Blog Archive
Twitter Tweets about Bet as of November 30, 2009
robvision82: I bet #Tiger Woods realize he black now. He gettin that Africanamerican athlete treatment, sad how they tryin2 slam em. Media huh?
2009-11-30 · Reply
kashicat: @techtigger Oh boy. I bet you're going to love Lymond! As brilliant as Nicholas, but even more scintillating.
2009-11-30 · Reply
Eazy_Weezy: RT @JWigg12: @SoCo06 Bet all won't throw a real beach house joint( I say u do it, I'll work the parking lot. AS USUAL)
2009-11-30 · Reply
...Read the rest of this entry »
Bet with the streak, or not at all
Have you ever been drawn to a roulette table because of the
display board? The one that says black has come up 6 times in a
row? Ever have the urge to put your money on the table in that
situation? If so, what do you do?
Bet red, because it's due to hit this time!
That answer, while it is a very popular one, is absolutely
wrong! You should always bet with the streak, or not at all.
Betting red in this situation is wrong for two reasons. The
first reason's mathematical: no matter how many times ...Read the rest of this entry »
Useful Tips for Evaluating Your Meeting Venue Options
However, large or small the meeting, location is key. Your
environment, formal or informal, helps set the necessary mood
and ambiance for the meeting to take place. Think about choosing
a comfortable, yet stimulating environment that encourages
attendees to concentrate, but beware of making it too cozy and
relaxing that they're likely to fall asleep. When thinking about
the right location, consider the meeting objectives, the length
of the meeting and, of course, your budget. Decide ...Read the rest of this entry »
Professional Relationship Blueprints
Our professional relationships draw on two sets of relationship
blueprints. The Authority Blueprint governs our relationships to
authority figures, as well as our relationships to our
subordinates when we are in a position of authority. The Sibling
Blueprint governs our relationships to our co-workers.
Many companies today try to foster a sense of community (and
employee loyalty) by claiming to be one big happy family. The
irony is that even without the company's efforts to create a
sense of ...Read the rest of this entry »
Is This Any Way to Run Your PR?
Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in
your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. A copy
would be appreciated at bobkelly@TNI.net. Word count is 1030
including guidelines and resource box. Robert A. Kelly © 2004.
Is This Any Way to Run Your PR?
You bet!
Especially for business, non-profit and association managers who
REALLY need to persuade their key outside audiences to their way
of thinking. Then move them to behaviors that lead to the
success of their ...Read the rest of this entry »
Mark Twain and his Views on Smoking Cigarettes
It appears Mark Twain was a great lover of a good smoke. Having
been a writer, and smoker, his entire life, he probably met
folks that attempted to force the third precious thing down his
throat on many occasions. You bet! The well-known author of 'The
Adventures of Tom Sawyer' and 'Huckleberry Finn' was a smoker
and loved to smoke. Reproduced below is what he said about
smoking:
"I don't want any of your statistics. I took your whole batch
and lit my pipe with it. I hate your kind of people. ...Read the rest of this entry »
Back that Thang UP ...... Insure the Data on Your Computer
Computers are such an integral part of our business activities.
We should pay special attention to how our data is treated.
It does not matter what industry you work in. Chances are you
use your computer in some part of your business. As with
everything else in your business you need to make sure there are
safeguards in place to take care of your valuable information.
If you truly think about it, you may have original content
written for your website, customer communications, emails that
you ...Read the rest of this entry »
To Be Successful Sell to Wants not Needs
To Be Successful Sell to Wants not Needs
By Julie Chance
My mother used to tell me, tongue in cheek, that I never wanted
anything in my life' everything I asked for was something I
needed!! Think about it. We say, 'I need a new car.' 'I need to
go on vacation.' 'I need someone to clean my house.' When was
the last time you heard someone say, 'I want a new pair of
shoes.' I bet even Amelda Marcos said, 'I need a new pair of
shoes.'
As consumers we justify our purchases, at least in our ...Read the rest of this entry »
MANY OLDER WORKERS ARE OPTING TO STAY IN THE JOB MARKET
MANY OLDER WORKERS ARE OPTING TO STAY IN THE JOB MARKET Four
Tips for Older Candidates to Remain Competitive in Today's
Economy
It's been said that some things simply get better with age,
whether it is a vintage car or a fine wine; sometimes quality
only improves over time. The same can be said about today's
older workers and job applicants'many of whom are choosing to
remain in the workforce far past what had formerly been the
expected retirement age. These workers represent a vast resource
of ...Read the rest of this entry »
The "Greatest" Leaders Are Often The Worst Leaders
PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in
newsletters and on web sites provided attribution is provided to
the author, and it appears with the included copyright, resource
box and live web site link. Email notice of intent to publish is
appreciated but not required: mail to: brent@actionleadership.com
Word count: 860
=========================================== Summary: So called
"great" leaders are often the worst leaders when they fail to
leave a strong culture of leadership ...Read the rest of this entry »
Lucrative & Relaxed Living With Passive Profits
Lucrative & Relaxed Living With Passive Profits
Of all the ways people have invented in which to make money, I
can't help thinking that those who can make money while sleeping
or being on holiday takes some beating. In the pre-internet age,
the lucky one's would have been famous film or pop stars,
successful writers and inventors and some who were just born
into super rich families. This group of people having made their
films, sung their songs and written their books could afford to
sit back ...Read the rest of this entry »
Business Tougher Nowadays?
(written for computer retail stores)
Business Tougher Nowadays?
This article has the cure, guaranteed!
I was talking to the owner of a computer store yesterday.
They've been in business eight years in a large metropolitan
area. 'Things are tougher today than when we first started, and
I'm thinking of leaving the business.' ' that was the theme of
our discussion.
It brought to mind other businesses where I'd heard that line in
the past. The consumer finance industry back in the seventies '
even ...Read the rest of this entry »
Surefire Way to Find Hot Selling eBook Topics
To become an entrepreneur, you need product ideas.
Even more important,
YOU NEED PRODUCT IDEAS THAT SELL.
To locate products that sell online, you need to understand what
people already want to buy.
The single biggest cause of failure when writing non-fiction
books, booklets, ebooks or any other information-based product
is a poor choice of idea or product.
It's no doubt this is the main issue for anyone wanting to
become an entrepreneur, there are all kinds of twists along the
road that may ...Read the rest of this entry »
Dealing with Difficult People
You know, this would be a great business if it weren't for
having to deal with people all the time'
OK, so maybe I've exaggerated things a bit, but we've all
certainly heard that saying before. Why does that sentiment ring
true for so many folks? Obviously it's because of all the people
challenges we're presented with in our business. Virtually every
one of my clients over the years has brought up the subject of
dealing with difficult people. There's no escaping the fact that
they come into ...Read the rest of this entry »
Starting your own Business - Failures to Avoid to ensure your
Every year thousands of people start a business. With more
people stuck in dead end jobs and working for sub-standard pay,
it always seems like the next logical step. They strike out with
dreams of becoming financially independent, being paid what
they're worth, or being able to work their own hours. The sad
news, according to numerous government and independent
resources, the odds are stacked against these budding
entrepreneurs. In reality, the odds are stacked in favor of
failure as most new ...Read the rest of this entry »
Web Strategy and Powerful Persuasive Writing
Web Marketing Strategy and Powerful Persuasive Writing
In today's hi-tech society, many commercial enterprises are
trying to turn `bricks into clicks' but fail miserably. They
make the classic mistake of assuming Internet surfers will visit
their site without them having to do anything. Wrong.
There are already far too many websites out there promising to
let you in on the marketing secrets of the internet. I guess
you've already visited some of them? And found them sadly
lacking or wanting to ...Read the rest of this entry »
Why Do You Want PR?
Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in
your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. A copy
would be appreciated at bobkelly@TNI.net. Word count is 920
including guidelines and resource box. Robert A. Kelly © 2004.
Why Do You Want PR?
To get someone's name in the newspaper or a product mention on a
radio talk show?
If that's all you expect, fine. But that response tells me that,
as a business, non-profit or association manager, you may have
overlooked an ...Read the rest of this entry »
Affect it or be Affected by it? What?
Three steps to your Personal Transformation:
1)Awareness and Perception 2)Law of Cause and Effect 3)Law of
Accumulation
These categories are what you need to understand in order to be
in total control of your being!
Most go through life never reaching their potential because they
never take control of all their faculties or abilities.
This information is designed to help you gain complete control
of your life!
So lets get into it
1)Awareness and perception.
In order to be in complete control of ...Read the rest of this entry »
5 Tips to Help Massage Therapy Practices Increasing Clients'
The following tips are for sure very basic techniques. However,
when used, they dramatically increase your client retention and
attract a brand news clientele.
1.Be visible and be known as the best. Greater exposure
instantly gives you greater credibility.
2.Provide hands out to your clients on a regular basis. A top
notch quality newsletter shows your professionalism. Some
websites specialize in creating high quality affordable
newsletters that you can quickly and easily personalize.
3.Keep ...Read the rest of this entry »
Deliverables in Professional Service Businesses - Part 1
While in traditional contract work (outsourced labour) we talk
about tangible deliverables, that is, number of labouring hours,
number of lbs or pages of reports or workbooks, number of Mbytes
of files, etc., in consulting most of the deliverables are
intangible.
Now some of you may say, that 'unless you do deliver something I
can scratch the window with, your service is worthless.' And
this is exactly how many buyers think. The buyer hires a
marketing consultant and insists on the creation of ...Read the rest of this entry »
Virtual Marketing in a Tangible World
One of the greatest challenges facing business owners and
managers is finding a way to cost-effectively communicate
frequently and consistently with their target markets.
It is nearly impossible to remain profitable while employing
enough people to maintain frequent contact with existing
clients, let alone seek new clients.
And even for companies with deep pockets, hiring outside sales
reps, trainers, and speakers to communicate monthly, weekly, and
in some cases daily with all clients in the ...Read the rest of this entry »
Madeline Hill; Senior Community Pioneer
Madeline Hill may be unique among senior community developers.
She created her multi-million dollar 'city,' ' an upscale, yet
affordable group of single-family homes, condo's and apartments
-- not so she could become a rich and powerful CEO, but so she
could hand the whole thing over, debt-free, to the home-owner's
association.
It was a vision thing. Hill got the idea when she was a
high-level bureaucrat with state senior services and saw her
friends getting old, needing help and having no ...Read the rest of this entry »
Managers
Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in
your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. A copy
would be appreciated at bobkelly@TNI.net. Word count is 1020
including guidelines and resource box. Robert A. Kelly © 2004.
Managers: PR More than Tix and Plugs?
You bet! And in three ways vital to you as a business,
non-profit or association manager.
To succeed, your public relations effort needs to do something
really positive about the behaviors of those outside ...Read the rest of this entry »
Engage Your Customer - Write About Benefits
You're welcome to publish this article free of charge provided:
- you include the byline - byline includes a functioning link to
http://www.divinewrite.com - you don't change the article in any
way - you provide a courtesy copy once published
Engage Your Customer - Write About Benefits By Glenn
Murray *
Think quick. In 10 seconds, can you list the 5 key benefits you
offer your customers?
I bet you said "Yes". But are you sure you listed benefits? If
you'll bear with me for another 10 seconds, ...Read the rest of this entry »
eBay.com (US) ....V ....eBay.co.uk (uk) - The fight is on
eBay.com v eBay.co.uk
Karen Mills ©2004
If you have been a web surfer for a long time you will of
noticed that when you click on a domain with .co.uk you are
redirected to the domain .com . The .co.uk is a mere link to the
main site .
eBay is different . ebay.com and eBay.co.uk are two total
independent sites but which are interlinked . It can make a big
difference to your auctions and the fees you are charged
depending on which site you use .
To Begin
Open two browser windows and in one ...Read the rest of this entry »
Let's Talk About Trust
I agree with Brooker T. Washington, "Few things help an
individual more than to place responsibility upon him, and to
let him know that you trust him." I agree with Mr. Washington
because I've experienced trust. I've been on both the giving and
receiving side of the equation, and I know first hand the power
of trust.
That's what trust is. It's power. Power to transform an
ordinary, everyday, OK place to work, into an environment where
people are almost unstoppable. Power to unleash ...Read the rest of this entry »
And The Systems Will Set You Free ©
Your freedom from repetitive frustrations, damaging profit
leaks, and crushing damage to your business reputation is rooted
in the least glamorous and most overlooked place. It's buried
deep within every single business that still has its doors open
to serve clients.
If you're like 85% of the business owners out there, your energy
and motivation is slowly being sapped away like a dying man in
the Amazon, covered by blood-sucking leeches. And, that's all
because marketing and sales efforts have ...Read the rest of this entry »
Create A Magic Connection with Clients, Leads, and Business
Create a Magic Connection with Clients, Leads, and Business
Associates -- Part I By Cora L. Foerstner
A few months ago, arriving at a client's office to begin a group
meeting, I discovered that two women, who had committed to
joining us for a series of meetings, had changed their minds. In
less than two minutes, I convinced them to join us. Did I use
some sort of magic? You bet I did. Would you like to know that
magic?
Neuro-Linguistic Programing (NLP), a science that studies the
language of ...Read the rest of this entry »
BUYING A BUSINESS - ADVICE FOR THE FIRST TIME BUYER/ INVESTOR
As a professional M&A intermediary I am amazed when I hear
others in my profession at industry meetings proclaim, 'I don't
work with individual buyers.' They put it out there almost like
a badge of honor or an indication of reaching a higher level of
professionalism. My first reaction is, shame on you. My second
reaction is, how short sighted. My third reaction is to
understand why and to advise buyers on the preparation necessary
to gain credibility, traction, and support from a ...Read the rest of this entry »
Our Perception Determines Our Experience
/p>
You have permission to publish this article electronically or in
print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A
courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated - send
to: GregReid@AlwaysGood.com
Our Perception Determines Our Experience
Not long ago, I traveled back east to Ohio and Chicago. While I
was there, I was amazed that the friends I made along my journey
seemed to have completely different observations of the state in
which they lived.
For example, when I ...Read the rest of this entry »
The Top Ten Reasons You Need a REAL Website
The Top 10 Reasons You Need a REAL Website by Tinu Abayomi-Paul
By now, most entrepreneurs know that they need a website of some
sort. Many don't realize that they need a REAL website, one with
its own domain name. You need a real website ....
1. ...because it's professional.
Upgrading from a free sub-site at geocities to a full fledged
site gives your company a professional appearance. Whenever I go
to a website about a product and don't see a domain name, I
think to myself, if they can't even ...Read the rest of this entry »
Difficult Challenges? -- What If?
WEEKLY WISDOM NEWSLETTER Difficult Challenges? -- What If?
December 5, 2003
Sometimes life can seem like one long series of unsolvable
problems. I know there have been times when I would much rather
find something else to do and quit whatever I was doing simply
because it was too much trouble to continue. In fact, earlier in
my life that is exactly what I did do. (And to tell the truth, I
wouldn't change it even if I could!)
However, I think there comes a time in every one's life when we
want ...Read the rest of this entry »
LACK OF BUSINESS ISN'T ALWAYS THE PROBLEM
When you're just starting out in business, it's a safe bet that
you need more clients. But what if you have been up and running
for a while, and you're still not making as much money as you
would like? You may be in the habit of thinking that attracting
new clients is the answer, but this isn't always the case. There
are many reasons why a professional services business might not
be earning enough, but they typically fall into four categories:
not enough revenue, not enough profit, not enough ...Read the rest of this entry »
Hey, Mr/Ms Manager!
Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in
your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. A copy
would be appreciated at bobkelly@TNI.net. Word count is 970
including guidelines and resource box. Robert A. Kelly © 2003.
Hey, Mr/Ms Manager!
Does it really make sense to bet your PR budget on results like
newspaper mentions and zippy brochures while your all-important
outside audience behaviors are probably receiving much less
attention than they need?
I mean, the ...Read the rest of this entry »
The Truth! Your Thoughts Effect Your Business!
The TRUTH! Your Thoughts Effect Your Business!
Anyone who owns a business knows that there are many things that
can have an influence on whether or not you are successful.
Offline or Online, many of these things are the same: 1. # of
customers visiting your business. 2. Time of year. (Holidays can
be good or bad depending on what business you are in.) 3. Amount
of time and money you spend on advertising. 4. Where you
advertise. 5. Customer Service.
These are just to name a few, and we know ...Read the rest of this entry »
Your Business Profile
Your Business Profile by Bob Osgoodby
So you followed our advice and went to all the work to build
your own website, and now it's up and running. You put a hit
counter on the site, and are dismayed at the number of visitors
who stop by to visit. Aside from your personal hits when you
check the activity, there have been few if any others.
You notified everyone in your address book, put up a few FFA
ads, paid someone to submit your site to a few search engines,
and nothing seemed to generate ...Read the rest of this entry »
"5 Secrets To Beating Your Competitors Everytime"
Which 5 'secrets' gain you an upper hand over your competitors
everytime?
It doesn't matter what race you're in or what you sell.
There're always going to be competitions threatening your
business, especially if you're involved in a hot market.
It's a catch-22 situation as such markets are where you make the
most money in the first place.
Look at it this way, even your local ice-cream seller has his,
or her hands full with competition.
Imagine doing business online where prospects are faced ...Read the rest of this entry »
Sit Customer Sit - "How did customers get so trained?"
'I need that shipped overnight!' 'I need that delivered today!'
'Drop it off to me on your way home?' 'I do not want to pay a
Restocking charge!'
Do these all sound familiar? I'd be willing to bet you can come
up with a book full of the things your customers expect. But
where do they get the audacity to expect, the sometimes
unreasonable? Right from you! Your competitors did not raise the
customer service bar, you did. Everyday your call center
personnel make promises to customers that raise ...Read the rest of this entry »
Your Most Valuable Asset
Your Most Valuable Asset by Bob Osgoodby
Email to some is simply a way to contact friends and family and
keep in touch. To others, it is a very important method of
communicating with business associates.
Unfortunately, those who send out unsolicited ads have created a
problem for both. It seems the amount of spam received daily
increases geometrically, and try as we might, we just can't keep
ahead of the game.
Let's talk about some of the more serious offenders. We have all
received email, ...Read the rest of this entry »
Small Business Q & A
I've gotten several questions recently about the legalities of
starting a business. So, this week I thought I would address a
few of the more common legal issues most new businesses face.
But first, let's get the mandatory legal disclaimer out of the
way: the advice dispensed by this columnist is probably no
better or worse than the advice dispensed by other columnists.
Do not take the following advice as gospel or bet the future of
your business on any advice given herein by said columnist. ...Read the rest of this entry »
Small Business Q&A
Q: I just discovered that for the past six months I have been
billing a client half of what I should have been. Should I just
include the total of the past due balance on his next bill or
contact him first to let him know that it's coming? This client
has been difficult in the past, so I'd rather not deal with him
until I absolutely have to. My partner, on the other hand,
thinks we should call the client and let him know what's going
on before sending the bill. What do you think? -- Louis K.
A: ...Read the rest of this entry »
CAUSE AND EFFECT! CHOOSE A PATH...
Three steps to your Personal Transformation:
1)Awareness and Perception 2)Law of Cause and Effect 3)Law of
Accumulation
These categories are what you need to understand in order to be
in total control of your being!
Most go through life never reaching their potential because they
never take control of all their faculties or abilities.
This information is designed to help you gain complete control
of your life!
So lets get into it
1)Awareness and perception.
In order to be in complete control of ...Read the rest of this entry »
HOW TO SEAL THE DEAL IN SEVEN SECONDS
Can you close a sale in just seven seconds? If you make a great
first impression, you can do it even faster. Seven seconds is
the average length of time you have to make a first impression.
If yours is not good, you won't get another chance with that
potential client. But if you make a great first impression you
can bet that the client is more likely to take you and your
company seriously.
Whether your initial meeting is face-to-face, over the phone or
via the Internet, you do not have time to ...Read the rest of this entry »
8 Advantages of Publishing Your Own Book as an Entrepreneur
8 Advantages of Publishing Your Own Book as an Entrepreneur
As an aspiring or an established entrepreneur, you are an
expert in something, but does the rest of the world know? You
have a wealth of information, experience and knowledge that you
can package into a book that will benefit others. This truly is
the information age and people want to know what you know.
1. A book will give you unbelievable credibility which
increases the respect you will receive from customers and
business ...Read the rest of this entry »
Coaches, What Do You Do About Refunds?
What does the coach do about refunds? There are three parts to
this question: 1.When the client asks for a refund; 2.When the
client just doesn't show up for the appointments, and; 3.When
you need to fire the client
As coaches we want to do good work and satisfy our clients. What
happens when we don't? What happens when the client isn't
satisfied?
First of all, this is part of the coaching relationship.
Individuals don't behave differently with you and in coaching
than they do with anyone else ...Read the rest of this entry »
What's The Customer Service Buzz About Your Business?
Small Business Q&A with Tim Knox
If you're a regular reader of this column you know that my
number one pet peeve is bad customer service. Nothing chaps my
backside more than paying hard-earned money for a product or
service only to have the provider of said product or service
become apathetic, obnoxious or just downright rude after the
transactional smoke has cleared.
The bottomline, my entrepreneurial friend, is this: it doesn't
matter if your product is fast food, slow food, retail ...Read the rest of this entry »
Have You Got Your Uniform On?
Whatever your job is, and whether you're aware of it or not, I
bet you have a 'uniform.' There's something that ' when you put
it on ' you're ready to go.
I was reminded of this by FlyLady who always writes, 'Where are
your shoes?' She helps women at home organize their lives, and
sends daily (and more) reminders. She's an advocate for getting
up in the morning and putting on a pair of lace-up shoes.
For me, it's putting on my headset. I'm a coach and do most of
my work at the computer and on ...Read the rest of this entry »
Small Business Q & A
Q: I have a great idea for an amazing new product. There is
nothing like it on the market and no competition that I can
find. I think it will be a huge success and so does everyone I
tell the idea to. I'm willing to bet the farm on this one. What
do you think my chances of success are?
A: I'm a lousy poker player, mainly because I can't help
grinning like the village idiot when blessed with a winning hand
or frowning like a sad clown when dealt a dud.
I also never make odds on the success of ...Read the rest of this entry »
Small Business Q & A
Q: One of the big chain bookstores recently opened up near my
small book store. Already I can see my business starting to
decline. Is there anything I can do to compete with the bigger
store or should I just accept the inevitable? -- Peter Q.
A: A wise man once said, "The inevitable is never a sure thing."
Don't be so quick to close the book on your business, Peter. You
probably can't compete with the superstore on volume of
inventory or on price, but there are other things you can do to
help ...Read the rest of this entry »
Small Business Q & A
Normally in this column I dispense highly-intelligent small
business advice in response to thought-provoking questions
submitted by future and fellow entrepreneurs. This week,
however, I have a couple of questions for myself, one of which
makes me wonder how truly intelligent I really am.
Q: Dear Me, I recently took my teenage daughter shopping at the
mall. The experience raised two questions. (1) What business
lessons might be learned from such a foray into teen commerce;
and (2) What the heck ...Read the rest of this entry »
Stereotyping and Your Business Decision
What is stereotyping? What's it got to do with our business
decision?
>From Oxford's Dictionary of Business 1996...
Stereotyping n. "Making assumptions about individuals or groups
based on information (which may or may not be valid) obtained
before the individual or group has been encountered. Once
encountered, opinions formed may be based on dress, speech,
gender, ethnic origin, nationality, and gestures. Unfortunately,
human beings are liable to have selective prejudices towards
their ...Read the rest of this entry »
How to Provide Exceptional Value
By Steve Brunkhorst http://www.AchieveEzine.com
The primary objective of a business is to get and keep
customers. Growing a profitable business requires providing
exemplary customer service and products or services of
exceptional value.
In the classic book by Wallace D. Wattles, The Science of
Getting Rich, Wattles writes that it is essential to provide
customers with more in use value than you receive from them in
cash value. Exactly what does that mean?
Imagine purchasing a training course ...Read the rest of this entry »
Pick Up the Slack
Pick Up the Slack by Bob Osgoodby
Many people in business on the Internet try to market only one
product. If the demand for that product is weak or if the demand
dries up, they are virtually out of business. Smart
entrepreneurs however diversify their offerings, and if the
demand is slow for one product or service, the others usually
pick up the slack.
If you have a web site, and if you are trying to do business on
the Internet, this is a must. You can feature your diverse
offerings there. ...Read the rest of this entry »
Ignore PR at Your Peril!
Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in
your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. A copy
would be appreciated at bobkelly@TNI.net. Net word count is 770
including guidelines and resource box. Robert A. Kelly © 2003.
Ignore PR at Your Peril!
If you do, it means:
1. you don't value tracking the perceptions of important outside
audiences whose behaviors could sink your ship:
2. you don't care about setting a public relations goal designed
to correct ...Read the rest of this entry »
Getting More Sales From Your Order Page
by Karon Thackston © 2003 http://www.ktamarketing.com
It's the gold medal of e-commerce. Getting that coveted sale is
what every online business owner hopes and prays for daily. It's
why we fight for good search engine positioning. It's why we
battle with our copy, making it 'just so.' It's what pays the
bills! But what if you could get even MORE sales from your order
page? It's really not very hard to do.
What I'm about to tell you is not some big secret. It's a widely
used practice that ...Read the rest of this entry »
Making Profitable Lemonade From Lemons!
This October 31 turned cold, wet and dreary across Chicago and
its suburbs. A rotten night for Halloween. And it could have
been a lousy night for this business traveler, cheered only by
the prospect of conducting an interactive team session the next
day for an area bank.
But Halloween evening was anything but cheerless at the 421-room
Arlington Park Hilton in Arlington Heights, IL. Creativity,
energy, and vision produced an event that not only garnered
immediate press and local attention, but ...Read the rest of this entry »
Perfectionism Will Hurt You
Permission is granted to reprint article provided bio line stays
intact.
Perfectionism is kind of like too much of a good thing. It's
good to be interested in excellence, but when you feel that your
work (or relationship) has to be perfect you are saddling
yourself with a burden you don't need, a burden that can effect
every area of your life. You won't be able to please yourself at
work or at home because nothing and no one are ever perfect.
Perfectionism can lead to isolation for various ...Read the rest of this entry »
Financing Your Home Business
Financing Your Home Business
© 2002 Elena Fawkner
So, you have a great idea for a business and, more importantly,
the know-how to bring it into creation. The only thing you're
missing is the cold hard cash to get started. What are your
options?
Assuming you don't have a ready line of credit, an expansive
bank manager, wealthy relatives or a substantial stash of
retirement savings you're willing to risk, you're going to have
to do some serious homework and legwork. Fortunately, there are
a ...Read the rest of this entry »
Capturing That Elusive Thing Called Time
CAPTURING THAT ILLUSIVE THING CALLED TIME
"The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." -
-Stephen Covey
So often I hear people say, "I can't afford to take time out of
my busy schedule to plan!" To that I respond by saying, "If you
are that tight on time, then you can't afford NOT to take time
out to plan." I'll illustrate my point with a real-life example.
Over the past year I have worked with two very bright and
capable women who have a lot in common. I'll call them Carol ...Read the rest of this entry »
The Primary Purpose of Business
Consider the following quote from author and Fortune 500
business consultant, Lance Secretan:
"The primary purpose of an organization is not to make a
profit. It is to help human beings grow, express their
creativity, contribute their life-source and make the world a
better place. The purpose of an organization is to inspire the
soul."
That's an interesting quote. It may seem a bit in-credible to
you. Possibly even irresponsible. After all, how can an
organization expect to survive without ...Read the rest of this entry »
Hide and Seek?
Hide and Seek? by Laurie Rogers
There is absolutely nothing worse than trying to find out WHO
the person is that owns a web site. I'm sure you all know what
I'm talking about. Doesn't that just drive you NUTS? It drives
me especially crazy when these "people" have the nerve to call
themselves a "professional". Yeah ok, I thought putting all your
contact information on your web site is what classes you as a
"professional". Hmmm, maybe I slept through that part in school.
And just what are they a ...Read the rest of this entry »
Creating Your Ideal Client Profile (ICP) Worksheet
By marketing to and networking with your ideal clients, you'll
spend your time and energy directly on the individuals who will
purchase your products or services! Makes sense, doesn't it?
One tool that will help you to market to your ideal client is
called your 'Ideal Client Profile.' Designing this profile is a
great personal exercise, although you should involve others,
too. Why? Because sometimes business owners are too close to
their own enterprises to accurately create the best ...Read the rest of this entry »
Do you want to get fired?
When you think of reasons why someone would get fired, what
comes to mind? Theft of company property? Having a bad attitude?
Unable to work with others? Extortion? I'll bet that these and
many other things pop into your head, but none of them come
close to the number one reason why employees find themselves
looking for a new job.
So what is the reason? Surfing the internet or using company
email for personal reasons, according to a recent article from
Reuters. Downloading pornography, ...Read the rest of this entry »
Avoid Being the Worst Boss You've Ever Had
Everyone who has ever had a boss has probably had at least one
moment that they thought "I could do better than THIS!" A
fraction of those people set out to do exactly that - improve
their work life, build a better widget, or do something as it
has never been done before. Suddenly thrust into the role of
boss, and employee, it is very easy to find yourself being the
worst boss you ever had. And so I share a few
entrepreneur-at-home lessons I've learned through experience.
1. Pay yourself This ...Read the rest of this entry »
Do You Fear Your Own Success?
Noted author and self-worth teacher Eric Butterworth* says,
'Poverty is a way of living and thinking, and not just a lack of
money or things.' When you couple his philosophy with the
Eastern mysticism of 'what you believe will become your reality'
- it becomes clear that obstacles to financial and personal
success are largely self-created.
We once knew a man who, though hugely successful in business,
and hugely contented on a personal level, claimed to be blessed
with ignorance. He was ignorant ...Read the rest of this entry »
DESIGNING THE RIGHT PRODUCT FOR YOUR MARKETPLACE
From the end of World War II until the late 1970's most
Americans spent the majority of their money on basic goods and
services with little left for luxury type items. Giant factories
turned out millions of products whose style, color and size were
often determined by what made the machines work most
efficiently. There wasn't much concern about what the customer
really wanted.
Japanese auto producers forced reverberating changes in the way
consumers went about considering their purchases. ...Read the rest of this entry »
10 Commandments Of Creating A "Wealth Producting" Niche!
"Niches are like bathrooms; you never notice one until you need
it." -Primm (The Niche Man)
Fact: The person who finds or creates a special niche, gets the
cream of our societies financial rewards. Whether you're Bill
Gates or Joe Average.
The niche, and the person who creates them, is the main factor
that separates one product from 15 others.
It's shocking at how few books are written on the subject of
creating niches. Niches are what all-successful products, and
services have in ...Read the rest of this entry »
Get Googled And Build Credibility
Get Googled And Build Credibility
Copyright (c) 2003 by Angela Booth
Value your privacy? Get over it. The bad news is that thanks to
the Web, privacy no longer exists. Get Googled, and within a few
short seconds anyone who knows your name will be able to learn
quite a bit about you.
Try it. Go to Google ( http://www.google.com ), and type in your
name. I just did a search query for "Angela Booth" and Google
returned a search of over 95, 000 pages. If you have a Web site,
post a message on ...Read the rest of this entry »
What the Taco Bell Manager Taught Me About Customer Retention
I didn't plan to get a marketing lesson. I really just wanted a
steak chalupa! But as I went through the Taco Bell ordering
line, my day took an interesting twist.
I've always been one to give compliments when they were due. So,
after receiving repeatedly good service at this location, I
decided I'd sing the staff's praises. I asked to see the
manager. Fred came over and offered to help me.
I told him how pleased I was with the service, and that - from
my experience - not all Taco Bell's were ...Read the rest of this entry »
How to Get Featured in the Media
There are several ways to get yourself or your business featured
in the media, each requiring different skills, efforts, and/or
costs. If you'd like to experience the benefits of publicity,
here are your ways in.
1) Do Nothing.
That is, do nothing specifically for publicity. If you're
running a professional business that's got some visibility
already, the media may stumble across you while writing a
feature story, and they may want your input for the story.
I actually found my way onto NPR this ...Read the rest of this entry »
Don't Fall For The Latest Internet Identity Theft Scam
Q: I use PayPal to accept credit cards for my online
collectibles business. I recently received an email that my
PayPal account was going to expire in five days if I didn't
click a link in the email and give them my PayPal account
information. Being naturally paranoid I decided not to give this
information and I'm happy to say that my PayPal account did not
expire. Was this a scam? -- Brenda A.
A: Be thankful that your paranoia kicked in, Brenda, because you
were about to fall victim to the ...Read the rest of this entry »
The Business Of Identity Theft
Q: I use PayPal to accept credit cards for my online
collectibles business. I recently received an email that my
PayPal account was going to expire in five days if I didn't
click a link in the email and give them my PayPal account
information. Being naturally paranoid I decided not to give this
information and I'm happy to say that my PayPal account did not
expire. Was this a scam? -- Brenda A.
A: Be thankful that your paranoia kicked in, Brenda, because you
were about to fall victim to the ...Read the rest of this entry »
Franchising Pros And Cons
Last week's question from Anthony R. on how to choose the
franchise that would best fulfill his life-long dream of owning
his own business sparked a number of emails from other readers
wanting to offer their two cents on the subject.
Some folks offered helpful insights and suggestions on how to
pick a franchise and a few things to watch out for, while other
emails came from current franchise owners asking me to help them
sell their operations to Anthony R.
Hmm, sounds like it's time to update ...Read the rest of this entry »
Now It Is Ford Motors Turn
It has happened again, and again in a very big way. I am sure
you have heard the news that General Motors is closing plants
and letting some 30,000 people go. Some they will be able to
relocate, some they won't.
Ford has started announcing they will be "cutting back" and will
have more to say about it in February. When asked if the cuts
will go deep enough, Bill Ford said he thinks they will. This is
all devastating news that we should all be concerned about.
The manufacturing sector of our ...Read the rest of this entry »
Don't Be Afraid To Give Problem Customers The Boot
Q: In a recent column you made the point that the customer is
always right, which I agree with. However, in the same column
you also said that it is sometimes necessary give problem
customers the boot. If the customer is always right, at what
point do you think they become so problematic that you should
stop doing business with them? -- Gary M.
A: That column brought a number of emails similar to yours,
Gary, requesting that I clarify the line between "the customer
is always right" and ...Read the rest of this entry »
How To Tell If Your Amazing New Product Idea Is Really Worth
Q: I have a great idea for an amazing new product. There is
nothing like it on the market and no competition that I can
find. I think it will be a huge success and so does everyone I
tell the idea to. I'm willing to bet the farm on this one. What
do you think my chances of success are?
A: I'm a lousy poker player, mainly because I can't help
grinning like the village idiot when blessed with a winning hand
or frowning like a sad clown when dealt a dud.
I also never make odds on the success of ...Read the rest of this entry »
Revenge of the Baby Boomers
REVENGE OF THE BABY BOOMERS: Changing the Face of Retirement!
By Kathy Szpakowski
As a baby boomer myself, it never ceases to amaze me at how
much emphasis is put on 'early retirement' for our segment of
the population. While it may be that some of us will work beyond
the mandatory retirement age of 65 out of necessity, there are
still a surprisingly large number of boomers who will "choose"
to be employed in some way, shape, or form, well beyond the
traditional age of retirement. ...Read the rest of this entry »
What You Must Know Before You List Your Vacation Rental
It's hard to know where to list your vacation rental when you
are first starting out, but it's actually quite simple. When you
ask where to list your vacation rental, the best answer is
everywhere. Exposure is key, if you want to list your rental and
have it rented out. The more people that see you have a property
for rent, the more people will inquire, and the better your
chances are of snagging not just one renter, but renters for the
entire season.
So where do I list my vacation rental? The ...Read the rest of this entry »
If Only I Had Known Then What I Know Now!
Hindsight, we all know only too well, is a wonderful thing. For
example, if we had only known that the ceiling on membership at
a popular site was going to be subscribed so quickly - we would
have joined up the minute we heard about it.
If we had only known that niche marketing was going to be so
wildly popular we would have focused on that instead of MLM.
If we had only known that Google was going to change its
algorithm and the rules of AdWords were going to change we would
have...
Stop. ...Read the rest of this entry »
Bet Online - 10 Reasons Why it is a Good Idea
Bet Online - 10 Reasons Why It Is A Good Idea There are lots of people who like to watch sports. Many people like to place bets on sports and earn a little (or a lot) of money. You can bet and win whilst watching your favorite sports! People have been betying on sports since Roman times, but with the advent of the internet the online sports betting industry has become one of the most successful industries online! Here are the top 10 reasons to bet online.visit to
...Read the rest of this entry »
Business Collection: How to Make Sure You Get Paid
Dealing with business collection is something that every company faces at some point. A single client in collections can hurt your business, not only financially, but also in terms of frustration and lost time. The good news is that you can easily avoid most situations that would leave you in the lurch if you follow some basic steps.
Here are five key areas of business collection that every decision-maker needs to cover in order avoid using a collection agency and to maximize the chances of ...Read the rest of this entry »
The Employer's Role in Verifying Employment
Paperwork. Nobody likes it, but everyone has to do it.
Documentation on a new hire can be the most cumbersome, but is
an absolute must. Detailed paperwork not only allows the new
employee to collect a paycheck and be eligible for fringe
benefits, it protects you, the employer.
Take for example the required I-9 form. Failure by the employer
to properly document all new employees and their legal ability
to work can result in major fines and penalties.
The Law The law governing I-9 states that an ...Read the rest of this entry »
Boy, What a Difference 6 Months Makes
Hindsight, we all know only too well, is a wonderful thing. For
example, if we had only known that the ceiling on membership at
a popular site was going to be subscribed so quickly - we would
have joined up the minute we heard about it.
If we had only known that niche marketing was going to be so
wildly popular we would have focused on that instead of MLM.
If we had only known that Google was going to change its
algorithm and the rules of AdWords were going to change we ...Read the rest of this entry »
Hey! That was my idea!... Corporate Games for a Rainy Day
People occasionally come to me and ask about situations with
their jobs or within their companies. The primary question I
hear is "What do I do if...?" Usually, they got caught up in a
turf war or game and have no idea what to do next. Most of my
answers come out sounding like a military battle plan. However,
the type of information I provide is a mutated form of an MBA
course taught in many closed-door, corporate management classes.
This series of articles, called "Corporate Games for a ...Read the rest of this entry »
WHY REINVENT THE WHEEL?
Have you ever read one of those personality profile books?
They often say that some people have great amounts of
inspiration and are "big picture" people. They also say that
some have the inborn ability to be able to keep up with details.
Not surprisingly they are called "detail oriented" people and
often "detail oriented" people are the most successful, once
they are going in the right direction.
There are ways to start an Internet business without having to
have a lightning bolt of ...Read the rest of this entry »
JIM FINUCAN'S BILL COLLECTING Q & A Issue #1
Dear Jim
I keep running into guys who say they just don't have the money.
When I hear that I start to lose my resolve. What can I do?
First, you need to be absolutely convinced in your own mind
before you even start the call - that you deserve to be paid and
you're going to get the money. Everybody has it within
themselves to fight for what is theirs. Think of your past
accomplishments and get yourself pumped up ahead of time. It's
essential that you to come across as strong and determined ...Read the rest of this entry »
JOB TALK--THE HEART OF PRODUCTIVITY
Read the word "productivity" and chances are you envision
assembly lines, warehouses stocked with goods, even space-age
machinery performing tasks at faster-than-human speed. Or if you
are in corporate management, your mind recalls the U.S.
production statistics when compared to foreign countries. And
it's a sure bet that you have read widely on the various end-of-
the-alphabet theories, quality circles, re-engineering, learning
theories and other management techniques to increase
productivity. ...Read the rest of this entry »
Cookies or Anesthesia
Companies are becoming more aware of the importance of good air
quality to the health and well being of their customers and
employees. But air quality and smell can also remarkable
influence on the emotional and cognitive processes of the people
within a building as well.
EFFECT ON CONCENTRATION
Indoor Air Quality has been shown to have a dramatic affect on
the concentration of people within an office setting. One such
study of clerical workers, which appeared in Indoor Air 99: The
Eighth ...Read the rest of this entry »
Get The Best Tax Resources Here
Where can a business owner obtain tax information? When you
don't know what questions to ask, it's very helpful to take some
classes, and read a few articles prior to visiting with a CPA.
Enjoy these resources:
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) The IRS has the best free classes
around! Call your local office to find out when the home
business or sole proprietorship classes are held. The home
business class is a half-day class; the sole proprietorship
class is a full day. The difference between ...Read the rest of this entry »
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR RETAIL BUSINESS IS IN TROUBLE
January 2002
SMARTRETAILERS.com RETAIL E-TIP OF THE MONTH:
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR RETAIL BUSINESS IS IN TROUBLE
A prelude: For those of you who are into the Internet and know
something about search engines and search results and for those
of you who are not, and before I get into this month's tip, I
wanted to show you something that makes me feel and look pretty
good. Log on to one of the following search engines: Yahoo, AOL,
Altavista, Hotbot, Directhit and at least 10 others that account
for 75% ...Read the rest of this entry »
"I Don't Have Enough Time"
How often do you hear yourself saying you don't have enough
time? Even if you're not saying it out loud, I bet you think it.
"I wish I had more time" or "There's never enough hours in a
day" are statements voiced every day by most people. It's a fact
of life that there just isn't enough time. There never has been
and never will be more than 24 hours in each day. So, why can
some people achieve more in less time? I suggest one of the
reasons is attitude of mind.
"The greatest revolution in our ...Read the rest of this entry »
Consultants
I like consultants, I really do. Sometimes the exact right thing
to do is to hire a consultant. They are the perfect solution
under many circumstances. If you've got a quick, well-defined
project, then by all means get on the phone and call in a
specialist. If you need a skill which you do not have on-staff,
then perhaps a consultant is just the ticket.
Just make sure you've counted the silver before they start and
after they leave.
Does that sound harsh? You bet. You see, managed correctly ...Read the rest of this entry »
How to Overcome the Fear of Success (Yes, there is such a thing)
Our minds work in wondrous and mysterious ways, don't they? The
power of imagination is both a blessing and a curse.
All the greatest inventions have come about because of the power
of imagination. Think of the respected inventors of the 1800's
and you just know - they imagined their success before they
achieved it.
But on the other hand, imagination can paralyze a person with
fear. Walking down a deserted street at night can really get
that imagination working overtime.
And who hasn't ...Read the rest of this entry »
How to Get Organised for Xmas
Let's make sure that this year you are really prepared for the
Xmas onslaught. It's an interesting time...extremely stressful
for many people. There's the pressure to complete projects, plan
for 2002 and so many extra invitations. On top of that you
probably have to decide on gifts and Xmas cards for your
clients, suppliers, friends, family and anyone else you can
think of.
And how about that long awaited and very much needed holiday you
have to book? I bet you've been looking forward to ...Read the rest of this entry »
Buying Your Freedom
If you're reading this article, it's probably because you're one
of millions of people who dream of breaking free of indentured
servitude to make it on your own in a business of your own.
When it comes to making the break from the paid workforce to
business ownership, you basically have two choices: to start a
new business from scratch (often in your basement during the wee
hours since you have to continue to work full-time in your Just
Over Broke J.O.B. to pay the bills until your business ...Read the rest of this entry »
Starting a business
That's what they say. You need a lot to start a business. And
one of these things is knowing yourself. What kind of person are
you?
Let's get into that one. Because a statement like "Know
Yourself" isn't enough. That statement has a very important
meaning.
There are many different kind of people. You can see it in
little kids. Being a kid. That's where it all starts. There
you're formed.
There are kids who are leaders. They tell other kids what to do
and the other do what they say. No questions ...Read the rest of this entry »
How To Build Instant Rapport With Your Potential Customers!
Effective communication is a highly valuable skill. It enriches
our personal and social lives. In business it's a matter of life
and death. This article will show us how we can gain almost
instant rapport with whoever we meet whether in person or
through writing.
THREE MODES In recent years, much has been learned about the way
the human brain processes information. The memories we have, the
way we perceive experiences, are controlled by our visual,
auditory and kinesthetic abilities. Everything ...Read the rest of this entry »
The Millionaire's Mentality
A friend of mine was given a million pounds ($1.4m) this week.
He isn't a millionaire though. For the last three years he has
been Managing Director of a small company owned by a very rich
man. The very rich man is a millionaire 250 times over and his
wealth is growing faster than he can count it.
My friend's million is his share of the proceeds from the sale
of the company. His boss was made an offer which he viewed as a
good return on his investment. So he sold out. My friend got his
million ...Read the rest of this entry »
Reducing IT Expenses
In these days of recession and layoffs, IT managers are facing
some tough decisions. As my own boss put it recently, "if it's a
choice between upgrading our Office suite or laying off some
people, what do you think we're going to do?"
With that in mind, there are a large number of things that an
information technology manager can do to lower costs.
Postpone upgrading software - I know we are all supposed to bow
to the Microsoft Gods, or at least open our wallets, but there
is absolutely nothing ...Read the rest of this entry »
Success is Just a Question Away
You already know the formula; "Ask and you shall receive." And,
you already know that it's not just another good idea. Asking is
the only way to get what you're seeking in your life, in your
relationships, or in your business.
Asking may not be your forte, and it might not even be a whole
lot of fun. In fact, I have found that most people prefer to do
it all themselves rather than ask somebody for help.
Think about this, asking the right question at the right time,
to the right person can ...Read the rest of this entry »
Rakeback –The Ultimate Bet of Yours
Hollywood has always had a love affair with gambling. Nothing can beat the thrill, suspense and exhilaration of a well executed poker showdown or match the glamour and status a Vegas and Monte Carlo casino symbolises. While poker can be seen in a countless number of TV-series and movies, usually in set the Wild West and with draw poker which is has now been replaced by Texas Hold'em as the game of choice for most players. A skilled director and actor can show on screen all the ranges of human ...Read the rest of this entry »
Why Bank Foreclosure Homes Are a Safe Bet?
In the times of soaring real estate prices, buying property can be a daunting task, especially when you have a set budget to buy property. However, there are some ways to buy home at a price lower than the market rate. The best option is to buy foreclosure homes, which an average Joe can afford easily. Foreclosed homes are legally acquired from a borrower who fails to pay mortgage loan. Lender banks confiscate the homes of defaulters and put them on sale at a cheaper price. Besides banks, ...Read the rest of this entry »
The Rules of Horse Racing - types of bet
ow to bet on horse racing and win! The first thing to understand
is that in traditional horse racing betting, you are in direct
competition with the 'bookie' - the person or company that lays
the odds. They want your money, and you want theirs. Each bookie
has an 'oddsmaker' - a person or system that creates their
'book'. In theory a book is structured so that the bookie can't
lose - whoever wins the race, the odds are so structured as to
guarantee a profit to the bookmaker.
The most common ...Read the rest of this entry »
A bet you ALWAYS win - how sports betting arbitrage works.
Betting arbitrage is a method of creating a bet that has a zero
risk - in other words, you always win! The concept of
'arbitrage' comes from the financial world, and describes the
activities of traders who find two different places offering the
same trade, but at different prices. They then exploit this
difference by selling in one location and buying in the other.
Whatever happens to price, they make a profit on the difference
between the original 2 prices. The same thing applies to ...Read the rest of this entry »
Why I'll Bet on the Bull
Why I'll Bet on the Bull By William Cate Published May 2002
[http://home.earthlink.net/~beowulfinvestments/]
[http://home.earthlink.net/~beowulfinvestments/globalvillageinves
tmentclubwelcome/]
Last week, most Daytraders had a terrible week. The Bear
slaughtered them by the thousands. There was "Blood in the
Streets" at the wire houses where Daytraders congregate. Did we
witness the beginning of a Recession or Depression last week?
There are many sound reasons for betting on the Bear. Here are ...Read the rest of this entry »
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