Get Direct Mail Working For You

By Andrew Brown [ 11/12/2007 ]
[ viewed 6 times ]

With the advent and rapid growth of email, some may think that direct mail is a thing of the past. But make no mistake: direct mail is here to stay. Certainly, if not executed well, direct mail can appear impersonal to consumers. However, with a clear strategy, goals and the customer/recipient in mind, direct mail can be a significant marketing asset for your business.

To ensure an effective direct mail campaign, it’s important to be clear about its strengths. Direct mail is a valuable, cost-effective way to tell your customers who you are and what your business offers. Specifically, direct mail campaigns offer customers a chance to learn about your business while helping you to:
• Generate sales and orders
• Promote a new product or service
• Build brand recognition
• Drive traffic to your store, site, etc.
• Cultivate long-term customer relationships

In fact, many marketers consider direct mail to have advantages over other forms of advertising and marketing. Since it is targeted, it allows you to focus on a specific market audience. These resulting efficiencies make direct mail highly cost effective. And, unlike some forms of marketing, direct mail is measurable and able to be tracked.

Keeping these attributes in mind, it’s important to determine how direct mail’s advantages align with your product or service. Start by asking a couple of questions: Can you product or service take advantage of the targeting direct mail offers? And, are you selling a product that you could reasonably expect people to order or request more information on through a mailer?

If your answer to these questions is “yes,” here are some important tactics necessary for the success of any direct mail initiative:

List, offer, creative
This is the order in which you should focus the elements of your direct mail strategy. First, without a list that’s reaching your desired target audience, no offer or creative will matter. Second, your offer is the promotion you are highlighting in this particular campaign – it should be tailored to what you know to be your customers’ unique needs. Finally, the creative is the copy, text and/or package that presents the offer. Most people spend too much time on the creative when in reality, an unattractive package to a targeted list always will outperform a pretty package to an average, generic list.

Start a “swipe” file
Keep a file of the recent promotions you’ve received that have caught your attention or motivated you to buy. Think about the various elements discussed above: what are the creative elements that stand out? What is it about the offer that attracts you or encouraged you to purchase? Make a list of these characteristics and continue to update it – it will serve as critical input for creating your own direct mail campaigns.

Test, test, test!
Testing is critical when it comes to direct mail. In fact, a major benefit of direct mail is its ability to use test results to improve the results of a mailing.

First, you must test the list. To do this, you must mail to a representative cross section of the list. There is a debate on what that percentage is, but to ensure relative statistical significance, you need to mail to 2000 names or 5% of your list, whichever is greater. Also, indicate the names you have mailed to so if the test is successful, you don’t mail to them again.

Then, test your copy. Take part of your list and mail them one letter; at the same time, mail a different copy to the rest of the list.

Finally, test your offer. Do you offer one product in your mailing or several? Is there a gift or bonus? In the same way, you can test different price points.

Know the “math of success”
Make sure you know the “math of success,” that is, the formula that will show whether or not your direct mail campaign is succeeding. Before the proliferation of e-mail, response rates used to be at 2%; now, they tend to remain steady at 1%. Be sure that the math works: # of pieces mailed * response rate * conversion rate (those that actually send you money). If you can make money when all is said and done, then you’re on the right track.

Most important: while direct mail is an effective and proven customer acquisition tool, direct marketers actually make money of what is often referred to as the “second sale.” Customer retention – and building valuable customer relationships – is the true goal of all direct marketing efforts. You’re paying for the lifetime value of that customer – keep this top of mind as you are on the direct mail journey.

About the author:
Andrew Brown and Small Business Guru provide Coaching, Inspiration and Practical Advice for Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs. Subscribe to the free, weekly newsletter at www.small-business-guru.com

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Making a Blog Network and Promoting Affiliate Products

By Robert Bell [ 24/12/2007 ]
[ viewed 4 times ]

It is very important for you to choose the right programs. There are just thousands and thousands of products out there that choosing may be a bit difficult. You may be considering using Contextual Affiliate Products, these affiliate programs include companies include Adsense. When you choose to use contextual affiliate programs you want to make sure that the products you choose are perfect for your site. Being a blog, it could have a few different categories, so the possibilities are endless when it comes to choose products. Keep in mind when choosing these ads is to stay on topic, if you have a blog about cars then don’t out an affiliate program for cats on there. You won’t make any money.

Ask yourself why people are coming to your blog, seek out the strengths and weaknesses of the blog and choose programs according to the strengths. Try to figure out what the intention is of the people who are coming to your blog. Do they come to read and post or do they just browse and leave. Choose products that are fun and interesting. If they are boring, no one is going to buy anything. Make sure the programs are practical. If you have a blog on pets, they use affiliate programs on pet toys or pet food, pet owners always are in need of food and toys.

Placement of the affiliate programs is very important. If your blog gets more readers in a certain area then place the ads there. Place them where the bloggers are going to see them. Try to keep the affiliate programs visible to all readers. This may have to be done by trail and error. If you see that the programs are not working in some places but are working well in others then you may have to do some rearranging. If you see that ads are not doing so well, then it may be time to change them. You are not committed to keep the same products, if something isn’t working then change it around. It can only help you in the end.

About the author:
Visit Blogger Poster for more infos.

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Writing a Winning Business Plan

By karl Johnston [ 07/12/2007 ]
[ viewed 13 times ]

Writing a Business Plan?
And the Necessary Sections of the Business Plan

A business plan is a devise used to develop or define business initiatives. It is often compared to a blueprint or road map. Planning a business and mapping out its course can prevent serious mistakes and uncover fatal defects. Errors made on paper are less devastating and, in most cases, can be easily corrected. Errors made during the actual operation of the business, however, can prove detrimental to its future existence.

A business plan outlines where a company currently stands, where it anticipates to be in the future and how it intends to get there. The plan details who is or who will be controlling all decisions made within the organization. It describes the product/service being offered. It provides background information on the industry, a description of the market in terms of size and growth, a profile of the target consumer, an analysis of existing competition, methods for distributing products, defined pricing strategies, and all promotional vehicles intended to be employed. The business plan also provides details on the company's selected suppliers of materials, the production process, licenses and permits required, capital asset requirements, proprietary information, facility specifications, and details regarding research & development.

One of the most important areas of a business plan is the financial projections. The financial projections forecast the potential profitability and capital requirements of the proposed enterprise. Well developed business plans include a three year forecast of the income statement, balance sheet, cash-flow statement, break-even analysis, sensitivity analysis, and ratio analysis.

A business plan is not a magical tool ensuring success. Moreover, the act of creating a business plan does not create financial stability for its author. A business plan, on the other hand, is a tool used to help determine the feasibility of a new venture, to determine the visibility of an expansion for an existing business, or to determine whether a newly developed initiative will provide profitable results.

The remaining topics to be addressed under this topic include the following:

PART A. Three Types of Business Plans
PART B. Sections of a Business Plan



PART A. - THREE TYPES OF BUSINESS PLANS:

The three (3) types of business plans include a Full Business Plan, a Brief Business Plan and an Operational Business Plan.

The Full Business Plan is prepared by entrepreneurs or organizations requiring large amounts of financing. In addition, aspiring entrepreneurs usually develop a full business plan to add credibility to themselves and to their proposed venture. Furthermore, these entrepreneurs usually have little business experience and therefore must prove to investors that they have "schooled" themselves in the activities of the industry and are aware of what they are getting into.

Depending upon the complexity of the proposed business, a Full Business Plan can range between forty and eighty pages in length. The format provided under the "Writing a Winning Business Plan" section outlines how to develop a Full Business Plan.

A Brief Business Plan is much shorter; generally between twenty and thirty pages in length. It summaries all major functional areas of a business. It is usually created by an existing business who requires an increase in their operating loan or require a loan for a planned expansion. Furthermore, since a banker usually has a basic knowledge of the existing business (from prior visits or loan applications), fewer details are required and focus tends to be placed on the company's past ability to repay loans or other debt. A Brief Business Plan can also be used to stimulate an investor's interest and/or to monitor their reaction to the existing/proposed product or service.

An Operational Business Plan is used by existing businesses to forecast their upcoming year's revenues, expenses, cash inflows & outflows, break-even point, sensitivity analysis etc. This type of business plan is often developed on an annual basis to keep key employees focused on the organization's goals, objectives, and strategies. Furthermore, an Operational Business Plan generally is prepared for internal purposes only - it's not used as a tool to apply for bank loans or acquire capital from investors.


PART B. - SECTIONS OF A BUSINESS PLAN

All business plans have a basic format or structure. Below outlines and briefly describes each component of a business plan.


THE TITLE PAGE
The title page of a business plan depicts the company's name and address. The name and contact number of the owner/CEO is also provided in a standard title page. Additionally, some business plan writers include a confidentiality and proprietary statement along with a disclaimer of securities. As you may suspect, the title page is one page in length.


THE TABLE OF CONTENTS
The table of contents outlines a chronological listing of all sections and subsections of your business plan. Page numbering is used to reduce the reader's search for specific information. Most business plan writers place the table of contents on one or two pages; three pages are too many.


THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The executive summary highlights the most crucial aspects of each major business plan section. Its purpose is to entice readers (investors) so that they continue to read the entire plan. The length of an executive summary usually ranges between two and five pages.


THE MISSION & STRATEGY STATEMENTS
Your mission statement details where your business is currently and where it intends to be in the future. The strategy statement usually outlines the tactics you intend to employ in order to achieve your company's missions, objectives and goals. The average length of this section generally ranges from one to four pages.


MANAGEMENT & STAFFING SECTION
This section of the business plan details your company's planned or existing management team, outside supporters, strategic alliances and staffing requirements. The Management & Staffing section must prove to investors that you have developed or intend to develop, a Team that will produce the results outlined throughout your business plan.


THE OPERATIONS OF YOUR COMPANY
The operations section of the business plan will provide basic information on the company's current situation and/or background information for existing businesses. Other topics addressed under this section include direct material requirements, the production process, facility specifications, permits & licenses, research & development initiatives, capital asset requirement, milestones, and external influences just to name a few.


THE MARKETING & PROMOTIONS SECTION
The Marketing and Promotions section of your business plan provides background information on the industry, a description of the market in terms of size and growth, a profile of your target market, an analysis of your competition, distribution channels, your pricing strategies, and the promotional vehicles you intend to employ. The marketing & promotions section of the business plan is one of the most important sections and therefore, great consideration should be given to its structure and level of detail.


THE FINANCIAL PLAN
The Financial plan is possibly the most scrutinized section of any business plan. It usually consists of three parts, namely 1) an introduction, 2) the forecasted financial statements, and 3) notes to the forecasted financial statements.

The introduction tells the reader what he/she is expected to find under the financial plan. The forecasted financial statements consist of projections over a three year period of the following items; forecasted income statement, balance sheet, cash-flow statement, break-even analysis, sensitivity analysis, and ratio analysis. The Notes to the Financial Statements summarize or explain the "assumptions" made by the entrepreneur when creating the forecasted financial statements.


THE APPENDICES
The appendix provides information and/or documents that support any claim made throughout the body of the business plan. Letters of intent from suppliers & customers, supporting charts & diagrams, resumes, patent or trademark documents, quotations, financial budgets, floor plans, facility layouts, and demographic charts are common examples of items appearing in an appendix of a business plan.

There are some strict guidelines to follow when structuring your business plan. The title page always appears as the first page of the business plan. The table of contents will then follow. The executive summary must follow the table of contents. Appearing after the executive summary will be your mission and strategy statements.

The sequence of the next three sections is left up to the entrepreneur. Moreover, placement of Management & Staffing section, the Marketing & Promotion section, and the Operation's section usually depends on the flow of the business plan. The Financial Plan will be the next section to appear. Finally, the Appendices will ALWAYS appear as the final section of your business plan.

About the author:
Karl Johnston has over 15 years experience in helping individuals start and expand a business. He has written well over 100 business plans which resulted in helping acquire the financing needed to start and expand the client's business venture. Johnston has currently launched a website consisting of over 5,000 pages of FREE business information that helps people start and grow any business. To view this free infromation, visit www.peibiz.com

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Pursue Your Hobby as Serious Business Opportunity

By dylan sun [ 09/12/2007 ]
[ viewed 13 times ]

When it comes to the field of business opportunity through internet sourcing, there are a wide of variety of ideas which can be chosen according to the hobby which is closer to the heart. The business opportunity idea will utilize the skills possessed for the hobby as a resource to generate further income through global sourcing. Launching the blog in the area of interest and generating web content for multinational purchasing is a simple way to pursue the hobby in a big way to make money online.

-Business Opportunity and Website Traffic

Large amount of revenue can be generated by referring the website traffic to an online affiliate program idea. The business opportunity can easily be understood by any internet savvy. Many business owners are raking serious income through easy online home business opportunity for global sourcing. It requires lot of will power and hard work on the part of entrepreneur with guidance in the beginning. Hard work, skill and follow up are required to make a multinational purchasing deal succeed and reap profits. But, unlike traditional trade practices, internet sourcing is done by experts and professionals in the field.

-Benefits of Affiliate Program

All that the business owner is to do is just to direct the traffic into affiliate site with call center facility, which further takes care of the business. Without knowing the secret of the online business opportunity it is difficult to reap the benefits in global sourcing. The secret lies in the way the affiliate business opportunity is marketed through internet sourcing. The power of text affiliate links should dominate, outsell and outdo the colorful banner advertisements all the time. In most of the business opportunity programs available on the internet, affiliate links are provided in the order of effectiveness.It is very much necessary that the ugly, simple, plain textual ads should outdo and outsell the beautiful banner ads posted by Google Adsense. Google is very successful in posting PPC textual ads which are very much relevant to the search enquired through the search engine.The internet business opportunity should be treated in business sense and not merely as an opportunity in this age of fraudulent get-rich scams which promise huge profits in global sourcing.One has to tread with precaution before embarking on the business.The business opportunity usually comes with minimum monetary risk with maximum potential.

About the author:
Tootoo.com, the leading B2B platform, combining vertical search engine with value added service portal. It has more than 430 000 China quality suppliers and provides top quality B2B services to both sellers and buyers worldwide.
news.tootoo.com, which is the shortcut to China's industrical resource belonging to China's leading B2B Portal and Vertical Search Engine, tootoo.com.

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Printed Mouse Mats with Business Logo

By Victoria Brown [ 26/12/2007 ]
[ viewed 1 times ]

It is generally regarded that a good promotional product helps in increasing the business by promoting the brand name of an organisation. It is a kind of the promotional campaign which will help the company in managing its advertisements and marketing skills in an efficient manner. Thus, as a management policy, working on the branding solution is very important which makes workers and business clients aware of the product through its promotional campaign. In order to promote the business of an organisation, the printed mouse mats is a good marketing technique which will help in making a perfect promotional item to clients and co-workers respectively.

Why mouse mats?
The promotional mouse mats are a wonderful gift which can be a good corporate and business gift. It can also be gifted for house hold purposes where it will serve a proper purpose as a computer accessory. Besides from that, it will also serve the purpose of making ample space for carrying the profile of a company which will be promoted along with its logo and services which often include the latest offering by the company. The promotional mouse mat which comes in various shapes, sizes and colours will provide all the marketing solution by making an organisation famous among its clientele. Such printed mouse mats will help the company in representing its useful information which cannot be made in other promotional gifts such as pen or mugs. Apart from a promotional item, it will carry certain amount of intangible marketing skill which will make the user aware of the company which is printed upon the printed mouse mats.

These mouse mats when gifted to the employee, business friend and consumers, will help the company in making a healthy business relationship. Such small gestures speak a lot about a company which looks after the needs of its employee and clients. Providing promotional gifts are not to be considered as a pure money making policy at the part of an organisation. Making a promotional item and distribution will help in providing a client with something in return from the company which appreciates them.

These promotional mats come in various materials such as plastic, fibre and some are fitted with calculator. They are embossed with the name of the company, are cost efficient and are the affordable method of marketing the name of the company for a longer duration of time with just a one time initial investment rather than big budget T.V advertisement campaigns.

Where to order them from?
In terms of promotional items, Click Promo Gift is the premium UK based company, which deals in all the promotional gift items that can be previewed at www.clickpromogifts.com. For more information regarding their printed mouse mats and promotional mouse mat, visit the website www.clickpromogifts.com.

About the author:
Victoria Brown is the founder of clickpromogifts a dynamic and modern promotional mouse mats and printed mouse mats company which has begun to dominate the UK promotional products market by offering a massive range of products at value prices. For more information visit www.clickpromogifts.com.


Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Why Promotional Mugs?

By Victoria Brown [ 26/12/2007 ]
[ viewed 3 times ]

Promotional mugs are one of the best promotional gifts that can be given to your clients, prospective customers or your business associates. They are very useful product and are used by almost everyone. Some people drink their favourite beverages in these mugs while other may use it for other purposes such as a pen stand.

At www.clickpromogifts.com you can select any promotional gifts that can be used for advertising your company, your products and your services. You can get your logo printed on these promotional mugs and distribute it to your clients, customers and your business associates. We at clickpromogifts.com, have a variety of other promotional gifts apart from the promotional mugs. You can select any promotional item and feel the difference in your business output.

Ordering through the website is the easiest way of ordering. You need not waste your time in search of promotional mugs in stores. You can easily visit the website www.clickpromogifts.com and view all the different printed mugs that are available with us. We have numerous designs and styles of printed mugs to choose from. You can get the full details about our promotional mugs on our website.

Once you have made the selection, you can give us your design. The design may include your logo, your brand name, the message that you wish to convey or any other graphic. You can contact our graphic designer at www.clickpromogifts.com to help you in it. He can help you to create a design that suits the printed mug and then you can get it printed on the promotional mugs.

You can select either a bone china mug or an earthenware mug. If you wish to buy a promotional gift that is unbreakable and lasts longer then plastic mugs are best option. These mugs do not break easily and are very durable.

If your budget allows, travel mugs are a good choice for you. These promotional mugs add mobility to your advertisement as the person would carry it along with him wherever he goes. In this way the other people around may also view it and would get to know about your company.

www.clickpromogifts.com offers these promotional gifts at a very low price. You can select your promotional product and get it personalised by getting your brand name printed on it. A box packing would make this promotional gift look more appealing and attractive. At the same time, it would help you in building the reputation of your organization. The websites also provides a good variety of box packing at nominal cost. You can choose any of this packing for your printed mug.

About the author:
Victoria Brown is the founder of clickpromogifts a dynamic and modern promotional mugs and printed mugs company which has begun to dominate the UK promotional products market by offering a massive range of products at value prices. For more information visit www.clickpromogifts.com.

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Things To Consider When Designing and Printing Marketing Collateral

By Colleen Davis [ 26/12/2007 ]
[ viewed 1 times ]

In addition to the size, style, design, and message, you need to include in your list of things to consider when printing your marketing collateral your color. (This is assuming of course, that you have already picked the promotional collateral that you will create, e.g. brochures, flyers, postcards, or posters.)

Color is among the most essential elements in your marketing collateral. In fact, studies have shown that marketing materials such as brochure printing pieces, flyers, and poster printing items get more attention when done in full color.

Surveys have further affirmed the importance that color plays in the success of any marketing collateral effort. Your choice of color shade in your promotional collateral speaks much of the mood and image you would want to convey to your target audience.

According to the color theory by Sir Isaac Newton, colors have the power to affect a person’s nature as well as his or her perception. Newton’s study on the nature of primary colors would later become the foundation of most color theories, including that of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. This German poet has established the link between colors and human behavior, which is a widely accepted color theory even to this day.

At present, there are a lot of theories and studies to support the use of color to create effective design for your flyer printing pieces, as well as other promotional collaterals like the brochures, catalogs and posters.

Here’s one color theory that has been designed by a marketing firm to help you use color to convey the most positive mood in your marketing collateral to your ideal industry target:

Primary Colors:

Red usually generates warmth, love, excitement, passion and thrill when used in your promotional items. They can best be used for party items and other sports stuff to induce enthusiasm and zest among your clients.

Blue is used to symbolize water and the sky. It exudes feelings of comfort and serenity which helps your clients to believe in relaxation. Blue is best when used to give off the ambience of home especially on corporate settings. It is also the ideal color for corporate gifts, as well as a traditional color for presents for the male species.

Yellow symbolizes fun, cheer and warmth. In fact, yellow has become the dominant color for most outdoor activities as it symbolizes the color of the sun. It may be a bit overwhelming when used in big proportions, but it can be ideal for small items such as pens and keychains.

Secondary Colors:

Green represents nature and the environment. It provokes balance and tranquility. The color also indicates success and financial security. Green is suitable for the banking industry hence, the perfect color for gifts and giveaways related to this industry.

Orange conveys energy, enthusiasm and cheer. In fact, it’s considered as the new ¡pink¢ for the new generation. It is also associated recently with safety and emergency purposes. That’s why the color is prominent in items such as road cones, hard hats, and safety jackets.

Pink is mostly about women and femininity, hence, it is the ideal color for gifts for women. It can also be great for trinkets and other such stuffs.

Neutral Colors:

Black exudes power, formality and professionalism. It is a great color in gifts for business partners and associates.

White on the other hand, conveys purity, cleanliness and innocence. The health care industry benefits most from this color.

Gray means security and modernity. IT-related items would benefit from this color.

About the author:

For more information, you can visit this page on flyer printing


Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Maximizing Your Advertising Budget

By Michael Podlesny [ 27/12/2007 ]
[ viewed 2 times ]

You are selling a great product or set of products. Maybe you offer a great service online that if people knew about it, you know they would like it.

Ok so step one for you is complete, and that is finding your niche as to what your business is all about. Step 2 is getting the word out there, and to do so in a cost effective manner.

Welcome to the Internet. The place where anything is possible and the medium that levels the playing field, or so you would think, to the point where the super stars such as Walmart look no bigger online then you.

Obviously being a startup business and on a tight budget you want to be able to reach as many people in your target market as possible, and at the least amount of cost.

So how about getting your advetising in front of 112 million people and more? How about exposing what it is you sell and offer to nearly a billion people world wide and do so for just pennies?

Sounds crazy and unrealistic right? Well it is not. With the formation of Web 2.0, which is really just a fancy tech term describing the way the Internet has evolved into a medium where people connect, the estimated, according to Technorati, 112 million bloggers may be the best way to go these days.

There are literally thousands of blog hosting companies out there. These companies have customers who do nothing more than post their reviews and opinions on a subject, in what they call their Blogs.

Our company has written dozens of articles on blogging to educate, not only our customers, but the Internet community in general. If you would like to learn more about blogging, check out our articles on our website. For now, in this multi-part series, we are going to concentrate on how to use bloggers as your means of advertising.

Bloggers are always looking for ways to fill up that "white" space they have on their blogs. A great way to do that is to place some type of advertising there. It fills a need they are looking for. It also allows them to make some extra money, and you as the advertiser, get to put your product or service in front of literally millions, for pennies.

There are two ways you can go about this. You can contact every blog related to what you are offering and ask them to advertise. With 112 million blogs to choose from, you should start immediately right? Well option two is signing on with a company whose main focus is handling advertising on Blogs. These companies, such as ours, focus in on having bloggers post small snippets of code on their blogs that will display a series of different advertisements that their blog readers can look further into by clicking on the link.

Your advertisement will appear on blog websites and when a reader clicks on your ad, will be taken to further information on what you are offering. What you need to look for in an ad program such as this is hidden costs.

You want to stay away from programs that charge you a fee each time someone clicks your ad. When you participate in, what is called, a pay per click program, that then leads into bidding for the ad space. Basically, whoever is willing to pay more, will appear more often. That concept basically defeates the entire purpose of the level playing field, now doesn`t it?

We will continue this discussion in part two of our article segments on how to maximize your advertising spending with minimal output and at the same time reach your target market.

By: Bruce A. Tucker

About the author:
About the Author:
Bruce A. Tucker is the Associate Director of http://www.Indocquent.com, an online resource that allows businesses and individuals to post their products and services for sale on over 20,000 blogs around the world. To learn more about Indocquent`s, Promos by IDQ campaign, visit Indocquent.com.

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Effective Event Marketing

By Colleen Davis [ 27/12/2007 ]
[ viewed 2 times ]

When you go into business, you'll need, one time or another, to get out there and meet with your clients and prospective customers. They would want to see a human face and a personal touch to your business.

Building a relationship with your clients and prospects would mean having to convey your message on a personal level. And the only way to do it is to provide your clients with an event that would change your clients' perspective of your business.

Event marketing is one of the popular tools of most businesses today. Events are organized with the goal of changing your clients' behavior towards your business that would eventually mean a thriving bottom line for you.

When done right, your event marketing can provide you with benefits that would be otherwise present during other marketing campaigns such as word-of-mouth sales and door-to-door campaign.

Event marketing allows you to place your business where there is traffic – on a temporary basis. Generally, you have your event where there are a lot of people walking around. One of these events that are very successful are trade shows. With so many people milling about, you can't help but get attention one way or another.

Nowadays, sponsoring a particular event marketing collateral like a flyer printing piece, or brochures perhaps, is not nearly enough to get you the leads you need to grow your business. Company sponsorships have been developed in greater proportions that event marketing is considered a big thing for most affairs and companies.

Events such as tradeshows and exhibits allow businesses like yours to utilize high-tech gadgets and interactive business displays. From the conventional distribution of print collaterals like the flyers, brochures and business cards, event marketing has come a long way in trying to leave a lasting impression in the clients' minds.

To give you noticeable results, you also need to be among your customers. And getting involved in the most appropriate event can very well provide you an increase in your bottom line.

Here are some of the issues you have to consider when you want to have an effective event marketing campaign:

1. Budget history.
2. Present budget and business plan; a complete marketing and promotional plan.
3. The benefits you'll get when you invest in the event.
4. Identify items that can be used for payment in lieu of cash.
5. Media coverage.
6. Documented figures of attendees.
7. Marketing opportunities that fit with your own marketing campaign.
8. Opportunities and flexibility.

And lastly, consider an opportunity to provide inputs when planning the event. This would allow you to control your marketing opportunities when you help set up the plan.

About the author:
For more information, you can visit this page on business card printing


Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Banner Stands

By lazy submit [ 27/12/2007 ]
[ viewed 1 times ]

Banner Stands are used for highly impressive and yet economical display Banner for advertising various products or services. Such freestanding units are widely available in different convenient ranges in terms of its widths and heights. The Bananer Stands usually consist of the banner or graphics as popularly known across the world today and the stand is made of either aluminum or some sturdy metals duly equipped with necessary hardware for displaying the graphic banners in the public places or the exhibition sites. They are usually of folding model and can therefore be dismantled for easy and convenient transport when not in use.

The wider usability, most easy and faster assembling unit with minimal operations on the whole make the Banner Stands most ideal options for displaying the product or service advertisements in places such as: showrooms, reception lounges, public educational venues like religious places and exhibition and conference sites, as well as for complimenting larger display arenas. The Banner Stands are generally sturdy, highly portable and very light weight and are mainly supplied in the most convenient shoulder carry bags for easy transportation to any place.

Generally each of the Banner Stands Banner is supplied with specifically individualized and computerized printed graphic flex-banners only. The first thing that any viewer would ever notice about in the Banner Stand is its flex-banner graphics display which should be made with vibrant color patterns and intellectual yet precise write-ups. There are wide varieties of the Banner Stands openly available in the markets all over the world but selecting the appropriate Banner Stand does require some basic knowledge about the product. There are broadly five different categories of the Banner Stands that are in rage, such as: the light-weight banner stands, tension or non-retractable banner stands, roller banner stands, cassette banner stands and outdoor banner stands.

All the above five types of the banner stands are made to perform the similar functions while each of them has its own characteristic also. Before choosing the right banner stand you are required to determine the style and type of banner you need to display your specific products or services. Even the banner stand manufacturers may help you select the appropriate banner stand for your particular use. They have some specialized design catalogues to ease you in choosing your individual requirements. In fact the banner stands should be extremely portable, lightweight and could easily be fixed or dismantled in minutes by any lay-man too. The most popular type of the banner stands that are in more demand nowadays are called the roller banner stands which are also known as the retractable banner stands.

There are various types of banner stands available for different usage both indoor as well as for outdoor purposes. So while selecting or buying the desired banner stand it should specifically be clarified to the banner stand manufacturer about your typical needs. Some banner stands are available with telescopic poles both horizontal and vertical which could easily be adjusted to fit the required size between 30” width and 95” width as well as from 36” height to as much as 96” height.
Banner Stands will not only boost your business sales but also serves to be a prominent symbol of your business. Choosing them wisely could make a good positive change in your business.

About the author:
Mr. Rami Cohen.
RollUp4Pop
If you want to increase your sale at your point of sale please feel free to contact us.
Email :rami-c@mpus.co.il
office: +972-3-6810086

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Some nickel-based batteries do not perform well when new?

By mary lv [ 27/12/2007 ]
[ viewed 6 times ]

Some nickel-based batteries do not perform well when new?
Some nickel-based batteries do not perform well when new?
Some nickel-based batteries do not perform well when new. This deficiency is often caused by lack of formatting at the time of manufacturing. Batteries that are not sufficiently formatted are destined to fail because the initial capacity is low. The full potential is only reached after the battery has been cycled a few times. In many cases, the user does not have the patience to wait until the expected performance is reached. Instead, the customer exercises the warranty return option.
The most critical time in a battery's life is the so-called priming stage. An analogy can be drawn with breaking in a new car engine. The performance and fuel efficiency may not be best at first, but with care and attention, the engine will improve over time. If overstressed when new, the engine may never provide the economical and dependable service that is expected.
Some poorly formatted batteries are known to produce less than 10 percent of capacity at the initial priming stage. By cycling, the capacity increases, and the battery will become usable after three to five cycles. Maximum performance on a NiCd, for example, is reached after 50 to 100 full charge/discharge cycles. This priming function occurs while the battery is being used. The gradual capacity increase during the early life of a battery is normally hidden to the user.
more info:www.abatteryweb.com

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How to Confusion with voltages?

By mary lv [ 29/12/2007 ]
[ viewed 4 times ]

How to Confusion with voltages?

How to Confusion batterywith voltages?<
For the last 10 years or so, the nominal voltage of lithium-ion was known to be 3.60V/cell. This was a rather handy figure because it made up for three nickel-based batteries (1.2V/cell) connected in series. Using the higher cell voltages for lithium-ion reflects in better watt/hours readings on paper and poses a marketing advantage, however, the equipment manufacturer will continue assuming the cell to be 3.60V.
The nominal voltage of a lithium-ion battery is calculated by taking a fully charged battery of about 4.20V, fully discharging it to about 3.00V at a rate of 0.5C while measuring the average voltage. Because of the lower internal resistance, the average voltage of a spinel system will be higher than that of the cobalt-based equivalent. Pure spinel has the lowest internal resistance and the nominal cell voltage is 3.80V. The exception again is the phosphate-based lithium-ion. This system deviates the furthest from the conventional lithium-ion system.
more info:www.good-battery.com

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Why are excessive quantities of batteries being returned under warranty?

By mary lv [ 29/12/2007 ]
[ viewed 5 times ]

Why are excessive quantities of batteries being returned under warranty?

Why are excessive quantities of batteries being returned under warranty?
In an earlier chapter, the question "Why are excessive quantities of batteries being returned under warranty?" was raised. This question has not been fully answered. It appears that all battery chemistries are represented among the packs being returned. It is unclear whether these batteries are inoperable as claimed. Perhaps the liberal warranty return offered by dealers provides an opportunity to acquire a new, and seemingly better, battery without charge. Some misuse of the warranty policy cannot be fully dismissed.
The internal protection circuit of lithium-based batteries may be the cause of some problems. For safety reasons, many of these batteries do not allow a recharge if the battery has been discharged below 2.5V/cell. If discharged close to 2.5V and the battery is not recharged for a while, self-discharge further discharges the pack below the 2.5V level. If, at this time, the battery is put into the charger, nothing may happen. The battery appears to have an open circuit and the user consequently demands a replacement.
Cadex has received a large number of supposedly dead Li-ion polymer batteries from various manufacturers. When measured, these batteries had no voltage at the terminals and appeared to be dead. Charging the packs in their respective chargers was unsuccessful. But after waking up the battery’s control circuit with the 'Boost' function of the Cadex 7000 Series battery analyzer, most of these batteries accepted normal charge. After a full charge, the performance was checked. Almost all packs reached capacities of 80 percent and higher and the batteries were returned to service.
more info:www.abatteryweb.com

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Which Companies Will Thrive as the Economy Picks Up?

(ARA) - Companies are facing intense competition right now. Industry after industry is confronting a situation called �product parity,� in which one company�s product or service looks just like the competitor�s when looked at through the customers� eyes. This results in competition on the basis of price. What can companies do to relieve some of the pressure on price?

�You must either innovate or evaporate,� says Howard Hyden, president of the Center for Customer Focus and an expert on improving competitive advantage. �The winners are constantly looking for ways to �add value� in creative ways to get away from strictly competing on price.�

According to Hyden, innovative companies are continuously learning. The speed with which an organization learns from a variety of sources out in the marketplace is what he called its �learning velocity.�

The most important learning source for any business: their customers. By asking their customers what they are doing right and wrong and what possible changes they see down the road, companies can gain valuable information that will help them adapt and even stay ahead of the competition. It�s what Hyden calls examining your company from the �outside in.�

�Only 7 percent of marketing executives have incentives tied to customer satisfaction,� says Hyden, who believes that too many companies are unaware of or indifferent to their customer�s needs. Since the majority of executive compensation is tied to profit and loss, that�s what they pay attention to. They don�t spend their time thinking about their customers. �Instead of just focusing on the financial statements, companies that listen to their customers� needs and innovate will be the ones that succeed,� he adds.

To illustrate his point, Hyden gives the example of NorthStar Print Group which has been a long-time provider of labels to Miller Brewing Company. The brewing company regularly called on NorthStar to create labels on a rush basis, but with a lot of other customers to serve, they found it difficult to deliver. Finally Miller issued an ultimatum: either deliver on time or they would take their business elsewhere. Because Miller represented 40 percent of the company�s business, they knew they needed to do something drastic.

Hyden conducted a workshop with the printing company�s employees who said that they were frustrated by Miller�s failure to forecast its label needs. When asked to imagine the situation from Miller�s perspective -- thousands of bottles of beer coming down the line filled and capped, but held up because there were no labels -- the printing company�s employees understood immediately the urgency of Miller�s needs.

�They were able to turn the situation into an opportunity to add value for the customer,� says Hyden. The employee team decided to analyze the brewer�s past order history so that they could forecast for Miller and better anticipate the size and frequency of orders. Not only were they able to reduce employee stress, but they significantly boosted Miller�s customer satisfaction and have since won numerous awards for being Miller�s best supplier. By listening to the needs of their customer, they were able to innovate internally and significantly increase their profit margins.

�This turnaround resulted from simply changing their focus -- to a customer focus,� adds Hyden. �Real competitive advantage comes not from looking at the bottom line, but from listening to what your customers have to say.�

Howard Hyden is a businessman and nationally recognized expert who speaks to organizations about how they can improve their competitive advantage and employee satisfaction -- resulting in an improved bottom line. For more information, visit www.customerfocus.org.

Courtesy of ARA Content



About the author:
Courtesy of ARA Content

http://www.article-emporium.com/business-724.htm - ARA

Top Ten Tips for Leveraging Conferences for Big SUCCESS!

As I am preparing for my attendance to the CoachVille"s Third Annual Coaching Conference, I have been considering how I can make the most of my conference attendance. These ten tips will support you in leveraging those conference you will attend in the future and for creating an unforgettable experience!

1. Connect, connect, connect!

Some of the most valuable time spent at a conference can be the time you spend in conversation with others outside of the speaker presentations/breakout sessions. Make a commitment to schedule one breakfast and one lunch meeting each day with someone you want to get to know, and make a plan to connect with these men and women following the closing of the conference.

2. Volunteer!

One of the best ways to get to know others both inside and outside of your industry is to volunteer 1 hour each day for the conference production team. This time can create a sense of connection and a feeling of self confidence and accomplishment for both you and the conference team.

3. Host an Open House.

At the end of the day, most conference goers are ready for a little rest and relaxtion. Rent a small room inside the conference center, or if the conference is being hosted inside a hotel, open your hotel room for a small late afternoon tea or early evening cocktail party. Invite everyone you see, and have a blast!

4. Ask Great Questions!

Make your conference experience engaging and memorable by making the most of this opportunity to learn. Spend time talking to the speakers, book authors, vendors, and those you are meeting, and ask, ask, ask. Request recommendations for books, resources, or contact names which will support the growth of your business. Talk to others about new directions developing in your field and find out about emerging leaders who you may want to partner with in the future. By becoming an active participant, you will be surprised at all that you learn and how your life will be enhanced.

5. Scout for Talent.

Are you looking for a new business partner, employee, product developer, or author for your business? If so, spend time talking to folks to find out as much as possible about their talents, gifts, and strengths. Keep a little black book or palm pilot with you in order to capture important details about people you may want to contact in the future for a special project or event.

6. Attend the Conference on Behalf of Your Clients.

For clients who are too busy to attend a conference, you can offer to attend a conference in their place. You will want to have the company pick up the cost for attending the conference, and it is a great time to market for your client and to market your services at the same time. Keep detailed notes during the conference, and collect product information which you feel will benefit the lives of your clients. This is a wonderful way to add value for your clients/customers.

7. Open a Conference Blog.

Through a service such as TypePad, you can develop an online journal or diary for sharing your experiences during the conference with the public at large. This is a wonderful way to let other professionals and your readers know that you are devoted to continuing education and professional improvement.

8. Gift an Article, Abstract, or Special Report.

Prior to the conference, take the time to write an article of interest, abstract, or special report which is relevant to your industry. As you meet people and exchange business cards, request permission to send the article or report following the conference and then FOLLOW UP! Add a personal note of thanks, and use this opportunity to build rapport with others. This one gesture can support you in growing your database and in developing rock solid relationships for the future of your business.

9. Schedule Time Each Day to Organize Your Thoughts.

Attending speaker sessions, networking, and being on all day can be exhausting and can create a feeling of mental clutter. Spend 30 minutes at the end of each day to absory what you have learned, organize your thoughts in a notebook, and to prepare for the next day. Make a punch list of sessions to attend, people to meet, and vendors to visit, and hit the ground running the next day to really go for it!

10. Work the Vendor Floor

The majority of conferences will host an exposition or vendor fair, which allows companies the opportunity to display their latest product and service offerings. You may choose to host a vendor booth or to split the booth with other vendors who compliment your services. If you are unable to host a booth, make the most of the vendor fair by �working it� (networking, connecting, and having your eyes and ears open.) This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about current trends in your industry and to create contacts with others who are connected to your field. Spend time talking with as many vendors as possible, and connect, connect, connect.


About the author:
Courtesy of ARA Content

http://www.article-emporium.com/business-549.htm - ARA

Free Competition Analysis for E-Commerce Startup

For anyone who has completed research regarding e-commerce, there are some common catch phrases that we all come across. �Competition Analysis� is one of those catch phrases. Competition Analysis is part of the business plan. And it is an important part.

However, completing some of the tasks that are required for Competition Analysis can be overwhelming and expensive. This is a disadvantage for e-commerce startups with limited budgets.

The following is a suggestion that has worked for us at Rothline Entertainment, an e-commerce site located at http://www.rothline.com. After reviewing information on completing Competition Analysis, we immediately knew we could not afford to have an outside source complete these tasks. We were also overwhelmed with the idea of attempting to complete the tasks ourselves.

We brainstormed regarding who our competition is and how well they are doing. One of the free tools that helped us the most with Competition Analysis was http://www.alexa.com/site/ds/top_500.

This site allows searching for e-commerce sites in specific industries in order to view status, link popularity, ranking, etc. For our company we began by selecting five companies that best fit our industry and were in the top 500. We took a look at what they were doing, and they must be doing something right if they are in the top 500.

We made a list of their strengths and weaknesses and compared our strengths and weaknesses to theirs. This was the best free Competition Analysis tool we had come across. It provided information on our competition and allowed us to begin carving out what our special niche could be and how to compete. The only thing that it cost was time.

For a startup e-commerce site with a limited budget I recommend trying this approach for Competition Analysis. This approach does not have to be your only tool but it can be a beneficial tool to add to your marketing toolbox.


About the author:
Lawrence Roth
Web Manager
Rothline Entertainment
http://www.rothline.com
http://stores.ebay.com/Rothline-Entertainment

Start your own business

So you want to start your own business? Congratulations! Making that decision is an important first step. But what next? There are certain steps you must follow in order to successfully start a business.

Once you�ve decided to start a business you must decide what kind of business you�d like to start. Research your chosen area thoroughly. It is important you know anything and everything there is to know about business in this area.

The next step when you start a business is to designate set working hours and stick to them.

When you start a business you will need to set a work space in your home. It is best if it�s away from where most of the activity in the home takes place, but make sure it�s still close to phone and electricity points.

Naturally, when you start a business you will have set up costs. For this it is likely you will need to use your savings. You may also need to use them for any overheads until you start making a profit.

You will need to advertise once you start a business. Get the word out that you�re available to provide the product or service that you specialise in. Bulletin board notices, classified ads and word of mouth are effective, budget-conscious ways of spreading the word about your new venture.

When you start a new business it is also a good idea to re-invest profits for the first six months to build a working capital.


About the author:
Phil Wiley is the author of the best selling book Mini Site Profits www.minisiteprofits.comand writes the free weekly Letter from Phil at www.ozemedia.com

Money

By
Kenneth J. McCormick
webmaster
H t t p://aboutfacts.net



Money is a strange thing when you really think about it. Today most money is paper and has no value of its own. The value that is given to money is by agreement. In other words, a country prints a bill and everyone agrees the value is that which is stated on its face. I am not talking about the value of money in relation to other money in the world because we all know that changes constantly. As a matter of fact some people have profited greatly from exchanging currency at the right time and taking advantage of shifts in its value with other currencies.


In this country one of the colonies" most famous figures made the plates for the first Continental Currency in 1775, he was Paul Revere. You could redeem these bills for Spanish-milled dollars. That guy Paul Revere seemed to get involved with everything, didn"t he? But the funny thing was that after this, when we became a country we didn"t print paper money for a long time, preferring to use coinage instead. The first official paper money wasn"t printed until 1861. The US government had charted hundreds of banks to print their own money causing confusion and easy counterfeiting. Can you imagine that over 7000 different bills were circulating? I am sure that many places might not even know if a bill was legal tender or not when they saw it. But when the government did print paper money they may have went too far. They even printed three cent notes, 5 cent notes, 10 cent notes, 25 cent notes and 50 cent notes. Today the US bill is a mixture of micro text, hidden threads, secret inks and hard to get paper. This hopefully, is meant to cut down on counterfeiting.


India is a country when strange money has been used including stones, paper, shells and pearls. In the fifth century it was noted that Cowrie shells were being used as currency in some areas. What is even more strange, is the fact that this custom continued for so long. It lasted into the 18 century. A Cowrie shell was worth almost 4,100 rupees at the time. This was not the only strange money used. Bitter Almond was also used as currency along with cattle. The tail of a cow was used in place of a coin. I wonder if anyone ever asked "can I borrow a few Cowries till payday?". Leather had also been used as currency but didn"t last long. Even sheet metal was made into coins.


In early Quebec, the French Colony had to wait for shipments of coins from France. This was a problem because the trip was a long and dangerous one and these coins may not arrive at all. This came to a head in 1685 when the French Colonies ran out of currency. The head of government in the French Colonies was the Intendant. He issued promissory notes and used his personal credit to back them. The notes were written on playing cards that had been cut into quarters. Each quarter contained the seal of the Treasurer and the signature of the Governor and the Intendant. It was thought that this would be a stop gap measure until more currency arrived from France. If a merchant refused to accept this money he would be fined. When coinage ran out a year later the playing card money was circulated again. This angered the French King who ordered it all withdrawn. When final redemption took place way more playing card money was presented for redemption than was officially created. There was not enough cash to redeem it all and it lost credibility. Even with all this, the playing card money was issued again right up to 1706 when a promise was made not to issue more but it remained in circulation right up to 1728.


In pre Christian Ireland Slaves and Cattle served as currency along with Celtic Ring money. The money was in the shape of a ring and could be either twisted or flat. It could be made from either solid gold or be gold plated. Ring money dates back to about 200 B.C. The gold plating was set over copper. One of he interesting points here is no one seems to know how value was set for the gold plated rings, but it seems that it was not created to fool people.


A system of tokens was discovered which were made from clay and dated back to about 7,000 B.C. It is theory right now, but it seems that these clay tokens may have been used as currency. It could even be that the shape and size of the token represented what you could buy with it. For Example the symbol for bread was a small right facing triangle in Sumerian and a token like that has been found. Some tokens seem to have stood for numbers and went as high as 36,000.


Did ancient man have a system with currency? It could be. Ancient man may have been more advanced than we suspect right now. We have only highlighted a few different types of strange money but you can see that strange things have been used as currency over the years. The next thing might be SMART CURRENCY. Can you imagine talking currency or currency that can change its value? Well I guess we will just have to wait and see what the future holds.


Copyright � 2004 by About Facts Net and its licensors. All rights reserved.


This article may be republished if left unchanged and all links are intact.

---

About the author:

Ken is the webmaster of About Facts Net, a free, interesting Internet magazine that is suitable for the entire family. Many of the articles are accompanied by photos, video and/or audio. H t t p://aboutfacts.net



http://w w w.article-emporium.com/writing-9565.htm Kenneth J. McCormick

10 Ways To Work Through A Business Slowdown

10 ways to work through a business slowdown

In running any kind of business, it"s inevitable that sometimes business will slow down. This might occur due to an upcoming holiday, seasonal variations, or uncontrollable circumstances. As a small-business owner, you have a choice in terms of how you view the slowdown - it can either be a time of increased stress, frustration, worry - or you can view it as an opportunity to upgrade your business processes or improve the quality of your life.

Here are ten strategies you can use to work through a business slowdown:

1)Market more concertedly. Statistics suggest that new businesses spend (or should spend) about 40-60% of time in marketing and related activities. If you are experiencing a business slowdown, it"s always a good time to create and launch another marketing initiative. It is important to continue to promote your business creatively and cost-effectively. What better way to spend a slow period than in taking actions to attract new business? (Plus, taking action will keep worry or stress from overwhelming you.)

2)Relax. This strategy works if you are feeling good about your business and your accomplishments. Use this time to catch up on some sleep, read a few good books, in short, take some time off for rest and relaxation. Sometimes, time away can help spark creative ideas or profitable insights.

3)Get ahead. Use slow time to get ahead on weekly or monthly projects. Look ahead to future months and see if there are any steps you can take, today, that would position you more solidly in the future. This can help you feel more in control as the pace picks up again.

4)Invest in additional training/learning. A business slowdown is a great time to upgrade your knowledge and skills, you have the time and the incentive. Take classes, learn more about your industry, become even more valuable to your customers by adding new products or services based on your new knowledge.

5)Follow up with old/existing customers. Most small businesses focus more on getting new customers rather than retaining old ones. A business slow down is a great time to get back in touch with your customer base to find out what needs they have, to remind them of your service, or to offer them special discounts for reactivating their accounts. It"s always easier to sell to someone who has bought from you before - so make the extra effort to stay in touch.

6)Offer free samples or giveaways. If your business needs to attract new prospects, use the "slow time" to offer free samples, hold contests, or offer giveaways to bring new energy and potential customers to your door.

7)Plan. Take time to review your progress so far, checking it against your goals, and making any necessary adjustments. Use "slow time" to plan for how you"ll tackle new projects, or expand your business or offerings. This can be really fun.

8)Relate. Use this time to add a little extra to the "bank account" of your important relationships. Spend more time with your spouse, significant other, child, or friends. Put some extra kindnesses into your close relationships - you"ll have more to "withdraw" when you need it.

9)Network/socialize. Use "slow time" to get out and meet more people to talk about what you offer, learn what they need, help them connect with appropriate resources. Take this time to increase your contact base, and to attend meetings or events you might not usually have time for. An added bonus to this tip is that you might perceive new trends in your industry which can help you guide your business.

10)Upgrade equipment or processes. During a business "slow down", it"s a great time to find easier, more efficient, and better ways of running your business. You might upgrade equipment so you can serve customers more effectively. You might automate parts of your sales process, or invest in additional training for your staff. You might use this time to make sure you are in compliance with all the relevant state laws, or to paint your office space.

While occasional business slowdowns might be inevitable, these strategies ensure that you"re making the best use of the downtime - allowing you to attract and keep your ideal customers.

� 2003. Dr. Rachna D. Jain. All Rights in All Media Reserved


About the author:
Dr. Rachna D. Jain Certified Sales & Marketing Coach www.salesandmarketingcoach.com

http://w w w.article-emporium.com/business-1018.htm - Dr. Rachna D. Jain

Advice for Entrepreneurs: Mistakes Are the Key to Success

(ARA) - Considering starting your own business? You are not alone. In fact, entrepreneurship has become an increasingly popular career choice in the last few years.

Some people decide to build their own businesses out of a desire to be out on their own or because they have dreams of turning a hobby into a career. Others may have been laid off and are frustrated with their current job prospects, or they may simply need greater flexibility in their lives.

But starting your own business can be challenging, and requires long hours and a lot of hard work and determination. In fact, only 30 percent of business start-ups survive more than five years. To avoid the pitfalls, new entrepreneurs need to do their homework and seek out all the advice they can get.

Michael Kerrison, 50, an IBM salesman turned self-made millionaire has recently chronicled his entrepreneurial experiences in a new book called �Landing on Your Feet.� The author, a pioneer of the high tech industry who launched three technology companies that eventually reached multi-million dollar levels, uses examples from his life, including the mistakes he made along the way, to give a real world view of what it really takes to start and build a business.

�I believe real learning comes from our mistakes,� says Kerrison. �Embrace your failures, for they are your true teachers. Success teaches us little; it�s just the way we keep score,� he explains.

Kerrison�s book started out as a personal quest to �get down on paper� all that he had learned about business over his 25-year career. The final result is a business book that mixes business strategies with personal stories that the author hopes people will be able to relate to. There is a lot of practical advice, including guidance on strategic planning, time management, compensation strategies, marketing techniques and human resources. There�s even a useful �tool kit� at the end with concise advice on the sales cycle, and planning and management tools.

Kerrison, who is currently the president of Endurance-America, a management consulting firm specializing in executive development and business planning, loves business and he wants the reader to love it too. For would-be entrepreneurs, he sums up his philosophy this way: �Starting and building your own business isn�t about making money, getting famous, or obtaining power. It�s about staying in the boat. It�s about outlasting the storms. It�s about trusting God. . . . Because in the end you have finally figured out that your business -- your boat -- is about enriching the lives of people: your employees, your clients, your loved ones.

Landing On Your Feet is Available by calling Abbas PR at (952)921-7287.

Courtesy of ARA Content



About the author:
Courtesy of ARA Content

h t t p://w w w.article-emporium.com/business-885.htm - ARA

Being a Disciplined Home Business Boss

Leaving the corporate world for a home business is exciting. Being one�s own boss and making one�s own decisions is a great feeling. However, one still needs to have discipline to be effective at being a home business boss. In my home business I have found at least two things that one must be persistently disciplined about in order to achieve success.

First is the work schedule. A home business like any business requires work and often a lot of work. While it is true you do not have to get up at daybreak and put on a suit and tie to drive to work, one does need to set a work schedule and stick to it. I have set my schedule to work 8 to 5 Monday through Friday. I take an hour for lunch. I require myself to work a minimum of forty hours a week for my home business.

When I first started my home business it was easy to become distracted by things that need to be done around the house: laundry, dirty dishes, mowing the yard, etc. It is very important to treat the home business like a regular job and in reality it is a regular job, it just happens to be in the home. If you were working for someone else they would not tolerate you going home to clean dishes or mow the yard, so to be a disciplined home business boss and do not allow yourself to do things other than working on your home business.

The second is in regards to interruptions. I have found it absolutely amazing that family and friends seem to think that just because you stay a home during the day that you have nothing else to do. When I first started working at home I was surprised at the many requests my family and friends had of my time. My best advice, which was given to me by another home business worker, is, �If they are not on fire or if they are not bleeding they do not need your attention.� Now don�t take the statement literally but what it basically means is, unless it is a real emergency do not let your family and friends interrupt your work schedule.

For those of you who already have your home business, you are aware of the many requests that family and friends will make such as fixing their sink, driving them to their airport or watching their kids while they go to the grocery store. If you are not already assertive, learn to be and learn quickly. Fortunately, I have had the assertiveness to say, �No.�

If you spend your time being the �go-for� for your family and friends, your business will fail. You are not at home to be at the beck and call for your family and friends regardless of what they may think. Let them know that. I stubbornly refuse to assist family and friends with tasks during the hours of 8 to 5, Monday through Friday.

Being a disciplined home business boss a giant leap towards creating and maintaining a successful home business. Remember that your home business is a real business. It is a real job. Most importantly, it is your livelihood.



About the author:
Lawrence Roth
Web Manager
Rothline Entertainment
h tt p://w ww.rothline.com
h t t p://stores.ebay.com/Rothline-Entertainment


http://w w w.article-emporium.com/business-447.htm - Lawrence Roth

The Art of Being Specific Encourages Focus

Being specific has often been difficult for me. I like to dream big and incorporate everything all at once. That is why going from a hobby to a career with Rothline Entertainment (http://www.rothline.com) was more difficult than it needed to be. Rothline Entertainment debuted in August 2003 specifically focused on marketing computer and video games and PC software.

However, it took me a while to focus on the specifics. Fortunately, I had the help and advice of my parents, siblings, and spouse. I wanted Rothline Entertainment to start out big; offering video games, movies on DVD, card and board games, and anything remotely related to entertainment. My ideas were overwhelming and deciding where to start was difficult.

Like any new business with a limited budget I needed to start small, be specific, and be focused. I had to start brainstorming and writing down ideas. I had to focus on what I can do now not what I want to do later. Before I wrote everything down and began to be more specific, I felt stressed and nervous about starting the Rothline e-commerce site. Once I was able to get the specifics written down I began to feel more relaxed.

I know it has been said many times before but it does not hurt to say it again; �the art of being specific encourages focus.� This means that once you can specifically write down you goals in manageable steps you can then be focused on following through on those goals.

I start out each day writing down specifically what I need to do that day. As long as keep doing that it makes my days less stressful and I accomplish more. It has been difficult to start and keep that habit going but the benefits have been very rewarding. I can tell when I have not been following my written goals for the day because I feel stressed and lost. I remind myself to go back to my list and start focusing on accomplishing the goals I have listed.

Being specific helps one to look at the small pieces of the puzzle. Puzzles as you know can be overwhelming when you 1000 pieces scattered about on a table. But by taking a look at one piece and then a second piece, one can then being to specifically identify where each puzzle piece goes.

Being specific is a discipline that most people can learn and use. To start and run a business take a specific look at you advertising plan, marketing plan, budget plan, etc. You don�t have to take a look at all of these elements at once and if you do you will be overwhelmed. When you are overwhelmed you are stressed.


About the author:
Lawrence Roth
Web Manager
Rothline Entertainment
http://w w w.rothline.com
ht tp://stores.ebay.com/Rothline-Entertainment


http://w w w.article-emporium.com/business-446.htm - Lawrence Roth

Instant Time Management

There are never enough hours in the day to get everything done. Or is there?

I"m a normal guy. I like watching TV and hanging out with friends. Like most online business people I also enjoy avoiding the work I need to do. Well... what do I mean by that? The reason I wrote this article is because this morning I found myself "busy" doing nothing. I know that"s a contradiction in terms.However if you examine your current working day you"ll see exactly what I mean. Business people tend to spend more of their time checking up on how their business is doing and less
time actually developing their business.


How often each day do you do each of the following?

*Check you commissions on Commission Junction, Clickbank etc?


*Searching for another "quick fix" to your marketing problems or website traffic issue?


*Buying the "miracle" ebook you just found, reading the first few pages and realizing it"s the same you information as the last ebook you bought on affiliate marketing?


*Checking the stats for your website to see how many hits or unique visitors you have?


*Brainstorming another niche market idea without having fully developed the last niche marke you discovered?


*Reading email and surfing the web?


*Drinking/making coffee and taking cigarette breaks?


These are just examples of things we all do. I"m not saying they"re wrong (well except for the miracle ebook - there"s
no such thing). We do, however, need to be aware of how we actually spend our day. Are we building our business OR just thinking and worrying about how we"re going to build
our business?


It"s important to focus on what"s important each day. Pick one task that you need to work on. Focus on that and complete it. Now move on to the next task and deal with
it the same way. Otherwise you wind up with a dozen half finished jobs which is so very disheartening.


The basic motto is start something and stick with it until it"s done. There"s a huge feeling of satisfaction in
planning a task, following through on it and then observing the results. Try it once and I"m sure you"ll be converted forever.

About the author:
Niall Roche is the content author and owner of http://www.affiliate-advocate.com

w w w.affiliate-advocate.com
info@affiliate-advocate.com

http://w w w.article-emporium.com/business-397.htm - Niall Roche

Trade Writing - for Cash

Often considered as �plain Jane�s� of the print world, trade magazines prove that there is more to a market than just a pretty face.

Trade magazines are written for a specialized audience and typically focus on one specific area or industry. Even the ads reflect this focus.

They assume the reader is familiar with the material that�s covered and though it can be quite technical, they aren�t usually written in a scholarly manner � this is good news for writers seeking to ad power clips to their portfolios.

Trade magazines provide a large, open and lucrative market for freelance writers because with so many competing magazines there is always a huge need for content and being an expert isn�t a prerequisite for industry publication.

Try putting �trade magazines� into a search engine such as Google.com and you get well over 250,000 hits. Now try �consumer magazines.� At 86,000 hits it�s easy to see where the markets lie.

Now is the time! There are literally thousands of FREE trade magazines available by subscription on the Internet and more become available every day. They cover every subject and every angle imaginable. They are also some of the best paying markets in the business.

Get Your Money Where Your Trade Is Or Isn�t!

You don�t need to be an expert to get published in trade magazines as long as you are very familiar with what your target magazine is buying.

The ABA Journal for lawyers, pays between 0-00 per article and requests that all material be centered around the law, or practicing the law, but they also buy pieces focused on legal news, current trends, the business of running a practice and technology for lawyers. This leaves room for writers who don�t happen to be law experts to find a niche� in this publication. Can you write about the newest technology or software that would be appropriate for law office staff? Can you offer a fresh approach for making a waiting room delay more enjoyable for their clients?

Across The Board is a non profit magazine for leaders in business, government and more. It�s 60% freelance written and pays between -00 for articles, essays, book excerpts, humor, personal experiences and opinion pieces. They also buy reprints. No expertise needed here! An article focused on the positive philanthropic policies of a fortune 500 company or the uplifting personal story of some one helped by such an organization would be right at home in this venue.

Of course, if do have an area of expertise consider exploiting it in the trades too.

The American Journalism Review �at 80% freelance written, covers expose� ethical issues and personal experiences. Paying between 00 and 00 per piece for 2,000-4,000 words. Online, in the news and real time media focuses all apply.

Looking for Markets -in all the right places

As I said earlier the Internet is an incomparable resource of markets specifically for trade magazines and below are my two favorite places to shop for FREE magazines to find markets:

Free Magazine Trade Source is one of the most comprehensive sites for you to subscribe to trade magazines that you would like to target for article publication. They literally have hundreds of free publications.

TradePub.com is another excellent source for FREE trade magazine subscriptions. They also have hundreds of high quality magazines to chose from - it""s amazing really.

Don""t abandon what you know to work either Writer�s Market currently has a list of 550 paying trade markets listed with contact information, rate of pay and a description of the types of submissions accepted and there are many others only a mouse click away. And many other writer""s website have market listing that include trade market information. You can look for more places to find writer""s markets on the Resources for Writers page.

With their plain industrial covers and unilateral focus trade magazines have been the unattractive sibling of consumer oriented magazines for a very long time. It�s a reputation undeserved in the freelance writing market. With no true need for specific expertise in most publications maybe it�s time for us all to take a second look at the lucrative opportunities available for freelancers that write for trade publications.


About the author:
Angela Butera Dickson is a full service, freelance copywriter offering some of the best prices on the web. From articles to brochure copy, ghostwriting to marketing letters, she can help you cultivate a polished, professional business image.

w w w.angeladickson.com
angela@angeladickson.com

http://w w w.article-emporium.com/business-73.htm - Angela Butera Dickson

Be a Realtor with Curb Appeal

Are you a realtor with curb appeal or are you more of a fixer-upper needful of updating?

How you present yourself to colleagues, buyers and sellers, from the very first moment, will influence your sales records as well as the confidence and satisfaction your new clients feel. Even if you�re a Realtor in demand, with more listings than hours in a week, you may well find areas that you can polish. Read on to make doubly sure you are a realtor with curb appeal and then watch your business grow!

Image is Everything

Like it or not your competence on the job will be judged by the first impression you give your new or prospective customers. Make sure they leave every meeting with you feeling confident, informed and satisfied with your ability to give them the service they want.

In order to leave a polished, professional impression you must excel in several key areas. Let�s take a closer look at these.

Courtesy Lives

Ask anyone what trait they most appreciate in a sales person and they will tell you it�s courtesy. Winning sales people understand that impeccable manners and unfaltering courtesy will lead to loyal clients who will not only speak well of their experiences but will recommend you to all their friends, relatives, acquaintances and even the check out clerk at the supermarket.

The positive publicity that comes from word of mouth is priceless, long lasting and your best sales tool. It can�t be purchased but once earned, it will repay you in promotional dividends for years.

Humor is Everything

Have you ever met a person with no sense of humor? Did you find their company enjoyable or did you spend your time looking for the exit sign? Life is difficult on its best days and we all get tired, frustrated and angry but your clients should never sense these things in you. Never � ever � offer complaints to your clients. If a difficult situation arises, solve it as quickly as possible. If you keep your patience and sense of humor you will keep your clients too.

Dress for Success

Successful people dress for success. It is easy to have confidence in a salesperson who looks confident and professional. Each property showing is a new job interview so dress for it, right down to your shoes.

If you�re inclined to wear a personal scent, be it perfume or men�s cologne, remember the three-foot rule. No one outside of three feet from your person should be able to tell you�re wearing fragrance. I�m sure you want to be remembered for your client-centered professionalism and not your unbridled use of the cologne bottle.

Perfectly Polished Space

From your office space to your car�s floor mats you want to project yourself as a sales person with an eye for detail and quality.

Scent is one of those things that people hold in memory the longest. Your car shouldn�t reek of cigarette smoke and your office trash shouldn�t hold the remnants of the raw onion sandwich you had for lunch. Don�t rely on an air freshener. Empty your trash can and ashtray. Make sure everything has a sparkling clean look, smell and feel.

By offering your clients a clean, relaxing atmosphere, they will feel encouraged to stay longer, look harder and ask the questions they need answered to feel most comfortable with buying or listing their property with you.

Winning Copy � Wins!

Do you make up your business cards, sales flyers, brochures and announcements on your office computer? You shouldn�t � unless they are professional grade.

Unless you are a superb desk top publisher, have a great eye for design and are an excellent writer, you should never attempt to produce your professional copy yourself. Handmade and homemade have no place in the advertisement arsenal of a realtor with curb appeal.

Hiring a professional copy writer is one of the smartest investments you can make. Perfectly polished ads with crisp informative copy, well done business cards and sizzling brochures make for inexpensive advertising. Poorly done items give the impression of a low budget business and the feel of a business that�s here today but may not be tomorrow.

Organizational Style

�We love it �we�ll take it,� the client says.

�I�ll write that up for you now,� the realtor responds and a few minutes later emerges from the back seat of his car with a crumpled offer form stained with ketchup and a dirty shoe print.

Lack of organizational skills shows the unpolished view of a realtor more than any other issue. Do what ever it takes to get organized and constantly be on the prowl for additional tricks to improve your �system.�

Last, Never Least

The last tip here is an important one. Remember the client after the sale � and they will remember you to their friends, relatives and neighbors for years to come. Have your copywriter prepare informational postcards, thank-you cards and 1st cards. Small, after the sale, house-warming baskets with fruit or condiments is a memorable gift as are coupons to local restaurants and family attractions. Few businesses have the keen competition that is ever present in the real estate market. It really doesn�t matter if sales are booming or depressed, a realtor must be on top of his or her game at all times. The first, and last, impression you leave will be lasting -make sure you are spit shined, polished and ready to sell. If growing your business is important to you - make sure you are a realtor with curb appeal.


About the author:
About The Author


Angela Butera Dickson is a full service, freelance copywriter offering some of the best prices on the web. From articles to brochure copy, ghostwriting to marketing letters, she can help you cultivate a polished, professional business image.

w w w.angeladickson.com
angela@angeladickson.com

http://w w w.article-emporium.com/business-72.htm - Angela Butera Dickson