july/august 2010 longview progress report

New Multi-Option ChamberChoice Health SavingsPlan Launched for Longview-Area Small Businesses

Introduced by The Longview Partnership and UnitedHealthcare, Plan options include standard PPO and consumer driven health plans

ARE YOU USING E-VERIFY?—

FROM THE PRESIDENT 3

LP WINS EXCELLENCE AWARD

FOR COMMUNICATIONS 5

KEEP LONGVIEW BEAUTIFUL

RECOGNIZES PARTICIPANTS 6

EXPERIENCE LEADERSHIP

LONGVIEW 7

D.C. TRIP ADDRESSES ISSUES 8

IMPACT OF NEW HEALTHCARE

BILL ON YOUR BUSINESS 12

WHAT IS GREEN IT? 13

RETURN ON PEOPLE 14

SOCIAL FAD OR REVOLUTION 15

BUSINESS PROFILE —

LONDON BROADCASTING 18

Departments

ANNIVERSARIES 10

NEW MEMBERS 11

CALENDAR 19

Don’t Miss…

Also in this issue…

Social Media, p. 15

Longview Progress Report is published by:

410 N. Center Street / Longview, TX 75601903-237-4000 / www.longviewtx.com

July/August 2010 Vol. 4 Issue 4

Chamber of Commerce J Convention and Visitors Bureau J Downtown Development

The Longview Partnership andUnitedHealthcare are launching the

ChamberChoice Health Savings Plan, anarray of UnitedHealthcare health planoptions for Longview-area smallbusinesses.

The ChamberChoice Health Savings Planwill be availableJuly 1, 2010 tomembers of theLongviewPartnership and willoffer access toseveral differentUnitedHealthcarehealth plan options– at prices that fit most budgets. Inaddition, businesses that enroll withUnitedHealthcare through this partnershipwill receive a 7 percent discount on selectmedical plans and have an option forsaving 5 percent on their bundled dentaland vision plans.

Businesses and employees who enroll inthe ChamberChoice Health Savings Planwill also have access to UnitedHealthcare’snationwide health care provider network

of more than 600,000 physicians and careprofessionals, and 5,000 hospitals.

The board of directors of The LongviewPartnership developed TheChamberChoice Health Savings Plan toincrease access to health care in the regionand meet the needs of small employers

with two to 99employees that arelooking foraffordable grouphealth benefits. TheLongviewPartnership boardof directors includesthe CEOs of Good

Shepherd Medical Center and LongviewRegional Medical Center.

“As the full-time commerce advocate ofLongview, the Partnership wants toempower its members with a superior,cost-effective health care product,” saidKelly Hall, president of The LongviewPartnership. “Our entire team has thoughtoutside the box, utilizing a fresh,alternative approach to develop an answerfor our businesses.”

continued on p. 4

84004 Prg Rep_2009 Prog Rep Template 6/18/10 4:32 PM

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julyaug10_2009 Prog Rep Template 6/16/10 3:33 PM

Are You Using E-Verify?BOARD OFDIRECTORS

Richard AndrewsLEDCO Past Chairman

Edward BanosGood Shepherd Health System

Shane BestTexas Bank & Trust

Cathy CaceJohnny Cace’s

Seafood & Steak House

Jon CoxSTEMCO LP

Dr. Julie FowlerKilgore College Longview

Keith HoneyAEP Southwestern Electric

Power Company

Anne HugmanHugman Architecture &

Construction

Wes JonesSpring Hill ISD

Jim KendrickLongview Regional

Medical Center

David McWhorterGans & Smith Insurance

Agency Inc.

Dr. Dale LunsfordLeTourneau University

Randy OertelLeTourneau Technologies,

Inc.

Darrell RachelsEastman Chemical Company,

Texas Operations

Dave SpurrierWells Fargo Advisors, LLC

ADVISORYDIRECTORS

Maxey CerlianoGregg County Sheriff

Judge Bill StoudtGregg County

www.longviewtx.com

From the President

The Longview Progress Report 3

When Emily Sanders with theImmigration Reform Caucus visited

with the Longview group in DC, shediscussed an unnecessaryrisk employers place onthemselves when hiring.Emily also explained howemployers can be a vital linkin stopping unauthorizedemployment.

E-Verify was authorized bythe Illegal ImmigrationReform and ImmigrantResponsibility Act of 1996(IIRIRA) and in 1997 E-Verifywas introduced so employers could have atool that is 96% accurate. E-Verify can alsoprotect employers against discriminationlawsuits. This tool places the burden onthe Federal Government.

What is E-Verify?• E-Verify is an Internet-based system

that compares information from anemployee’s Form I-9, EmploymentEligibility Verification, to data from U.SDepartment of Homeland Security andSocial Security Administration records toconfirm employment eligibility.

• E-Verify’s most impressive features areits speed and accuracy. E-Verify is the onlyservice that verifies employees’ dataagainst millions of government recordsand provides results within seconds.

• E-Verify compares the information anemployee provides on Form I-9,Employment Eligibility Verification,against millions of government recordsand generally provides results in three tofive seconds. If the information matches,that employee is eligible to work in theUnited States. If there’s a mismatch, E-Verify will alert the employer and theemployee will be allowed to work while heor she resolves the problem.

E-Verify Statistics• 96 percent of initial responses were

consistent with employment eligibilitystatus

• 93.1 percent of all E-Verify casesinvolved authorized workers who wereinitially found to be employmentauthorized

• 2.9 percent of all E-Verify casesinvolved unauthorized workers whoreceived final nonconfirmations

The statistics show E-Verify works.E-Verify confirms employmenteligibility instantly in most cases oridentifies those not eligible to workin the United States. Even foremployees who receive initialmismatches and are later confirmedas work authorized, E-Verify informsthem of possible errors with theirgovernment records. By clearing upmismatches sooner rather than later,E-Verify can save these employeessignificant time and frustration.

Currently, over 200,000 employers and700,000 work sites are using E-Verify.

Do business owners in Texas have to useE-Verify? Effective September 1, 2007HB 1196 restricts the use of certain publicsubsidies to employ undocumentedworkers, provides that a public agency,state or local taxing jurisdiction, oreconomic development corporation shallrequire a business that submits anapplication to receive a public subsidy toinclude in the application a statementcertifying that the business, or a branch,division, or department of the business,does not and will not knowingly employan undocumented worker.

Read more:http://www.ebiinc.com/everify-texas.html#ixzz0oZgxcerU

Is your business at risk?You do not have to risk fines, criminalpenalties or your business future onForm I-9 non-compliance.Read more:http://www.ebiinc.com/everify-texas.html#ixzz0oZhmt4rc

If you’d like to learn more you canview videos on YouTube:www.dhs.gov/e-verify orwww.youtube.com/ushomelandsecurity

Where can you enroll? www.dhs.gov

Kelly HallLP President


STAFF

Kelly HallPresident

[email protected]

Paul AndersonSr. Vice President

[email protected]

Elaine ReynoldsVP Downtown Development

[email protected]

Leska ParkerBusiness Manager

[email protected]

Mary WhittonProgram Coordinator

[email protected]

Mitzi BarnesSpecial Projects Coordinator

[email protected]

Amy TatumCommunity Development

Coordinator903-237-4029

[email protected]

Elton Taylor, Jr.Membership Services

Coordinator903-237-4013

[email protected]

Elena GuilbeauConvention Sales Manager

[email protected]

Margie HarrisTourism Services Manager

[email protected]

Carrie FisherReceptionist903-237-4000

[email protected]

Kate King-TurnerCustomer Retention

[email protected]

www.longviewtx.com

Promoting the Community

4 July/August

“We share The Longview Partnership’scommitment to ensure small businessesin the Longview area have access toquality, affordable health care coveragefor their employees,” said Scott Flannery,CEO, UnitedHealthcare of North Texas.“We believe Longview-area smallbusinesses will appreciate the value andflexibility of UnitedHealthcare PPO andconsumer-driven health benefit plansand the added services that help theiremployees play a greater role inimproving their health and well-being.”

Members seeking information cancontact one of our certified member

ChamberChoice Health Savings Plan, continued

The Chairman’s ClubPlatinum

Silver

insurance companies for moreinformation.

• John Black and Associates903.295.0868

• Bockmon, Knight & TraylorInsurance Agency 903.234.8505

• D & H Insurance Group903.757.3760

• Gans & Smith Insurance Agency, Inc.903.757.4601

• Jackson Lloyd Insurance Agency903.758.6206

• The Ward Agency903.297.5546

Additional information is also availableon our website at www.longviewchamber.com/chamberchoice.

continued from p. 1


www.longviewtx.com



Longview Partnership Wins National Award for Communication Excellence

The Longview Partnership is a recipient of theAmerican Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE)

Award for Communication Excellence (ACE). Thechamber’s entry, Community BrandingCampaign, received an award of honorablemention.

Entries receiving the ACE HonorableMention Award meet the fundamentalstandards and criteria for communications excellence.

This is the first time in the history of the organization thatan award of this level has been received. This competitionis a benchmark for the organization while competing andbeing recognized at the national level.

Winners will be recognized at the annual ACCEConvention in August in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Awards for CommunicationsExcellence (ACE) is a competition torecognize excellence in all areas ofcommunication. The ACE program hasbeen designed to honor, reward andcelebrate the achievements of outstanding

communication programs, campaigns and projects, and tocomprehensively encompass all areas of "communicationsexcellence." It also serves to enhance the professionaldevelopment of chamber professionals through theevaluation and recognition of their communication efforts.


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www.longviewtx.com


6 July/August

Keep Longview Beautiful Says ‘Thank You’ to Groups,Volunteers and Partners with Annual Awards Luncheon

KLB Annual Award - Hudson Printing Accepting are Celia Taylor (middle) and Tim Shaunessey

Linda Pursley Volunteer of the Year Award -

Kasha WilliamsAccepting from past

recipient Debbie Morrow(left)

Past President’s Plaque -Craig Ayers

Accepting from boardmember David Hayes (right)

Merit Award - Longview Oil City Top Teens of America Merit Award - Spring Hill Junior High Student Council

Merit Award - City of Longviewaccepting is Mayor Jay Dean Merit Award - Debbie Morrow

Merit Award -Gregg Countyaccepting is Lt.Anthony Boone

Merit Award -Tammy Cromer

Campbell

Also receiving Merit Awards from KLB for their donations o f time and money were: World of Wonders, Mary Jane Burnett (City ofLongview), Hayes RV and Amy Tatum (KLB Coordinator). Anyone interested in volunteering can visit


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www.longviewtx.com

Community Leadership and Development


Are you looking for a first class leadershipdevelopment program for your employees? If so,

Leadership Longview is theprogram for you. Since 1981,Leadership Longview hasserved as the premierorganization for leadershipdevelopment in ourcommunity.

The vision of LeadershipLongview is to serve as thecatalyst for progressive andeffective leadership in thecommunity and to strengthen and transform thecommunity of Longview through a program of leadership

Experience Leadership Longviewdevelopment and community study and involvement. Theeight month program begins in September and concludes

in April with graduation inMay during the Partnership’sannual Business Expoluncheon.

Leadership Longview is nowaccepting applications for the2010-2011 year.

Tuition for the program is$750 for Longview Chambermembers and $850 for allothers. Applications are

available online at www.longviewchamber.com or bycontacting Mary Whitton at 237-4003. Applicationdeadline is Friday, July 23.

Members of the 2009-2010 Leadership Longview class as well ascommunity leaders celebrate the dedication of Jennings Park at SeeSawPlace last spring.


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Representing the Interests of Business with Government

Afull day of meetings with elected officials and

federal agency leaders took place on Tuesday,

May 18th in Washington DC. Participants in the

2010 DC Fly-In had the opportunity to visit one on one

with Sen. John Cornyn, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and

Congressman Louie Gohmert on key issues such as the

projected high cost on business to implement the new

health care plan. Also discussed was the new Energy

Security Bill,

which is the

replacement

bill for Cap

and Trade

(known as

Cap and Tax).

Advocacy co-

chairs Tim

Vaughn,

TVaughn

Properties

LLC, and

Jeremy Dumond, US Steel, were both impressed with the

quality of speakers that Congressman Gohmert’s staff

coordinated for our business leaders. Tim Vaughn said, “I

thought it was interesting to hear from Emily Sanders with

the Immigration Reform Caucus’ perspective on such a

current topic as immigration reform, in particular the new

Arizona law which, according to her, followed federal law

that has not been enforced."

While Jeremy Dumond explained he enjoyed hearing Paul

Immigration, Health Care and More Hot Topics Discussed While in Washington D.C.

Vercher, U.S. Steel, discuss the positive ITC ruling from

earlier this year with Senator Cornyn. As the economy

waned in late 2008, over a year's supply of tubular goods,

manufactured in China, arrived at the Port of Houston

resulting in significant price impacts. The idling of several

of our facilities in Texas resulted from these unchecked

trade practices. With the support of various elected

officials and lengthy testimony by industry leaders in

Washington

D.C., a tariff

was imposed

on the import

of Chinese

tubular goods.

2008 and 2009

were tough

years for

business.

While 2010

has brought a

slow rebound,

there are still concerns about increased proposed

regulations, unfunded mandates and the unknown costs to

implement Obama’s Healthcare plan. More and more

businesses are being reminded of the importance of being

a Chamber member. Small businesses simply do not have

the time and expertise to stay on top of proposed

legislation at the federal level, explained small business

owner Tim Vaughn. That is why now, more than ever, the

business community needs to come together and hire the

Chamber to be their watchdog!

Longview Partnership members meet with Senator John Cornyn


www.longviewtx.com The Longview Progress Report 9


10 July/August www.longviewtx.com

One Year

Global Representatives

Texas Federal Credit Union

Benchmark Industrial Services

Clark & Porter – Dr. Charles H. Clark

The Write Solution

B & L Cabinet & Supply

Newk’s Express Café/AB Dining LLC

Dowden Building Materials

Hamill’s Flower & Gifts

Preferred Medical

Drivers Choice

Gregg County Crime Stoppers

Five Years

Heritage Mitsubishi

Jack O’Diamonds

Jarvis Christian College

Kokenzie Floor Store, Inc.

Ten Years

Hiway 80 Rescue Mission

Chief Justice Jim Worthen

Fifteen Years

Longview Community Ministries

Thieman & Associates, Inc.

Thirty-Five Years

East Texas Containers

Forty-Five Years

Trinity Rail

AnniversariesJuly 2010 August 2010

One Year

The Ranch Café

AHS Audiology

Money Tree Merchant Services

Overhead Door Company

East Texas Review/Trumpet Enterprises

Wells Fargo Advisors LLC – Jim C. Tachias

Bowen Chiropratic

Five Years

Evan’s World Travel & Cruises

St. Mary’s Catholic School

Ten Years

KBLZ KAZE KVEE Radio/White Oak Radio LP

Keep Longview Beautiful

Alvin Khoury

Fifteen Years

Comfort Suites

Fairfield Inn

Tatum Economic Development Corporation

East Texas Allergy & Asthma Associates PA



The Longview Progress Report 11www.longviewtx.com

Alliance Document ShreddingJim HellferichP O Box 1147

Sulphur Springs, TX 75483(903) 485-2373

Belcher CenterValerie Lewis

2100 S. Mobberly AvenueLongview, TX 75607

(903) 233-3073

Carl’s Jr.Ken Shotwell

411-A Loop 281Longview, TX 75605

(972) 687-9062

HealthCARE ExpressTina Baiter

1509 NW Loop 281Longview, TX 75604

(903) 740-0681

Mullikin InsuranceToby MullikinP O Box 1293

Marshall, TX 75670(903) 938-0012

SlushFunKaty Hull

ST97 Lake CherokeeHenderson, TX 75662

(903) 237-8995

Stragent FoundationBrenda Day

211 W Tyler Street Suite C-2Longview, TX 75601

(903) 230-9678

Providing Networking Opportunities

New Members

If you are in a band or a music group andwould like the chance to perform and haveyour talent discovered, we are looking for

entertainers for the Fall season to perform onehour during lunch in Heritage Plaza in

downtown Longview. Brown Bag Lunch Concert Series is in

conjunction with the Second Season of theDowntown Market. Vendors are urged to apply

now for the Fall Downtown Market.

For more information, contact:

Elaine Reynolds

Vice President, Downtown Development

Longview Partnership

Ph: 903.237.4040

[email protected]

HANDMADE • HOMEGROWN • LOCAL PEOPLE

The Downtown Market and Brown Bag LunchConcert Series


www.longviewtx.com


12 July/August

Are you ready for the upcoming changes that the newHealthcare Bill outlines? Many businesses are

confused about what they are to do and when. TheLongview Chamber will be providing regular updates ontheir website at www.longviewchamber.com. Be sure andselect Health Care on the left side of the home page andclick on Impact of New Law. Currently, we are showcasingthe U.S. Chamber and NFIB’s most recent webcast andsupporting documents which outline the bill and helpsdiffuse many of the myths that are still in play. We havealso provided you with several PDF files to download,which will help businesses understand the upcomingchanges. Downloadable files include:

• Critical Employer Issues in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Health Care Implementation Timeline (PDF)

• Aftermath: New Realities for Businesses in the Wake of the Health Care Law (PDF)

• Healthcare Reform Law: Timeline for Small Business (PDF)

• Five Unaffordable Facts About the New HealthcareLaw: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PDF)

What do you need to be ready for in 2010?• Small business tax credit: A temporary small

business tax credit is available for some firms who providequalified health coverage. However, the credit puts smallbusiness owners through a series of complicated tests todetermine the actual amount of the credit. (1) Very fewsmall firms will receive the full credit (only firms with 10employees or less). For firms with 11-25 employees, thecredit is reduced per employee. Firms with more than 25employees get NO credit. (2) Only firms who pay theirworkers an average of $25,000 or less are eligible for thefull credit. The credit is reduced as the average wage goesup, stopping when it reaches $50,000. (3) Only firms

covering 50% or more of insurance costs will be eligible.(4) The credit is only available for a maximum of six years.There are additional provisions for start-up firmsbeginning business after the enactment of this law.

• Age 26: Children may stay on their parents’ policiesuntil age 26.

• Tanning salon tax: A 10% excise tax on indoortanning services begins July 1.

• Economic substance doctrine: The bill alters long-standing judicial doctrine in ways that could reduce tax-planning options and increase litigation.

As well as collecting new information to help ourmembers, we will be posting additional information to ourwebsite at www.longviewchamber.com.

How Does the NEW Healthcare Bill Impact Your Business?



Strengthening the Local Economy

Green IT refers to the study and practice of usingcomputers and IT resources in a more efficient and

environmentally responsible way. Here are some simpleways for achieving greener IT:

Eliminate paper, printer, and packaging waste. Theaverage office worker used 130 pounds of paper in 2008,according to InfoTrends. Try tools such as Green Print tomake people “think before they print” and automaticallyeliminate things such as printing that extra page with onlya footer or disclaimer on it. Buy remanufactured tonercartridges and get personal ink cartridges refilled.

Reduce power consumption. “Set it and forget” tools, suchas smart power strips, automatically turn off peripheraldevices when you turn off the main device. When buyingnew equipment, look for EnergyStar 4.0 ratings and above.Try Edison, a free application that helps you monitorenergy use. Intuit QuickBooks’ customers can use IntuitGreen Snapshot to estimate their firms’ carbon footprint

and get recommendations to conserve energy and dollars.

Recycle old equipment. The Environmental ProtectionAgency estimates that only 18% of electronic waste wascollected for recycling in 2007. But it’s easy to recycle. AtGazelle, you can sell and/or recycle all kinds of electronicdevices, from mobile phones to printers. Through Dell’sand Goodwill’s Reconnect Partnership, you can donateunwanted devices. Or go online to IBM’s Asset RecoveryProgram and get a buyback quote for the value of 1 to 250items.

Transition from paper-based to digital processes. E-mailmarketing solutions are greener and more affordable,flexible, and interactive than direct mail. Free and low-costonline invoicing solutions such as Sage BillingBoss andFreshbooks and online faxing solutions such as Myfax andRingCentral Fax also help cut down on paper waste.

by Laurie McCabe, Partner, SMB Group; www.smb-gr.com

What is Green IT? (and why you should care)


www.longviewtx.com

Providing Networking Opportunities

14 July/August

One of the best kept secrets in management today is thepower of recognizing employees. Study after study

has demonstrated that what employees most want is to beacknowledged for the job they do day in and day out. Thisrecognition does not have to be anything fancy, in fact, thesimpler and more direct, the better. One of the mostmotivating forms of recognition as reported by employeesis very simple indeed: taking the time to personally thankan employee for something they did well. This seems veryobvious yet when was the last time you did it? If you aretypical, it has been some time. If this is the case, startthinking about who you will thank for his or her effortstoday.

To be the most effective, the thank you should come assoon as possible after the achievement or desired activityhas occurred. If you wait too long to thank a person, overtime the gesture will lose its significance. Implicitly, theemployee will figure that other things were moreimportant to you than taking a few minutes with him orher.

You need to also be very specific about what you arepraising the person for and why. Praisings that are toobroad tend to seem insincere. But saying, "Thanks forstaying late to finish those calculations I needed. It wascritical for my meeting this morning," specifically sayswhat and why an employee's effort was of value.

If you need a reminder, a form can be used. At Tektronix,Inc., the company instituted a simple way for managersand employees alike to focus on recognizing others fordoing something right. Dubbed the "You Done GoodAward," this simple certificate was printed in pads andcould be given to anybody in the company from anybodyelse in the company. On it, individuals stated what wasdone, who did it and when, and then gave the certificate tothe person.

The idea has caught on and is now part of life at Tektronix.Says one employee: "Even though people say nice thingsto you, it means something more when people take thetime to write their name on a piece of paper and say it." Another simple yet effective approach is to put notes onbusiness cards. Hohn Plunkett, Director of Employmentand Training for Cobb Electric Membership Corporation inMarietta, GA, says "People love to collect others' businesscards. Simply carry a supply of your cards with you and asyou "catch people doing something right," immediatelywrite "Thanks," "Good job," "Keep it up" and what they

specifically did in two to three words. Put the person'sname on the card and sign it.

Although less personal, messages left on telephone voice-mail or computer e-mail can be also be effective. All thesesimple gestures indicate that you are not too busy to missthe fact that an employee has done something special. As Ron Zemke, senior editor of Training magazine onceobserved: "Recognition is something a manager should bedoing all the time -- it's a running dialogue with people."The act of delivering simple, direct praise for a job welldone is so easy to do, yet so many managers do not do it.As a result they are robbing themselves and theiremployees of one of the most powerful forms by which toshape and reinforce desired performance -- and feel betterin the process. Try it, you'll like it--and so will those withwhom you work.

from “Return on People” by Bob Nelson, Ph.D. - president o fNelson Motivation Inc. in San Diego, CA; author o f “1001 Ways

to Reward Employees” and “1001 Ways to Energize Employees.”

Return on People: Simple Gestures Count the Most



Do you believe that Social Media is just a fad…or doyou believe it is a revolution? Perhaps the biggest

shift since the Industrial Revolution?

Erik Qualman is the author of Socialnomics: How socialmedia transforms the way we live and do business.Socialnomics™ is a blog designed to cover the latest trendsin social media. It primarily focuses on covering thelatest news on social media and what itmeans for users and businesses. A recentvideo on YouTUBE¸ presented bySocialnomics™ frames socialmedia in a way that staggers ourcommon perceptions.

• Over 50% of the world’spopulation is under 30 years old.

• 96% of Millennials havejoined a social network.

• Facebook tops Google forweekly traffic in the U.S.

• Years to reach 50 million users:• Radio - 38 years• TV - 13 years• Internet - 4 years• iPod - 3 years• It took Facebook less than a year to add over 200 million users.

• US Department of Education study revealed thatonline students out performed those receiving face-to-faceinstruction. (http://tinyurl.com/gov-eval) p. 32.

• 80% of companies use social media for recruitmentand these companies use LinkedIn 95% of the time.

• The fastest growing segment on Facebook is 55-65year-old females.

Do we have a choice on whether we DO social media?According to Erik Qualman, We don’t. The question is,how well do we DO it? All divisions of the LongviewPartnership have adopted a strategy to make use of social

media to communicate with others but even more todevelop and nurture relationships. Qualman says,“Successful companies in social media act more like DaleCarnegie and less like Mad Men – Listening first, sellingsecond.”

• What happens in Vegas…stays on…facebook…twitter…renren.com…flickr…YouTUBE…and so on.(renren.com is a facebook clone in China)

• YouTUBE is the 2nd largest searchengine in the world

• Over 100 hours of video areuploaded to YouTUBE every 5

minutes.• Wikipedia has over 15

million articles – Studies showit’s as accurate asEncyclopedia Britannica –78% of these articles are non-

English

How well do you know what yourcustomers and your market think

about your products, your brand? SocialMedia is one place to become tuned in.

• There are over 200,000,000 Blogs• 34% of bloggers post opinions about products and

brands – do you know what they are saying about yourbrand? YOU BETTER..

• 78% of consumers trust peer recommendations• 60 million status updates happen on Facebook daily• We no longer search for the news, the news finds us.• We will no longer search for products and services

they will find us via social media.• Social Media isn’t a fad, it’s a fundamental shift in the

way we communicate.

Still think social media is a fad? Integrating social mediainto a business marketing plan has already becomeessential. The return on investment in social media will bethat a business will still exist in 5 years.

Social Fad . . . or Social Revolution?




Public relations (PR) efforts, like advertising, can helpto build business and product awareness among

target buyers and end users, often at a fraction of thecost of advertising. Many small and large businessesconsciously utilize PR as a way to obtain free advertisingabout their products and services. PR can be an effectiveway to generate valuable word-of-mouth advertising,sometimes due to the greater credibility and availabilityof information provided in editorial articles andinterviews with your company personnel.

How persuasive is PR? Free media publicity was largelyresponsible for the brief (1989-90), frenetic ground swellfor consumption of oat bran as an anti-cancer food.Melatonin, a naturally produced substance that aidssleep and may be an anti-aging product, is another PRcraze, with newspaper, magazine, and electronic mediadiscussing positive preliminary research results. Healthfood companies cash in on this free publicity, withoutspending funds for advertising, promotion, or publicrelations.

Snapple, the tea-based beverage, achieved sales in thehundreds of millions with zany PR programs thatgenerated millions of dollars in free publicity. After the

Snapple brand was purchased by Quaker Oats, the zanyPR stopped and sales declined. The Body Shop, an earth-friendly, pro-community/people cosmetics companywith hundreds of millions of dollars in sales, works onlywith PR events to promote its business.

PR can leverage advertising and promotion programs.PR events can leverage the effects of advertising andpromotion programs by tying all these marketingelements together. For example, a local on-site PR eventfor an automotive service company could includeerecting a hospitality tent for company sales personnel toentertain key buyers at a local auto race. The local chainstore buyers and car-owner end users could be exposedto ad messages on billboards, from announcers, and onrace cars with the company logo.Buyers and end users could be given a free promotionalsample to take home and try in their cars.

Public relations is an ongoing process and must beworked at every day on every level of your businessfrom the way you deal with your employees to howquickly you shovel the snow from in front of yourestablishment. Make it a habit to constantly consider theimage you are projecting. It's a good one to have.

London Broadcasting Company is the first highdefinition broadcast station in the Tyler-Longview

market with CBS programming. Their main service isproviding advertising forlocal businesses. JohnGaston, VicePresident/General Manager,says, “Our company iscommunity-oriented,committed to publicservice…..Texas Born….Texas Proud….We Are Texas.”

Established in 2004, London Broadcasting Company isproud of their 84 employees and the contributions they

make to our community. The company supports theLongview Partnership because they believe theirmembership is a way to better serve East Texas. The

LondonBroadcastingCompany is alsothe first station tobroadcast a localHispanic newscast. The Longview

Partnership is proud to recognize London BroadcastingCompany and their role in making East Texas a great placeto live.

Watch Chuck McDonald and Gillian Sheridan on CBS 19 at 6 and 10 p.m.

BUSINESS PROFILE: London Broadcasting Company, Inc.

Public Relations Ideas for YOUR Business



JULY

5 LP Office closed for 4th of July Holiday

9 11:30 a.m. Member2Member Orientation Session at LP

12 3:30 p.m. LP Executive Committee Meeting

14 Noon Leadership Longview Committee Meeting

15 4:00 p.m. LP Board Meeting

22 5:00 p.m. Business After Hours Networking Event

Hosted by Patterson Nissan

28 Noon One Hundred Acres of Heritage Main Street Advisory Board Meeting

AUGUST

11 Noon Leadership Longview Committee Meeting

13 11:30 a.m. Member2Member Orientation Session at LP

15 3:30 p.m. LP Executive Committee Meeting

19 4:00 p.m. LP Board Meeting

24 5:00 p.m. Business After Hours Networking Event

Hosted by Kelly Services and 2C Processor USA

25 Noon One Hundred Acres of Heritage Main Street Advisory Board Meeting

CALENDAR



410 N. Center StreetLongview, TX 75601

903-237-4000www.longviewtx.com

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT NO. 82LONGVIEW, TX


july/august 2010 longview progress report

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