Online Business Info

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Time Share

A time share is basically jointly owned property. Most people purchase a time share in the form of a vacation property. While most families or individuals cannot afford two homes or to travel to a second home a number of times a year, they have the option of investing in a time share. A time share allows an individual or family to own a portion of a vacation property and time to spend there. Sometimes a time share can be purchased so that one week each year, one week every other year, several weeks a year and in many other time allotments so that the time share meets the needs of each purchaser.

Time share sales are very commonly done by real estate agents that can provide more information about time share sales. There are people who specialize exclusively in time share sales and often have the largest assortment of time share sales to present to any one who is interested in a time share. The idea of time share sales originated in Europe by a ski resort real estate developer who decided to encourage his guests to “stop renting a room” and consider buying the hotel. His time share sales were successful as his former guest became ‘owners’ of the hotel bit by bit. Those involved in time share sales deal mostly with rooms that are similar to apartment or studio units. There are some time shares that offer multiple bedroom homes, but they aren’t as common in time share sales as smaller accommodations.

Time shares can be confusing without someone who specializes in time share sales to guide a buyer through the process. Time share owners are permitted to stay at their vacation resort during a set period of time that can depend on the kind of time share ownership they purchased. Many people who have time shares often allow family or friends to use their time share when they can’t or rent their time to another party. Sometimes one time share owner will change weeks or time allotments with another time share owner to accommodate changing schedules or needs. Another option would be to swap time share locations during a specific period of time with another time share owner to enjoy a different vacation destination. Exchanging time shares can be done privately or through a time share sales person.

While most people involved in time share sales and ownership love their decision to be involved in time shares, there are a number of critics who liken time share sales to travel cons. Doubters believe that time share sales should not require up front payments and those who invest in time shares will never recover the money that they invested. Those who do enjoy time shares believe that they are getting the best value for their money and are guaranteed the kind of vacation they want every time they stay at their time share.

Time share sales have been made to an estimated seven million individuals and families all over the world. Time shares include several thousand resorts that add up to 11 million time share ‘allotments’ that have been purchase. Time share sales are not limited to vacation properties anymore and have extended to luxury items like airplanes and fancy cars.

About The Author
Shannon is the webmaster and owner of " Time-Share-Deals.com" and has been researching and reporting on acne solutions for years. Click Here ==> http://www.time-share-deals.com/





About the author:


About The Author
Shannon is the webmaster and owner of " Time-Share-Deals.com" and has been researching and reporting on acne solutions for years.

Are Your Business Habits Fostering Success

The success or failure of a home business is based on the type of behavior we cultivate. People who have successful home businesses have adopted thinking patterns and action plans that foster the success they crave. Notice I say crave, because I believe you have to want your home business to succeed to the point of craving, to make it happen. Unsuccessful business owners tend to drift through life without having cultivated disciplined behavioral habits.

Order is not just heaven's first law it is essential to progress. Where there is clutter, dirt or chaos, confusion develops and the way ahead soon becomes blurred. Important tasks tend to get forgotten in an effort to deal with the urgency of the chaos and confusion that surrounds you. Concentrate on getting into the habit of keeping your surroundings tidy and your mind will be freed to focus on what is timely and important.

All action starts in the brain, so it becomes imperative to teach your brain how to set goals!! When the goal is set, see, feel and believe with all your heart in your goal, then start making plans towards it's ultimate fulfillment. Learn to research your chosen business niche and make every effort to educate yourself on each minute detail. The habit of focusing on your ultimate goal will become one of your most important habits, and is usually the one that most people who fail have neglected.

The buck does not stop with education. Research and education are worthless if action is not taken to fulfill the ideas gained. Each week you should go through a routine of study, planning and the implementation of your plans. Plans tend to work best when they are implemented.

Get into the habit of prioritizing your work. The object should be to work smart not just hard! Running a successful home business can be extremely demanding. If you are a young parent with children, successful habit forming becomes even more of a priority. When you run a home business the demands on your time are phenomenal, so to able to succeed without feeling overwhelmed all the time, requires that your organization becomes routine enabling you to achieve your desired result in the shortest possible time.

Is victory a habit? I think it is. Why? Victory is achieved by fostering a winning attitude which then becomes a habit. I hate to lose, and love to succeed, therefore I do things which will foster success. Success in business is no different from success in any other aspect of life. Just as an Olympic athlete trains himself for mastery, home business entrepreneurs must do the same if they want to bring home the gold!

It all comes down to training yourself to think and act in ways that ensure success. Having a successful home business is not an elusive dream that only happens to the lucky few. It is obtained by fostering successful business habits. If you wish to harvest profits off the Internet you must first begin by sowing, then cultivating the necessary home business habits that will get you to your ultimate goal.




About the author:


Profit Marketer Janice Sharman runs the Sure Profits Center where you can find ALL the Home Business Education, Internet Marketing Information and Resources You Need to Start forming excellent Home Business Habits.

Are There Easy Ways to Make Money

Are you looking for easy ways to make money? Let's analyze 3
easy ways you can make money using the internet. Internet
marketing, affiliate programs, and a home based business.

Internet marketing is the use of the Internet to advertise and
sell merchandise or services. This involves use of Web sites and
e-mail to inform customers about a product, solicit their
questions, and accept their orders directly through the
electronic medium. Virtually any product or service can be sold
online over the internet. This is a great way to make money if
you already have a product.

A home business is a business which is carried on entirely
within a dwelling unit by the occupants and with no more than
one full-time equivalent non-resident employee, which is
incidental and subordinate to the dwelling use, does not alter
the exterior of the property , or affect the residential
character of or have unreasonable impacts on the surrounding
neighborhood. A home business can be anything from party plans,
to mlm businesses, or any business based in your home and
conducted outside of it.

Affiliate programs allow Web sites who provide links to your
site to receive payments or reciprocal advertising in exchange
for promoting your Web site. Audio/Video streaming - Audio/video
streaming allows you to provide visitors to your site with a
real-time sound or video experience. Backbone - The network of
connections and high-speed lines that forms the infrastructure
of the Internet. An important consideration in choosing a Web
site host is that host's proximity to the backbone. The less
intermediate network distance between your provider and the
backbone, the faster and more reliable your Web site will be.
Affiliate programs are a way to make money selling other peoples
products.

An excellent program that combines all 3, internet marketing,
affiliate programs, and your own home business is the Plugin
Profit Site. In 3 easy steps you can be set up with your own
money making website, and internet marketing newsletter that you
can run from your own home. This is an easy way to make money
for someone who doesn't have the time, money or knowledge to set
up their own home business on the internet. You can learn more
here:
Easy Ways To Make Money




About the author:


Team-Schuman.Com contains the best make money online

Accepting Credit Cards Payments for Offline Businesse

Any smart business owner knows that accepting credit cards as a payment option will dramatically increase revenues. Not only do credit cards offer customers the convenience and ease of not having to carry around cash or checks, it lends a sense of professionalism to your establishment as well. The process of applying to become a credit card merchant can be a bit confusing and frustrating, so let's take a look at how it all works.

The Credit Card Account

The credit card account that you will use is called a merchant account. These accounts are different from a regular business checking account in that they are accounts that have been secured through a bank that offers credit card processing. This account enables you to process your credit card transactions through their banking establishment. This is a safe and secure process which provides both you and the buyer security and protection from the beginning of the transaction right through to the end.

Since most of the merchant accounts are offered by a third party vendor, you are not obligated to use any specific bank or institution. You are free to choose the one that offers the options that will work best for you and your company.

What you do need to pay attention to are the fees. These fees will come in three different forms. First, the initial setup fee (pretty self-explanatory), moving on to the percentage fee (the provider will take a percentage of each transaction based on amount of sale), and then ending with the monthly service fee. Read the fine print of any contract before signing it. Pay attention to all three fee categories, not just one.

Also, look for contract obligations. Some providers will offer you great deals but will want you to sign on with them for a long period of time. You need to be aware of what, if any, penalties will be charged for getting out of the contract if things don't work out.

How Do I Actually Get Paid

Obviously, this is pretty important. If a customer has used a credit card, no money has actually changed hands. Since more and more customers are now using credit cards, how that money gets into your account and how fast has become vitally important.

Any of the reputable merchant account providers will provide the business owner with payment into their account within the first 24 to 48 hours of the initial transaction. Whether that customer has a balance on that card is not a concern of yours. The bank will pay you anyway.

If the customer disputes the said transaction, the bank is usually under no obligation to pay the business owner, especially if that dispute has been deemed acceptable. If a business owner has a high number of legitimacy claims against them, the provider may just drop them.

The majority of the time, though, things go as planned and the money shows up in your account within a day or two.




About the author:


Keith Baxter made it his mission after college to educate as many people as possible to the advantages and disadvantages of credit through a widespread re-education initiative.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Restaurant Business Plan Software Considerations - Angie Noack

Whether you are an entrepreneur looking to start your first restaurant, or you have been working in the service industry for a long time, restaurant business plan software can help you create a streamlined business plan that will improve your chances of funding. Here are few things to keep in mind when comparing various packages.

Your needs - Various business plan software packages are geared toward different sizes of restaurant business and different levels of funding needs. Make sure the software does what you need it to do. Don’t go overboard on a program that offers more than you need.

Feedback - Make sure to get in touch with other people who have used the software before and get their feedback. The more reputable restaurant business plan software vendors will provide testimonials and contact information of previous customers. Make sure to compare. Keep an eye out for positive comments about ease of use.

If you have been in the restaurant business already, you probably have a number of contacts you can network with for information. Ask other restaurant owners you trust if there was a software program they used or have heard good things about. Word of mouth recommendations can often provide valuable leads.

Support – Make certain your software vendor offers full support for their programs. Many top vendors offer 24/7 online and toll free support for their programs. When weighing benefits, this is an important factor to take into consideration. You want to be assured you can get the software to work.

Cost – Once you’ve narrowed your choices down by the above benefits, it is time to consider costs. Check different vendors, as there can often be a large difference in prices between vendors for the same title. Make certain to factor in shipping and handling costs and delivery time of your restaurant business plan software when comparing prices.

Once you’ve chosen and installed your software, it’s time to get to work creating the business plan for your restaurant. If you have any trouble, be sure to get in touch with the vendor’s support as soon as possible. Good luck with your new business venture!




About the author:


Angie Noack is a business strategist with a sharp edge for technology. With her unique ability to combine these two skills, she's able to help businesses save time and increase profits.

Secret Home Based Business - Rick Tanzo

Jeff Bezos built the foundation of Amazon.com from the garage of his two-bedroom house rented outside of Seattle. He fashioned his first office tables from wooden doors, angle brackets, and two-by-four lumber purchased from Home Depot.

This article summarizes the recognizable aspects of Amazon.com's success and lays down lessons learned in the form of tips. You have the opportunity to analyze the tips given here and apply them with prudence to your own business.

You as the owner of your own home based business started - or about to embark if you have not as yet started - with the same resources as Jeff Bezos. You are in a similar situation - if not much better position - than the Amazon founder because you have the secret to his success to learn and apply into your own business.

Tip No. 1: Be modest in your initial investment. For example, your laptop or PC shall not necessarily be top of the line. Your office location could be a corner of the house or your room, basement or garage. Save on office rent by all means. Be like Jeff Bezos and other successful marketers who spent prudently and succeeded.

Motivation
You should motivate yourself to succeed. When Amazon was struggling to make profits for the first time, only its founder Jeff Bezos believed that the business goal could be achieved in a year's time. Everybody was astounded when Jeff Bezos achieved his goal after one year.

Tip No. 2: The lesson that could be learned from the above account is to lay down and make known in clear fashion your goal to every stake holder of your small business. They include your spouse and your web designer, among others.

Write down this goal and post this on the wall beside your desk. Save this goal in your hard disk and make the text the start up page when you boot your computer. You can convert your goal into a screensaver. Read your goal to yourself every day as you go about your business on the Internet.

Tip No. 3: You should motivate yourself every day and pass this motivation on to every one who's involved in your business. To paraphrase the author Wallace D. Wattles who wrote The Science of Getting Rick in 1910, envision yourself right now as having a very successful business and do every which legal and ethical way to actualize your vision. FYI, Wattles' book is featured in my web site.

Change
It is said that change is the one single permanent thing on this planet. Amazon changed the way it does business through the years. First it was an online book seller. Next it expanded into selling music and videos.

Then it offered toys, consumer electronics and software to its customers. These were linked with a host of new products until this very day. Amazon has a constantly evolving product line. Its competitors have a hard time catching up with the innovator.

During its initial years of operation, Amazon was not making any real profit. It practiced instead the habit of reinvesting its income into new markets. This it did to make possible for its customers to make wider choices for the company's offerings.

Tip No. 4: Your home based business should be run like Amazon. You could be selling your single information product now. Two weeks from today you will have added another back end product. Next month you will have introduced into your product line the inventory of the affiliate program you have joined in.

Tip No. 5: If your web site is content based, you should be adding new content every day. Casual visitors to your web site will become your regular visitors when they see new content every time they come back to your site. And these visitors will in the end become your regular customers.

Be a Generalist
A generalist is one who does a multitude of things. In computer language it is known as multi-tasking. This has been the culture at Amazon.

Tip No. 6: You as the single person in your home business must be a generalist, too. This means doing and knowing everything that goes in and out of your business.

You don't know any HTML coding? This is tolerable. You must strive however to understand at least the basic formatting that goes into you site code. This way you can make small insertions into your web pages when your web designer is nursing a cold or is out of town. Or you can learn a thing or two on scripting. By the way, HTML tutorial is one of several categories among the home based business free learning stuff presented in my web site.

Work Ethic
Jeff Bezos was the company CEO and he and his wife were the first workers at Amazon. Their work ethic was marked with hard work and consistency, among others. These traits were handed down to their employees through the years.

Tip No. 7: To succeed and last long in your Internet business, you should work hard to put your business online in the fastest and frugal manner possible. The important thing to consider is to start up and put your small business online early and rapidly. If you have to wake up at two in the morning to do your Internet work, by all means stick to this routine.

Tip No. 8: You should be consistent in your business-related tasks. If your content needs updating twice weekly, follow this schedule with devotion. Visitors to your web site will notice even slight changes to your content when they go back to visit your web pages. Not to mention the search engine spiders which would just be too glad (i.e., in electron manner of speaking) to index new contents to your web site.

Be First to Embrace Technology
Amazon was among the first, if not the first, to adopt online book retailing. When the major book sellers - Barnes & Noble and Borders Books among others - realized this new way of selling books, Amazon was miles ahead. Jeff Bezos surveyed the Internet horizon and embraced the best technology on sight.

Tip No. 9: New technologies come and go almost daily. Some of these technologies enable you to run your business fast and easy. Other technologies rob you of your investment. Your duty is to examine each technology and assimilate into your business the best.




About the author:


Rick Tanzo is the webmaster of the InternetMarketingLearningCenter.com Internet marketing and home business articles are featured in his web site.

Success is Know What You Want - Saleem Rana

Many people ask me how they can be more successful.

The first question I ask is, “What do you want?”

Usually the answer is vague. I want to make more money, have a great relationship, write a book, be happy, and so on.

The problem with this answer is that it is so vague that it will not yield any results. When you describe your goal, you have to be so clear that the other person can almost feel and taste it. The description has to be concrete, vivid, and rich in imagery. Abstractions will simply not do.

Unless there is clarity, nothing can happen. Nothing begins unless there is acute vision.

The first step to getting what you want is knowing what you want. People get caught up with trying to figure out if they deserve it or how to get what they want. This type of thinking is a way to avoid clarity. Failure to hold a compelling vision is to fail before you even start.

So this knowing has to be very clear, very specific. If you want more money, you have to know exactly how much more money you want. If you want a great relationship, you have to be willing to spend the time to know what a great relationship means for you. Details, details, details.

The human mind is like a smart bomb. It needs specific targets, clearly outlined, before it will make an impact. A focused mind, a passionate mind, a committed mind is one of the most potent forces in the universe.

It takes some effort to think of exactly what you want. You have to be willing to dream boldly, without reservation, without shyness. It has to be a no-holds-barred, uncensored dream. Clarity is a raw power that will shape your future. It is the first step in magnetizing your possibilities.

Once you have that clarity, then a massive power will begin to move into your life. Your thoughts will break all bonds of limited thinking and become a driving force. You will feel an irresistible invitation to explore all possible opportunities. And the realization of your goal becomes inevitable. You will not be willing to tolerate any obstacles or submit to any excuses. When your goal is big enough, and bright enough, and near enough, when it looms in your mind as clear as day, you will succeed.




About the author:


Saleem Rana got his masters in psychotherapy from California Lutheran University. His articles on the internet have inspired over ten thousand people from around the world.

5 Powerful Tools Let You Get Rich !!

In my experience with home businesses I have been fortunate to be around a lot of successful people who could really assist me with my own success. The reason I jumped out of the work-a-day world to the home based business is because I knew if I found someone who really made the money they claim is possible, then I knew I could do it.

I was able to meet people personally within the first couple weeks of my getting started who were earning six figures every month consistently. I was also fortunate that they didn’t want to keep it a big mystery as to how that was done. He shared with me what the keys to his success were.

I believe that by giving back here in this article and giving you those keys that I will be edifying the whole home based business industry. I also believe that by helping others, I in turn will be helped. Actually, before I start with the tools I wanted to reiterate what I said in one of my previous articles.

Why are you doing your home business? Take a second as if I’m right here, just me and you….is that it? You just want more money? What for? Don’t just say you want to travel. Go looking around on the web and pick some places and price them out. Then you will have an idea how much money you need and have a clear target. Ok, on to the tools.

The first thing that all the successful people I’ve known have in common is that they are students of personal development. Have you ever met some really high up people? They have a certain spark or quality. You just want to get on board whatever it is they are doing. All the ones I’ve known spend about 30 minutes daily in any or all of the following: reading classic books on growing your mind, spiritual devotion, journaling, or listening to audio books. You can’t have what those people have while be-ing the person you are (I’m assuming you have your sights set higher than where you currently are).

You must be-come something different than you are today. I used to think that if I only had a multi-six figure income, then I’d do all those things those people do and I’d be somebody! Have-do-be. The people I met in my journey told me I had it backwards. You must be the person you want to be and do the things they do, then you can have what they have. Be-do-have.

What that means in concrete terms is that in your mind you must have already accomplished the goal of the big income. You must act like that person when you are meeting new people, going to whatever kind of presentation your business does, or calling people on the phone. You must make the decisions those people make. Do you spend some money on marketing your business or buy a TV? Do you listen to your brother-in-law who says it’s not a real business?

To assist you in being somebody different we have the second tool: daily meditation and visualization. You must picture over and over in your mind that day or time when you have accomplished your goal. Allow yourself to drink in the smell and feel of that new BMW. Picture the realtor handing you the keys to your dream home.

You will get what you focus on. Your subconscious mind will try and deliver whatever it is you think about all day. The alternative would be that your brain would be in sort of a conflict and you’d think you were going crazy.

The third tool isn’t really a tool, but it is an integral part of the picture. Income producing activity everyday. If your business involves getting on the phone, then you must do it. Money will not fall out of the sky. If your business involves going to people’s houses, then you must do it. You are not going to make money surfing eBay, rearranging your desk, or chatting with people already in your business.

The fourth tool is masterminding with other leaders. Unless you are incredibly rare, you have to be in the environment of people who are where you want to be. I’ve heard it so many times: take the incomes of the five closest friends you have and average them – your income will be pretty close to that!

One hundred years ago, Edison, Firestone, Carnegie and people like that used to get together each year to just be together. Who are the board of directors for your business? Does that scare you? It should! Seek out successful people no matter what walk of like they are from, whether or not they even have money (i.e. clergy, prominent volunteers, people who overcame disabilities, etc).

The fifth tool is to cultivate the expectation of leadership. Be the leader! People will not follow you if you’re waiting around for something to happen. If you are the proactive one who has the goals and the vision, people will follow you. You will be irresistibly attractive to them on the phone or in a meeting. As you meet people and you are looking to build your business, you must BE the leader they are looking for!

If you are consistent and persistent in all of these you will be unstoppable! Go get ‘em!





About the author:


Ron LeBlanc, PE spent 20+ years in science and engineering when woke up to his true potential and began working from home.

The Secrets Of Corporate Blogging

Web logs, popularly known as blogs, have become one of the hottest communication tools on the Web. Offering the opportunity for anyone to create their own free Web site, encouraging opinions and interaction, blogs provide forums for individuals to create their own highly personal presentations to the Web audience, and for consortia of all types to experience the sort of online community feeling that was pioneered by early newsgroups and by the phenomenal success of AOL in the 1990s.

Blogs have reached into the corporate and government sectors as well. A prominent federal magazine suggests that some company employees spend more time blogging than on personal e-mail, an average of over an hour a day. What started out as an outlet for teenage expression and grassroots journalism has turned into a lucrative communications tool for small and large businesses alike.

General Motors’ Vice Chairman, Bob Lutz, turned to the company’s blog when rumors surfaced about the discontinuation of the Pontiac and Buick brands. It became a means for a direct response, a way to talk to their consumers unfiltered.

Other companies such as Sun Microsystems and Microsoft are also recognizing the impact of blogging in their relationships with their customers and employees. In an article dated June 5, 2005, The Washington Post proposed that there were more than 100 official corporate blogs in existence, with hundreds more on the horizon.

Although the a major newspaper called blogging “ephemeral, fast-paced and scathingly opinionated,” blogs continue to grow steadily in the corporate world and companies are realizing their value.


Corporate Blogging

Internal Communication

Corporate Blogging refers to a company producing or supporting a blog that it uses to accomplish business objectives. A blog can serve many purposes in a corporate setting. Internally, a blog can be a forum for discussion about work-related issues. The informal atmosphere is encouraging to internal corporate communication. From small-scale discussions to virtual “town meetings,” in which employees at all levels feel that they can be heard, blogs promote collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Blogging can help establish a company or employee as an expert in their field. By posting information about a certain topic, a person exhibits their knowledge of the subject matter, setting himself up as an authority. People will come to equate the site and the author with that topic. This reputation for subject mastery and expertise can boost your sales and consumer opinion.

A blog can be an interactive addition to an intranet or e-mail newsletters. Since automatic update notification is possible on blogs, people are more likely to stay on top of the latest postings.

Public Communication

Blogs can be used to communicate to prospects, clients, employees and the media. Press releases and project updates can be posted, as well as job opportunities or information that the company wants to distribute outside of the normal news channels.

A blog can strengthen the bonds between the company and its customers. When a company presents itself honestly and transparently, it not only builds trust, but instills loyalty as well. Customers are more likely to work with a company they feel they know better than another. Blogs allow for that informal communication. They create good word-of-mouth among customers who don’t read the trade magazines or business pages. The nature of a blog fosters that image of transparency and openness for a company. Most people prefer companies who are honest in their dealings and frank about their issues. As seen in the media with the Dan Rather case, a blog can illuminate the truth through encouraging people to share what they know.

Blogging also reflects forward thinking. By staying current with the technological trends, you give your company a fresh image.

A blog can serve as a recruiting method. Interested job seekers can examine the company by reading its blog.

When testing a new product or service, a blog is an excellent place to give more detailed instructions or receive feedback.

Although, comments can be negative. Not everyone will agree with what is said on a blog. Instead of preventing them, welcome the constructive criticism and edit comments only to remove profanity and personal attacks.

The Down Side

There are some drawbacks to blogging. It is not a magic solution to your business needs. Many people feel that blogging popularity is much like the Internet in the 90's, a promise of money, but not necessarily delivery.

Blogging can lead to legal issues as well. Companies have real concerns about liability, exclusions and limitations, and indemnity. Although there are laws that protect against libel, misappropriations and other injuries suffered as a result of posts on the Web, companies can be held vicariously responsible for statements made by employees that are harmful to others.

In any medium where an employee is sharing information, there is the possibility of leaking trade secrets or financial information. Former Google employee Mark Jen was famously fired for gabbing about life at the company on his personal blog, not sanctioned by Google.

Like all essentially unfiltered communication, blogs can get personal. Many bloggers feel the need to discuss their personal lives as well as their professional ones. Companies must be careful not to stifle communications by keeping personal lives out of the workplace. By doing this, they risk closing down the lines of communication entirely.

Inevitably, a disgruntled employee may use this as an opportunity to badmouth the company. This is not limited to blogs, since an unhappy employee has a variety of mediums through which to vent his disapproval. Blogs just make it easy.

The content may not have enough substance to warrant or hold an audience. Some companies fill their blog with marketing fluff. People can see right through this and will most likely ignore the site. Blogs should be used for transparency, not shameless self-promotion.


Best Practices

Fine Print. Since there are so many legal issues surrounding blogs, it is imperative that the site has some sort of disclaimer and limitation of liability.

Know What You’re Doing. Senior management should be educated by the corporate communications and legal department about what blogs are and how they might affect business.

Create blogging policies. A company should have a list of policies regarding blogging to ensure that trade secrets are kept secret and personal lives do not become public. Policies may include keeping financial information from being posted, as well as severe consequences for anyone using the blog for negative publicity.

Avoid the Marketing Blog. Making your blog into a blatant marketing campaign is a bad idea. Customers are looking for real answers and honest opinions. They will pick up on insincerity instantly.

Keep It Fresh. Make content relevant and timely. Update the blog as often as possible with the most worthwhile news. This will encourage people to come back.

Reinforce the company’s core values. Then, make sure the content fits these values and supports the business strategy.

Encourage employees to use it, but remind them of the ramifications of their actions.


Free versus Paid Products

When creating a blog, there are hundreds of services and software from which to choose. The first decision to make is whether to go with a free service or pay for one.

For paid services, the cost varies depending on the features used. The basic hosting fee for a domain is anywhere from $5 to $15 a month. The domain name will need to be registered yearly, which can cost $5 to $35. This does not include the software, which may also have to be purchased.

While free services offer the basic necessities of blogging, paid services are usually more desirable since they have more to offer.

With a free service, the company offers a free site, but it may contain advertisements to offset the cost of maintenance. A paid site will not have any advertisements.

Most free services have a variety of templates to choose from for the look of the site, but paid services offer highly customizable designs.

In addition to the basic functions, paid blogs offer the ability to upload photos and images and tailor links on the site. They also offer better security and allow the creator to censor or control comments. Paid sites normally lead to a higher search engine ranking. They enable the creator to configure search output and there are fewer restrictions placed on paid sites.

Paid news aggregators will often keep a list of recently updated blogs and will rank them, showing new sites and newly added photo albums.

For a simple blog, any free service will do, but to get a truly customized and highly functioning product, it will take paying something for it.


RSS Feeds

With the rising popularity of blogs, it has become increasingly time-consuming to keep track of ones that are of interest. No one has time to check each and every favorite blog every day to search for new content. RSS feeds have become the solution.

RSS feeds are small XML files that contain a headline, date/time and description and link to information published on a blog. When used along with a feed reader, or news aggregator, they give an update on the newest content that has been added to a blogging site to a subscribed user.

RSS was developed in several different versions, each with a different meaning. RSS can stand for Really Simple Syndication, Rich Site Summary or RDF Site Summary, depending on the version used. All versions do the same thing, though. They provide a summary of information. They send a blog’s highlights to subscribers instantly upon publication. RSS feeds save the user from having to visit the site for updates.

To receive RSS feed, a user must have a feed reader, also commonly referred to as a news aggregator. This can be software, a Web-based service, extension or built into a browser. It essentially takes the XML code and translates it into readable information. When the “update” button on the feed reader is clicked, it searches all of the subscribed sites’ RSS feed for new information.

Having a RSS feed greatly increases the traffic to a blogging site because it provides an easy way to keep an audience abreast of the latest developments. Once someone is a subscriber, he will continue to be involved in the site. RSS also makes it easier for someone to add a site as a link onto their own site.


Blogging inherently encourages communication and the transfer of ideas. Blogging lets businesses extend their reach and strengthen consumer loyalty, as well as get people talking about their product. It's a matter of perception, encouraging integrity and strengthing relationships in the corporate world. Blogging has become the trademark of forward thinking companies, willing to suffer a few stings in order to get to the benefits it has to offer.







About the author:


Karoline White is a Content Developer at Brook Group, a Web site design firm near Washington, DC.

Secret Money Making Online, How??

If you learn how other people make money online, I mean really study how it's done and ask a lot of questions, there is no reason in the world you cannot make money on the internet as well. How do people make money with websites? There are literally tens of thousands of things people make money on from the net. From hard goods of all kinds (anything that can be shipped, including cars and boats!) to information and memberships.

People make money selling insurance, car parts, reports on every imaginable topic people want to know more about, selling affiliate products, and even fundraising for charity!

That's right! People make money helping their favorite charities raise money. By creating an in-demand product for a charity to sell to their members, and letting them keep at least 50%, you can make money as a professional fundraiser.

I know someone who makes money selling a dog biscuit and dog food cookbook! That's right, a cookbook for dog lovers to make treats for their pets. I told you! Anything goes on the net as long as there are buyers looking for what you sell.

It's truly mind boggling how some people make money online. You just have to be creative and understand how the net works and how people shop online. You have to know how to get into the search engines so people can find you.

And most of all you need a couple of good ideas, or find other people with great ideas and sell THEIR stuff for commission! There is no excuse for failure - the world of internet marketing is your oyster!

There are tons of resource sites that can help you understand every single minute detail of making money online from setting up a website to choosing a hosting service to taking credit cards and filling orders. There's nothing else like it in the world.

I have a site that helps people find ways to make money online. I make money with information products, and help others learn how to make money online doing the same thing.

Some people make money on Ebay auctioning things people are searching for right now all over the world. Still other people sell their time as Virtual Assistants helping busy executives and other business owners complete mundane but important tasks the business owner has no time to do.

With some referrals, over time you can be busier than you ever imagined with clients beating down your door because they heard you do great work at reasonable rates. All this without ever meeting ANY of your clients face-to-face. Working online makes working for people in other countries a snap, as long as you speak the language, it's no different than if the person you sell to or work with lives right down the street.

Bottom line: You CAN make money online if you are the type of person who is a self-starter and motivated to work toward your goals even when the going gets tough.




About the author:


Darrell Knox is a writer and entrepreneur with 15 years of home business and marketing experience

Can You Really Make Easy Money Online?

Many times when doing a search for make easy money a search
engine will bring up results that have pages leading to things
like get paid to read email, or get paid to surf the internet
and click on ads. Although this is easy to do, but the problem
is you never really make any money doing it!

The internet dictionary defines easy money as money obtained
readily, with little effort and, often, illegally. Winning the
lottery is a way to make easy money. We would all love to do it
and very few of us ever will!

I think it is actually time to get real here. It is probably
easier to make money working hard then it is hard to make money
working easier. Think about that for a minute. The internet has
redefined how hard it is to make money. At least physically that
is. You will not break a sweat building a website, putting top
quality products on it, and marketing your website all over the
internet.

This truely is making easy money after you get it all set up and
running smoothly. But to be fair it is hard to get a system in
place to get a profit pulling website up and running. The nice
thing is after you get a system in place that works for you
making money on the internet is the easiest money you will ever
make.

Making easy money comes down to one thing and that is getting a
system in place that automates your money making efforts and
leaves you to become good at one thing.....marketing your
website.

If you would like to get a system already put together that will
provide most of what you need to make money on the internet
easily then you will want to look here:

Make Easy Money-Click Here

You will get your own money making website customized with
products people actually want and use. All of the money is
collected online so you do not have to be the bank or cashier.
This certainly helps you make money easy without having to do
all of the steps yourself.

Another thing you get is your own pre-written internet marketing
newsletter personalized as though it is written by you for 400
days. How easy is that. Now you can publish your own ezine
without writing a single word. You will need to learn how to get
subscribers and to follow-up with periodic sales offers, but
even training on that is provided.

One last thing that helps you make money easy with this program
is marketing the program itself. Do you think you could find
other people who would like their own website and newsletter set
up in 3 easy steps. If so you will be paid handsomely in
residual income on everything from hosting, and product sales to
referral bonuses and monthly contests.

As you begin making money easily on the internet you will want
to expand your efforts and make even more money in other areas.
With this program you control everything about it and you can
make easy money over an over anyway you like.




About the author:


Team-Schuman.Com contains the best make money online

Business Expansion Strategy

Businesses of all sizes are expanding with ebooks. An ebook is a paperless book in digital format that you can download to your computer, handheld or other reader device. It can be read by using a software program like Adobe (for .pdf formats) or Microsoft Word.

Here are several ways to expand your own business operations with ebooks.

Marketing – An ebook offers an inexpensive means of producing full-color marketing materials complete with graphics and audio components. Find good software or hire someone to help create your ebooks. Grab a digital camera and start snapping shots of your products, people using your products and services, your workers, etc. Then show off your shots, your products and describe your services with awesome power-packed presentations; web pages with interactive links for sound, visual presentations, communications (emails or forum posts) and more.

Education – When your products or services need explained, educate your prospects and clients with ebooks. Have sample or short versions available for trial offers or free downloads. Then include full-fledged detailed editions with product / service purchases. Educate with visual, sound and interactive point-and-click methods. Invite questions and feedback from recipients for improvements on future product and service development.

Communications – How many times do you get an email you with a question - the same question over and over gain it seems – that requires a book-length answer? Maybe questions like, “How do you create a basic website?” or “How can you market on a tight budget?” inspire lengthy replies. Well, now you can write one long reply, turn it into an ebook and send it out – over and over again and free up more time for other things. AND include your own marketing information inside so that readers can look you up on the Internet, pass your information along and give others the opportunity to find you, too.

New Product – Use surveys and take polls for new product creation. Include a link to a web page with a questionnaire and free download for recipients upon completion.

Sales Reps – Arm your sales representatives with professional, top-notch full-color media / product / service information kits presented via your ebooks to share with local newspaper, radio, television and other media reps, visitors and potential clients at trade shows and other events. Set up an introductory page in your ebook, then an index where people can click and quickly find your History, Mission Statement, product and service descriptions and images, Contact information, Testimonials, etc. Then copy the ebooks to disks and CDs to distribute at events. This gives people the opportunity to learn much more about you when they have more time afterwards.

So grab your cyber-pencil or keypad and start writing! Ebooks can definitely enlarge your operations.




About the author:


This Article Was Published By Hans Hasselfors, from The Business Professional. Get the net working for you.

Applying For Credit Card with no Credit History "TIPS"

Oddly enough, not only will bad credit work against you when applying for a loan or a credit card, but no credit will too. Even though this doesn't seem fair, it is the way things work in the complicated world of consumer credit. Lenders are leery about opening accounts for people with no credit history because they simply have nothing to base your reliability on.

So, if you can't build a credit history without credit and you can't get credit without a credit history, just what has a person to do? It's nearly impossible to rent a car, stay in a hotel, or shop online without a credit card, so let's explore a few of the options that can eliminate this Catch-22.

Available Credit Options

Although many of the major credit card companies won't give you a card without a credit history, some smaller ones, like department stores, will. Find a department store that will issue you a card and apply for it. You can try getting a gas station card also. Either way, use your card but be sure to make all payments on time. Your goal is to build a good credit history, not just get a credit card.

Find a credit card company that will review your overall financial situation and not just your credit history. Some lenders will look at your employment history, your housing situation, and how often you have moved. If this is all on the up and up, they may approve your application. Again, use this card wisely.

Credit Unions

If you are a credit union member, or are eligible for membership, see what their card issuing terms are. Although they are no giving out cards with their eyes closed, they will often have more relaxed conditions for members. You no longer have to work for a specific company to be eligible to join a credit union. So it's well worth checking if there's one in your area.

Secured Credit Cards

Secured credit cards are offered by lenders who will give you a line of credit that either matches, or is slightly higher than, a cash deposit that you give them to hold. As your experience with the card grows, these lenders will often raise your limit without requiring you to increase your deposit. Eventually, you can use your experience with this lender to apply for cards that are not secured.

Student Credit Cards

If you are a student, then you'll be best off with a student credit card. Student credit cards can be a great way of building the credit history that you will need to depend upon after graduation. The important thing here is to remember to use that opportunity wisely. Many banks will issue college students a credit card, especially banks that are located in college or university cities and towns.

When you do manage to get a credit card, remember that you are establishing a credit history. Show that you are a good financial risk by paying the bill on time. Don't go crazy with the spending. It will only cause you problems in the future.




About the author:


Gordon Goh is the owner of Easy-Credit-Card-Guide.com offering free credit card information for everyone.

Are You Ready To Become Self Employed

If you are interested in starting a business, or taking over
one, you face a daunting task that carries a level of risk and
excitement not possible in the 'employee' world. This forces you
to consider are you ready to become self employed?

If the financial independence of self-employment appeals to you
- no boss, no income limits as to time and wage, and the ability
to let your personal drive determine your compensation - then
you will no doubt be eagerly going over the many options
available to release you from your current job.

However, the rush of financial excitement must be tempered by
the necessary cost of time, money and effort in properly setting
yourself up independently.

Despite income claims made by business opportunity companies, or
competing businesses, you must be ready to accept the reality of
not seeing personal income for several months - or even years.

Becoming self employed on the side, while keeping regular
employment as your financial security, is a wise method of
ensuring your income.

Another option is to have substantial savings that permit you
the freedom to pursue your dreams unencumbered with other
employment. However, the savings must also be capable of
carrying the costs of developing a business along with providing
for your material needs.

Do you also recognize the time it takes when you become self
employed? In some ways it is almost unnecessary to bring up the
point since your passion will likely drive you to spend many
hours in your pursuits. If you have other obligations; family,
job, social etc. then you will have to consider if you CAN
devote the time needed to get your business off the ground.

Having discussed both money and time, you must recognize that
there is much more effort extended BEFORE a business is
profitable than at any other time in your business. Yes, once
you are getting work and are satisfied with the income level you
may be very busy indeed but you will then be compensated for it.
When you are still cultivating your business - marketing, doing
free jobs, searching for clients and customers - you may not be
seeing any income, or a very meager one, which makes your
EFFORTS seem immense.

Do not falter! If you come to the point when you are working
your hardest and doing everything your business requires but
still not seeing monetary results, you may hit a psychological
wall. This is where truly entrepreneurial individuals see an
obstacle to overcome as opposed to a dead-end to their hard
work. Passion for their work and the strong desire to work for
themselves overcomes any perceived barriers and moves them to
keep going and ultimately becoming very successful.

By persevering you will certainly see the fine fruits of your
labors and prove to yourself and others that the benefits of
becoming self employed far outweigh the mediocre status quo of
the typical worker's daily grind.




About the author:


Team-Schuman.Com contains the best make money online and make
money websites available today.

A Critical Review of Metastock

If you are like many other traders, you have been eagerly waiting for the release of Metastock 8.0 for one reason, and one reason only, the reportedly redeveloped system tester. Metastock`s one major flaw has always been its lack of back testing capabilities, though previous versions of Metastock are head and shoulders above the competition on other fronts.

But whatever criteria you use to trade with, be it moving averages, candle sticks, fibonacci retracements, or any other trading system, you`re going to need to back test it. Everyone needs to thoroughly back test, or simulate, their trading system in ways that can match the conditions you will be trading in. It`s something all serious traders do.

Consequently, when Equis International (the makers of Metastock 8.0) announced "an all-new type of exploration that emulates running system tests over an entire database of securities", I could hardly wait to get the Metastock 8.0 release.

While waiting to receiving my copy of Metastock 8.0 I began building trading systems. By the time my copy of Metastock 8.0 finally arrived, I had around 20 systems ready for testing, and couldn`t wait to try them out.

However, when I loaded up the software, I was in for a surprise. It looked like nothing had changed. I thought maybe Equis International had kept the same interface and added in greater flexibility and some more features, but after searching in every nook and cranny, I found next to nothing that was new. It looked the same and, except for a couple of small changes, it was the same!

Then I came to the System tester - now called the "Enhanced System Tester". This was my major reason for upgrading from version 7.22. This is what appeared to be only real difference between Metastock 7.22 and Metastock 8.0.

After fiddling around with the Metastock 8.0 Enhanced System Tester for a few hours, and testing my 20 systems, I reached the verdict that I wasted my money on the new version of Metastock 8.0. Despite the supposed improvements to the Enhanced System Tester it, like it`s predecessor, left a lot to be desired.

Even though the Metastock 8.0 Enhanced System Tester tests multiple securities in one batch, it treats each security independently of the others. Therefore, when Metastock 8.0 tests the first security, it uses your predefined float and takes the trade over the test period selected. Once that is completed, it repeats the same process for the second security, using the same initial float, with no reference to the first security.

In the end, you receive the same result that you would have if you simply tested each security individually and added the results together. Not only is this process dreadfully slow, but the entire reason for testing your system is side-stepped. When your finished all the explorations, the performance of your trading system is still unknown!

The moral of the story is that if you already own Metastock 7, don`t worry about upgrading to Metastock 8.0. Simply stick with the version you have and keep your fingers crossed that Equis International gets it right for Metastock 9.0.





About the author:


David Jenyns, leading expert in designing profitable trading systems, MetaStock website offers a huge free collection of trading related tips and tricks.

7 Powerful Sales Copy Writing Techniques

By Samuel Indrajaya

Copy writing is a million dollars industry and copy writing
skill is something you can also mastered, it requires a lot
of practices to write an effective sales letter, yes! You
can also learn how to write a good compelling sales letter!

In this article you will discover how to generate more
sales significantly simply by using these 7 powerful sales
copy writing techniques!

Your sales letter is the most important component in your
web site or marketing campaign. It will introduces your
products or services to your visitors and how people react
(buy, bookmark, leave) is 80% entirely depends on your
sales letter.

Below, I will show you how to make you sales letter a
Compelling, Non-stop, 24/7 cash generating machine!

1. Tell a good story in your sales letter.

Every body loves a good absorbing story, with a good story
you will create empathy with them.

Give story that relates to your reader’s situation, Tell
people about how you get started in your business, put
yourself in your visitors’ shoes and show them that you
know, understand about their problems and how your product
or service can help them solves their problem.

2. Put your main benefit in your headline.

It is easy to sit back for a while and write down all your
Product’s benefits on a piece of paper, after that you can
Choose which benefit to put on your headline. Combine your
product’s benefit with power words such as discover,
amazing, Secrets, guarantee, exposed, secure, love, etc.

Remember that people are overloaded with information, this
Is why you need to put some quick attention grabbers so
people will stay and read the rest of your sales letter. If
your Headline doesn’t get read then everything else may go
unread.

3. Focus on one product or service.

You need to focus on one product only, don’t offer too many
things to your visitors, if you want to sell other product
you can have different page on your web site or create a
new mini site to sell it.

4. Put testimonials on your sales letter.

A Good, believable testimonials from real people will help
Increase your sales dramatically, put their photos,
highlight their main satisfactions with using color,
bolding key sentences, italic, underlining, etc.

5. Put women, babies, pets attributes in your sales letter.

Tie your product with one of these trio because they can
deliver more attention responds to your product or service.
Insert a women’s picture in your web site header, e-book
cover will increases your sales response.

6. Create some urgency for your visitors to order.

You need to make people take action and order your product.
e.g. “For a very limited time only”, “Until the end of this
month”, “Only for our first 100 customers”

7. Tell people what they are going to lose if they don’t
buy your product or service.

It’s true that people will react more to what they are
going to lose instead of what they are going to have.

e.g. “Order now before you competitors catch on!” “You will
save hundreds of dollars using this product!”




About the author:



Samuel Indrajaya is the leading expert on building
a successful online home based business from scratch.
He is also the author of the best selling ebooks
"A Step by Step Home Based Business Roadmap to
MASSIVE PROFITS!".

5 Steps To Create Money Machine Online

If you want to set up a business on the Internet, there are several steps you need to get right in order to get maximum results from your efforts, and missing any one of them could destroy your odds of being successful.

This report will help you get everything right from the start, with the least amount of work. Here's what you should do:

1. You Must Find A Good Target Market

You must focus on a group of people you can relate to and understand. A good target market is a group of people who share common problems, have money to spend, and have a proven history of buying products related to your topic. When you find such a group, you can be sure they are ready to buy.

2. You Must Find Out What They WANT To Buy

You should only sell what people want to buy. Never guess. Instead, let them tell you what they want. Research related products and ask people in forums what they are looking for. When you have a good idea of what your target market WANTS, you'll easily be able to create a winning product quickly and KNOW that it will be profitable.

3. You Must Create A Winning Sales Letter

Once you have your product ready, you should create a simple sales letter that shows exactly what benefits people will get by buying from you. Tell them exactly what problems they will solve, promise specific, instant end results - and finally make an offer that's too good to turn down.

4. You Must Drive Massive Traffic To Your Sales Letter

When you have your sales machine ready, it's time to start selling. Find out where your target market is, and advertise in these places. If you can generate at least $0.50 per unique visitor, you have a winner. Then roll out to thousands of people a day. Otherwise, refine your sales letter and test again.

5. You Must Create A Back-End Strategy

You should maximize the lifetime value of your customers. The front end sale is just to eliminate your marketing costs. Then your profits start. You should now continually introduce new products and services that they want to buy. Create your own, or set up joint venture deals with other people. Send out a new offer at least once per month.

That's it. Make sure that you include all these steps, in the right order. These tips will let you take a shortcut and have that money machine up and running as quickly and easily as possible. Use them now and make your dream a reality, starting today!




About the author:


Martin Franzen is the author of The Internet Marketing Master Plan: How To Turn Your Hobby Into $100,000 A Year Online.

5 Hot Tips To Sharpen Your Skills

Best job - is this an oxymoron? This holds true especially for those who are working their fingers to the bones just to pay the bills. But this should not always be the case. One is not supposed to painfully settle for something less just to make both ends meet. It will be rewarding if a person lands a job that make most, if not all, ends meet.

So, how does one really jump out of the bandwagon of accepting a cumbersome job? Read on to simplify your search for a job that will rock your world.

1. Know what makes you tick.

Yes, common sense has it that if you are well-acquainted with your interests, surely you won't have a hard time hunting for that elusive perfect job. Pinpointing which among those employment opportunities printed on classified ads that compliment you, needs introspection. No, this does not require you to go contemplate in Tibet for seven years. A little reminiscing of what activity you kept on obsessing about when you were in high school might do the trick.

2. Eyes on the prize.

Simply set your goals. Eyeing a certain position is not enough. It takes quite a bit more analysis to come up with a realistic goal. Those best-laid plans are not accomplished in a wink of an eye. Importantly, please jot them down. Write something like, "I'll send my resume to three employers that offer opportunities in the field of this and that." Apparently, "I'm planning to get a job." won't be of much help. You know what can further support your goal? Baby goals! No, it's not about getting it on. Prepare sub-goals like, "Before the month ends, all my resumes must be already disseminated." Get the picture?

3. Against all ads.

Skimming through job wanted ads must be a skill you can add on your resume by now. You can't just submit your resume to all those seemingly nice companies as if you're planning to acquire a career in campaign management. Sort, brothers and sisters, sort! Doing a background check won't hurt. Maximize your cyberspace capabilities. Some job titles offered may intimidate you. Some may make you spout "ooohhs and aahhs". But do you know how to get the best of them? Squint into the qualifications required and you'll find one or two that fits you.

4. Help out like you're being paid.

Making the most out of internships and volunteer jobs usually includes stuffing them in your resume. Aside from the experience you gain, your prospective employer might just get hooked up with your charitable endeavors. Not bad for a grungy "Habitat for Humanity" carpenter turned to a knight in shining armor, eh?

5. Jumpstart by kicking your self to start.

You know what? Being a lazy bum will never get you to any drool-worthy job. Cultivate that kick-butt motivation for it is what will make you breeze through this supposedly tedious task of hunting for the perfect job. Initiative is what you're in dire need of. How would you like your mom to call you consistently just to give you her relentless litany on how old are you and how long was it since you got your paycheck?

Indeed, as Agatha Christie puts it, "The secret to getting ahead is getting started." So draw your best gun, I mean your resume, cowboy.




About the author:


David Arnold Livingston is a smart business man and has coached many students and job seekers to their perfect job.

16 Vital Traits Shared By Successful Entrepreneurs

The first step in deciding whether to start a business is to ask yourself this important question: "Do I have what it takes to be an entrepreneur?" A variety of experts have documented research that indicates that successful small business entrepreneurs, whether male or female, have some common characteristics. How do you measure up? It will be up to you -- not someone else telling you ­- to develop projects, organize your time and follow through on details.

Contrary to conventional opinion, an entrepreneur can be either an introvert or an extrovert. The basic difference is, introverts tend to focus their energy internally and often work better by themselves. Extroverts focus their energy externally. They usually work better in groups, or teams. Very few people are completely one way or the other. Most fall somewhere in between. True entrepreneurs:

1. Have a passion for what they do.

2. Have "street smarts." They don’t stay locked up in their ivory towers.

3. Have the capability of excelling in at least one area of business.

4. Become an authority on what they do, and monitor the progress of their endeavors.

5. Are team builders. They excel at bringing people into the enterprise who are smarter and more skilled in specific areas.

6. Ask for what they want and need and are relentless and tenacious at problem solving.

7. Realize the need for the help and support of others.

8. Understand that success rarely comes without total commitment. The only limitations they face are the ones they impose upon themselves.

9. Have high energy.

10. Have extraordinary self-confidence.

11. Set long-term goals.

12. Perceive money as a measure of accomplishment.

13. Persist in problem-solving and have a knack for getting more accomplished with less.

14. Take initiative and moderate risks, learn from failure, and seek and use feedback.

15. Accept personal responsibility, and use all available resources.

16. Believe that success or failure lies within their personal control or influence.

The most successful entrepreneurs are certainly not the most intelligent or the most highly educated. But they are creative, highly motivated, intuitive and possess the ability to recognize opportunities when they spot them.




About the author:


Michael (Mike) Brassil is author of "The Only Business Start-Up
Guide You Will Ever Need." Download two chapters -- Starting a
New Business and The Home Working Revolution

12 Great Reasons To Target Your Market

I was speaking with a potential client the other day and asked THAT question…”Who is your target market?” As a provider of telecommunications equipment, his response was, “Anyone who has a phone!” While that may seem like a good answer, the reality is that it is completely unfocused and undoubtedly wastes thousands of dollars in marketing costs and tens of thousands of dollars in opportunity costs. After all, would you rather spend your valuable time with a prospect who buys 70% of the time, or one who buys 15% of the time?

The reality is that no matter what business you are in, no matter what product you sell, you can take a look back at your customers and very quickly determine the characteristics of those most likely to purchase your product or service. Why is this important? Let’s say you do sell telecommunications equipment like my prospect. When you examine your sales history, you find out that 80% of your customers have between 10 and 20 million dollars in sales, have more than 15 employees and are sole proprietorships. So you now know with indisputable proof that for whatever reason, a sole proprietor with $12 million dollars in sales and 20 employees is much more likely to buy from you than a partnership with $5 million in sales and 10 employees. How important can that be when planning your lead generation and conversion tactics?

Let’s briefly discuss defining some prime market segments, specific geographic markets, sizes and trends, characteristics of people and 12 very important reasons to profile your target customers.

1 – You will know how to communicate your message with a minimum of confusion when you basically know who your customers really are and deliberately set out to attract them.

2 – You will better able to decide how to market your product or services, if it’s going to be direct mail, newsletter, direct sales, cold calls etc.

3 – You will know what additional services that your potential prospective customers or clients will want and expect from you.

4 – You will know basically what your target customers are willing to pay.

5 – You will know what your target customers will expect in terms of quality.

6 – You will know where large groups of target customers are located so you can market directly to them.

7 – You will know who else is after your target customers business.

8 – Your customer will help you define your true market.

9 – It will identify where it’s possible to survive and prosper.

10 – When human needs aren’t being met, you’ll find a widening gap in the market and the key to opportunity.

11 – You will learn simple techniques that will help you gain insight into consumer behavior.

12 – It will be very important because you’ll be able to conceptualize your overall market.

Does this mean that we sell ONLY to our target market? Of course not! And does it mean that you give up on those outside your market? Again, a resounding NO! What it does give you is a place to start. When you aren’t sure WHY people outside your customer base aren’t buying, the first thing to do is to target prospects that have the same characteristics of your current customers.

The second, later thing to do is to find out WHY those outside your base are not buying and see if you can change that. It may be as obvious as no one under 30 buying your wrinkle reducing cream, but most likely it will be much more complicated. Once you are able to determine the reason for a particular group ignoring your sales message, you can address that issue.




About the author:


Greg Beverly is a sales coach dedicated to helping create abundance for all who seek it. Find out how YOU can become a sales champion and live the life of your dreams by visiting

10 dynamic traits of over achievers

Are you a successful over-achiever? Considerable research has been done about the characteristics that typify the successful business owner. Most experts who have studied the subject tend to agree that the most important single factor is an overpowering need to achieve. In other words, a person's attitude seems to be the main determinant of success in business, more so than education, intelligence, physical attributes, or having a pleasing personality. The key characteristics that have been found to be part of the makeup of all successful over-achievers are:

1. Powerful need to achieve -- which should not be confused with a mere need to exercise power or be liked or admired; the way in which different entrepreneurs "keep score" in assessing their level of achievement varies, and may range from accumulating great wealth to creating a better mouse trap;

2. Perseverance -- the characteristic trait of following through on commitments and not abandoning objectives when difficulties are encountered;

3. Positive mental attitude -- the self-confidence in one's abilities that allows a person to remain optimistic in new, unfamiliar and unexpectedly difficult situations;

4. Objectivity -- an ability to accurately assess the risks associated with a particular course of action, including a realistic understanding of one's own capabilities and limitations. This includes being willing and able to abandon an ill-advised project without having ones' ego get in the way.

5. Foresight -- the ability to anticipate developments and be proactive, rather than constantly having to react to problems after they arise;

6. Well-developed personal relations skills -- being cheerful and cooperative and able to easily get along with people, but often without being close to employees and associates;

7. Strong communication skills -- the ability to communicate well in written form and in making effective oral presentations, either one-on-one or before groups;

8. Resourcefulness -- an ability to solve one-of-a-kind problems in unique or creative ways, including the ability to handle problems for which you might not have had previous training or experience to call upon;

9. Technical knowledge -- broad and well-rounded technical knowledge and understanding, especially with regard to the nuts-and-bolts physical processes of producing goods and services

10. A respectful attitude towards money -- a tendency not to look upon it as an end in itself, but to view it as a means of making things happen and accomplishing business goals, or as a type of objective feedback from the outside world, which lets the entrepreneur know if is on the right track with the business.

So, there you have it...10 successful business traits. If you see yourself in this list, then we will be seeing you at the top!





About the author:


Michael (Mike) Brassil is author of "The Only Business Start-Up Guide Your Will Ever Need." Download two chapters -- Starting a New Business and The Home Working Revolution