Author - AABC

Why You’re Not Comfortable Making Videos

By Stephanie Ward, Firefly Coaching Are you using video as one of your marketing strategies to grow your business? If not, I want to help you get started. I have a challenge for you, watch this short video (less than 2 minutes) to find out more.

Here are four ways you can use video in your business.

  1. You as a ‘talking head’ sharing valuable information that the people in your community can use is a great way to connect with people because they can see you and experience you. It’s the next best thing to speaking ‘live’ in person.
  2. You can interview experts that provide information relevant to your audience.
  3. Websites can be overwhelming and sometimes you don’t know where to start. A short video that provides an overview or tour of the website will help visitors know what’s available and where to go next.
  4. Ask your clients if they would be willing to record a short video about their experience with your business. It’s great exposure for your clients as well. You can also ask attendees of your talks or workshops to give their video feedback after the program.
© Stephanie Ward Share this article:

Interview with Renee Nielsen of Republicans Abroad

The AABC's interview with Renee Nielsen: Representative for Republicans Abroad in The Netherlands

AABC: What is the role of the Republicans Abroad in the Netherlands? Renee Nielsen: The role of Republicans Abroad is to assist US citizens with voter registration and to work with our host country to help understand what the GOP stands for. [Republicans Abroad] is a soft place to fall for like-minded friendly discussion. AABC: Do you feel that the interests of Americans living abroad are being considered/addressed in the election and the US government? RN: The interests of Americans living abroad were absolutely not considered in the past. We are a neglected group of citizens because we are not a concentrated constituency. Our votes are diluted with other homeland American voters whose local issues take priority over ours as they outnumber us in the counties we are required to register our votes in. However, in this election cycle, the GOP has stepped forward and is hearing those of us living abroad. This is thanks in part to the Republicans Overseas organization with their lawsuits against the Federal Government. RO and other groups against FATCA have gotten the party leadership’s attention — including that of Reince Priebus who is chairman of the Republican National Committee. Republicans Abroad Netherlands is doing our best to promote RO’s fine work. There is congressional panel being convened to investigate FATCA and Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) has recently introduced HR5935 to go even further in its assistance toward financial relief for American citizens living abroad. More information about this issue can be found at the Republicans Abroad Netherlands website, Facebook and Twitter pages. AABC: As a representative for Republicans Abroad, what are your views on the election? RN: It is an extremely unusual election and Trump is not a traditional GOP candidate in general because he is not a politician, but we do support our party’s nominee as the one to bring about change. Change for many overseas voters may be in regards to party their traditional party alliance as ordinary Americans living their lives lawfully and peacefully are fearful of the IRS and Treasury departments targeting of their private affairs and being denied bank accounts in their country of residence. Therefore, the luxury of traditional partisan voting may be "trumped" by the reality that only a GOP President is likely to sign any repeal for FATCA and establish residency-based taxation. These two crucial positions have now been established formally within the GOP platform. The Safe Harbor option being pushed as an alternative doesn't go far enough because it still requires the US citizen to fill out paperwork exempting themselves from taxes and still completely avoids the larger issue on establishing residency-based taxation. This is because Americans living abroad are being used as an easily-targeted (sometimes double-taxed!) revenue generator by the US Government — even though we already pay taxes in our countries of residence. We at RA-NL are thrilled the GOP is taking the lead on financial relief for millions of everyday Americans living ordinary lives outside the USA. The thought of waiting at least 4 or even 8 more years without resolution and relief from FATCA has transcended tradition party allegiance this election cycle based on the phone calls RA-NL is receiving. This may sound like a broken record, but it is reality. AABC: How can Americans abroad make a difference in the election? RN: Vote. The GOP has reached out to Americans living abroad and has started to hear and understand how badly we are being treated. A vote is the only way we have to voice our disapproval for policies. Unless and until they remove the vote for US citizens living outside the United States, we must make our voices heard. We as Americans abroad have the right to be considered as a constituency with our own unique issues such as FACTA and residency-based taxation. Visit fvap.gov to register to vote. "I Voted" photo credit: bludgeoner86 on Flickr Share this article:

Cold Acquisition Is a Process

By Marie-Claire van Poelje, Driven Sales and Support

Really busy, but also in need of new clients...

Does that look familiar? One of the ways to find new clients is by phone acquisition. Who has the guts (and the energy) to just pick up the phone and make "cold calls" to offer their products or services? Cold acquisition is a process. Some of the keys to success are: perseverance, a good elevator pitch, planning, and keeping in mind who your prospects are and why you want to do business with them! marie-claire-van-poelje-foto

How do I do it?

I have done several phone acquisition assignments for clients of Driven Sales and Support. The first step in this is making an adequate list of potential clients. Together with the client, you must determine which branches to approach and whether their location is important. Additionally, it is vital to know the right contact (decision maker) to talk to. I practice my elevator pitch before I pick up the phone, so I am optimally prepared to call the prospect. In my experience, it's often not possible to speak to the decision maker right away. The phone is usually answered by the "gatekeepers": receptionists, operators, secretaries, personal assistants etc. They play an important role in contacting the right person. After all, they are the ones to decide whether the phone call is of interest to their manager, the decision maker. That's why it's important to treat the gatekeepers with respect! Then, after you're put through to the right contact, the first minute of your conversation is key. Experience shows that this is when they decide whether or not to continue the conversation. One way to start is by opening with a current issue in the branch. Another possible opening is mentioning an item in the news the prospect is confronted with. If the conversation goes well and the prospect recognizes the problem, you can propose to make an appointment to talk further. Share this article:

Interview with Bob Bragar of Democrats Abroad

interview-bob-bragar-democrats-abroad-nl

The AABC's interview with Bob Bragar:
Immigration Attorney and Representative for Democrats Abroad in The Netherlands

September 22, 2016 De Huyschkaemer, Amsterdam AABC: What is the role of Democrats Abroad (DA) in the Netherlands? Bob Bragar: DA exists to represent Americans living outside the United States who would like to support Democratic candidates or have an affiliation with the Democratic Party. DA is technically considered a “state” within the Democratic Party. As such, we are represented as part of the Democratic National Committee, just as any other state. Our delegates cast votes at the Democratic National Convention to select the Democratic candidate for the presidency of the United States. I was elected and served as a delegate in support of President Obama back in 2008, and was a super delegate for Hillary Clinton this year. According to the State Department, there are 6-8 million Americans living outside of the United States. The Federal voting system allows for individuals not living in the United States to vote. Democrats Abroad’s core mission is to help register Americans to vote and to ensure that our voices are heard in the halls of the Congress. AABC: Do you feel that the interests of Americans living abroad are being considered/addressed in the election and U.S. government? BB: Yes, but not enough. The constant challenge of DA is to knock on Congress’s door and say, “don’t forget about us.” Case in point was when Congress was going to pass the Affordable Care Act. They were going to include all Americans living abroad in the penalties section for failing to comply with ACA. We were able to successfully remind and convince Congress to exclude non-residents from the ACA penalties. Similarly, DA constantly lobbies on behalf of its constituents on matters ranging from tax reform, specifically FATCA, to social security and Medicare reform, as well as other matters that impact expatriates in very real ways. AABC: As a representative, what are your views on the election? BB: This election is extremely close. This is why we strongly encourage everyone to vote, even if you’re living abroad. This is one of the most, if not THE most, important elections in U.S. history. Do your part to be a part of this historic election. AABC: How can Americans abroad make a difference in the election? BB: VOTE! Get your friends to vote. I encourage everyone to call 10 American friends and remind them to register to vote if they have not done so already. The deadline for absentee voter registration is fast approaching. If you don’t register to vote before the second or third week of October, at the very latest, you will likely not be able to cast a vote in this important election. Don’t let that happen! Voting is an attribute of U.S. Citizenship and your civic duty. Be a part of the process. Please visit VoteFromAbroad.org to register to vote. If you have any questions, feel free to reach us at DemocratsAbroad.org. "Vote Here" photo credit: katbaro on Flickr Share this article:

Saving or Investing: Is There a Difference?

BGA-blog-post-2016-09 By Beacon Global Advisers Financially speaking, the terms “saving” and “investing” are often used interchangeably. But the concepts behind these terms actually have some important differences. Understanding these differences and taking advantage of them may help you in working toward financial goals for you and your family. Saving You may want to set aside money for a specific, identifiable expense. You park this money someplace relatively safe and liquid so you can get the amount you want when you need it. According to the Securities and Exchange Commission brochure Saving and Investing, “savings are usually put into the safest places, or products, that allow you access to your money at any time. Savings products include savings accounts, checking accounts, and certificates of deposit.” Some deposits may be insured (up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured institution) by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the National Credit Union Administration. Savings instruments generally earn interest. However, the likely tradeoff for liquidity and security is typically lower returns. Investing While saving money may be an important objective, your goal might be to realize a return on your money. Using your money to buy assets with the hope of receiving a profit or gain is generally referred to as investing. Think of investing as putting your money to work for you--in return for a potentially higher return, you accept a greater degree of risk. With investing, you don’t know whether or when you’ll realize a gain. The money you invest usually is not federally insured. You could lose the amount you’ve invested (e.g., your principal), but you also have the opportunity to earn more money, especially compared to typical savings vehicles. The investment is often held for a longer period of time to allow for growth. It is important to note, though, that all investing involves risk, including the loss of principal, and there is no assurance that any investing strategy will be successful. What’s the difference? Whether you prefer to use the word “saving” or “investing” isn’t as important as understanding how the underlying concepts fit into your financial strategy. When it comes to targeting short-term financial goals (e.g., making a major purchase in the next three years), you may opt to save. For example, you might set money aside (i.e., save) to create and maintain an emergency fund to pay regular monthly expenses in the event that you lose your job or become disabled, or for short-term objectives like buying a car or paying for a family vacation. You might consider putting this money in a vehicle that’s stable and liquid. Think of what would happen if you were to rely on investments that suddenly lost value shortly before you needed the funds for your purchase or expense. Saving generally may not be the answer for longer-term goals. One of the primary reasons is inflation--while your principal may be stable, it might be losing purchasing power. Instead, you may opt to purchase investments to try to accumulate enough to pay for large future expenses such as your child’s college or your retirement. Generally, saving and investing work hand in hand. For instance, you may save for retirement by investing within an employer retirement account. Why is it important? Both saving and investing have a role in your overall financial strategy. The key is to balance your saving and investing with your short- and long-term goals and objectives. Overemphasize saving and you might not achieve the return you need to pursue your long-term goals. Ignore saving and you increase the risk of not being able to meet your short-term objectives and expenses. Get it right and you increase your chances of staying on plan. Disclosure Beacon Global Advisers – a division of Beacon Global Group - does not provide tax or legal advice. None of the information in this article should be considered tax or legal advice. You should consult your tax or legal advisers for information concerning your own specific tax/legal situation. Securities offered through Regulus Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Regal Investment Advisors, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Regulus Advisors and Regal Investment Advisors are affiliated entities. Beacon Global Advisers is independent of Regulus Advisors and Regal Investment Advisors. Share this article:

Veronica Guguian

Veronica is a marketing expert and the founder of SPIN Ideas, a company specialized in marketing for startups and SMEs. She started SPIN Ideas because she is passionate about discovering the story behind the company and turning it into a marketing strategy. Veronica has been a member of the AABC since 2010 and joined the Board in 2016 to help with the club’s marketing and communication strategy. Contact Veronica at: marketing@aabc.nl “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” — Steve Jobs

Stef – Southern Wild

When I was a freelancer I had ad agency clients in the US and came across the AABC, so I signed up to get a better idea about US business culture and information about how to connect with Americans. After joining I got 3 new clients through connections I made at the AABC, including Nike and global publisher IDG. —Stef, Southern Wild