The Key To Internet Success Getting To Know You

Writen by Alice Seba

I can't seem to get the song from the "King & I" out of my head as I prepare to write this article

"Getting to Know You
Getting to Know All About You
Getting to like you
Getting to hope you like me"

I can't get it out of my mind because that's what online business is ALL about.

Some say it's search engines.

Some say it's a great pay-per-click campaign.

Yeah, yeah...those things are great, but it's important to get to know people and I'm talking about the people that reach your target market. You know, the people you might think as your competitors.

It's possible you've heard me say it before – competitors can be your partners - but it seems the subject keeps creeping up over and over again.

People ask me questions like, "How do I get people to join my affiliate program?"

And recently, when I spoke at Kelly McCausey's Blogging seminar at her http://www.HotSummerSeminarSeries.com it came up again. We are talking about joint venture blogs, where more than one writer comes together to keep adding fresh content to the blog. When we did the seminar, people seemed excited about the idea, but really weren't sure how to find people to write with them.

Well, here's the solution and I hope you take steps to make this happen for you. It doesn't matter what market you are in, you should ALREADY be getting to know the people who are in the same market as you. You should be developing relationships and talking to one another.

This isn't the cut throat world of offline business where you might be competing fiercely with the restaurant across the street. This is the Internet where joint ventures are abound and are literally a goldmine for your business.

Here's Some Ideas for Joint Ventures:

- Join each others affiliate programs

- Create viral ebooks to give away

- Create a bonus for your partner to add to her product

- Interview each other for teleseminars

- Create information products

- Create membership sites

- Use each other's products as upsells

- Connect each other to other important people

- Co-write that joint blog we talked about

- Co-write and autoresponder series

...the ideas are endless.

The point is, if you already have these relationships in place, it's easy to get people to work with you. It's hard work to approach people you don't know and ask them to promote your product or even contribute to an ebook. But if there's one thing about human nature, we tend to want to work with people who are already our friends.

So, please go make more friends! Then see how your business multiplies. I promise you it will be much faster than a speeding search engine algorithm and more powerful than a high-cost pay-per-click campaign.

Alice Seba is a full-time online business owner that thrives on helping others say good-bye to their J-O-Bs forever. Sign up for her "Internet Marketing Prescriptions" to cure what ails your online business: http://www.InternetMarketingPrescriptions.com

Selling Yourself To Reach Online Success

Writen by Brian Moore

Usually, success in an online business depends upon selling outstanding products or representing really good affiliate plans. But just as important in getting people to buy from you is your business image. In this article we will look at how to define that image and sell yourself to help your potential customers decide to buy your products.

There are several things to think about when developing your online image. But it's no different from preparing a resume or a personal history. You'll want to look at your education or training, work experience, and your life experiences, and how all of this defines you as an individual in such a large marketplace.

We start with education, because that's the point where our lives began to take a definite shape. Think about what part of your education relates to who you are. Is it the favorite grade school teacher who unlocked your ambition to learn? Or is it special talents your high school studies or extra curricular activities revealed?

Remember, your personal level of education not so important. It's how your educational background helps define who you are and how well you can help others online.

Next, start thinking about your life experiences. What large events in your life like being married or single, raising children, and maintaining long-time friendships helped shape you? What would you change or keep the same assuming you'd have control over such matters? What have you gained from your experiences in life?

Then examine your work history. What occupation did you start out in? (This includes what has been traditionally known as "home maker", or household manager, if you will.) What various skills did you obtain? What other occupations have you had? What things about traditional employment brought you to the Internet looking for income?

Now try to decide how your education, life experiences, and work experience translate into your online goals. In general, how much income do you expect to replace with income from online? What do you think your niche market is? (This is defined by what type of customer you focus your business on.) How does your business fit into the large scheme of Internet marketing?

Okay, you say, now I have a handle on who I am. I have an image. What do I do with it? How is it going to help me sell products?

Well, announce it to the world. * Tell * people who you are.

Work up an online resume or an "About Us" page for your site. Include key points from your self-searching. Make yourself into a real, live human being with whom your customers can do business and enjoy visiting again and again.

Publish your name, address, phone number, and email address. You needn't worry about being swamped by phone calls and letters. In five years online I've had one customer ever call me, and it was not to complain. I've had one letter, and it was for more information. Emailing is so much easier and it saves long distance rates and postage. (I don't have a toll free number yet, so it's their nickel to call me.)

Provide a self-photo. Without undue cost, "put your best foot forward" by having it taken professionally. It should be the "real you", not some computer enhanced alter ego that portrays you better than you actually are. Don't be afraid to update the photo regularly to show you developing in your career.

Finally, let's talk a little about being professional. I'm not referring to how you phrase your sentences or how fancy your vocabulary is. Instead, I'm recommending you try to be realistic - confident without hype and humble without putting yourself down. In short, be yourself.

In your comments and publications avoid sarcasm. Some people may catch the humor while others may be offended by it. Don't issue ultimatums like, "If you're not willing to [so and so], then you don't belong in this business." These folks are your prospects or have signed up under you. They are expecting your help and example, and you wouldn't want to push them away from making a decision to buy.

When all is said and done, what you say and do online brands you to those with whom you come in contact. It would be far better to take time to brand yourself in a positive light than to leave your image to chance by neglecting your online presence.

About The Author Brian Moore publishes 'BizOps Secrets', a complete ezine resource for online success. Subscribe and receive a free 5 line classified ad. AllPro BizOps, Proven Business Secrets That Work Online http://www.allprobizops.com.

Furnishing Modern Organisations Chairs

Writen by Jamie Ledger

With a little bit of knowledge, you will achieve a far better, lasting solution to seating; and save money.

1. Comfort: Ideally, ergonomically shaped seats and backs provide the best comfort over a long sitting. Beware of thick upholstery; it may appear attractive but is often of a very cheap grade that is prone to premature degradation. Thin, dense foams offer greater comfort over time, and will last far longer.

2. Storage: For large installations, storage should be a key consideration. If you have limited storage space, perhaps you require folding or stacking chairs. Should you have room for stacking chairs, these are usually more comfortable and durable. Of all the folding chairs available, there are only about five models that are really any good.

3. Durability: Be careful; a five year guarantee may suggest that your chairs will last, however, 5 years is not very long at all. Not many suppliers will offer you a longer guarantee - but if you consider a 5 year guarantee as a "get out clause", the supplier can wash his hands of you once that period of time has passed. A genuine product will last a minimum of 20 years under normal usage, and a genuine supplier will be amazed if the product fails, he will remedy the situation properly.

4. Budget: Most organisations can get a chair that meets most of their brief, within budget. You may need to compromise. Usually, the hardest compromise is timber frames. However, it is important that your chairs last; you may be better off with a decent steel frame chair, than a cheap wooden model.

5. Know your stuff.

Wooden Chairs:
Most timber frames are Beech, Birch, Ash or Oak.
Construction:
Best = No nails or screws, glued joints (mortice & tenon, among others).
Acceptable = Mortice & Tenon joints with screws.
Lower quality = Dowel fixing.

Steel frame chairs:
Best = 14 Gauge Steel. Extremely strong, though heavy.
Above average = HTS, High Tensile Steel. Very strong & lightweight.
Acceptable = 16 Gauge Steel.
Lower quality = 18 Gauge Steel. Weak, lightweight.

Upholstery:
Whichever fabric you chose, your local fire officer should be able to advise the grade required. Usually, Low Hazard Cigarette & Match is acceptable. Most organisations do not need to spend extra money on increased flame protection or Stainguard. Stainguard is not a cure for all; if your chairs are likely to suffer spillage's of coffee etc., then the best solution is a man-made fabric. Fabrics are subjected to many recognised tests; yours should be rated at "FIRA Severe Contract Use".

6. Don't think with your bum.

When you do carry out comfort tests, consider how long the product will be sat on in normal use. Is a thirty second test a fair appraisal? There is only one way to know if a chair is comfortable after one or two hours, and that is to sit on it for that period of time, otherwise, be careful of thick upholstery that is often designed to trick you.

7. Remember your brief; does the chair do what you really want it to do? If your chairs are out of use within 20 years, then you have probably failed.

Kirkhouse Productions have over 30 years experience in the contract furniture market. Further information is available online at http://www.kirkhouse.co.uk

Business Phone Numbers

Writen by Max Bellamy

Phone numbers are the addresses of businesses, the identification number as well as the communication gateway of a person, organization or a business. A telephone number is a string of decimal digits that uniquely identify an address. The number identifies the destination point that a call is routed to. It may be connected to devices and services like faxes, modems, subscribers and Internet networks.Most telephone networks are connected to The International Telecommunication Network (ITU) that has a standardized format of telephone numbers. The entire number should be 20 or less and must begin with a country prefix. This is usually followed by an area or city code. The format and allocation of local phone numbers depends on local governments.

Phone lines are critical to business and business applications are a prime priority for telephone technology. Initially, businesses used to have a single telephone number to a main switchboard, and a switchboard operator would connect the call within the business. If the called party did not respond, the call would be transferred back to the switchboard. But technology has changed all that. With voicemail and more technology, businesses now use direct inbound dialing (DID), so that outside callers can directly call a certain person in a business directly.

Phone numbers were traditionally immobile, but this has been transformed by the entry of mobile phones. In many countries, the practice of number portability allows customers to transfer a phone number from one local exchange carrier to another or add a fixed phone line to a mobile, Cellular phone numbers change according to the service area and sometimes according to the service provider you have chosen.

The traditional telephone system (POTS) and mobile phone networks share a common global standard called E.164 that allocates and identifies any specific phone line. However there is no global standard for VOIP networks. There are often different, incompatible schemes when calling between Voip schemes that use short codes that are provider specific.

Business Phones provides detailed information on Business IP Phones, Business Phone Etiquette, Business Phone Numbers, Business Phone Services and more. Business Phones is affiliated with Affordable Business Phone Systems.

Cad Drafting Software And Autocad Strange Writing On The Wall

Writen by Lucky Balaraman

~~~ About Autodesk and AutoCAD ~~~

For many years now, the CAD drafting software industry has been dominated by the a single piece of outstanding software: AutoCAD.

AutoCAD is a CAD platform designed by Autodesk, Inc, and arguably the most-used (and most respected) program of its kind. AutoCAD is used to make a computer draw two and three-dimensional technical drawings such as those used in building construction and product manufacturing.

AutoCAD has been steadily evolving over the years to be seamlessly compatible with the rest of the software universe. For instance, in its latest version, drafting team members scattered over the globe can collaborate effortlessly over the Internet.

~~~ AutoCAD and Competition ~~~

In the domain of 2D and 3D drafting, AutoCAD is miles ahead of any competition. Rival programs have less than 50% of its drafting commands. Most importantly, competing platforms hang when file size exceeds a few megabytes, often corrupting the data file in the process.

For many years, Autodesk exploited the technical superiority of AutoCAD by charging in excess of $3,000 for a single-seat license. The product was so good that users are known to have taken bank loans to purchase sufficient licenses.

~~~ Recent Events ~~~

Strange things have happened recently:

(1) Autodesk purchased Alias, a company specialized in, among other things, high-end animation software, 'Maya' being its flagship platform in that area

(2) Autodesk crashed the price of AutoCAD by EIGHTY PERCENT in Asia

(3) AutoCAD has begun downplaying AutoCAD 2D usage in its press releases

~~~ What do These Events Foretell? ~~~

We strongly believe that AutoCAD will lower the priority of its 2D CAD drafting software development. Instead, it will devote more resources to animation software development.

Animation is used by two main market segments: their existing architectural/engineering customer base and the media/entertainment segment.

Our intuition tells us that Autodesk has got the heady scent of cash wafting in from the future, and that the source of the fragrance is the second segment: media/entertainment.

The potential profits from this area are likely to be several times those from the first segment and Autodesk will, in effect, soon be moving from downtown San Francisco to a premium spot in heaven.

~~~ What Does This Imply For the Cad Drafting Marketplace? ~~~

Expect Autodesk to be less and less interested in 2D drafting and to at one point make its sophisticated 2D drafting application, AutoCAD-LT… AVAILABLE FOR FREE.

Copyright 2005 http://cad-drafting-services.com/

Lucky Balaraman, who has a Masters degree in engineering, runs the reputed CAD drafting services provider, The Magnum Group. Learn more about him and the Company at: http://cad-drafting-services.com

Business Gambling Investing And The Risk Associated With Each

Writen by Jackie O'Quinn

"Warriors take chances. Like everyone else, they fear failing, but they refuse to let fear control them." Ancient Samurai saying

Three really strong interest that I have are Business, Gambling, and Investing. Three unique playing fields but they all have the same goal, to increase income. Business, is the most controllable followed by Investing and then Gambling. I find it interesting how many people use these three words interchangeably. Most people will always tell you that starting a business is a gamble thus you are gambling. Investing is risky therefore you are gambling there too. What a joke! Sure there is a level of chance that occurs in investing and business however, both can be won or earn a positive income consistently over time therefore it is not a gamble. In the following paragraphs I set the record straight regarding risk when it comes to business, investing, and gambling.

Business requires skill and building a business can be an art. As with walking across the street business can be associated with risk however, that risk is extremely controllable and can be minimized by knowledge and skill. Obviously, walking across an urban highway can be very risky and that risk can be minimal if walking across a highway in a rural town. Just like we can decide what risk we take on by deciding what type of road we want to cross on foot, we can also control risk in business by deciding what business we want to take on and in what industry. We can minimize risk and increase success by increasing our skill in building businesses. Some people with an employee mentality will feel that they have minimized their risk my not starting a business and instead they will get a job.

In actuality all they have done is put the risk in someone else's hands. They leave the risk of the business they work for in the hands of the business owner they are working for. However, they also leave the risk of their primary earned income in someone else's hands also. In this situation the employee risks losing their job, due to downsizing, bankruptcy, or any other negative consequence that could occur in business. To the employee who has a family, average household debt, other financial obligations and dependents the consequences of losing a job can be catastrophic. I find it more risky to leave my financial future in the hands of someone else versus taking control of it by starting and building my own business. Therefore, I strive to be a successful business owner and not an employee.

Investing once again does involve risk but, that risk can be minimized and sometimes eliminated by understanding your investments. Since you are normally investing in a business of another person there is still some risk associated with your investments because they are less controllable. In other words you are investing in someone else's skill of running a business and not your own. Actually this type of risk is in some ways is similar to the risk taken on by an employee. Investing can be less risky than employment for several reasons. First, if you have done your research then you have a solid understanding of your investments, the business model they are based on, and the future before them. These are all things that most employees do not research before taking on a job with a company. Also most people don't earn their primary income from one investment but the vast majority of employees do earn their primary income from their job. Investors can actually take on less risk than most employees by understanding the businesses behind their investments.

Gambling is sheer luck and therefore is the riskiest of all of my interest according to most people. However, I submit to you that even this is not completely correct. Now I will agree that gambling is definitely the riskiest but it is not all sheer luck. Gambling is a game of mathematics and understanding the mathematics behind your gambling game of choice will help you to succeed more often or at least make your bankroll last as long as possible. With the exception of Poker there are no legit professional gamblers that last very long as professionals. Poker is different because it is not a game of sheer mathematics and chance; a very large element in poker is the skill of the other players at your table. Most people are truly ignorant when it comes to gambling I often go to the casino watching people gleefully play games with a tremendous amount of odds against them and they have no idea. Just a quick about two casino controlled games that can most often be beat in the short term are Blackjack, as long as you are using basic strategy and yes there is a strategy to that game. If you playing that game just trying to get close to 21 you will lose and usually lose fast. The other game is Craps, this game has some of the best and worst bets in the casino all on one table. As long as you know what are the good bets versus the bad bets you can sometimes play for a very long time on a Craps table with a minimal bankroll. What makes gambling so enjoyable is not the risk that is associated with it but the instant gratification that is experienced when winning.

That was just a little bit about my favorite interest of Business, Investing, and Gambling and the risk associated with each. Risk can often be controlled or minimized this is most evident in business and less so with investing. Gambling is most often the riskiest but does offer the quickest gratification at times. Risk can be minimized with gambling as long as your understand the mathematics behind the casino games or you increase your skill compared to others at the Poker table. Hopefully this article help to put the concept of risk in a more proper perspective when associated with starting or building a business, choosing an investment, or walking into the casino.

Jackie O'Quinn, is a young entrepeneur building a multimillion dollar business. You can learn from him personally by reading his online journal at http://jackieoquinn.blogspot.com.

Bar Codes

Writen by Richard Romando

Norman Woodland, a 27-year-old graduate student at Drexel Institute of Technology in Philadelphia developed the first code system that automatically read product information during checkout. Woodland and his friend Silver were awarded a patent for their application titled Classifying Apparatus and Method on October 7, 1952. Many experts are of the view that the Woodland and Silver bar code was the basis of what would soon become a global phenomenon.

In the beginning, barcodes were developed to store data in the spacing of printed parallel lines. The idea was to help grocery stores speed up the checkout process and keep better track of the inventory. However, the system soon picked up and became a success story.

Barcodes form the basis of identification in almost all types of businesses in the modern world. Barcodes are variously called as Universal Product Codes or UPCs. These are machine-readable codes and come in strips, generally comprising of a series of short black lines of varied thickness. These codes are read by optical scanners called barcode readers or scanned from an image by special software. A laser reader or scanner can translate the barcodes into the corresponding alpha-numeric digits, which are used to uniquely identify a piece of property. Barcodes are used world over to implement Auto ID Data Capture (AIDC) systems that improve the speed and accuracy of computer data entry.

At present, we have codes in several patterns of dots, concentric circles and hidden in images. Barcodes are provided by a body called Uniform Code Council (UCC). A manufacturer has to apply to the UCC for permission to enter the UPC system. An annual fee is charged for the service. In return, the UCC issues the manufacturer a six-digit manufacturer identification number. The manufacturer identification number is part of a standard 12-digit bar code.

Bar coding standards have brought about great precision, technical refinement and uniformity in the way business is conducted in the world. Throughout the world, most of the data entry is done much more quickly. All data is collected in real time. Bar codes have also led to the elimination of manual data entry and retrieval system. The coding has completely streamlined products, making the most effective use of human and physical resources.

Bar Code Labels provides detailed information about bar code labels, bar code label printers, bar code label software, bar code label makers and more. Bar Code Labels is the sister site of Bar Code Software.

10 Years In Internet Time

Writen by John Geiger

2005 marked approximately 10 years since what many consider the dawning of the commercial internet and World Wide Web with the newly-formed WWW Consortium (W3C) and the availability to purchase domains by the public. It's been quite a ride for some and a yawn for others, but one thing is for certain: the internet has changed the world forever.

For starters, as of last year, more people in the US are using broadband access as opposed to a dial-up connection providing many times the download speed. From news to sports to business and online shopping, internet users find it difficult to remember the days of plain text and waiting for sometimes hours to download pictures, videos, music and other media-rich content. Today the use of such interactive content is main-stream and provides infinite more utility to the internet than a decade ago.

It was recently reported that Instant Messaging is used more often than e-mail by more than 50% of adult Americans, and among the younger set, that number jumps to over 62%. Instant messaging has become a routine activity from college campuses to corporations, integrating simple text and multi-media with PCs and even cell phones.

This year also marks the first point in history that more people turn to the internet to search for businesses and shopping than they do to the printed material we have traditionally kept in the kitchen drawer under the telephone, and over 60% of US households in a recent survey said they research the internet before shopping locally for products and services. Relevancy, accuracy, variety, and rich content have made the internet an integral part of our daily lives. Who would have guessed so much as recently as 10 years ago?

So what will the next 10 years bring? Here are some predictions based on a variety of industry watchdogs and experts:

1. With nearly 45% by some counts, of the US population meeting legal handicap and/or other impairment criteria, expanding the usability of the internet to those individuals will be both an ethical and financially prudent investment. Addressing motor and cognitive impairments as well as vision and hearing challenges the internet can, and will be improved and adapted to providing accessible content to more and more of the population. The UK and Australia both already have laws on the books requiring internet sites to be accessible to various degrees and accessibility guidelines/recommendations are already in place here in the US with several agencies reviewing appropriate requirements and ultimately laws in our country. WSI among others is already in position to offer products and services geared towards this new and important initiative.

2. The internet will continue to expand and provide convenience to our lives outside of the traditional computer. Available as we speak is a 3rd generation (3G) of cell phones which allow downloading of directions, maps, music, scores and even video entertainment right to your phone on demand. In some markets, users can shop, place orders via their telephones, be notified that their order is ready and see a map of how to get there to pick it up. Even Dick Tracey would have gotten a kick out of that!

We have come a long way in the first 10 years of the commercial internet. It has helped to form many aspects of our culture for both good and bad, and by all predictions will continue to be an increasingly important part of how we work, study, shop, and even play in the coming decades. What role are you or your organization playing?

John Geiger owns and operates a local affiliate of WSI Internet Consulting and Education, a Toronto based global network of consultants, developers and production centers providing consultation as well as turn-key internet business solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises to include web-site design, development and hosting; site maintenance and upgrades, full e-commerce solutions, on-line training and education, and other cutting-edge internet technology and solutions. For questions, comments, consultation, or ideas for future articles contact John at (828) 328-5929 or jrgeiger@webmasters-wsi.com

We Are All Consultants

Writen by Kevin Eikenberry

In our business lives we wear many hats. We often think of our job title as the way to describe our work. In fact, in any social situation, the question, "So what do you do?" will come up early in any conversation with a new person. How do we respond to this question? Invariably, we respond with our job title and the name of our organization. "I'm the Finance Manager at ABC Corp. Sometimes the conversation progresses beyond that, but often, that is all we have to say to describe our work.

And that is often how we think about it as well. Finance Manager. Chef. Staff Pharmacist. Marketing Director. Salesperson. Clerk. Janitor. Principal. Supervisor. Welder. Seldom though is any job as simple as a job title might suggest. We play a variety of roles, and do a variety of things within the scope of that job – whatever that job is.

Some people will answer that "So what do you do?" question with, "I'm a consultant." I remember when my grandmother asked me about my new job at Chevron, and I answered with "I'm a training consultant." Grandma wasn't satisfied with that answer, so she probed further, "but what do you do?" she asked.

After a few minutes of discussion and explanation, she said, "Oh, you teach adults!" That was, in part what I did then, and happily, nearly twelve years later that is still what I do. I am a trainer, speaker, leader, writer and more. But most of all, I am a consultant. It may seem logical that I am a consultant, but you might not realize that it is very likely that in at least part of your work, or in other areas of your life, you are too.

Consulting is a big word – not in letters or syllables – but in scope. Consultants can play many valid roles, and therefore many roles that people play at work can be looked at as consulting.

Some of the Roles

Technical expert Mentor Coach Lecturer Trainer Facilitator Advisor Subject Matter expert

…are all roles that consultants can hold. Any role where you have (or want to have) influence, but don't necessarily have authority, is a consulting role. If you have an expertise that your organization needs, you have an opportunity to leverage that expertise to greater value by thinking of yourself as a consultant.

Why it Matters

Why does it make sense for many of us to think of ourselves as consultants, and not just by our job title? There are several reasons, and they all relate to your viewpoint, your contribution and your future.

If you see yourself as "just a " you might grow bored with your work, or undervalue what you bring to it. So if you re-think of your work (or part of your work) as being a consultant it might re-invigorate you, stretch you and help you enjoy your work life more.

When people think of themselves as people trying to find ways to use their expertise to reach organizational goals, it helps them think of their role differently, again, more like that of a consultant. Consultants are constantly looking for ways to improve a situation – bringing their experience and expertise to bear on any situation.

So what is the bottom line? Seeing yourself in this way allows you to grow personally and professionally. And, not coincidentally, that growth will make you vastly more valuable to your organization, which is also a very good outcome!

What's Next?

Once you see yourself with a broader role, or begin to think about some of the roles you play in new ways, you have more means to think about your own professional development. Think about it this way - if you only think of yourself by your job title, you may be limiting your view of your own development. When you expand your view of the role you can play – of using your expertise to impact the organization, you suddenly will see new skills that you would like to hone.

Effective consultants use a wide variety of interpersonal skills expertly. Things like listening, conflict resolution, both written and oral communication skills, and more are critical. Beyond that there are intrapersonal skills that have high value when we play a role of a consultant. When we become clearer on our own motives, are flexible and willing to change (and understand change processes), and have greater self knowledge we will be more successful.

On top of these things there are models and processes that we can learn to play of a variety of these consulting roles more effectively.

I challenge you to think of your work and role in new ways. This rethinking may lead you to realize that MOST of the work that you do is some form of consulting, or you may find that you only play those roles someplace outside of work (in the community, as a volunteer, or somewhere else), or you may find yourself somewhere in between those two extremes.

If thinking about this leads you to think of your work in new ways, congratulations! You have taken another step on the road to unleashing your potential.

Kevin is Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group (http://KevinEikenberry.com), a learning consulting company that helps Clients reach their potential through a variety of training, consulting and speaking services. Kevin publishes Unleash Your Potential, a free weekly ezine designed to provide ideas, tools, techniques and inspiration to enhance your professional skills. Go to http://www.kevineikenberry.com/uypw/current.asp to read the current issue and subscribe.

Problems With Eft

Writen by Kevin Stith

EFT transactions are transmitted through an automated clearinghouse. This is known as an ACH operator and is a secured and preprogrammed system. It functions as a clearing facility controlled by private organizations or a Federal Reserve Bank and is a recognized system for inter bank electronic fund transfers. The National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) governs these systems and is responsible for their functionality.

Problems with EFT become apparent when financial institutions do not abide by the NACHA operatives and regulations. These are detailed and stringent policies related to implementation, conformity and accountability. If these guidelines are not adhered to, it is not possible to eliminate problems of EFT.

ACH transactions are stored in related files that follow an ASCII-format. These enlist several electronic transactions, and are categorized by their credit or debit values. At times EFT systems and securities may contain loopholes creating possibilities for EFT frauds. This occurs when an unauthorized person acquires confidential details, and undertakes or authorizes fraudulent EFT. An insider who has access to sensitive information, and deliberately alters EFT can also carry out such malpractices.

These problems occur when dubious persons are able to intercept or modify electronic data messages transmitted between financial institutions. Threat of EFT frauds and thefts are increased if the system is dependant upon general telecommunication facility. Very often insiders have committed these EFT frauds, and studies reveal that problems with EFT start when multiple authorized persons undertake these transactions. In order to reduce problems with EFT, it is important to use systems wherein unauthorized access to secure data is minimized.

In the US, the secret service along with protecting the president and Vice President, are responsible for electronic funds criminals. In case EFT fraud or theft involves two states, 18 U.S.C. Section 1343, wire fraud statute is referred to. The implementation of 'Check 21' permits transmission of checks electronically, and replaces electronic images for new paper checks. A number of consumers have complained that this federal law increases the possibility of fraud, error, bounced check fees, and duplicate check clearance, all of which are viewed as major problems related to EFT.

EFT provides detailed information on EFT, EFT POS, Fiserv EFT, Pulse EFT and more. EFT is affiliated with Electronic Payment Processing.

Business Stationery

Writen by Eddie Tobey

Business Stationery is meant for commercial and official correspondence and usage. It can range from paper products like letterheads, business cards, notes, labels, memos, computer sheets, typewriter stationery, checks and forms to other items like pens, folders, writing pads, clips, adhesives, tapes and highlighters.

Most of the Business Stationery is ordered in basic and subdued colors like white, cream, gray or light blue. In some cases, where Business Stationery might need to reflect aggressiveness or brightness depending on its line of work, it could be procured in other colors also. It is for the business head to decide what kind of impression needs to be conveyed through its stationery. No doubt it is a very important decision, because this mode of communication would be sent to almost all business associates. One also needs to be clear beforehand as to what stationery requirements are there in the business, and what quantity needs to be ordered.

The quality of stationery items and its prints should be of good standard since it also reflects the company's image. The paper used for stationery should be of firm strength and its size should be easy to handle. Before printing the stationery, write down the information, like name, address, phone numbers, logo and so forth, that needs to be put on the stationery. Sometimes you need to print some notifications due to legal requirements, depending on what is the line of business. For the placement of information, one can get hold of ready-made templates available for letterheads, envelopes and business cards, or have the stationery designed by professional consultants especially for your business needs.

Last but not least, the cost factor comes into play. Ask for quotes from multiple stationers and printers. It is a good idea to check references before placing your order. Since Business Stationery is something that can contribute toward building a distinct identity for the business, one needs to be extra careful while designing and ordering it. Most of the time, Business Stationery is the first contact with a prospective client or agency. Quality stationery can make a good impression for your business.

Stationery provides detailed information about stationery, personalized stationery, email stationery, printable stationery and more. Stationery is the sister site of Wholesale Envelopes.

How To Get Your Newbie Signup Marketing Like A Pro

Writen by Ugo Okonkwo

As your business takes off, you will begin to build a network of fellow entrepreneurs in your growing team. They will be people who have responded to your advertising efforts as you promote your business opportunities regularly. It is truly a great feeling and probably the best thing that you can do is receive him or her with a warm welcome and offer as much support as you can.

The next best thing that you can do is to decide how much support that your new business partner may need. It would be a good bonus if they were highly experienced and helped you to build up your network together with theirs. However, often, it becomes necessary to show your Newbie signup key skills. Any technique that you have used and you know that works should probably be passed on.

As a leader, you realise that there are different levels of people out here. Although they may all want to build a successful business online, they have very different backgrounds. With some you may have to slow down to their pace and be patient. (Not every one knows how to 'cut-and-paste'.) With others, you may just have to stand well back and watch them rip the opportunity to pieces!

If they're completely green, show him or her how easy marketing can be. Simplify things. It is important that they begin to see results within a reasonable time scale. Remember that not everyone is as dedicated, patient and focused as you.

It requires a certain attitude to be a successful entrepreneur. You need to show your Newbie exactly what to expect. This is the 'What to expect list':

You need to take calculated risks. Entrepreneurs thrive on this.

You need to be humble and ask questions so that you may learn.

You need to have clear written goals.

You need a plan of action.

You need to take action - Dreaming is fine. It may be the best place to start in fact.

You've got to stop dreaming and swing into action.

You generally need to act now. Not later.

You may have to be patient. Really patient, and keep on acting.

You need to expect challenges (problems). This is mostly what you do as a leader. You solve problems.

…but maintain excitement and enthusiasm. Excitement and enthusiasm will help a great deal with perseverance, lack of which is a great killer of most business start-ups.

A daily to-do list is a great way of both simplifying things and creating good business building habits. Ideally, It will consist of things that are easy to apply regularly. Here's an example:

1. Wake up

2. Check e-mail

3. Reply promptly and in detail

4. Advertise your business

5. Any bookkeeping or other administration tasks

6. Review early retirement plan

In summary here is how you may begin to help your new and relatively inexperienced colleague to a great start-off.

1. Warm welcome

2. Gauge their level of experience

3. Discuss the 'What to expect list' or something similar

4. Use daily /weekly/monthly to-do lists

5. Maintaining good levels of enthusiasm and excitement. Having fun and telling good jokes can be good for business.

Ugo works and trains as an Orthopaedic Surgeon. He also set up and runs several successful Internet Businesses including http://www.businessomatic.com a resource and guide for any aspiring Entrepreneur. Copyright Ugo Okonkwo http://www.businessomatic.com. Please reprint or reproduce exactly as is together with resource box.

Ghost Writers How To Hire A Good One Part One

Writen by Paul Hooper - Kelly

The very best products to sell on line are e-books and software. This is because you have no production or shipping costs and the whole sales process is automatic.

On top of that, it's fairly easy to outsource the creation of the product. This releases you to concentrate on where the real money is: marketing your product.

Want proof?

I'm sure you would agree Bill Gates hasn't done too badly, yet he has software written for him. Sure, Bill can write software, but he sensibly allowed another experienced professional to write the Windows operating system, whilst he got on with the more important task of marketing the product.

So the result is that Bill Gates is just about the world's richest man. The latest edition of Forbes Magazine's 400 Richest People In America reports he's back on top with $51 billion. And, whilst the software writer was well paid, he's only worth a fraction of this.

Fortunately, there are some great writers out there, happy to sit for hours tapping away, whilst others get on with figuring out how best to sell what they are writing. Put these two groups together and you have a marriage made in heaven -- provided you (as the commissioning editor) do certain specific things properly.

Having your book ghost written is not a new concept. But the internet now allows us to commission work from writers in any part of the planet, via one of the many on line sites, bringing together writers and publishers. The even better news is you will own the copyright, as if you wrote it yourself.

Probably the most popular website is: http://www.Elance.com.

Similar sites include: http://www.ContactedWork.com http://www.Guru.com http://FreelanceWorkExchange.com.

If you want to become the next Bill Gates, try: http://www.RentACoder.com.

These sites allow you to post details of your project, for which their panel of writers will then bid.

Take care to frame your post from the point of view of the writer and give full details, such as the subject of the work, the approximate length and the price you have budgeted. Your aim is to appear businesslike and reliable, so that you attract the good, experienced writers.

For the same reason, don't specify an immediate start. That could stop good writers from bidding, because they're currently involved in other projects. It might also attract bids from wanabee writers in little demand, whose sole merit is being able to start immediately.

One of my students thought he would give such a new writer a break and never heard from them again.

A good tip to eliminate inexperienced writers is to describe your project as a simple task for an experienced writer.
As a preliminary safeguard, these sites grade writers, based on publisher's feedback. Take care though, because they also grade publishers, based on the writer's feedback!

Here's an even more specific way of checking out writers -- and seeing if you can work in harmony with them. Initially, only ask for writers to write a series of two or three 600 word articles on the subject you plan for your e-book.

Remember, a book is little more than a series of extended articles, called chapters, so this will be a good test to demonstrate that the would-be writers understand how to structure an article or chapter and follow an idea in a logical manner.

Then evaluate each article on quality of writing, timely delivery and ease of working with the writer as a person.

The cost of the articles won't be wasted, because you can eventually use them to generate interest in the book and you'll probably find it actually saves you time and money by eliminating false starts and rewrites.

Always send the losing bidders a brief note of thanks. It keeps the door open on the relationship, because you never know when you might want to commission work from them in the future, even if your chosen writer is a rip roaring success.

For example, you may want to work with another writer, if you have a very specialised subject -- say for a niche market. You'll always get a better job from a writer with some experience of the subject, rather than a writer who has to research everything from scratch.

You might even find it so profitable having books ghost written, your existing writer's output can't keep pace with your ideas and you need to hire extra capacity!

In the second article in this two part series, we'll look at how to work effectively with your chosen writer.

© Copyright 2005 Paul Hooper-Kelly

Paul Hooper-Kelly owns http://AutomaticMillionaires.com/ helping people achieve their dream lifestyle by creating automated websites that provide passive incomes. Paul publishes a regular newsletter, called "Escape To Freedom", devoted to helping create a dream lifestyle by setting up multiple streams of passive income. Grab your copy at http://AutomaticMillionaires.com/passiveincomenewsletter.html

The Benefits Of Paper Shredders

Writen by Peter Emerson

Paper shredders are used in a number of situations. Doctors, dentists, and psychologists use them to protect their clients' private medical information. Private citizens use them to destroy papers that contain important financial information. Businesses use them to protect themselves from corporate espionage and information theft. Paper shredders cost between $15 and $130, depending on their features.

There are a large number of paper shredders on the market. The two main types are strip cut and cross cut. Strip cut paper shredders slice the paper into thin vertical ribbons. They are good in many situations, but they are not recommended for people requiring maximum security. Cross cut paper shredders cut documents into tiny bits of paper that are nearly impossible to reassemble. Cross cut paper shredders are generally better than strip shredders for high security situations, but they are also more expensive.

Another thing to consider when buying a paper shredder is how much it will be used. Different paper shredders are built to handle different amounts of paper at a time and to operate for different lengths of time before needing a break. It is important not to use the paper shredder above the manufacturer's recommendations; if they are overused or used improperly, they can burn out quickly.

Paper shredders can only be used for a certain amount of time before they need to be rested. The length of time depends on the particular shredder. Most instruction manuals that come with the shredders have this type of information. For example, some top of the line models can work for 10 to 12 minutes before needing to be turned off for 20 minutes. Other models can work for as little as two minutes at a time before needing to be turned off for four minutes.

Another feature that differs between types of paper shredders is the number of sheets that it can take at once. The "throat size," or size of the opening where the paper is fed, varies between models. Some can handle up to 9 sheets at once, but most can take about 5. It is recommended that people feed a little less than the maximum in order to keep the machine working properly. Also, the dimensions of the opening need to be considered. It is better not to have to fold a sheet of paper in order to get it to fit into the shredder. Most shredders can accommodate sheets of paper around 9 inches long. This is good for nearly all types of paper, and also works for credit cards, checks, receipts, and other financial documents.

Shredders Info provides detailed information about paper, file, and chip shredders, and more. Shredders Info is affiliated with Business Plans by Growthink.

Every Industry Is A Service Industry

Writen by Michael Knowles

The other day I was involved in a discussion group in which a sales rep for a small IT company was asking for suggestions on acquiring more leads. Several good suggestions came up. One person offered that the most important thing the sales person needed to do was understand his company's product. Another recommended creating a detailed client profile. Still others offered thoughts on everything from cold calling to direct response.

I think we confused the poor fellow.

Here was a person who was trying to attract more customers to his company, but he wasn't being given any clear direction as to how to go about doing so. No wonder he was so eaten up with anxiety. He wanted simple solutions for bringing in business leads.

We were all off base in the suggestions we gave him.

Time and again companies face the same difficulties:

• Attracting customers.
• Retaining the customers they have attracted.
• Helping customers be successful with their products and services.
• Keeping the right employees engaged and focused on delivering the company's unique value to both external and internal customers.

When companies lose their focus, they do none of these well.

It is a company's focus on (a) what it does consistently well and (b) what sort of business it sets itself up to be that makes the difference. When the company's focus strays, customers know it and start looking elsewhere for answers to their problems.

What keeps companies focused is attention to the right things as modeled by its leaders and practiced by every employee, every single day. You cannot store attention. You must remember and reinforce what the company does consistently well, what its chosen business principles are, and who it serves not just once in awhile, but ideally in every meeting, at every point of contact, in every moment.

In the case of the IT company sales person looking for leads, the most important thing his company can do is take stock of what it is, what it does, and who it serves. It must use those elements to create the compass that points toward its ideal customers. Armed with such information, the sales rep cannot help but be successful.

It all comes down to who we serve, doesn't it, and how we serve them, not the other way around. It isn't our products or services that matter.

It's our focus on serving the wants of the customer that makes all the difference.

###

Michael Knowles, co-author of The Entrepreneur's Concept Assessment Toolbook (available at http://www.booklocker.com/books/1988.html or Amazon.com) helps businesses take what they do best and focus it on success. A Principal in One Straight Line LLC, Michael has over 25 years of experience helping companies create communication strategies help them engage customers, employees, investors, outsourcing partners, and the community. Michael can be reached at mknowles@onestraightline.com. Sign up for their newsletter by sending email to subscribe@onestraightline.com.

Business Telephone System

Writen by Charles Fuchs

Man small businesses are either weary of the new VOIP business telephone system and others may not even have heard about it. The new Voice Over Internet Protocol business telephone systems are revolutionizing the way business is being conducted, on a global level. Large business and small businesses alike are able to take advantage of the benefits of the VOIP business telephone system.

VOIP has come along way to being portable and useful. As technology moves forward, this type of business telephone system progresses, too. In the beginning, VOIP business telephone systems required that people be at their computers to use it, and the sound quality was very poor. Now, you are able to receive VOIP business telephone systems on a standard phone and the sound quality is much better.

The major benefit of the VOIP business telephone system is that it will significantly decrease your telephone operating costs. You will be able to have one network for both your phone system and your network, so it will also save you from having to pay two separate bills each month. Plus the cost associated with changes in employee status can significantly decrease by moving to a VOIP business telephone system.

The flexibility of the VOIP business telephone system also makes it appealing to many companies. With this type of business telephone system, your phone system can go wherever you can access a broadband connection. This means that your will always have access to your phone even when you travel. You can even use the VOIP business telephone system on your laptop, as many VOIP systems have telephony software that allows you to send and receive calls using a unit connected to your laptop.

Other benefits of the VOIP business telephone system include receiving voice mail and faxes in your e-mail box. This business telephone system allows you to organize all of your messages on your computer. You will also be able to gain access to virtually any phone number in any area code without paying extra. Through a VOIP business telephone system, if you want to attract consumers in New Mexico, you can have a New Mexico phone number even if your business is located in Connecticut.

If you are considering changing over to a VOIP business telephone system, you will want to make sure your transition goes smoothly. Therefore, you may want to hire an expert to come in and help you switch over to a VOIP business telephone system, especially if you have a larger company. You can also start off slowly by only switching over a few employees first to test this new business telephone system and ease everyone into it. Also, to avoid any issues, you will also want to make sure your network security is up to date in order to avoid hackers, as you should already be doing to protect your computers.

Read the rest of the article here: Business Telephone System.

Download the Home Based Business Manual (Free $97 Value!) and receive valuable tips, strategies and techniques designed to grow a very successful Home Based Business. Charles Fuchs is an established Six Figure Income earner and one of the top online marketer's. He specializes in showing people the fastest way to Starting a business.

Enron 401k Program

Writen by Lance Winslow

You know in reviewing the Enron 401K program there was nothing wrong with it. The only real negative was that they had to hold the matching funds until age 50. The program had lots of options and it was structured great. Actually it was a model program for a modern day corporation.

The stock options were the problem. Everything else was good. It was probably better than most Vanguard or Fidelity programs with low fees or worse off some annuity with hidden fees, penalties and restrictions or an Annuity Insurance Company which files bankruptcy leaving you high and dry.

The 401K at Enron was fine really, progressive and better than most. The stock matched was free so big deal, it went up and went down, so what? The employees in the company may not have had control over it, but for some Enron employment was more of a party than resembling any real productivity or hard work ethic in the final days at corporate. Sure some people who had companies which were purchased by Enron had their retirement savings converted to Enron stock, well had they been watching they could have rolled it over then into something of value, but they did not because it was going up and they were greedy. So all in all, before you buy into the media court of public opinion you need to understand there is a lot more to the issue.

Indeed, Fastow was a crook and embezzled millions and there were others there of questionable ethics and the whole situation is a complete travesty no doubt about it, but the 401K program was actually not bad at all. Think on this.

Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Businesses Not On The Internet Fall Behind

Writen by Adrian Martin

Even though an increasing number of small businesses have a presence online only a small percentage of these sell online. There is a perception that trading online is expensive to set up and troublesome to maintain. This is driving many businesses to loose out on increased revenues and the trading opportunities that the internet brings.

The reasons that many small to medium sized businesses shy away from the internet are varied e.g. fear of credit card fraud – technology worries and difficulty over customer support. Some businesses also have the perception that it is irrelevant to their business. However unless you take advantage of what the internet has to offer your business you are likely to fall well behind the competition.

These days many barriers for small to medium sized businesses related to trading online have been resolved. Increasingly, technically aware business owners are "giving it a go themselves" with freely available content management systems or online catalogue/shopping cart solutions. Such systems can be easily implemented and are supported by thriving online communities.

In dealing with concerns over handling payments online an increasing number of services are available which accept credit card payments over the internet. Providers such as Paypal and Worldpay facilitate secure credit card payments charging a small transaction based fee with the business never having to get involved with card details just requiring the customers address to dispatch the goods to. This helps allay fears of website security and encourages users to transact with the operators website.

Website development is now also considerably easier, with many template sites offering out of the box solutions that can be purchased and integrated with Content Management systems and catalogues. Alternatively products such as actinic offer complete solutions at low cost that can be implemented in very short timescales.

Another challenge has been generating traffic. Historically Search Engine rankings has been a black art. However these days keeping on top of the search engines is made easier thanks to services such as Googles Adwords, which offers pay-per-click services for improving ranking based on key search terms which could be used to find your business.

Clearly having a web based store will require some investment, however a carefully introduced and managed online presence will generate extra revenues and ensure that capital investment isn't wasted.

bizbodz.com provides articles, resources and tools to help your business. From General Management to Supply Chain bizbodz is there to help. Business Best Practice at your fingertips.

The Internet Marketing Numbers Game

Writen by Groshan Fabiola

Many people believe that they know the Internet marketing numbers game, but then find that they are gaining no ground with their search engine optimization (SEO) campaign. Internet marketing is a very competitive market, so it's essential that you know how to play the Internet marketing numbers game. If you ask 10 different internet marketing gurus about the best way to get Internet marketing results, you could get 11 different answers.

The best way to approach an online business is the same way as you do with a traditional business. With traditional businesses it is expected that there will be little to no profit in the first year of a brand new business. However, on the Internet everybody gets discouraged if they don't make money right away. If Internet businesses really worked like that, the economy as we know it would cease to exist. Everybody would be making money left and right with their home Internet businesses.

Internet marketing is not always the easiest thing. If you are able to manage at least some small success in the highly competitive market of Internet marketing, you should keep doing what you're doing. Chances are that some of your competitors are giving up and you can fill the void in no time. Internet marketing is a dog eat dog world and you should never expect a helping hand from a fellow Internet marketer.

Treat your online business the same way you would treat a traditional brick and mortar business. The same basic marketing principals apply to both types of businesses. Never trust anybody's Internet marketing advice blindly and don't do exactly what you've been told to do without researching the consequences. The consequences are most likely an empty bank account and maxed out credit cards which can devastate your financial future. So remember: be smart, play smart and play the Internet marketing numbers right.

So if you want to find out more about San Diego Internet Marketing or even about Search Engine Marketing, you should click these links. You will also find valuable information about SEMPO Circle Member, too.

How To Use Color And Graphics In Your Business Proposals

Writen by Abe Cherian

Most large and small businesses have their own unique brand. This includes their logo, packaging or any other kind of graphic. Writing a good business proposal often requires some thought whether to use graphics and color.

Research recommends using color and graphics except for those rare situations where the customer explicitly forbids it. Government bids are less common than it used to be. But, they need to be used with some judgment. Throwing in clip art or colorful logos will probably do more damage than good.

There are several factors that contribute to a good package: page layout, legibility of the font, use of white space. But, two of the more important tools you can use are color and graphics.

Research indicates that using color and graphics can increase the reader's interest, enhance retention, and improve comprehension. In fact, the results showed the following impact from color:

1. Increases comprehension up to 73% 2. Increases retention and recall 55% to 78% 3. Increases motivation up to 80% 4. Sells products and ideas 55% to 85% more effectively

If there's any bad, it's the fact that the research was sponsored by Hewlett Packard. They just might have a vested interest in getting business people to use more color printers.

But the group that actually did the research was an independent, third party, with good credibility. And those figures are consistent with other research done by publishers and educators.

A study conducted by the University of Minnesota found that the use of simple graphics increased the persuasiveness of a message by 47%. To measure the effect, they had a group of people read a passage of text and rate it for persuasiveness. Then they had another group rate the exact same text, only this time it included a graphic. The score jumped by 47%!

Why does this work? One factor is that some people learn more easily through graphics than they do through words. They are right-brain oriented. Also, some people are skimmers, and graphics are more likely to slow down the skimming process so that they absorb the content. Finally, sometimes graphics, particularly those based on statistical analysis or other quantified data, seem to carry more authority than mere words: for more people a bar chart showing the average annual temperature in three cities will be more convincing than similar data presented only in words.

Here are some ideas for using color and graphics to enhance your document:

¡è Use your customer's logo on the title page of your proposal and balance it in terms of size and impact with your own logo. If you know that the customer absolutely hates having their logo used by outsiders, obviously don't do this. Too many proposals go out with a cover and title page dominated by the vendor's logo. It comes across as self centered and obnoxious.

¡è If the customer has a "company color," incorporate it into your design. For example, using a line at the top of the page in their color to separate the header from body text, or putting major headings in their color, are subtle ways of communicating to them.

¡è Avoid using clip art. It usually doesn't enhance your document. It's not smart to throw something into the document just because it's available. Your goal is to include appropriate graphics that reinforce your message.

¡è Avoid highly technical graphics, complex diagrams and charts. Simple graphics are better. They will attract more attention and they will be easier to understand. If you must include schematics, drawings, network diagrams, or similar technical visuals, consider putting them in a technical appendix or providing them as attachments.

¡è Graphics should be oriented horizontally on the page, just like the text. The reader should never need to turn your document sideways to look at your graphic.

¡è Write an active caption that not only explains what the graphic is showing but also emphasizes a customer benefit. In long documents, it's a good idea to number the graphics, too.

¡è Discussing an idea in the text and then illustrating it graphically is more effective than showing the graphic and then discussing it. Never put all the graphics at the end of the document. If people have to flip back and forth between the text and the graphics, they won't get the full value of either.

¡è Use the kinds of graphics that are appropriate to the role of the audience. For example:

CEOs, CFOs, COOs, and other senior executives are likely to look at payback calculations, ROI charts, or gap analyses

Technical evaluators will appreciate a compliance matrix more than any other kind of graphic. A compliance matrix lists each requirement, shows your level of compliance with it, and references where in the document the evaluator can find detailed information.

The "business beneficiaries" of your solution- that is, the people who will use it or maintain it will be most interested in graphics showing the cycle of operation, work flow, escalation policies for handling problems, and so forth.

Think about graphics while you're outlining or organizing your document, before you have written any text. Graphics that are thrown in as an afterthought typically look like after thoughts.

By following these tips, your documents will be more colorful, more interesting, and will probably have more impact.

Abe Cherian's online automation system has helped thousands of marketers online build, manage and grow their business. Test-Drive iMediatools for free and watch your sales shoot up. http://www.imediatools.com You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on your web site as long as the byline is included and the article is included in it's entirety. I also ask that you activate any html links found in the article and in the byline. Please send a courtesy link or email where you publish to: support@multiplestreammktg.com

How To Create A Great Web Site

Writen by Claire Cunningham

Do you have a web site that hasn't been touched in years?  Or have you avoided the Internet bandwagon all together?  Well, it's time to hop aboard again – or for the first time. Here's why:

 

1) Audience:

* Young adults and teens spend more time on the Internet than they do watching TV. Also, they're more likely to use the Internet than the Yellow Pages to find a product or service.

* Engineers and other business people use the Internet as a key information source when researching a product or service.

If either group is part of your target, you need to be on the Internet.

2) Availability: A web site is available 24/7, so your information is there whenever your prospect wants it.

3) Cost-effective: Creating and maintaining a web site is relatively low cost.

 

To create a web site, start with the basics.

 

1)    CONTENT -- A great web site will include:

 

* Description of your company –- This is basic.  People need to know what you do before they'll buy.

* Description of your products or services –- Basic stuff again.  Be clear and concise. Use attractive photos.

* (Service companies) Portfolio of work or case histories -- Demonstrate what you do.

* Bios of key staff with photos –- This humanizes the site.

* Testimonials –- Proof that you've helped people.

* Resources – Include white papers, how to's, other useful info.  This is especially important if you want to be seen as an expert.

* Newsletter, regularly updated news or blog –- Great ways to stay in touch with clients and prospects, AND new content helps your search engine rankings.

* Contact form –- A way for visitors to reach you.

* Links –- Another resource to offer visitors, plus the right reciprocal links can build traffic.

 

If you don't have it all together yet, start small and add pages later.

 

2) DESIGN –- A great web site grabs attention and invites the visitor in.   The design should be consistent with any print materials you use.  A good web designer can give you a site that loads quickly, is easy to navigate and read, and looks professional.

 

3) TRAFFIC BUILDING – Now that you've got a web site, how do you get people to it?  Here are some starter ideas:

 

* Search Engine Registration –- Often handled by your designer or hosting company.  You'll need to make sure it gets done.

* Reciprocal links –- Research what's available and learn what works through trial and error.

* Register articles on Internet article banks –- If you like to write, post articles and direct readers to your site.

* Search Engine Optimization –- The real thing can be VERY expensive.  If you're starting up a retail site and need high volume traffic, hire an expert in this field.  Otherwise, make sure key words are used repeatedly on your home page, and use other tactics to build traffic.

* Advertising –- There are web site banners and buttons, search engine ads (like Google AdWords) and print ad opportunities to evaluate.

* Direct mail –- Use mailings (e-mail or traditional) to let colleagues, clients and friends know about your site.

* Publicity –- Send out a news release announcing your site to as many publications as possible.  Follow up with releases on additions to the site.

 

4) MAINTENANCE –- A great web site is not static.  A website can be a nightmare to those who value completion – because a good site is always evolving.  If you want return visitors, give them a reason to come back.  Add new content.  If you want new visitors, adding content will help your search engine rankings.

About the author   Claire Cunningham, president of Clairvoyant Communications, Inc., has 20+ years' experience developing and implementing successful marketing and communications programs.  Sign up for Claire's monthly newsletter, Communique, at www.clairvoyantcommunications.com  Claire can be reached at 763-479-3499 (Fax: 763-479-2809, e-mail: claire@claircomm.com

Corporate Seal Kits

Writen by Jimmy Sturo

A seal is a small press into which a document is placed to be embossed. The imprint made by the seal shows the name, date, and state incorporated. Seals used to be mandatory in all states, but are now optional in some. However, most corporations choose to maintain the use of a seal, especially in legal documents, as a sign of authority and as a matter of formality.

Corporate seals are essential when opening corporate or LLC bank accounts, distributing stock or membership certificates or in any other corporate business activities. Active filings in LLCs include a custom-made corporate seal as a part of its corporate kit.

The corporate seal kits are stored inside a personalized pouch. Normally, corporate seals and company seals are 1 5/8 inches in diameter and are custom-made with the corporate name, state, and date or year of filing. The corporate seal sets are stamped with your company name, year and state of organization.

Corporate seals range widely in format and price. A rubber stamp used with an ink pad might run for as little as $5, while a steel embosser could cost upwards of $100. Choosing which seal is right for your company is a matter of how often you will use it and how important its appearance is to you.

Corporate seal kits are attractive, durable, and known for quality, clarity of embossed impressions and versatility. Whether a customer's volume is low or high, there are all types of custom seals for corporate and personal use. Pocket, desk or electric size models are available.

Corporate seal kits are designed for convenience, and to facilitate a fast and easy corporate set-up and record keeping. They give a very professional look to a business, and are a must for every company.

Corporate Kits provides detailed information on Benefits of Corporate Kits, Buy Corporate Kits, Corporate Kit Estate Binders, Corporate Kits and more. Corporate Kits is affiliated with Corporate Gift Incentives.

Gold Metal Detectors

Writen by Damian Sofsian

Gold metal detectors are used to find small and large gold nuggets. Small and slightly small gold nuggets can be detected at medium depths. Large gold nuggets are the most difficult to search and locate. Gold metal detectors have ground balance modes for alkali soils and black sands for smooth operation. The maximum sensitivity of a gold detector helps to locate small gold bits at greater depths. It can operate with ideal frequencies for locating gold nuggets. The search coil used in gold metal detectors is water proof. Additional features of gold metal detectors are meter display, manual group balancing adjustment and discrimination adjustment. These supplementary features vary with the technology used in each type.

Gold metal detectors are generally based on digital technology. They have automatic and manual modes. The auto-trac feature cancels the ground minerals in seconds and then tracks to the changing conditions. The features include iron audio signal, LCD display and bar graph. A microprocessor monitors and stores the ground mineralization value. The graph displays the percentage of probability of iron and the amount of magnetic minerals in the ground.

Advanced gold detectors have maximum depth and super sensitive features. They have digital ground balance with switchable speed recovery. The ultra high frequency gold metal detector is designed to find gold nuggets at greater depths. They use elliptical search coils. The features include high sensitivity, high operating frequency, iron discrimination and audio boost facility. The mineralization settings may be low, normal or high. They can operate in mineralized soil with a three position mineralization switch. Some of the advanced gold metal detectors have three modes for speed tracking. Slow, medium and fast tracking modes help to improve the detecting. Advanced gold detectors can also resist dust and moisture.

Some of the advanced gold metal detectors have manual tune control feature. The manual tuner helps to select various frequency bands. Multiple frequencies help to attain more depth, sensitivity and more accurate targets. The tune control minimizes electrical interference from power lines, radar and radio transmitters. Gold metal detectors are lightweight, water proof, cancel noise and have ground balance and on board computer chip.

Metal Detectors provides detailed information on Metal Detectors, Used Metal Detectors, Walk Through Metal Detectors, Hand Held Metal Detectors and more. Metal Detectors is affiliated with Material Handling Systems.

Garage Sale Average Earnings Down

Writen by Lance Winslow

Many economists rely on economic indicators to predict consumer spending and the health of the wealth of a nation. Using such data they can predict economic trends, business cycles and industry movement. It is amazing all the data available out there and all the different methods that are considered mainstream economic theory. Yet so often we fail to see the most obvious trends. For instance simple things like non-profit carwash fundraiser donations above ticket prices or the volume of cars pulling in with drivers freely willing to donate for a good cause. Additionally one of the best economic indicators I have seen is the average garage sale earning in middle class neighborhoods.

In fact garage sale economics is a very valuable indicator, but the hotshot academia Professors at the University Level is completely blind to anything that obvious. The number of garage sales is an indicator of tapped out consumers, the number of shoppers is as well. But the earnings at the average garage sale in middle class suburbs is an ominous indicator for downward business cycle trends and even future retail Christmas Sales.

Those who hide behind numbers and do not look at obvious things such as the garage sale economic indicators are fooling themselves. In fact these indicators seem to jive with retail purchasing for Christmas Season, credit card maximum credit limits rising and truck tonnage which dove one-percent in only a month. Dear economists, please take off your blind folds and see the reality, fore if you attempt to create a new reality which is so far a miss with such truisms you will all look like fools sooner than you think.

Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Attending Live Seminars And Conferences Will Increase Sales Amp Make You More Money

Writen by Jeff Mills

Have you ever been to a seminar that was on your favorite topic and came home with pages of notes, all written in scribble scratch, because you were devouring all the speakers' words and writing notes lightning fast?

You loved the stories and powerful illustrations that set your mind on fire with ideas.

Remember those break-through moments you experienced when you sat at the bar and bought your favorite Guru or Idol a drink and listened intently as they shared with you the specialized knowledge that got them to 'legend status?'

Have you experienced a seminar, so powerful your life was never the same and it changed your business for the better?

I must confess, I am a seminar junkie and I love to attend seminars and meet and network with people there.

But I don't just go to any seminars. For me I attend marketing conferences on niche topics dealing with increasing your online marketing business results and making more money from the internet.

My first really huge seminar that I attended was the Big Seminar, from Armand Morin back in March 2004. I owe lots to Armand for what he and his faculty taught me.

I felt like I had drank water from a fire hose for 3 straight days… yet, I came home from that conference with so many ideas, my head was spinning just trying to figure out which idea to implement first.

There are 3 important things you can get out of continuing education seminars that I wanted to share with you.

1. Personal Development

Most people do not continue their education after they finish with formal schooling. In fact, when most people graduate from college that's the last time they'll pick up a book to try and learn new information about their chosen profession, unless they are forced to continue their education.

Some professions that require continuing education include academia, medicine, and the legal profession. Personally, I think continuing education should be required for all professions.

As a Youth Pastor, I went to many national Youth Ministry and Pastors conventions to allow my ministry and personal development to flourish.

When you stop learning, you stop growing. You agree, right?

That's part one of our three-pronged approach - learning to break out of self-imposed limits and start thinking in new ways that will allow us to experience success that we have not yet enjoyed.

2. Business Development

Prong two is all about business development, and I want to focus on marketing.

I know that when I started in business, I had no idea what marketing really was. It's shocking to discover how many people have had marketing educations in our colleges and universities, and yet don't have the first idea of how to apply their knowledge in a practical, real world business situation. The internet is a great direct response tool, but too many don't know how to tap into the millions of niche markets out there.

There are systematic approaches to marketing and selling that when followed work flawlessly. Going to seminars, with great speakers will help you learn those systems.

There's a right way to do things, and a wrong way to do things.

Having a great teaching faculty will help one explore and explain these business systems that will allow you to produce your products, market your products, and deliver to your customers what they truly want and need in an efficient, proven, reliable way that makes you profits.

3. JV's And Networking

The third prong of conference attending is about power networking.

Many people know the value of meeting new business acquaintances at seminars and conferences, but don't fully take advantage of the power of those relationships.

I don't mean this from an exploitative standpoint; I simply mean that there are opportunities to connect with people in a meaningful way, so that both parties make more money.

At the events you go to, I encourage you to network.

If you've been around the Internet marketing world for any length of time, you've heard the term "joint venture." Most people don't really know what a true joint venture is.

With this 3 prong approach for attending live continuing education seminars, you surely will get more out of each event when you improve your personal life, improve your business through using new techniques, and you will find new partners and joint venture associates which can take your sales to the next level.

Copyright 2006 Jeff Mills

Jeff Mills is a former Youth Pastor of 9 years, who is now a full time internet information entrepreneur, book author, speaker, sales coach, and also an avid traveler. Jeff Mills is putting on the largest internet marketing event in the Midwest. Dates are September 29-Oct 1, 2006. For 12 hours of free marketing training, visit http://www.midwestsuperconference.com.

10 Habits Of Highly Unsuccessful Business Owners And Managers

Writen by Lorraine Pirihi

Do you spend every waking minute at work? Do you find it difficult to take time out for you? Are you constantly working in a mess?

The Small Business Owner

These people tend to be involved in every aspect of their business from being the bookkeeper, marketer, human resources manager, mediator, customer liaison officer and cleaner.

The smaller the business the harder it is for the owner to delegate these functions because they dislike spending any money and, in fairness, the dollars can be much tighter. However, many fail to realize that if they invest their dollars wisely in accessing the right type of goods and services to grow their business and be more effective, they will see positive changes occur over time. They can become more productive and profitable. It takes time to build a good "business mindset" and to be an effective leader.

The Manager

Many of the managers I have coached suffer from similar challenges as the small business owner. The key difference of course is that the business owner is responsible for his business and cannot escape that responsibility. If the business is profitable or non-profitable it will impact on that person personally, particularly financially.

10 Habits of Highly Unsuccessful Business Owners

Check out if you regularly practice these habits:

Don't practice what you preach

Tell other people what to do and don't do it yourself. Set a poor example.

Do not invest any time and money into developing yourself and your people.

Forget ongoing personal and professional development. The less you and they know the more time, money and energy you will waste. A surefire way to have an unmotivated and unproductive team…not to mention the loss of opportunities.

Avoid planning at all costs

Continue to be reactive and do things on the spur of the moment. Don't write a list of things to do each day and definitely do not use a diary to plan out what you will do. This will ensure you have no time and no life.

Eat whatever you want to and don't exercise

Being unfit and overweight will ensure you'll feel tired and look awful. You'll also be susceptible to sickness. A great way to ensure you won't be able to cope with the pressures of your personal and professional life.

Spend most of your waking hours at work

Start work early and stay late. This will sap you of energy and creativity. A surefire way to have unsatisfactory personal relationships. Next time you're in a social situation outside of work you won't have anything else to talk about except work, work, work. In fact people will avoid you because you're boring!

Avoid looking after your clients/customers

Ignore them unless they contact you. The fact that without them you wouldn't be in business won't matter. Do your utmost to not deliver on your promises, avoid following them up or returning their calls. After all you're a multi-millionaire and it wouldn't matter to you if there was no one to purchase your goods and services…you can retire whenever you like.

Procrastinate at all costs

Avoid making decisions and taking action. This will frustrate your people and they'll keep their ideas to help you and the business to themselves because they know you won't take any action. A boss who procrastinates, affects everyone else around himn/her.

Be a Know-All

Avoid asking your people for their feedback. Keep them out of the loop. Regular team meetings? The unsuccessful business owner or manager doesn't see the need to talk with his/her team… it means they take time off and waste valuable company time. No need to listen to what they have to say…what would they know? If meetings are called it's only when there's (another) crisis.

Never ask your clients/customers what they think about your products/services and the customer service (or is that disservice?) …you may be pleasantly surprised or horrified to find out the real truth. Better not to know then you don't have to change.

Say 'yes' all day

Let everyone interrupt you all day long. Keep your office door open so people can wander in and talk to you. You can guarantee that you won't get much work done. But that doesn't matter, does it?

You've been doing it for so long now, why do anything differently? You want to be liked by everyone, regardless of the cost to you personally. As long as everyone else gets their work done, who cares if you work late to catch up?

Avoid Delegation at all costs

After all, no one is as good as you. Delegating or outsourcing means spending money if you run your own business. It's better that you waste your time on secretarial tasks and doing the bookkeeping, because what else are you going to do with your time?

The Final Word

If you are a business owner or manager and you can truthfully say that the 10 habits mentioned don't apply to you because you do the exact opposite …then congratulations, your business/department must be thriving. Keep up the great work…you deserve to succeed.

On the other hand, if you already have these habits firmly in place, then you are guaranteed not to succeed. You will leave work most days feeling stressed and unfulfilled. Is that what you really want? If so, then continue doing the same as you've always done. If not, then you must do something different. What are you prepared to do?

If you know where to go or what to do to make the changes, then go ahead and do it. If you're unsure then call me but you better be serious about moving forward. I'm into making the most of my time and yours.

The choice is yours…continue doing the same things or change. As mentioned many times before, "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result".

Have a great week

Lorraine Pirihi

About The Author Lorraine Pirihi is Australia's Personal Productivity Specialist and Leading Life Coach. Her business The Office Organiser specialises in showing small business owners and managers, how to get organised at work so they can have a life! Lorraine is also a dynamic speaker and has produced many products including "How to Survive and Thrive at Work!" To subscribe to her free ezine visit www.office-organiser.com.au