31st March
2011
Five Secrets to Creating a Goal Medal Life By Ed Sykes ©2004 The 2004 Olympics just ended in August. As always, it was an exciting event with its dramatic twists and turns, exhilarations, surprises, and disappointments as these great athletes performed at their peak in front of millions, if not billions, of fans for the glory of representing their country and possibly receiving a gold medal. You, too, can experience the same excitement in your life. What are you doing now to achieve your ...
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Self Improvement
30th March
2011
SWAP MEETS - A FUN WAY TO MAKE MONEY ON THE WEEKENDS By Darren Hendricks Looking for a way to make extra money, meet lots of interesting people, spend quality time with your family, enjoy the great outdoors ... and do it all without missing a day of work? Or maybe your goal is to make two or three-day weekends the only working days of the week. You may be able to do all of that and more as a Swap Meet/Flea Market marketer! You can find regularly scheduled Swap Meets and Flea Markets in cities ...
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Business
29th March
2011
As we fast approach the new year, many firms are preparing to launch their 2006 marketing efforts. If you're thinking about hiring a marketing specialist, make sure you consider these 17 key points. 1. Objective Advice. Consultants who are paid fees are more likely to give you unbiased advice than consultants who earn commissions based on the amount of money you spend. If the consultant profits from ad agency commissions, he has an inherent conflict of interest because the more you spend, ...
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Marketing
28th March
2011
Branding: It's more than a logo By Julie Chance How clear is your image in the minds of your potential customers? How can you bring that image into focus? Defining, developing and maintaining a brand identity is the key. The word 'branding' is frequently tossed about in the marketing and advertising world by marketing professionals and customers alike. Many times, what is being referred to as branding can be more accurately described as logo development or corporate identity programs at best. ...
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Marketing
27th March
2011
It's all the rage. It's what everyone is talking about. It is unquestionably the most effective form of marketing available to home based business owners. It costs almost nothing, it takes about 30 minutes a week, and it makes your business stand out above the competition. What is this thing that everyone is talking about? The buzz is about 'article marketing' ' the practice of providing royalty free content to websites, e-zines and newsletters. It works like this: You write a simple article ...
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Business
26th March
2011
During the course of my home business coaching activities, I have often found that people head into the startup of their online home based businesses with a wildly unrealistic mindset. Many have been told that they can sign up for a few programs, build a website around them, add a bunch of banners and links onto their site, then sit back and watch the money roll in and never have to do any real work again. There is a misconception that you can come online and set up an Internet based business ...
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Business
25th March
2011
Every home business has the same problem of how to increase sales without a hugely expensive marketing campaign. By utilising the following simple ideas you will be able to do just that. 1) Use your invoices as an advertising tool. Whether you get your invoices printed professionally or use the invoicing function on your bookkeeping software, ensure that you place some type of advertising on the form. This method provides positive reinforcement of what your business offers. An attractive ...
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Business
24th March
2011
The other day I was talking to a couple of my friends at a coffee shop and we were discussing the inability for average workers to get ahead. John had just received some money from a relative and had spent the day trying to get a good rate for his investment. He had only been offered 5.5% and wanted more. He had $10,000 to invest and was happy with an interest rate of 5.75%. The best "at call" rate he had found after much research with financial institutions. He was after a safe ...
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Business
23rd March
2011
The media has the power to influence your tradeshow efforts whether it be in television, radio or print. Your job is to target your endeavors to create a positive company image and brand awareness of your products/services. How do you do that? Outlined below are 27 important points to help maximize your tradeshow effort. Before the show 1. Define and select your target audience so that you can tailor your message directly to the needs, concerns and interests of your prospects. 2. Ask ...
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Marketing
22nd March
2011
Copyright 2006 Donna Gunter Back in the early-1990's, after I had quit my job in higher education, I began my journey into the self-employment world by opening a business in which I made stenciled floorcloths and wallhangings and sold them at juried craft shows. The business wasn't going so well, and I wasn't really enjoying what I was doing, so I decided to enroll in an entrepreneurial training program, thinking that whatever I learned in there would help me build and grow my business. One of ...
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Business
21st March
2011
Donating coaching services is a great way for new and established coaches, alike, to gain new clients. It's also a wonderful way to contribute support to charitable and other organizations which support communities, locally and globally. It is important that we all contribute something back to our community and donating a coaching package is the perfect way. Your donation may be entered in a silent auction, raffled off, or even awarded as a door prize. It's a win-win situation for everyone; ...
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Marketing
20th March
2011
A professional biography or overview, showcasing your background, experience and expertise, is a necessity for every business owner. This often overlooked marketing tool is an excellent way to introduce you and your business to potential clients and possible strategic business partners. Potentially, it might open up opportunities for speaking engagements, radio or television interviews, or a feature print article. While any information about you and your business is helpful, information that is ...
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Marketing
19th March
2011
It's a dream come true. You've been invited to appear on a local or national television program to talk about your business, your new book, or perhaps an invention. Now what should you do? While a television appearance can seem overwhelming at first, following this advice will make it an interesting, fun, and enjoyable experience. 1. Details, details, and more details. The more you know before the television program taping, the easier it will be to prepare for the experience. First, you ...
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Marketing
18th March
2011
Your email signature is more important than you might think. At first consideration, you might see your email signature in its traditional role ' just your name ' identifying you as the sender of an email. At its best, an email signature can play a strategic role in your marketing effort as yet another way to reach out and make connections with current and potential clients. An email signature should be considered as a part of your branding initiative. Each component part, from your name to ...
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Marketing
17th March
2011
b>1. Make new connections, meet new people. The more people you meet, the more referrals you are likely to get and most successful businesses are built on referrals. It's not what you know but who you know that counts ...or to be more precise, it's not even who you know, but who knows you that really counts! 2. Experience the networking phenomenon and get into the swing of things. It's the cool thing to do! Networking is the "in" way to do business, whether locally or online. 3. Identify ...
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Business
16th March
2011
1. Submit a free press release. Go to the site www.prweb.com and sign up today. Write a press release about newsworthy items going on in your business. Use it to announce new additions to your staff, a new book you have written, or an upcoming workshop you plan to teach. 2. Write articles. Write articles and submit them to websites, like www.ideamarketers.com, www.goarticles.com, or www.articlecity.com that offer them for free or fee to online newsletters and ezines. You can include a ...
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Marketing
15th March
2011
Opening a business can be frustrating and rewarding all at the same time. Unfortunately many potentially successful businesseses close their doors because they are not prepared for handling all the issues that arise out of running a business. No matter what your reason for opening your business, you must be sure you are prepared to handle any crisis that may arise. In this article, I will give you some general tips to think about when opening a business. Ø      Research, research, ...
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Business
14th March
2011
Today's customers are demanding, and their expectations are furiously escalating. Everyone wants value, and they want it now! They want convenience, and they want their needs and requirements met. You don't have to look very far to hear what customers are saying 'I want my Dell Computer with Windows XP and a Zip Drive, and I want lifetime customer service with it,' or 'I want my Honda with navy leather seats, and I want to be treated like royalty when I come in for my 30,000 mile ...
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Marketing
13th March
2011
You're in the elevator and your friend John introduces you to Barbara who is the CEO of one of the companies you'd like to do business with. Barbara asks, "What do you do?" Here is your chance to make a connection with a prime member of your target market. You want to get her attention, make a positive impression and get her interested enough to continue the conversation. You've got about fifteen seconds to do this. Whether you are in the elevator, or on the phone, the way you start the ...
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Marketing
12th March
2011
Pop-up polls on Web sites are now as common as subscription cards tucked between the pages of your favorite magazine. And for good reason. Marketers have discovered that online surveys generate a mother load of valuable information about site usability, visitor opinions and attitudes, new product ideas and improvements, and much more. Online surveys and polls are easy-to-implement,low-cost marketing research tools. They're a snap to include on your site -- either through a Web server's CGI ...
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Marketing
11th March
2011
As a business owner and coach, I come across the issue of building integrity and reputation on a daily basis. It is something I feel strongly about, as who can build a business without integrity and a good reputation. As business owners, we know that if we want repeat business and referrals (both of which are the foundation of growing our business) then we need to include integrity and reputation in everything we do. Now, this may sound like common sense, but sometimes business owners forget ...
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Business
10th March
2011
"HR systems only have a systematic impact on the bottom line when they are embedded in a firms management infrastructure and help it solve real business problems."1 Within most corporate environments there is a focus on achieving tangible results. Internal activities that support the achievement of results, but do not produce results directly, are often overlooked and undervalued. The HR function can often be caught in this situation. How do you ensure other managers appreciate your ...
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Marketing
9th March
2011
We've all heard that networking should be an integral part of our total marketing plan but what is networking? And is it the same for off-line marketing as it is for on-line marketing? The answer to both questions is yes. Many Internet marketers venture off into classified ads, opt-in mailing lists, and postings of all sorts. Many times the traditional networking ways of off-line marketing are forgotten. So, what is networking in the traditional marketing sense, (NOT networking marketing or ...
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Marketing
8th March
2011
You just won the lottery and in order to receive your check, you must have a full time job. What would you be doing? Would it be what you are doing now? If not, ask yourself why. Do you just need to add a little fun to your career or business, or is it that you are not happy with your current position and feel ready to go for what you REALLY want to do? Following are some ideas on how you can make the most of where you are, or take the steps to get to where you want to be. ~~Choose a career ...
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Business
7th March
2011
If you have worked for anytime at all, you have had the opportunity to work with a difficult boss. I have had the pleasure of working with many over my lifetime and have learned a few interesting ways to handle a difficult boss. First, change your perspective. As long as you see your boss through your "jerk" filter, your boss will be a jerk. Let that go and see your boss as just your boss. Period. Don't make judgments or put labels on the boss. Realize that your boss just is. Shifting your ...
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Business
6th March
2011
We've all done it at some time or other. We put off our exercise routine until tomorrow; we continually delay finishing that project or starting that business. Procrastination is the mother of all demons and can literally stop you in your tracks from achieving all that you desire. Sandra Baptist provides you with 5 effective processes you can use to slay this giant. 1. Do it now Hold your breath and jump right in! Putting things off until the last minute is a bad habit and like all habits ...
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Business
5th March
2011
I met Rod at a Chamber of Commerce function in 1998. While everyone else took turns introducing themselves to the other business owners at the table telling them about their business, Rod was massaging my neck and shoulders. By the end of the morning I was asking him for his phone number. Now before your mind races too far ahead, let me tell you that Rod owned a business providing Shiatsu massage. And he didn't just massage my shoulders ' he worked his way around from one person to another ...
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Business
4th March
2011
By John Wright, VP of The High Impact Leaders Management Training Programs. I was flying home several months ago from a management-leadership program I was teaching for a company in Phoenix, and I struck up a conversation with the gentleman next to me on the plane. During the conversation, I asked him if he considered his boss to be a good manager, and he said, "Yes, he is." I then asked him if he thought his boss was a good leader, and after thinking a moment, he said, "No, he isn't." This ...
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Business
3rd March
2011
"No man is an island. No man stands alone." One lesson many business people learn very early on is that you can't make it on your own. You don't have the knowledge or the time to do everything that needs to be done in your business or to meet all of your customer's needs. You can compensate for that by building relationships with people who can provide you with the skills and services you need and a place for you to refer your clients. So, for example, even if you can't do your clients taxes, ...
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Business
2nd March
2011
Terrific students attend the classes I teach. They ask profound questions that "stretch" my knowledge and resources. When I teach a building a business foundation owner class, I'm usually asked, "How does someone price a product or service?" During a recent class, I promised to write down what's in my head and send it to the students. And because of them, you now have it, too. In order to keep things simple, I'll use "services" to mean both services and products in the list below. 1. Locate a ...
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Business
1st March
2011
Sometimes, Microsoft Excel may close before you have had the chance to save all the changes you have made to a file that you are currently working on. There are many reasons for this ' there may have been a sudden power outage, another program that is running simultaneously may cause Excel to become unstable or there may be some problem with Microsoft Excel itself. Whatever the reason, in most of these situations the file ends up getting damaged to some extent and there is a fear that some, if ...
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Computers
1st March
2011
I've been planning to move for some time, but first I had to repair the foundation on my house (a common problem in south Texas) and also get a new roof because of hail damage (another common problem in south Texas. I finished getting those major projects done, and turned to the tweaking of the inside that needed doing - taping, floating and painting the cracks in the walls from the foundation, re-wallpapering one bathroom, a cracked window, a cabinet off the hinges, new flooring in two ...
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Business