

    Mr Halfon, who is a regular     visitor to the college, said: “This is fantastic news. In terms of getting the top grades, Harlow College was ranked number two for all its students - making it one of the very best places in Britain not only to study, but to do well.”

    He added: “These results are a real credit to Colin Hindmarch (the college principal), the staff and teachers, and all the students and their parents. They are really putting Harlow on the map.

    “Having such a successful college may also help to explain why youth unemployment has been falling in our town since 2009, and why the number of apprenticeships locally has increased by 73 per cent.

    “Ignore the critics who want to talk Harlow down. These results prove that we can compete with the best and brightest not just from Essex, but from the whole country.”

    Robert Halfon embarks on second phase of his campaign for cheaper fuel

    After winning the backing of more than 100,000 people with his e-petition
    calling for a cut in fuel tax, Harlow MP Robert Halfon is taking on the
    Government again pressing for a freeze on fuel duty in the next Budget.

    He has also written to the Office of Fair Trading highlighting the high cost
    of fuel in Harlow, stating that petrol prices in Harlow seem to be about 5p
    a litre more expensive than in nearby towns such as Epping, Chelmsford
    and Stevenage.

    Mr Halfon has been contacted by a number of constituents regarding the
    high fuel prices in the town.

    In his letter, which calls for "urgent action" to be taken against the high
    prices being charged in Harlow, Mr Halfon writes: "A constituent has
    pointed out that some parts of Scotland have cheaper prices despite the
    fuel being refined and distributed from sites in Essex!

    "There is also little or no competition within Harlow itself. As Harlow petrol
    stations are charging the same price, residents have no option but to pay
    this. Is the lack of competition keeping prices in the town artificially high?
    "Harlow residents find it difficult enough to meet the cost of fuel without
    feeling that their town is having to endure higher than average pump
    prices."

    Mr Halfon received praise in the House of Commons and national media for his campaign
    victory which saw a proposed fuel tax increase postponed.

    Addressing the Leader of the House of Commons, George Young, in the House today, Mr
    Halfon said he was calling on the Chancellor to freeze fuel duty –and to also look at the
    possibility of reducing it when he delivers his Budget speech.

    Mr Halfon asked: "May we have a debate on lower taxes for lower earners, given that poor
    motorists will be hit twice as hard as richer motorists if petrol and diesel duties rise? Can my
    right hon. Friend urge the Chancellor to cut petrol and diesel tax in the next Budget?

    Sir George Young said he would raise the matter with the Chancellor.

    Sir George added: "I commend (Mr Halfon) on what he did with the e-petition on the issue
    last year, which resulted in the postponement of an increase that was due earlier this month."
    -----
    Issued by David Jackman (07710 447868) on behalf of Robert Halfon MP

    Harlow MP Robert Halfon calls on Energy Secretary to save Harlow solar panel scheme


    HARLOW MP Robert Halfon has called on Energy Secretary Chris Huhne to take action to make the Harlow solar panel scheme more viable, following the changes to legislation.

    During Energy Questions in the House of Commons today (Thursday) Mr Halfon asked Mr Huhne whether there was anything that could be done to to introduce a "community" tariff for schemes which would be more generous and would allow projects, such as one involving Kier and Harlow Council, to go ahead.

    Mr Halfon told Mr Huhne there are "hundreds of Harlow residents in social housing who were promised solar power panels, but the new rate is too low for the scheme to be viable".

    Mr Huhne replied: "The absolute key to what is happening with solar panels is the collapse in the cost. The idea that something might not be attractive commercially today does not mean that it will not be so in pretty short order.
    "What has been happening over the past 18 months is an enormous increase in the production capacity of China.
    "Essentially, what has happened is that the Henry Ford of solar panels - who happens to be Chinese these days - has introduced the Model T, and we are getting an enormous reduction in costs as a result of economies of scale."
    Mr Huhne added it was disappointing that separate support could not be offered to community schemes, but he said this was not possible because of legislation passed by the previous Labour government.
    However he added: "The continued fall in the cost of solar panels will make more and more schemes viable."

    Mr Halfon said: "I will continue to do what I can to urge the Government to look at this again. However, there has also been a legal challenge that may give the Harlow scheme some hope."



    Who are the biggest micro-bloggers in the world?

    An extraordinary occurrence is happening in China.  Her citizens are probably the most prevalent micro-bloggers in the world.  According too the China Internet Information Centre, there were 63 million micro-bloggers at the end of 2010 - approximately 14% of her 457 million internet users.

    Whilst Twitter and Facebook has been banned, Chinese versions have been created such as weibo.com, which is enormously popular - especially with the young.

    Whilst the micro-blogging sites are rarely used openly challenge the Communist Party, they are mechanisms to criticise and upset the existing order - including exposing public cover-ups. Micro-blogging was used to publicise information such as the July bullet train crash in Zheijang Province.

    Inevitably, the 'authorities' have tried to control micro-blogging, by recently requiring all bloggers to register internet accounts with 'real' identities.  But, even this has been 'mocked' by micro-bloggers.

    Censorship of the Internet is increasingly difficult.  Even websites that are banned are possible to access with the right computer software.  The huge power of the Chinese Communist Party is slowly dissipating against the huge power of the Internet.

    P.S.  You can read more HERE.

    by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com



    Kelloggs supports Harlow Foodbank


    HARLOW Foodbank does great work and so I was delighted when breakfast cereal manufacturer Kelloggs agreed to donate products and £500 to the charity after I highlighted their great work when I had met with the company during the Conservative conference in Manchester last October.

    I told the company of the charity’s “fantastic” work and urged Kelloggs to support the worthy cause. I was     delighted at Kelloggs’ response after Bruce Learner, the Head of Corporate Responsibility and Partnership at Kelloggs Europe, became involved.
    I have volunteered at the Foodbank on a number of occasions including during my week of Social Action last September.
    I am really touched by the generosity of Kelloggs and the support they have offered Harlow Foodbank.
    I want to do all I can to support the work of Harlow Foodbank and the volunteers and I hope this will make a difference.

    The money will make a big difference to Harlow Foodbank, and will enable the charity to continue its hard work in the community.


    Posted By Blogger to Rob's Blog at 1/13/2012 02:08:00 PM

    Health Minister agrees to meet Partridge Care Home families

    Today on the first day back in Parliament I asked a question to the Minister for Health, concerning Partridge Court Care Home.

    I asked the Minister:

    "A BBC Essex investigation into Rushcliffe Partridge Care Home in my constituency, has uncovered shocking allegations of abuse and neglect. Will the Health Minister urge the Care Quality Commission, to step in now with an enquiry, and take what ever legal action necessary to protect the elderly residents, and will the Minister meet with me and my constituent Lesley Minchin, whose relative has suffered from what has been going on in the care home?"

    The Minister responded by saying:


    "I certainly share the concern the hon. Gentleman outlined. BBC Essex reports of abuse and degrading treatment in this particular home, is a cause for concern. The CQC (Care Quality Commission) are due to publish a report very shortly, and I would certainly be happy to meet my hon. friend to discuss this matter further. This Government is determined  to shine a light on abuse wherever it is to be found, to root it out of the system, to make sure people are treated with dignity and respect and get the care they need."


    by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com




    Partridge Care Home, Harlow

    Following the BBC investigation into alleged abuse at Partridge Care Home, Harlow MP Robert Halfon has sent three letters to the Health Minister, the CEO of Rushcliffe Care, and Essex County Council.

    The BBC website states: "documents seen by BBC Essex show there were serious problems at the home before the police investigation... Former worker at the home Graham Flack said he had witnessed abuse and neglect of residents during his time there... [including] an incident where a certain member of staff was sitting on a resident..."

     It goes on to state: "BBC Essex has seen a report written after a surprise visit to the home by two managers in May 2011. They found that several staff were asleep while on duty, a serious disciplinary offence.

    The managers found one resident lying on an unmade bed that was smeared with faeces. Another was found sitting on the floor and had soiled themselves.

    Other residents were found wandering around on their own, yet more were found in bed fully clothed. The building was said to have smelt of urine and one of the units had no lights on...

    An internal audit carried out by staff at Partridge Care Centre in July found that most of the residents' rooms were dirty."


    These latest allegations from the BBC are truly shocking, and make you weep to read them.

    I first became aware of possible issues at the care home last year, after being approached by a local Harlow resident, Lesley Minchin, who was concerned about the treatment of her elderly mother.

    Since that time, there have been four difficult reports from the Care Quality Commission: the latest in November 2011 still has major criticisms of how the home is being run. Now we have the BBC investigation into internal reports and emails from the care home.

    For that reason, today I have taken the following actions:

    First, I have written to the CEO of Rushcliffe Care, urging him strongly to be open and transparent about what has gone wrong, and inviting him to come to Harlow to a public meeting for patients, residents, and their families and friends.

    It is important that the company in charge - Rushcliffe Care - now answers the serious criticisms of the CQC, and the BBC.

    Harlow people will want to hear what is being done, to ensure that this never happens again. I have also urged that all internal reports and emails be published on the Rushcliffe Care website.

    Second, I have also written today to the Health Minister, urging a Government enquiry with the CQC.

    Third, I have contacted Essex County Council, urging them to take immediate action, in conjunction with the CQC and the Government. They must use whatever legal means are necessary to find out what has been going on, and to ensure that the standards of care in Harlow are second to none.

     I should add that I have been to Partridge Care Home myself, last year, and seen the work of some excellent staff and met with some residents. Not everything that has happened there has been bad: many of the staff are dedicated and hardworking. However, the BBC and CQC have clearly brought up shocking allegations, which need to be dealt with straight away, and not swept under the carpet."


    1) Latest BBC report into Partridge Care Home: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-16446643

     2) The CQC's four reports into standards at Partridge Care Home: http://www.cqc.org.uk/directory/1-124708272
     
    3) Robert Halfon's first statement (2011): http://roberthalfon.blogspot.com/2011/08/statement-on-partridge-court.html
     
    4) Robert Halfon's second statement (2011): http://roberthalfon.blogspot.com/2011/08/second-statement-on-partridge-court.html
     
    5) Robert Halfon's statement to ITV News (2011): http://roberthalfon.blogspot.com/2011/08/statement-on-itv-news-partridge-court.html


    Posted By Blogger to Rob's Blog at 1/09/2012 05:07:00 PM

    Visiting patients with Harlow hospital radio DJ Ian Jackson on Christmas Day

    I visited patients at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, with Harlow Hospital Radio DJ Ian Jackson on Christmas Day.

    This is my second Christmas Day going around the wards wishing patients a Merry Christmas.

    It is good to be able to give patients some cheer, especially since they are having to spend Christmas in hospital.Going round with Ian Jackson is good fun, as we were able to take special song requests which Ian was able to play on Harlow Hospital Radio afterwards."

    I was pleased to also be able to say thank you to hard-working hospital staff - cleaners, porters, nurses and doctors - who have given up their Christmas to dedicate themselves to looking after the sick. All of them deserve a special thanks and merry Christmas.

    I met some of the staff and pay tribute to many of the Princess Alexandra Hospital volunteers, including the League of Friends, all of whom were helping spread the Christmas message in the hospital."
    Ian Jackson, from Harlow Hospital Radio, said: "I was delighted to go with Robert for a second year around the wards - even if he did make me carry the tins of chocolates to give to the patients and nurses!

    "Harlow Hospital Radio is so important to so many patients and we were pleased to be able to offer a service on Christmas Day.

    "Having Robert's support as the local MP makes all the difference.After we let Rob - as well as the patients - play a few of his favourite artists - including Adele, Amy Macdonald and Katie Melua."

    Posted By Blogger to Rob's Blog at 12/26/2011 01:53:00 PM
  • (Page 1 of 12)
  • « Prev
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • Next »
    • No blogs found.