Credit Repair Business Opportunity

If you are in the credit repair business and you are looking for a credit repair business opportunity, you may want to consider purchasing credit repair leads.
Credit repair leads are considered a good business opportunity because normally people who go to specific sites and fill out forms specific to credit repair have committed themselves to finding a company and a person to help them.
With a credit repair lead, you will have a potential customer who is serious about having repair work done to their credit report. Otherwise, they never would have come as far as putting a phone number or e-mail out there for contact purposes.
These potential customers are not merely thinking about it, or just playing with the idea, they are truly serious and they are waiting on a phone call.
Of all the credit repair business opportunities available, purchasing credit repair leads is perhaps one of the best. Basically, the potential customer has come to you, and provided you with their information before you have even made contact.
Keep in mind, like all business opportunities, credit repair business opportunities need to be researched before any kind of commitment or investment is involved.
If you are considering purchasing credit repair leads, be sure to research the company you are purchasing them from.
Call and speak with one of their customer service rep’s and find out how they obtain their credit repair leads and what the process is for obtaining them in a timely fashion.

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By Jay Conners

Jay Conners is the owner of two mortgage related lead sites where he obtains leads from people looking for credit repair.

Please visit his sites at http://www.callprospect.com/credit_repair_leads.html And

http://www.callprospect.com

Successful Payroll Management

Any business owner that has employees, knows that payroll can be a complicated task to manage. Moreover, it can be downright frustrating if you are not sure exactly where you should begin. Yet, successful payroll management doesn't have to be a chore. Further, you can find significant advice pertaining to successful payroll management online.
Did you know that there are associations that can guide you in the proper direction in terms of successful payroll management? For example, the American Payroll Association provides a website that addresses myriad issues pertaining to the payroll process. They also provide information to individuals interested in a career in payroll management. Individuals visiting the site can learn about the basics of payroll.
The Internet has made learning the fundamentals of payroll a far simpler process than ever before. With the advent of the web, information is easily accessible to business owners everywhere. Now, you do not have to spend hours on the telephone ordering publications only to find that you ordered a publication that is not at all helpful in addressing your payroll questions. Instead, you can now easily access such publications from your office or home and scan them for the information you require, which might be direct depositing, federal and state taxes, federal and state garnishment compliances, hourly wage laws, and much more. Thus, there is no waiting for the mail to arrive, only to find yourself completely frustrated and lost, rather the information you seek is often just a click away.
By visiting associations that deal with teaching successful payroll management, you can get yourself involved in various seminars. By attending seminars, you can learn about significant issues pertinent to successful payroll management. For instance, you can learn about garnishments and how they apply to the payroll process, tax compliances associated with payroll, and even learn about professional payroll services and how they work. Finally, there are even audio seminars available if you are unable to attend in person. If you prefer, you can easily find listings of the latest conferences that are planned pertaining to payroll issues.
On the other hand, if you are seeking payroll resources, the web will provide you with a wealth of information. You can find accounting software that will make payroll management easier for you, reliable accountants who can help you manage your business payroll, tax attorneys that can assist you with all of the complicated tax laws in your state, and information on how to conduct payroll processes electronically. A simple search engine search will have you mastering your payroll management in no time whatsoever.

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By Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Payroll

Sales Management Myths: Entrepreneurial Salesperson

I just had a phone conversation with a client who had a familiar story to tell. He had built his business on the model of an entrepreneurial sales force. Give them a territory, pay them straight commission, and tell them they are in business for themselves, free to develop the customers they chose with the products they wanted.
And for a couple decades it had worked well. The business grew and expanded. More entrepreneurial sales people were added, and the model was duplicated over and over again.
So far so good. But then the growth in sales began to slow down. Three flat or declining years in a row has caused this company president to question the status quo. Not only is business flat, but he's unable to get his sales force to promote the lines that he wants to promote, he's unable to get them to use some of the new technology that the company wants them to use, and he's unable to get them to prospect for new customers. Now he's faced with an experienced sales force, who for the most part, are unmanageable.
The culpit? A sales model that was built on the concept of the entrepreneurial salesperson. There was a time when this model was effective, but in today's competitive economy, there are serious difficulties with the entrepreneurial model.
This model works best when the market is growing. As long as there is more and more business out there to be had, the focus of most companies is to grab as much as they can, without caring a whole lot as to which customers and which products make up the business. Employing a group of entrepreneurial salespeople reduces the demands on sales management so that the company's executives can focus on building the infrastructure necessary to keep up with the consistent growth.
As we all know, this was the case for most of the previous decade. By shifting the responsibility for sales management unto the salespeople, however, you give up much of your management influence. In effect, you cede management of the sales force to the salespeople. And they generally make decisions that are in their own self interest, not yours. The very concept of an entrepreneurial salesperson is that he/she will manage himself. By definition, you abdicate your managerial role and cede management to the salesperson.
Is it any wonder that you can't direct the salesperson?
As long as business was consistently growing, this wasn't an issue. But now it is a concern. Most distributors have experienced a reduction in sales volume over the last few years. Many have come to the conclusion that they have to initiate significant changes in their sales organizations if they are going to be profitable and growing.
Now, instead of just more business, progressive distributors want to expand the business in target accounts, emphasize key product lines, and acquire new accounts. In other words, they want to direct the sales force more precisely, to focus them on the behaviors that further the company's strategic objectives.
At just the time that they want to more precisely focus the sales force, they are faced with a group of experienced salespeople who have become satisfied and content.
These sales people would rather not move out of their comfort zones of established customers and established products. They have no desire to do the hard work of prospecting for new accounts. And many are content with the diminished incomes of the past few years.
The culprit in this difficult situation is the entrepreneurial model. This is not to say that there are no entrepreneurial salespeople. Certainly a certain percentage of every large group of sales people will turn out to be highly motivated, constantly improving, driven to succeed and willing to accept your direction. From my experience, this is about one of 20 sales people. The chances of your entire group fitting this mold are slight. The issue is not the occasional exception to the rule; the issue is the model that no longer supports your strategic interests.
What to do?
The company president on the phone was looking for solutions. How could he change the established routines, attitudes and practices of his experienced sales force? How could he revive the slumbering entrepreneurial drive? How could he gain some degree of directability?
Unfortunately, the answers are larger and more challenging than that which could be discussed in a half hour phone call. Decades of a certain way of doing business have resulted in attitudes cast in granite. Half-way measures can't be counted on to work.
The solution is going to require strenuous work.
Wipe the slate clean and start over. Begin with the definition of what you would like the salespeople to do. What do you really want your sales force to do? Noodle your ideas onto a blank sheet of paper, and review it for a couple of days. When you have a well-articulated full page of detail, you will have taken a major step forward.
Once you have a clear and specific idea of what you want them to do, then start dealing with implications of that. For example, does you compensation plan support the behavior you want? If not, then change that.
Does you training and development program equip the sales people with the skills that support your vision? If not, it's time to revise that.
Does you infrastructure support your idea of what the sales people should be doing? In other words, does customer service, purchasing, delivery, operations, sales management, etc., all support the revised job description? If not, make some refinements.
Finally, do you have the kind of people who will whole-heartedly embrace your new vision? If not, then it's time to begin the process of recruiting new sales people.
Each of these is difficult and challenging issues that speak to the heart of how you have your sales force structured. Designing and implementing these changes can take the better part of a year or two. Each of these initiatives will be met with resistance from some. It won't be easy. Before you rush into the fray, however, make sure you count the cost. You may decide that you are not up for the task and that it is easier to continue to cede management to your sales people.
Should you decide to revise your sales force, you can anticipate arriving at a focused and directable sales force - an enormously powerful asset for any distributor.

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By Dave Kahle

About Dave Kahle, The Growth Coach®: Dave Kahle is a consultant and trainer who helps his clients increase their sales and improve their sales productivity. Dave has trained thousands of salespeople to be more successful in the Information Age economy. He's the author of over 500 articles and five books. His latest is 10 Secrets of Time Management for Salespeople. His "Thinking About Sales" Ezine features content-filled motivating articles, practical tips for immediate improvements, useful resources and helpful tips to help increase sales. Join for NOTHING on-line at http://www.davekahle.com/mailinglist.htm.
You can reach Dave at:

The DaCo Corporation

3736 West River Drive

Comstock Park, MI 49321

Phone: 800-331-1287 / 616-451-9377

Fax: 616-451-9412

info@davekahle.comhttp://www.davekahle.com

Designing a Brochure? Consider a DVD

The ubiquitous brochure has been a staple of corporate communications for decades. I'm not sure who created the first one, but I'm sure more brochures have been written and designed than there are books in the world. And I mean in all languages. The esteemed brochure provides a company the opportunity to briefly describe its services and programs without scaring their public away with too much information. Its typical format is three panels, logo on front, information inside, and contact information on the back. It's handy, too—small, easy to give away and usually containing basic company information that doesn't change often.
It sounds like the perfect method of introduction. If it is designed well, it also lends legitimacy to the product, company or program it describes. The brochure is perfect for some things. It falls apart is when it is expected to stay current within a changing environment. Print is permanent. Companies try to escape that fact by squeezing extra life out of a brochure in the form of laser-printed inserts that accommodate a growing product line or incorporate new programs. Or cover-up stickers - I call them "brochure toupees." Who are you fooling?
On the flip side of the brochure is the Website. It is one of the best ways to sell and market - always updateable, malleable, and flexible. With a few keystrokes and no printing bill you can change information, reorganize and delete all things old and irrelevant. It's great, but most companies still find standard marketing methods work best to get an audience to a website (direct mail, traditional advertising, etc.). The problem with a website is it tends to put all the information out there at once. If you're trying to target a market, this might not be great at the beginning. Your market may get sidetracked and you'll never know. Another one of the most amusing (and occasionally effective) marketing methods is customized print advertising. The print world responded to the flexibility of the Internet by creating customizable digital printing. For example, a sweepstakes direct mail package customized with your name, a poster of a sexy car with your name on the vanity plate, a pound of paper telling you, by name, that you are fiscally irresponsible if you live without yet another credit card.
There's something else out there that very few companies take advantage of. If your market is targeted and you are looking for a new way to sell a product or service, consider a DVD. High tech, entertainment and edutainment have been taking advantage of this medium for a few years, but they have yet to make their way into the mainstream. A DVD with a self-running presentation can be an effective way to talk about what you do. The main benefit is that you can make changes without high production costs, and you can customize it for a particular audience. You can use it to sell, to teach or provide instructions. DVDs are also device-independent and will work on any computer.
I recently created a self-running DVD for our local United Way. They were looking to help local companies launch Internet campaigns, rather than using traditional donation methods that require too much time and paperwork. The Internet campaign allows a company's participants to go online to setup donations at their convenience. The presentation describes the benefits of going digital and shows how easy it is. The CD provides staff and volunteers with a great tool to sell companies on moving to the more efficient method. Aside from the fact that a DVD can be customized and updated easily, it makes you look like you know what you're doing (if done well). Everyone has a brochure, but providing a little movie that talks about your organization can lift your company high above the common brochure. These little movies can be burned on a CD along with other goodies like a free screen saver or wallpaper that relates to your product or geographical region. Free fonts are like chocolate to me, I'll load any CD with a free font. A digital coupon works too.
There are unlimited benefits to having a digital presentation in your cadre of marketing tools. They're flexible, editable, original and very cool. Think about the tools you currently use. A digital mini-movie might be just the thing you need to round out your marketing efforts.

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By Audrey Nezer

Audrey Nezer is an award-winning graphic designer in Seattle, Washington. Her company, Artifex Design, creates playful, edgy and effective marketing and communication materials for companies and organizations throughout the United States. Visit http://www.artifex.net to learn more (and win a prize!)

January Sales for Business

Inevitably - and surely rightly - business men and women take their eye off the ball while they take their holiday break. The business community can at last be human again, spending time with family and friends. The turn of the year marks a universal celebration where we look back at what went before and look forward to the future. Just as inevitable, though, the whole cycle starts again and business cranks back into gear a few days into January.
In early January many business people have one great big cloud over their heads. This cloud represents budgets. The cloud may be darker for some than for others. Many companies roll up their financial year at the calendar year end. Many others have April as their new financial year. If you are in the first category you may be in the process of spending your new budget, careful to ensure it is spent wisely and not all at once! If you are in the second category you will be in the final throws of planning for next year's budget, probably negotiating for this or that project that you just know will bring great benefits to your company.
For those in the business of selling products the budgeting process can be akin to the January sales where you should be making a strong pitch for business. Why? Because many have a brand new budget, coffers full and others are planning next years budget. You will either be selling your product to budget holders that are flush with money or you will be attempting to insert provision for your product in next year's budget. Whichever way, January is a good time to act.
Businesses selling lower cost items for which little authorisation will be required will particularly benefit by selling to those companies who have a new established budget. If you are selling higher cost items you would be best targeting those companies that are in the process of planning next year's budget. That said, there is an argument for all companies to target large company's individual budget holders towards the end of their financial year. Some budget holders will wish to use up their allocation for fear of setting a precedent and having the following year's budget slashed. Of course, targeting a company that doesn't really need your product seems to me to be a waste of time, but it amazes me how many marketing drives are so broad that these wasted contacts are made. This is the case even when a budget holder is trying to use their allocation. There surely must be a genuine need for your product.
I am the marketing man for Arkay Hygiene from the UK. The pest control products sold by Arkay are increasingly required by both the private and the public sector. The variety of products for sale start at a few pounds and range to four figures. The kind of strategic marketing described above is essential to Arkay in order to achieve effective year-round sales volumes.

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By Vernon Stent

Vernon Stent is marketing consultant to Arkay Hygiene. An example of a low cost product are Bird Control Spikes. Examples in the higher range include Industrial Glueboard IND35 Fly Killers

Were You Born to Sell?

Most people are always striving to better themselves. It's the "American Way." For proof, check the sales figures on the number of self-improvement books sold each year. This is not a pitch for you to jump in and start selling these kinds of books, but it is an indication of people's awareness that in order to better themselves, they have to continue improving their personal selling abilities.
To excel in any selling situation, you must have confidence, and confidence comes from knowledge. You have to know and understand yourself and your goals. You have to recognize and accept your weaknesses as well as your special talents. This requires a kind of personal honesty that not everyone is capable of exercising.
In addition to knowing yourself, you must continue learning about people. Just as with yourself, you must be caring, forgiving and laudatory with others. In any sales effort, you must accept other people as they are, not as you would like for them to be.
One of the most common faults of sales people is impatience when the prospective customer is slow to understand or make a decision. The successful salesperson handles these situations the same as he would if he were asking a girl for a date, or even applying for a new job.
Learning your product, making a clear presentation to qualified prospects, and closing more sales will take a lot less time once you know your own capabilities and failings, and understand and care about your customers.
Our society is built on selling, and all of us are selling something all the time. We move up or stand still in direct relation to our sales efforts. Everyone is included, whether we're attempting to be a friend to a coworker, a neighbor, or selling multi-million dollar real estate projects. Accepting these facts will enable you to understand that there is no such thing as a born salesman. In selling, we all begin at the same starting line, and we all have the same finish line as the goal - a successful sale.
Most assuredly, anyone can sell anything to anybody. As a qualification to this statement, let us say that some things are easier to sell than others, and some people work harder at selling than others. Regardless of what you're selling, or even how you're attempting to sell it, the odds are in your favor. If you make your presentation to enough people, you'll find a buyer.
The problem with most people seems to be in making contact - getting their sales presentation seen by, read by, or heard by enough people. There is also a problem of impatience, but this too can be harnessed to work in the salesperson's favor.
We're all salespeople in one way or another. So whether we're attempting to move up from forklift driver to warehouse manager, waitress to hostess, salesman to sales manager or from mail order dealer to president of the largest sales organization in the world, it's vitally important that we continue learning.
Getting up out of bed in the morning; doing what has to be done in order to sell more units of your product; keeping records, updating your materials; planning the direction of further sales efforts; and all the while increasing your own knowledge - all this very definitely requires a great deal of personal motivation, discipline, and energy. But then the rewards can be beyond your wildest dreams, for make no mistake about it, the selling profession is the highest paid occupation in the world!
Selling is challenging. It demands the utmost of your creativity and innovative thinking. The more success you want, and the more dedicated you are to achieving your goals, the more you'll sell. Hundreds of people the world over become millionaires each month through selling. Many of them were flat broke and unable to find a "regular" job when they began their selling careers. Yet they've done it, and you can do it too!

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By Kim Haas

Kim Haas is a WAHM and Founder of Womans-Net.com, a popular online networking community focusing on working from home and women in business and owner of http://article-host.com/ To learn more about Kim, visit http://kimberlyhaas.com/

The Bos

I want to tell you a little story that could make a wonderful difference in your life. You may already know about everything I'm going to tell you. If you do, you're a remarkable person, and according to the latest statistics you belong to the top 5% of all the working people in the world. You're to be congratulated. If you don't know about the things I'm going to say, you've been holding yourself back, not only on the job but you're also missing a big percentage of the greatest joy in life. I want to talk about your boss and your relationship with him. How you handle this relationship will determine your success or failure. It will determine how much money you make or do not make, and it will determine whether you're a happy person or an unhappy person.
So let's talk about you and your boss. Who is your boss? You have only one and every working person, from the president of the largest corporation to the shoeshine boy, has the same boss. He is simply the customer. There never has been, there is not now, and there never will be any boss but the customer. He is the one boss you must please. Everything you own he has paid for. He buys your home, your cars, your clothes. He pays for your vacations and puts your children through school. He pays your doctor bills and writes every paycheck you will ever receive. He will give you every promotion you will ever obtain during your lifetime, and he will discharge you if you displease him.
Sometimes, particularly these days of seemingly complex economics and big business, we lose sight of just what business is. It all started back during the most primitive times. A man, in order to fend for himself and his family, had to provide his own food and his own shelter. He had to do his own fighting and fashion his own rough clothes and crude weapons for hunting and materials for fishing. Later he had to manufacture his own farming implements. In short, each person had to personally take care of every department of his or her life.
Naturally it came about that men and women with certain talents appeared. One person was particularly adept at fashioning spears, another at fishing, another at hunting, another at making garments, and so on. It was only natural that soon these individuals found that they could best spend most of their time in the pursuit of that at which they were most talented and trade their production for the production of others.
As a result, the person who made spears found that others would give him a share of their food, clothing, and so on, if he'd provide them with spears. Thus, trade and commerce began. It's far more complex today but still based on the same principle. A person's money is the result of his production, and he trades it for things he needs and wants. And it's here that logical discrimination comes into the picture.
Since his money is the result of his work, it's left to his discretion as to where he spends it. It is here that he assumes the role of boss. He will spend his money only with those whom he feels have earned it. And this is as it should be. You and I are exactly the same way. If someone treats you badly in any way, you instinctively feel that he has not earned your business and you will withhold it from him.
Over a period of time this amounts to a really substantial penalty. Let's say a family spends $100 a week for food, and because they've been mistreated or even get the feeling they're not appreciated or liked, they stop doing business at one store and take their business to another one. That's a penalty to one store of $5,200 a year and an increase of that amount at another store. In 10 years it amounts to $52,000. This amount of money can be lost by not realizing who the boss really is. The same thing applies to our clothes, drug items, hardware, cleaning, gasoline, automobiles, everything we purchase.
The average family earns more than $42,000 a year. This money pays your salary and mine if we earn it. And our prosperity as individuals hinges directly on our attitude toward what we do for a living. The man who works on an automotive assembly line might not think much about the car at the point of sale, nor about the family who will eventually buy and travel in that car. But that family pays his salary, and they will withhold the purchase of the car on which he works if it does not earn their respect and admiration.
If you doubt this even for a moment, think of the cars that once were popular and that can no longer be seen on the road. This applies to all products. Having earned a successful place in the economy should not be confused with keeping it. It must be earned every day, year in, year out. There's not a single company that could not go out of business. Everything depends on how the boss is treated, the boss being the customer. And yet the customer is eminently fair, just as you are. He can be won back, and if he's treated with the importance that he deserves, he can in a few years bring a lot of other people into your place of business.
Let me tell you something you may not have thought about. If you get in your car and start driving across the country, you will pass many thousands of businesses, from small restaurants, drug stores, grocery stores, gas stations, to great sprawling corporate complexes covering hundreds of acres and employing thousands of people. By simply looking at each one you can tell how they're treating the boss.
Did you know that your rewards are in exact proportion to your service? That's right. We're paid exactly what we earn, but no more. And you can tell by looking at any business exactly what it has earned by seeing what it has. It's the same with people. We get back exactly what we earn, but not a penny more. And this, again, is just the way it should be. A person might be underpaid for a while, but the scales of life must balance eventually and he will, in the end, receive just what he's earned.
There are of course two ways in which we're paid for what we do. One is tangible in the form of money, and the other is intangible, but just as important. To many it's more important. This latter form of payment comes in the form of inner satisfaction, in the form of joy as a result of accomplishment. It also comes in the form of satisfaction in position and the standing it gives us.
So each of us is paid in these two ways: money and satisfaction. And there's a very simple way to increase both of these forms of income. You may wonder how I can say that I can tell you of a simple way to increase your income from the standpoint of money as well as inner satisfaction. Yet I can, and you'll be able to see and spend the results.
First, I want you to understand and believe completely the great law that lies as the foundation of all life, business and personal. It is that our rewards in life will be in exact proportion to our service. The more you think about this and observe people and businesses in their true light, the more you'll see the undeniable truth of it.
Try as best you can to estimate the proportion of your total ability you have been giving to your work. I don't think anyone gives 100%. I don't think it's possible to give 100% day in and day out. But estimate what you consider to be the percentage of 100% you have been giving to your work. Would you say it's been 30%? 50%?
Since your rewards will be in exact proportion to your service, you can increase your income both financially and from an inner satisfaction standpoint simply by narrowing the distance between what you have been giving to your work and the 100% of which it may be said you could give under ideal conditions. You don't have to ask for a raise; the income will appear of its own accord and in the right time. You may want to question this, but try to take my word for it.
The second point I want to make is this: If you will begin to do your work better, better than you've ever done before, you will immediately begin to receive incalculably more inner satisfaction. You'll also find that what may have been a boring or uninteresting job will take on new meaning and interest. No matter what it is that you do during the entire working day, try in every case to do a little more than you have to, more than you're being paid for. Because unless you do more than you're being paid for now, you can't hope for or justify an increase in pay.
The third point is, each of us is interdependent. As I pointed out earlier, other people pay our salaries, buy our homes, clothe, feed, and educate our children. Therefore we depend on others for our very lives, just as they must depend on us. If we expect others to give us excellent service and fine products for the money we spend, doesn't it make good sense that we should treat them the same way? Every hour spent at our work should be spent in the attempt to give the best of which we are capable, a baker's dozen for the money our company's customers spend for our products and services and with which our salaries are paid.
A person who tries to get the maximum return for the minimum of effort is only kidding himself. Sooner or later the scales will balance. They must, for that is the law whether we like it or not. This kind of individual actually shrinks as a person, as a human being. He has no real place in a dynamic and swiftly changing world.
The fourth point is to try each day to find some way in which the work you're doing can be improved. Here again you're guaranteeing an increase in your income in both categories. We all know the cynical type of individual who will laugh at this. I know them; you know them. But I don't know one who could be said to be doing well, do you?
I know lots of men and women at the top of their fields who live their lives every day in the way I have suggested. Rather than go along with someone who's never proved in his own life that he knows what he's talking about, I'd prefer to believe the one who said, "As ye sow, so shall ye reap." I feel, as I'm sure you do, that he was more qualified to speak than the know-it-all who is behind in his installment payments.
Anyway, it's worth a test. If you'll follow my suggestions for the next year, you'll be a different person, living a rich, rewarding, and meaningful life. Four things, all of them simple.
One, remember that our rewards in life will be in exact proportion to our service.
Two, by giving your work a larger percentage of your capabilities and talents, you will, you must, increase your income substantially.
Three, since our lives depend on others, treat others in every facet of your life exactly as you want others to treat you. If you expect others to give you excellent products and services for the money you and your family spend, then you should make certain that your job is handled as excellently as it is possible for you, since it is the money of others that pays your salary.
Four, try to find some way every day in which your work can be improved. And above all, know your boss. He's the customer. Treat him with the respect, care, courtesy, and good humor he deserves. Remember, he pays all your bills every month. He will buy everything you will ever own. He may be coarse, crude, ignorant, selfish, conniving, and a thoroughgoing savage. He often will be. Here it is more important than ever that you treat him with all the care and attention you can muster. If you don't and if you permit his attitude to affect yours, you're admitting that he's the stronger person. If you respond the same way he conducts himself, you're admitting you're no better than he is.
Most people, however, are nice people. They're people like you and me who want to be liked and want to get along, who want to be friends. They have problems and sorrows of their own about which we're not aware. They have bad days and disappointments. Make sure that the time they're with you is a high spot in their day and that they'll want to come back, not just because of your company, but because of you.
If you'll do these things for a year, you'll be surprised and delighted, and you'll find you wouldn't live any other way for the world. If you're already living this way, you know what I mean.

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By Earl Nightingale

Earl Nightingale co-founded Nightingale Conant an audio publishing company and world leader in personal development with over 2 million loyal customers. Other audio books available at Nightingale Conant include authors such as Napoleon Hill, Deepak Chopra, Wayne W. Dyer, and many, many more.

8 Valuable Insights Into Paid and Free Web Directories

Web directories have numerous benefits. Informative decisions must be made when choosing between submitting a site to a paid or free web directory. Whatever your choice, ensure that your website conforms to all required norms: complete, detailed, user friendly, and distinctive. The options are many and stem from two main categories: free directories and paid directories.
A free directory is a great way of getting back links. Your site will probably get listed on a PR3 or PR4 page. Sometimes, your site will get listed within a few days otherwise it may even take a month. But it can also happen that the free site never gets around to listing your site. The options in the free category are numerous and one can opt for an open directory project such as DMOZ or a free directory like JoeAnt. Apart from main directories there are niche directors that are specific to one segment only like health, alternative medicine, and so on. Remember, every listing will add to the website’s Google PageRank and free directories of standing do provide a steady rate of referral traffic.
Many free directories have editors who do the vetting for no remuneration; this allows the directory to include hundreds of sites at little or no cost. Directories like DMOZ are used by Google and other search engines as databases; this means that your web site will automatically be listed in several major search engines and directories.
A paid directory is one that offers premium service which includes faster approvals. Most paid directories deliver high quality traffic or a good PageRank. Less crowded than free directories, your site stands a good chance of being listed on a higher PR page. Some directories like Yahoo charge a fee for considering a site for inclusion. This is towards costs of reviewing your site and the fee is a recurring expense to be paid yearly. However, there are exceptions where non-profit sites are reviewed free but there is a special path for submission of such sites. Other sites charge a one-time inclusion fee. The costs of paid directories can vary from US $ 25.00 (one time fee) to US$ 299 (annual recurring fee).
Whether you should opt for a paid or free inclusion depends on your needs.

• Consider what is your goal?

• Determine how much immediate exposure your website needs?

• Is there time to wait for a free inclusion or would you benefit from a quick paid inclusion?

• Is there budget provision for paid inclusion: pay per click or recurring yearly expenses?

• Do you have time to assume the role of a reviewer and vet your directory before a free inclusion?

• Or, would it be more feasible to pay for a professional editor to review the web site?

• Learn how each directory is organized and what its guidelines are.

• Surf the net and find out where your competitors are listed.
Make a working plan and choose wisely what will benefit your business plan the most.

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By Paul W Wilson

Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1866WebDirectory.com the premier website directory provides human edited categorized website listings including business websites, news websites, gaming websites, shopping websites, travel websites and more. He also freelances for http://www.1888PressRelease.com.

Trade Shows

Trade shows show promise as a “golden” marketing opportunity. Many business owners are stepping outside of the traditional box and investing in portable signage. Talking one-on-one with potential buyers provides an immediate gratification that is empowering. The trade show makes highlighting business services or products easier.
Plan Ahead
Working trade shows requires some planning. If possible, visit the facility prior to selecting your booth. Walk through the facility looking for potential problems that would inhibit your success, such as:
Food court: Although being located next to the food court could be beneficial, it creates a distraction. It's difficult enough to interest a potential buyer in 3-minutes; you don't need the sweet smell of cotton candy interrupting.
Competition: Don't be suckered into renting a booth that is right next to a competitor. Some people believe its quality that counts and are eager to take the challenge of competition.
Accessibility: Ideally, your booth should be near the entrance or exit of the building, or the restrooms, or the main isle. Wherever there is an adequate flow of traffic.
The location of your booth and the signage you use will have a direct result of your trade show success. Stay focus on the appearance of your site. Use a banner to display your company logo, web address, and phone number. It's important you capture the attention of potential buyers with signage and color.
Keep it short and simple, K. I. S. S. Use a secondary color to present information of importance. The two-tone color method adds depth and retains the attention of the reader and that's a big advantage.
Most booths are no more than a 9` by 5` area. So it is equally important that you make valuable use of the area. Eliminate any unnecessary clutter and keep things organized. It's important that your potential buyer doesn't become distracted.
Offering a special is also a good way to bring more people to your booth. Use a tripod and display board to feature your special offer. Write clear and in large lettering. Be prepared to answer questions. Working a Business Trade Show Business trade shows go hand in hand with network marketing. The primary purpose of this type of trade show is to draw the interest of other businesses. Your objective is to provide enough information for the other participants to promote your services or products by word of mouth or through passing literature.
It's common practice for business groups to exchange business cards and brochures at a business trade show. Each booth gives a 2 minute presentation to visitors, a free gift (ink pen, magnet, sticky notes, or eraser), and ask for the visitors literature. Professionals shake hands and begin asking questions.
· How can I assist you?· What are the benefits of using your services or products?· Who is your target market?· How can potential buyers reach you?· Do you work outside of your area?
Business trade shows are not limited to business owners. Most vendors will invite others that may profit from using the services or products of the network group. Finding a good booth, using the proper signage, and displaying a sample of your services or products are all important elements of trade show marketing.
Some believe network trade shows are more profitable. While others, think a trade show that deals directly with the consumer has more advantages. The secret to successfully marketing your business at a trade show lies in the tools you use. If you have a dynamic personality, make your next marketing strategy a trade show.

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By Matt Bacak

Matt Bacak became "#1 Best Selling Author" in just a few short hours. Recent Entrepreneur Magazine’s e-Biz radio show host is turning Authors, Speakers, and Experts into Overnight Success Stories. Discover The Secrets To Unleash The Powerful Promoter In You! Sign up for Matt Bacak's Promoting Tips Ezine ($100 value) just visit his website at http://www.powerfulpromoter.com or http://promotingtips.com

Sales Success Tip-Stop What's Not Working

In my day to day training of sales professionals, many who are mediocre at best and failing at worst continue to resist some simple testing and measuring tools for determining what they are doing that is working and what they are doing that is not working. The most common excuse I hear is that they don’t have time. However, when the most successful sales professionals in the world subscribe to testing and measuring, I have a lot of difficulty accepting this lame excuse. Making the same mistakes over and over takes infinitely more time than determining what is working and what is not working and adjusting your activities accordingly.
I ran across this little gem this weekend. It really brought into focus how most of us live our lives. The only problem is that many of us are stuck in Chapters, 1,2, and 3, never reaching Chapters 4 and 5. It wasn’t very long ago that I could have written this myself. Through trial and error and some incredible mentors, I am now well past this scary scenario. I want you to join me!
Read this short, but powerful lesson and then take action!
AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN FIVE CHAPTERS
Chapter 1.
I am on a road There is a deep hole I fall in I am lost. desperate It is not my fault It takes an eternity to find a way out
Chapter 2.
I am on the same road There is a deep hole I pretend not to see it I fall in again I cannot believe I am in the same situation But it is not my fault It takes a long time to find a way out
Chapter 3.
I am on the same road There is a deep hole I see that it is there I fall in again. It is habit My eyes are open I know where I am It is my fault I come out immediately
Chapter 4.
I am on the same road There is a deep hole I walk around it
Chapter 5.
I walk on another road --Rinpoche
Wow. Have you been there? I have. That’s why I am So passionate about helping others avoid these costly mistakes.
What do YOU continue to do on daily basis that is producing little or not results, other than frustration?
Certainly, we can all fill in the blank here: Continuing to do what we have always done and expecting a different result is the very definition of _________________.
What skills or knowledge that if you learned or mastered would produce a fantastic result in your career or sales results?
What is holding you back from learning those skills?
What is holding you back and preventing your from moving forward and making a commitment to excellence?
Whatever it is, make a promise right now, this very minute to move past it. Otherwise you wind up in the fill in the blank paragraph earlier.
As we approach the beginning of a brand new year, we really need to pull out ALL the stops and get the results we want.
Listen. Learn. Take action.

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By Greg Beverly

Greg Beverly, CPA, MBA has more than 21 years experience working with sales and business professionals, helping them to achieve their professional and personal dreams of success. Visit his website at http://www.salessuccess.yougethelp.com for a free sales success ecourse.

Marketing That Measures Up

Businesses - no matter the size - need to measure the effects of their marketing so they will know what is working and to discover what needs improvement. There are many areas for which marketing is responsible, and in each are indicators of performance that can be measured.
For smaller organizations, there are two key areas that I believe you must track:
• Customer acquisition
• Customer retention
Customer growth rate helps you measure acquisition, while customer longevity as well as frequency and recency of purchase are metrics of retention and customer value.
But before you can measure, you have to know a few facts. Who are your best customers? In each organization, the answer will be a little different. How do you define a "best" customer? Are they the ones who buy the most and cost the least to service? Are there other parameters that tell you they are "best?" Do they refer more business to you? Are they brand ambassadors?
How did you acquire them in the first place (special offers, referrals, newspaper ads, DM)? What is your customer growth rate/attrition rate? Which customers did you keep/lose? Why?
Then you need to define what the best ones look like demographically. Are they 35 - 45, married couples with children and a mortgage, or 18 - 24-year-old singles who live in condos? Urban or suburban? Readers or radio listeners?
Once you have a picture of them, it is easier to develop a strategic and tactical plan to acquire and retain more of them and fewer of the bad ones. Additionally, it becomes more apparent what you need to measure to ensure you are making headway and spending your marketing dollars correctly.
RESOURCES
• Marketing Metrics White Paper
• Marketing NPV, a website devoted to marketing measurement

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By Harry Hoover

Harry Hoover is managing principal of Hoover ink PR. He has 26 years of experience in crafting and delivering bottom line messages that ensure success for serious businesses like Brent Dees Financial Planning, Focus Four, Levolor, New World Mortgage, North Carolina Tourism, TeamHeidi, Ty Boyd Executive Learning Systems, VELUX, Verbatim and Wicked Choppers.

Looking Inside of Your New Business

Starting a home business is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. You're facing a pile of scattered pieces and it may be a little uncertain where to begin. I think that the best way to begin is by taking a look inside yourself: at your talents, abilities, interests, and personal motivations. 1. Make an objective list of your talents and abilities.Ask friends and family what they think you're good at doing. You must be skilled in your field; whether it's computer programming, selling, cooking, baking, etc. 2. Make a list with activities you enjoy.This often will point to natural skills and abilities, and can be directed into business ideas. 3. Make a list about "how would I like to spend a perfect day" or a weekend, a holyday, a vacation. On one hand, such kind of list will help you understand your interests and personality. On the other hand, it's possible to find some answers regarding your future venture just reading between the lines 4. Make a list with products and services you receive.Evaluate what is good and bad to everyone. If you find something is bad, think how you could improve it. Please, give this evaluating process your undivided attention, and you will discover few starting points for your new business. 5. Make a list with products and services you need, but you can't find yet You'll be surprised at how many new ideas will rise in your head. 6. Make a list with what your friends and colleagues are saying they want or need. Their comments may inspire you to start a new service. Before starting filling and evaluating the above list, think that many exciting businesses didn't even exist a few years ago. So try to be as creative as you can. You need to think out of the box, you need new pair of "glasses" in order to see potential business opportunities all around you.
But take care, a good idea doesn't automatically translate into a success business. There must be a market demand, I mean people willing to pay for your product or service.
The final advice. It's important to be clear about why you want to start a business, and what "success" would mean to you. You probably want to earn money. It's ok, but how much ? Or may be you need a personal status or to be recognized as an expert in certain field, but how high ?

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By Valerian Dinca

Valerian Dinca is a freelance writer specialized in items like targeted traffic

Real Estate Marketing - Beef Up Your Follow-Up

If you're a real estate agent, client follow-up should be a major part of your real estate marketing program. Whether it's a postcard mailing program through a direct mail vendor, or just a series of well-timed thank you cards after the transaction, you need some form of follow-up.
Why so important? You probably already know, but for those just joining the real estate ranks:
* Proper follow-up generates repeat business by keeping you in touch with past clients.
* Proper follow-up generates referrals by showing you still care after the transaction.
Follow-up brings other benefits to the table, but referrals and repeat business top the list. And if you've read any studies on where real estate business comes from, you know how important these factors are -- especially referrals.
ExecutionSo, how do you strengthen your follow-up? One way is to make it more specific to the individual client. Another way is to make it more human. Combine the two, and you've got a follow-up program that will maximize your referral and repeat-business rates like nothing else.
First, let's look at ways to make your follow-up program more specific to the individual. The basic execution is simple, thought it does call for a bit of note-taking during the relationship.
Step 1. Keep notes on your clients.Throughout your business relationship, make notes about your clients. They might include a range of topics -- hobbies, interests, decorating styles, other neighborhoods or areas they were interested in, number and age of children, future plans. You get the idea.
What you're doing is gathering useful information about your clients that will allow you to tailor specific "touches" later on when doing your follow-up. File these notes away in your customer database, filing system, or wherever else you keep client information. And remember, the easier it is to do, the more likely you'll stick to it. So find something that works for you.
Step 2. Outline your follow-up program.You need to put your follow-up program on paper for several reasons. First, the manual act of writing things down engages the creative side of your brain. You'll be surprised at all the ideas popping into your head as you map out your follow-up program.
Secondly, you need to write your program down to make sure it achieves the number of contacts or "touches" you're striving for. Opinions vary on the number and frequency of touches. I would suggest monthly, especially in the beginning of a follow-up program (when you're most likely to get referrals from still-happy clients).
Go for a balance of automation and personal contact. Why? Because a program that's 100% personal contact (phone calls, for example) will be exhausting to maintain. In the other extreme, a program that's 100% automated (like a scheduled mailing program) will be too impersonal. You have to combine the two.
You have the best chance of generating referrals during this first year. In the second and third years, you might choose to reduce the number of phone calls, while keeping the newsletter and auto-mailers going.
Do you now see the value of collecting this information along the way? It's invaluable later on, when you're preparing your well-balanced follow-up program. And can you just imagine the surprise when Jane says, "Wow, she remembered that I like Feng Shui ... I forgot we even talked about it!"
Now that's referral power.
Step 3. Carry out your follow-up program.This is where all the previous lessons will pay off. Just by having a procedure for your newsletter and a well-managed client database with good notes, you've finished half of your follow-up legwork in advance. The rest is simply filling in the blanks, keeping tabs on your schedule and sending your materials out.
SummaryA balanced follow-up program -- one that mixes personal, one-to-one contact with automated elements like postcards -- gives you the best of two worlds. It's easy enough to manage across a number of clients, while at the same time surprising your clients with specific information delivered in a personal way.

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By Brandon Cornett

Brandon Cornett has worked as a writer and advertising manager within the direct mail industry. He now dedicates his time to helping agents and brokers improve their real estate marketing programs. His Modern Guide to Real Estate Marketing and his free newsletter are available at: http://www.ArmingYourFarming.com

Presentations Don't Need Fancy Techniques

Even though it was a dark, dreary conference room, the speaker at the front stood like a beacon of light, attracting everyone towards him. In spite of the worn carpets, the smell of conference coffee and the dry, air-conditioned atmosphere, suddenly everyone in the 1,500-strong audience felt alive. Somehow, the speaker's presentation breathed life into the building and we all felt fantastic.
Yet, as I sat at the back of the room, I knew a secret; I knew that if the conference had been held a week earlier we would all have focused on the worn carpets, the dreary atmosphere and the lingering smell of coffee. A week earlier, that speaker – Alan - would not have captured our hearts so well. You see, just one week earlier I had listened to him rehearse his presentation and it was, frankly, dire. Alan had asked me to review his presentation because he was nervous. He had never spoken to such a large audience before and he was concerned that he should get everything right. But almost everything was wrong. He simply read out his numerous slides, he mumbled and he fidgeted.
So, with just one week to go before his big day I told him to throw away his presentation. "You're being a slave to your slides," I told him. "Chuck them out and simply face the front and speak from your heart. Tell us your story," I said. So, we rehearsed again, this time with Alan simply standing in front of the room telling his story. At times, the excitement of some things captured his imagination and he delivered his information with the real passion he enjoyed. At other times, the sadness of some of the things he was talking about choked his voice and we shed a tear with him.
"Perfect," I said, "Don't do anything different. You are absolutely brilliant when you are being yourself." After the conference itself was over, Alan found me in the lobby and came to thank me. "That was the best piece of advice I've ever been given about making a presentation," he said. "If only I'd known years ago that the best way to make a presentation is to be yourself and speak from the heart I'd have never worried about public speaking."
One tip; one changed man. All I did was suggest he stopped trying to be a 'presenter' and carried on being himself. It changed Alan's entire presentation – and the audience reaction. Far too many people think they need learn special techniques to be a great presenter. They don't; all you need to do to make a perfect presentation or a super speech is to be yourself and speak your true mind.

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By Graham Jones

Graham Jones can help you make great presentations. He provides online courses in presentation skills and also provides information on how you can overcome the fear of public speaking. He also writes presentation tips free of charge.

Marketing Resolutions for the New Year

It's that time again, when we make our New Year's resolutions. Maybe this is the year you plan to get organized, stop smoking, or finally lose those extra pounds you've been carrying around. Of course, many people make ambitious resolutions every year, and then fail to follow through. Here is how you can make resolutions to create positive marketing habits, and make those habits stick.
Choose just a few things to do--or even one. The more things you try to do at once, the greater that chance that you won't keep to your resolutions. Choose one, two or three things you will do this year.
Make your resolutions "do-able." They should be ambitious, but not overwhelming. Do-able resolutions might include sending one press release a month, joining a professional association and attending at least 80% of the meetings, writing one new article each month and submitting the articles to newsletters and article banks, setting at least three sales appointments each week, following up with ten customers each month, etc.
Your resolutions must be specific. Note the examples above. Not, "Make more sales appointments," but a specific number.
Write them down. When you put them in writing, the resolutions become real. Post your resolutions above your desk or anywhere you will see them often.
Make a plan. How will you work these actions into your schedule? Put them on your calendar and treat them as important appointments. Put the meeting dates for your association on your calendar now, before it starts to fill with other obligations. Choose a day each week or month when you will do what you have resolved to do.
Reward yourself. Promise yourself something you enjoy when you keep your resolutions. Don't wait until the end of the year. It's March and you've sent press releases every month so far? Get a massage, go see that movie you want to see, or buy yourself a little treat--and pat yourself on the back.
Enjoy your success. If you are in the habit of marketing on a regular basis, you will start seeing results. Remember that marketing has a cumulative effect, so expect that even if you don't see huge jumps in business right away, you will start to see results and those results will snowball over time.
Feel free to revise your resolutions. If something isn't working, stop doing it and start doing something else. But when you see successes, you may be inspired to increase your efforts and do even more of what is working.

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By Cathy Stucker

Copyright Cathy Stucker. As the IdeaLady, Cathy Stucker helps authors, entrepreneurs and professionals attract customers and make themselves famous. To learn more about marketing and publicity and get free marketing tips, visit Cathy at http://www.IdeaLady.com/

The 3 Biggest Lies About Promotional Pens

Every time you turn around there's someone on your phone or doorstep, trying to sell you pens for you to use for promotional items. Every time they show up, you buy a few hundred or thousand, though more than likely you have a storage closet somewhere that's full of them.
That's because you've bought into lie number one: Pens are a great way to easily promote your business. The truth is a pen is good for branding your business, but it does little to promote your business. Why?
Because it doesn't do any real promoting! A pen with your logo, name, address and phone number just tells people who you are. It does nothing to make them want to use your company's product or service. Worse, it just lies around, waiting to be picked up and used-and mostly it will be used to make a grocery list, not to find your company's name and address!
Lie number two is that pens are a great way to inexpensively market and promote your business. This isn't true, and that closet full of pens should be proof enough. Yes, you can get fairly cheap promotional pens, but you know what they really tell people about you? That you're cheap!
People aren't stupid. They know a cheap item from a more expensive one. And even though they will take and even use your pen, they will not connect you to quality. If you want a pen to do that, and you do or why bother, you're going to have to buy more expensive pens that show you're a class act all the way. This kind of promotional pen costs a great deal of money, so you won't get away, um, cheaply. Quantity and/or quality will, either way, cost you money, so pens aren't really a cheap promotional item after all, are they?
Now, for lie number three. Yes, it's the big one! Because everyone gives pens away as promotional items, you should too in order to compete. Remember being in high school where everyone dressed the same way? Look back at your yearbook and you'll see that everyone pretty much looks the same. Only a few brave souls who dared to be different stand out.
Same thing with promotional pens. There are a gazillion of them out there. And they all pretty much look the same and say the same thing: logo, contact information and website URL. If you want your promotional item to “wow” your customers and potential customers, you won't do it with a pen, most likely, unless it is one killer, expensive pen that does everything a cell phone can do.
The promotional arena is just saturated with promotional pens. So break away from the herd! If you feel you have to use a writing instrument as a promotional item, look into buying some cool mechanical pencils!
They're easily available and are far more effective for promoting your business than promotional pens for two reasons: 1) Not everyone else is giving them away, so they're automatically different, and 2) (and this is a secret!) people want them. Why? They're great for kids to use in school or to do homework. And help one of today's busy, overly zealous parents out by giving them something little Jake or Jane can use, and I guarantee you'll be remembered-and better, called on for your product or service!

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By Cindy Carrera

Cindy Carrera is a freelance author who has written numerous articles about creative promotional gifts. Learn how to choose the right corporate holiday gifts and make a lasting impression in the business arena.

10 Steps to Making That Change Happen

Hair Salon Management can always be broken down into easy chunks. So if you're salon management team wants the best way of how to run a hair salon, then by following these hair salon owners tips it will ensure that you can shout "more clients in my salon" and have a successfully run salon business.
Put into action these steps and you will see results¡­ I promise!
Step One
Think about the result you want from your change. Get your Salon Management team together and really think it thru. If you're a salon owner then get some stylists together and talk it over with them. Sounds obvious but all the of the jigsaw needs to make sense if you are to get the team commitment and corporation. But no need for you to explain your reasons for changing.
Step Two
You have to change your approach or behaviour in order to change the behaviour in others CONSISTENTLY! For example if you want all clients to have a consultation before their hair is washed then you¡­ have to do it each and every time or it will be death to that idea. If you want more clients in my salon then Remember its your hair salon business so you have to change¡­.right!
Step Three
Get your salon management team to give Loads of praise when you catch them doing it right. Stop catching them doing it wrong. Why does salon management , salon owners focus on the negatives. Reinforce good behaviour by plenty of back patting.
Step Four
Hair salon business runs better when systems are in place so run small regular meetings or one to ones telling them the importance of the new system or change you want. If you have loads of part-timers or shifts then run your meetings in shifts. Otherwise it will take forever to get everyone together.
Step Five
Get your salon management team to Train, Train, Train and train to ensure that all know how to do what and when. Wishing alone is not enough you must train it. (Sorry I know this is going to be a blow to you but "Fairies are not real" just because you wish it ant gonn'a change a thing) make sure they have the knowledge, understand the benefits for the client and the hair salon business.
Step Six
Allow them time to change, you know what they say Old Habits die hard. Practice makes perfect, if they see themselves successful with the new approach then in time things will change. But remember you must praise them!
Step Seven
Expect some of your team members to feel uncomfortable with the change, even your salon management with find this out. This is so common when people have done something the same way for years and then they are asked to change it. It creates an internal conflict but this is a normal response. Its a bit like when you have a disagreement with someone who has a different opinion to you it makes you feel uncomfortable right. Remember what it felt like when you started owning a hair salon!..........
Step Eight
Reduce the discomfort by putting people who are happy with the change with the people feeling uncomfortable with it. Make sure your salon management are happy with the change. Have plenty of group discussions and one to ones. Get everyone to view their progress and to publicly commit their support to the change. This will really make your hair salon business fly¡­¡­¡­¡­
Step Nine
If you adopt the blow by blow approach above staff will carry out the changes and change their attitudes. This means that they have taken onboard the approach or new information. Often they will try to do more to bring about not only in themselves but in others too.
Step Ten
If enough people undergo the change at least 50% then over time this will become the norm The culture in the hair salon will change and your new system or training will be here to stay. Its like chucking mud at the wall eventually it will stick. Then you will be the envy of salon owners everywhere¡­¡

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By Steve Winder

Fix your hair salon problems and improve your business. Learn how to stop stylists leaving, make a quiet day busy. To receive your free 100 page e-book on how to open a salon and save thousands visit this site now: http://www.hairbizsecrets.com

Catalog Design Essentials

Catalogs have been continuously advancing and designs are getting outrageous. Good catalogs should look enticing and pleasing in order to sell out. In order to come up with the greatest designs for your catalog should follow some simple rules. Following certain rules will help make your catalog look outrageous and perfect.
First is by placing a strong design that will be prominent and noticeable to the customers. Of course the first glance would be at the first page of the catalog, so in order for it to stand out; keep a strong product that will have the reader’s attention. Be reminded that first impressions last so it important to keep up with the design to make it most attractive.
Keep your catalog simple. Some catalogs look like ornaments with messy design and structure. Using fonts that are visible and easy to read will not be too hard to follow. Some customers may not be patient when they find your catalogs too hard to read, they will tend to set it aside. Just the right size and fonts will hit it. Most customers will appreciate catalogs that are simple because it is not tiring to look at and the colors and matches are pleasing. Catalogs that are over designed do not organized because of too much designs.
Order forms are important. Just imagine catalogs without order forms, will that make sense? Keep your order forms as easy and effortless for the customers. Order forms should be based upon the readers. You should have one order form for businessmen and the consumers. So you need to keep up very informative brochures so the customers will be well-informed with your products.
Originality keeps up a business name. Keeping up a good and consistent design will have your brand and name be remembered by your customers. Keeping up with these simple rules will help you create catalogs that are on the hype.
For more related articles, you may visit http://www.catalogprintingexperts.com

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by: Karen Nodalo

Karen Nodalo came across writing when she was about 11. The whole craze for writing started when she first wrote her diary during elementary years. After school, she would write in it first before doing homework. She finds it cool and until now she still keeps one.

A Website Without Online Marketing: A Fruitless Tree

Have you quit your day job and invested time and money into your own online business? Are you wondering where those promised visitors and the profit from them have gotten stuck? Then read on before your precious investment is fully wasted.
Nowadays, many people save money to quit their day jobs in hopes of achieving their own customized version of the American Dream by starting what is commonly known as an e-commerce business or a "dot com" venture. They then proceed to spend the savings of their labor on great looking, functional and hopefully practical websites. However, a large percentage of such venturesome warriors that take the initiative to quit a steady job and embark on the bumpy road of e-"self employment" do not end up reaping the fruits of their courage.
The initial phases of website development both financially and emotionally drain the average venturous individual to a point that at the end of the process they are impatiently waiting for miraculous profit to be pouring their way. In reality, this seldom happens since there are thousands of such individuals both from the past and the present on the very same path striving to prosper. In order for a website to be profitable, it would have to contend in the race for traffic against hundreds of thousands, or even millions of competitors.
It is possible to attract visitors to your website via countless means however the best and the most efficient are what have been rounded up under the roof of Online Marketing. Online or Internet Marketing addresses the concerns of all those website owners that are astounded at the low returns on their investments. It helps strategize a plan to increase the popularity and traffic of the website and tackle the issues of low profits. The most important aspects of Internet Marketing are as follows:
1. Spreading the Word: Since other online venues require a relatively longer initial period of time to yield results, it is quick and efficient to spread the word about your website via submitting articles and news releases to be published. An informative and useful article will intrigue other website owners to syndicate the article hence exposing your website to the visitors of their own websites. On the other hand a carefully prepared news release if published at the right time will drive major media publishers to run stories on your website which in turn will expose your website to a very wide base of potential visitors and in turn converted customers.
2. Networking: Propagating the word about your website is a great way to jumpstart your internet marketing campaign, however you need stability from within to be able to sustain your website's popularity. By partnering or simply having a relationship with websites in and out of your industry you will be able to increase your website link base and provide a one-stop solution for your visitors. You can achieve this by being an active participant in online forums, chat sessions and even seminars not to mention offline venues such as business mixers and conferences.
3. Search Engines: Once you have created an initial surge of visitors via press releases and worked on networking to maintain your traffic, your website will be seasoned and ready to benefit from a very precious medium that lets targeted visitors come to you rather than you going after them. Search engines are inundated with searchers looking for products and services in virtually every single industry and category imaginable. By using keyword popularity tools you can find out approximately how many people search for keywords relevant to your website on a daily basis. Once you find the keywords that would bring valuable visitors to your website, then you can target them by optimizing your website. This process is referred to as Search Engine Optimization which will be discussed in much more detail in future articles.
4. Refining the User Interface: Refining the User Interface is certainly one of the most ignored yet extremely important aspects of owning and operating a website. You can be getting hundreds of unique visitors on a daily basis to your website yet making less profit than a direct competitor of yours with half the traffic. The secret lies in your user interface consisting of elements such as forms, navigation, contents, links, buttons, customization, localization and more. By using these elements in the correct places and at the correct time and constantly monitoring your visitor retention and conversation rates, you can not only increase your conversation ratio and therefore your profit but also maintain a larger visitor base potentially creating word of mouth and return business.
The above are the main areas in which you have to be active in order for your online marketing campaign to be successful. However it is sometimes not possible to achieve the best results in all areas without rigorous research and extensive training. This is where internet marketing firms come to your help in devising and implementing a successful campaign. Internet Marketing is virtually the only way to turn your investment of time, patience and money into measurable profit that could get you closer to achieving your goals and fulfilling your dreams. This is why I invite you to read my future articles where I will be providing more detailed information on each of the above categories as well as information on how to find do-it-yourself information and shop for internet marketing services.

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by: Sevan Baghdasarian

Sevan B. Director of Technology ViPSEM - A Subsidiary of APR Network Inc. http://www.vipsem.com

How to Do a Successful Exhibit

What makes exhibits successful is who are behind the exhibits. These are the people who are aware of the do's and don'ts in an exhibit.
Some exhibitors tend to be oblivious of the little things that they should consider during their exhibits. These little things actually help a lot in the success of such exhibits.
These following tips will surely make the most of your exhibit:
"Stand up straight"
Stand and do not sit. Always be attentive. Give me that smart look.
"Always smile"
They say smiling makes you younger and it also makes your aura good. If you always bring smiles with you, people will certainly approach you. You should look pleasing to every person that you will be interacting with.
"No drinking, smoking and eating in the exhibit"
Business is business. You did not come to a social gathering.
"Chewing gum is not allowed"
When chewing gum, visitors tend to be distracted that interrupts their concentration that might lead to lost sale.
"Don't be offensive"
Making fun of your visitors will not help the exhibit. Do not offend other people of their race or their gender.
"Have clean hands"
You hands should be always clean. You use your hands in meeting different people; handshaking is one important factor in the business.
"Know what you are really doing"
Conversing with people would bring you to the edge. You should know what you are talking about. The credibility of your company is on the line, so it behooves you to know what you know, know what you don't know and find out where the answers are in between.
"Say so if you don't know"
Do not fool yourself, if you really don't know the answer, search for the answer and tell it to the visitor in the quickest time possible.
"Do eye to eye contact when talking"
Some people don't know how to talk to people. Eye to eye contact means paying attention to the visitor. Remember to look at the badge of the person and use his or her name in you conversation.
"Cell phone in the booth is a big NO NO"
Using your cell phone might be a nuisance in the exhibit. Visitors would be irritated when most of your time is spent with your phone.
"Avoid barricades"
The traffic in your exhibit will increase by 25% if you will leave the center open.
"Do not stack give-aways on tables"
Piling up give-aways on the counters will most likely pull towards you bag-stuffers. It would be much better if you will display limited give-aways to generate interest and avoid the grab-and-run effect.
"Do not utter the words "May I help you?"
Visitors usually respond unlikely when ask such like this. The most common reply you would get is "No, just browsing." It will be more probable to ask your attendees on how they are familiar with your displays or what made him see your product.
"Avoid acting as a security guard"
Do not stand in the exhibit as if looking like a secret service officer protecting the displays. It more congruous to stand 4 feet from your displays to prevent hesitations from your visitors to look at your products.

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By James Monahan

James Monahan is the owner and Senior Editor of ExhibitSite.com and writes expert articles about exhibits.

Spy Matrix Spy Phone: The Ultimate Spy Cell Phone

Perhaps the most advanced portable bug on the market today is the Spy Matrix Spy Phone. This spy cell phone looks just like a regular phone, and it works just like a regular cell phone. The only difference is that is also a bug. This is the ultimate in listening devices. It is the best way to keep track of teenagers or significant others who show signs of straying. And, with a little ingenuity, you can even use this spy cell phone to perform surveillance on acquaintances and strangers.
The spy cell phone is especially helpful when you want to keep track of family members. This is because you can pass it off as a new phone for the family’s new cell phone plan. It is perfect. Give it to teenagers and you can go wherever they go. This Spy Matrix Spy Phone is equipped with a GPS tracker and a special microphone that picks up noises and conversation in its general vicinity. Not only that, but can also allow you to listen in to both ends of the conversation. You can know whether you teen are where she or he is supposed to be, and you can find out, from listening to what is going on in the room, whether there really is a study group.
A secret phone number allow you to activate the spy cell phone without the subject knowing that you have done so. You call the secret number (there is a second real number for regular calling purposes) and the phone quietly turns on and begins giving you access. You can “forget” it in a room or leave it to “charge” and hear what others are saying. This is a device that is also useful when performing professional surveillance for clients. No matter what you want to use the phone for, the spy cell phone is a device that few people would suspect as being a bug — especially since it works just like a normal cell phone in all respects.
Stop wondering what is really going on and find out for sure. When you have the Spy Matrix Spy Phone you do not just have any phone. You have a real, top of the line spy cell phone.
(c) 2005 Copyright www.spyassociates.com. This article is about: Spy Cell Phone.

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Kingston Amadan
To learn more about Spy and Surveillance Products visit http://www.spyassociates.com . Read other related articles at http://spyassociates.blogspot.com/.

The Advantages of SEO Training

It is estimated that at least 340 million people use search engines to find products and services every day. That's a lot of people. The top search engines use link popularity to decide which sights come up first when you do a search. Wouldn't it be nice if your website came up at the top of the list? It is a possibility with search engine optimization, or SEO. With the right SEO training, you can be on your way to a more successful business and much higher web traffic.
Before you start SEO training, you should first understand what SEO is. SEO basically means optimizing the results of a persons search on the web to lead to your website. When someone does a search, say on google.com, they type in a keyword and start the search. The search results then list several websites that fit the category of the search. The top websites are always listed first. Hence, the person doing the search is more likely to use the websites listed first. With the proper SEO training, you can learn how to make your website be listed at the top of the search engine lists.
SEO training can be provided through many different means. A great deal of people receive their SEO training at special seminars. These seminars can last several days and vary in price. Some are as low as $300 and some are as high as $1500. These seminars usually have limited seating available so sign up as soon as you can. There is also SEO training courses offered online with downloadable SEO training material. Most online SEO Training courses are self paced, so you can learn it at your own pace for a set price. There are even some free courses offered online as well.
Most of these courses teach the basics of SEO. This includes: learning how to use link popularity, keyword usage, and marketing techniques that can work best with SEO. Some courses even teach you how to start your very own SEO business, which has become quite popular in the recent years. Many of these SEO training courses offer certification in SEO so that you may officially start an SEO business.
All SEO training courses guarantee that with completion of the course, you will have a dramatic increase in your website traffic. Some say as much as a 500% increase. For business owners, this means a lot more money. If you are interested in SEO training, get on a search engine and see what results you get. The top websites listed are sure to be the ones that used search engine optimization. If it works for them, maybe you should give it a try.

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by: Jay Moncliff

Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.altaenbuscadoresonline.com a website specialized on Alta En Buscadores, resources and articles. This site provides updated information on Alta En Buscadores. For more info on Alta En Buscadores visit: http://www.altaenbuscadoresonline.com.

The Right Marketing Tool For You

If you have a business to promote, you may want a marketing tool. But what is the best marketing tool for you? What marketing tool is widely used? Some of you may be asking what a marketing tool is. There are answers to these questions.
A marketing tool is something that a business uses to promote its product or service. This can be done through various means. But the main one is advertising (or marketing). A marketing tool can be any of the following: web design, SEO, photos or illustrations, autoresponders, and public relations.
The first marketing tool listed was web design. With a stunning web design, you can attract more people to your site. A web design that is easy to navigate also keeps people interested. It may also be memorable to keep them coming back.
The second marketing tool is SEO (search engine optimization). With search engine optimization you can guarantee that your site will be one of the first listed on a search engine. It does this by using link popularity and keyword popularity used in search engines. This will ensure more web traffic. In turn, this means more business.
The third marketing tool is photos or illustrations. If you have attractive photos or illustrations of your product or service, people will be more likely to purchase it. Get a professional to do this for you. The more photos or illustrations you have the better.
The fourth marketing tool is the use of an autoresponder. An autoresponder is a powerful marketing tool. It is used to automatically send out emails to people on your mailing list or to people who may have visited your sight. These automatic emails can list sales, promotions, or any other advertisement you'd like to have noticed to better promote your business.
The fifth and last marketing tool is public relations. Public relations are also a great marketing tool because it not only makes you look good, but it develops positive feedback of your business. This will in turn bring you more customers. Always build good rapport with your customers.
The best way to get different marketing tools is on the web. There are many sights that offer different marketing tools. They all vary in price from site to site. Most offer guaranteed results in a determined amount of time or they offer you a full refund. Some even offer a free trial period.
A marketing tool is the best way to promote you business. Using more than one marketing tool at a time will ensure even better results. Take your time and see which one is best suited for your business. If you can, try to use all 5!

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by: Jay Moncliff

Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.marketing-eficaz.biz a website specialized on Marketing, resources and articles. This site provides updated information on Marketing. For more info on Marketing visit: http://www.marketing-eficaz.biz.

Retail To Recruit

We're all aware of how difficult it is to find business builders.
This can be tough...Even with the best recruiting techniques.
For me one of the better ways to find business builders is to Retail to Recruit.
Personally I think your MLM business should be made up of 75% retail customers and 25% business builders.
Why?
Having more retail customers ordering from you week after week, month after month, year after year creates that residual income we all want. Plus you now have an army of customers that are spreading the word about your products. People will talk more freely about products that are doing well for them, then they will about a business opportunity.
In one case people feel they are sharing, in the other they feel like they are selling (guess which one?).
When people talk about products they're sharing an experience, when they're talking about a business opportunity they feel like they're selling.
In my company we make great money with retail sales and business builders. Personally It's easier to find retail customers than business builders, plus your income is generated faster. (of course that depends on your pay plan, for example I get paid every week with ours).
Let me ask you a question.
Do you think it's easier to introduce the idea to someone who is in love with your product/service they can have their own business or to someone who has never tried your product or service?
Kinda of a dumb question, because I know you know the answer.
Once someone has been using you product for about 30 days or so. And before I go on I trust you have been in contact with your customer to see how he/she likes using your product. More importantly have they used your product at all.
You would be surprised at how many people will buy a product and not use it.
If you do come across someone who has not used your product don't say "WHY NOT".
Tell a story.
For example, lets say you sell product XYZ and you called a customer and they have not use it yet.
Me.. "Hi Bob, this is Duffy how do you like XYZ?"
Bob.. "Oh I have not tried it yet it's still in the box, no time to busy"
Me.. "I can relate to that Bob. When I first started taking XYZ I started noticing a difference after only 3 days, I could fall asleep faster and I woke up more refreshed and with more energy and I am getting the same feedback from my other customers as well. I'll give you a call in few days and see how you're doing. Talk to you then, have a great night."
I did not challenge him, I accepted his excuse and I went on to tell him a story of how XYZ has helped me. Do you think he is going to leave your product in the box for one more day...I doubt it.
But even if he does, just keep telling stories of the things XYZ is doing for you and others
However, if your customer has not tried your product after 2 or 3 phone calls (5 or 7 days). Personally I would offer them a refund. With that the customer will either say no and try your product, or they will accept your offer. If so, great, either way it's a win-win.
If this person lived in my city I would go over and pick up the product. It’s not doing him or you any good just sitting there. It might as well be given to someone who will use the product.
Ok, it's been 30 days or so since your customer has been using your product and they love it, what now?
The next time you talk to a customer you can say something like this:
According to my records, it's time for you to reorder. How would you like to save up to $10 off your next purchase? For every name you give me of someone I can send a brochure to, I'll give you $1 off up to $10. Is that fair?
Or
If they are internet customers you would be offering them a $10 rebate after they place their next order. Simply tell them after you get the contact names and confirmation of their next order you will send them a check in the amount owing. The above is for local customers that you are personally delivering your product to.
This is a great way to get warm leads.
Then you take a flyer or brochure about your product. Put a yellow sticky note on it and say Hi "Sally" Mary Jones has been taking this product and feels great and thought you might be interested. Your name, your address your phone number.
Then, after you mail the info to the referrals, you call them in a few days. And say:
Hi Sally. This is Your Name, You don't know me but Mary Jones asked that I send you a brochure. Did you get that brochure? Listen, our product is helping a lot of people around the country--it's helped Mary.
The product is less than a dollar and a half a day and it's got 100% money back guarantee. Would you like to try it or do you know anyone who'd like to try it?
I used what it costs to use my product each day for the above example, replace that with the break down of your products cost per day.
Now it's been about 2 months after your original customers first purchase. Depending on your products user rate you may have talked to them as little as 2 times, but that's ok.
Now say something like this:
Hello _______ How are you doing?
Have you experienced any additional positive results with your product?
Listen, I can't offer you a discount this time. "4" of the people of the "10" names you gave me are on the product and they're loving the product. They're going to reorder the product. Would you like to supply them and make the profit or would you rather I supply them?
If they say they would like to earn the profit, they have just given you permission to show them your presentation.
You're now retailing to recruit.
Until next time.

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By Duffy Rogan

Duffy Rogan is a network marketing coach, and provides free mentoring to anyone in any network marketing company. Save yourself years of failure and frustration and learn the TRUTH about succeeding in Network Marketing. FREE ebook http://mlmsuccess.bigmlmlies.com