Free Business Plan Advice and Business Plan Template

By Linda C Smith

Every year businesses and organizations everywhere set aside time for strategic planning sessions. It is the perfect occasion to put a shine on the business' vision and adjust its direction. In some cases it is little more than an afternoon in the conference room with coffee and cookies. In other cases it's an off-site weekend away affair complete with break-out sessions and social activities.

Regardless of the event structure, strategic planning is an important function for all the stakeholders of a company. Stakeholders are everyone who benefits from, or is concerned with, an enterprise. Even a home-based business owner needs to set aside time to come to accounts with past and current functions and weigh those against future needs and aspirations.

Strategic planning sessions or retreats should involve both big picture overview as well as detailed action planning. These exercises are necessary in order to set goals and milestones that are real and achievable. These sessions are as valid for a non-profit philanthropic organization as for a for-profit company.

• goal: objective or target - has specific language and target date
• milestone: sub-objectives that indicate where you are on the road to the goal

In all cases there are basic questions that should be addressed in 4 key categories:

1. the business itself
2. the business' offerings
3. the business' customers
4. the business' future

1. Questions to ask and consider about The Business:

• Who is your company? Who are the principle players? The stakeholders?
• What is the declared purpose of your business? Are you a for-profit enterprise? Are you a non-profit organization with a philanthropic base? Is the purpose at the core of your vision larger than its details?
• What do you hope to achieve?
• What differentiates your business from another that is similar? What is your uniqueness?
• Is your business small? Independently owned? Relatively low volume of sales?
• Is your business large? Multiple layers of organization? Board of directors? Stock holders?
• Do you know how big (or small) you want or desire your business to be? Do you want a business large in annual profit margin? Large in philanthropic outreach? Big in the numbers of people it touches?
• Is your business a manufacturer? Distributor? Supplier? Service provider?
• Are you meeting the needs of your employees? How do you know? What do you have in place that tells you?
• Who benefits from your business' daily operations and in what ways?

2. Questions to ask and consider about the Business' Offerings:

• Can you describe your products and services? Do you know when to add improvements? Do you know when to retire a product or service?
• Who benefits from your products or services? Do you know what your products/services' intrinsic values are? Their perceived value from your customers' points of view?
• Who are your competitors?

3. Questions to ask and consider about the Business' Customers and Clients:

• Does your business have non-profitable users? - these are people/entities that use the services of your business but do not pay for the service. There is no profit realized from users. Do you know why this would be an advantage for your business?
• Who are your paying customers? Do you know where they are? Do you know all the ways in which you can communicate with them?
• How do you know you are meeting your customers' needs?
• Can your customers find you easily? Communicate with you easily? Is it time for an internet presence? Is it time to offer both in-person point-of-sale and online website purchasing?
• Are your customers aware of all your purchasing policies (everything from delivery and shipping issues to refunds and returns)?
• Why should your customers/clients care about your products/services? Your company as an entity?

4. Questions to ask and consider about the Business' Future:

• Where do you want to go? Do you have an ideal picture of what your business or organization can be?
• Is growth part of your plan? Does your business have the ability to grow from small to large? How would this be measured? Is the risk worth the expanse plans?
• How will you take the next step of growth?
• Is it time to downsize? To diversify?
• Do you have a road map of strategies to get you where you want to go? Simplistically, do you know where you want to be in one year's time? - in terms of staff? In terms of profitability? In terms of marketplace position?
• What does your company give back? To its employees? Its other stakeholders? The community-at-large?
• How do you measure/celebrate milestones?
• How do you know you are on track with your business plan?

Knowing which questions to ask in a strategic planning session can help facilitate the expectations and goals of the session and make the entire process more valuable to all participants. It's also good to be reminded that every part of a business needs to be assessed and dusted off periodically...life doesn't stand still and neither should your business.

Linda C Smith, author and owner of a home-based business. I write a business blog at
http://intlnat.com where you can also find links to my business. My joy in business is sharing my passion for my products as well as showing others how they can enjoy the benefits of a home business.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_C_Smith

How to Start a Business and Write a Business Plan

By Richard McMunn

If, at any time, you've considered starting your own business, then this article could be of interest to you. This article is applicable to people of all walks of life who are about to embark on an internet business; one of the most frequently searched business on the internet.

Starting an internet business

Before you go ahead with any plan to start a business it is important to ask yourself; are you a self-motivated person and have you been realistic about the pitfalls? The key difference between an employee and an entrepreneur is the motivation of the individual.

You may well be able to succeed in your own business if you are able to create an idea and then proceed with it without someone else's encouragement.'Risk' is a word that you need to familiarize yourself with. Your new business will have an element of risk. The difference between risk and irresponsibility is that risk is not usually 'business'-threatening.

Irresponsibility, however, generally shows that difficulties have been blatantly overlooked. You need risks to succeed; if one risk fails then you will need to move on to the next. You lose everything when the irresponsibility takes over.

Business Plan

As with any business you need a business plan and an internet business is no exception. The business plan exists for a reason; they are invaluable but beware they can take a few weeks time and a lot of energy, however, it will be worth it as it will encourage you to come to terms with your business idea and also serve as your evidence when applying for a small business loan from a bank.

Your business plan must cover how you will generate income, what your expenses will be, who your competitors are, and most important, what your business does.

Funding

You can start a business with your own savings or borrow from a bank. The best and most popular advice is to start the business with your own money since it makes the business much more personal to you and will force you to be strict with your expenditure. It is advisable to avoid borrowing money from family or friends. 99% of the time, you will not be able to pay them back, and if you are able to it won't be for months or even years.

Product Pricing

Proper pricing is the one thing that keeps the business alive. You need to find the happy medium between undercharging and overcharging; research your market and find out what the prices are like.

You could even start with a 'tester or introductory price'; this will give you an idea of how much you should charge for the rest of your products and/or services.

Research

Do not act hastily; it is easy to get excited over the prospect of your new business; however research cannot be skipped, overlooked or rushed. Whether you are researching markets, competitors, finances or marketing methods, it is vital that the research is carried out thoroughly.

On the other hand, it is possible to research too much. Do not remain motionless under the burden and concern caused by research overload. It is easy for you, the prospective business owner to remain just that - prospective. Find a happy medium; plan your research before heading into it. You can then follow your plan and have a set time for when your research is complete

Learn how to start a business and how to write a business plan with this article. How to be a an entrepreneur.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_McMunn

Go Where the Puck is Going - Great Advice When Planning to Start a Business

By K. MacKillop

Wayne Gretzky offers one critical piece of advice to young hockey players; don't follow the puck, but go where the puck is going. This same advice applies to developing a viable startup. Don't try to compete where the market is right now, but look ahead for where the market is headed and prepare your startup to meet them there.

All startups begin with a great business idea. Even those entrepreneurs who don't really care what the operations are have to come up with a product or service that can be the focus of their business skills. The best ideas fill a need or provide a benefit to the target customer, and the ideas with the most growth potential must have room to grow. Tastes and interests change rapidly these days, and effective business owners must always be looking ahead to steer the venture in the right direction.

Changes in the business landscape are developing rapidly. Now, every business needs a web presence and are likely to be most successful if they offer some ecommerce component. Mom-n-Pop general stores are harder than ever to keep afloat because you just can't compete with the big box stores on price. However, niche and specialty shops are a good option, as long as the service and knowledge of the staff are top shelf. Information services are booming -- you can buy information on everything from starting a business to baking a cake, but the quality of the products available ranges from worth every penny to not worth a dime. The same goes for consulting. There are now "consultants" for everything from organizing your house to life coaching to training corporate executives. Competing in these crowded industries is tough, and successful enterprises must constantly upgrade their offerings to remain competitive.

When looking for a good business idea, look at the obvious. Very frequently, the most successful businesses are founded on a need the entrepreneur identifies that is right in front of them. Avoid commodity businesses where the consumer buys only based on price. Do look for consumer monopoly opportunities that give you pricing power. That is, sales are not driven by the lowest prices. Service based businesses are good options, though the downside is that your sales are limited by the number of billable hours available.

If you have a particular industry or target market in mind, do some research to see where those markets are going. Look for niche opportunities and specialize...you can always expand into more general offerings once your venture is off the ground. The best place to start is with your industry associations and trade journals. Keep up with the current news and join the networking opportunities. If you have a specific target market you would like to focus on, figure out where they go and what they do. Talk, and listen, to everyone around you to discover their needs. Don't overthink the options. Once you land on a potentially viable idea, follow up with a basic marketing analysis and keep moving forward.

Greater success in business (and in hockey) can be attained by looking where the target is going to be rather than aiming for where it is now. Even once your venture is up and running, long-term success relies on your ability to prepare for the inevitable changes to come. Always be looking for opportunities and threats on the horizon, and keep your venture flexible enough to respond as needed.

About the Author - K. MacKillop, a serial entrepreneur with a J.D. from Duke University, is founder of LaunchX and authors a blog focused on starting a business. The LaunchX System will help you plan your business startup to be flexible and to be able to skate where the puck is going. Visit LaunchX.com today and find out how we will help you start a business.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=K._MacKillop

How to Protect Your Business in Case of a Divorce

By PJ Kennedy

If you have a great marriage with beautiful kids, and you own a thriving business is hard to think about divorce. Your wife has been there for you since the beginning and you have a great relationship with her. More reasons to talk to her about a postnup. Divorce poses great threats for the health of a business, and if when you married you didn't prepared a prenup, maybe is time to speak with your wife about a postnup. Is a touchy subject and you want to approach your partner in a light conversation, but you want to stress the importance in protecting the family assets.

A great case in point is the owner of the New York Yankees, George Steinbrenner. The boss granted great powers and a financial stake to his soon to be ex-son in law in the family business, the New York Yankees. Then back in March/2007 his daughter filed for divorce from her husband and soon Steinbrenner was seating in the negotiation table with the enemy. And this is a primary example of how things quickly can turn sour in your business, today you might be dealing with family and tomorrow with a stranger.

Situations like this can create a very negative atmosphere in your business and with your partners. If you encounter yourself in this situation, you want to make sure that an agreement is in place, so the right of first bid to buy back shares at a prearranged price goes to you and your company in case of a divorce or separation.

You also want to instruct all your children, who eventually will have ownership stakes in your company to have prenuptials in place with their future wives to avoid this sort of situation. Of course everything has its time, so you want to instruct your children when will be the best time to have the prenup completed. They don't want to take a 100 page document on their first date, but planning is crucial for the well being of a business.

PJ Kennedy has worked in the granite industry for the past 15 years. Please visit his site http://www.massachusetts-granite.com for information on Massachusetts granite. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=PJ_Kennedy

He Didn't Plan to Fail - He Failed to Plan

By Tony W Murtagh

Before you go too far down the road of developing your web-based business (or any business for that matter) you really need to formulate a plan of action.

Your plan should have long term goals and short-term action points - and be realistic and achievable. Many people start on a course of action, not really sure of where they are going or how to get there. Imagine that you said to your wife "come on, get in the car we are going on holiday."

She would probably reply with a series of pertinent questions - where are we going? How will we get there? Have you packed? Do you have the money to pay for it? How long are we going for?

If you replied "we are driving down to Florida for two weeks, the hotel is booked and paid for, I've done the packing and I have ample spending money, there is every chance that you would get there and have an enjoyable vacation.

If however you mumbled "..er.. I don't know, I haven't planned anything", she would probably be very unimpressed to say the least!

The same can be said of your business. If you do not know where you are going (your long term goal) or how you are going to get there (your short term action points) the chances are, that you will get nowhere.

Once you have drawn up your plan - (as detailed as possible) you then need to review it regularly so that you can judge your progress and amend the plan as necessary. Let's go back to the holiday analogy. You may have planed your journey to Florida to take a certain route, but you find a road blocked - or better still hear on the traffic news that the road is blocked (forward planning) - so you sit and study your road map and find an alternative route.

Likewise with your business; if it becomes apparent that a certain plan of action is not working, don't be afraid to change it. Just remember that as you travel further down the road of building your business, you will certainly come up against some obstacles. But you should be learning and increasing your skill base all the time, and if you can look upon obstacles not as problems to stop you, but as challenges to be overcome, you wont go far wrong.

Finally, never be afraid to change your plan altogether. If you were going to Florida and discovered that the area you were planning to visit was about to be hit by a severe hurricane, you would re-plan your destination.

Similarly, if something is about to happen which will wreck your business plans, take stock of the situation, see what you can learn from your experiences up to that date, and then set yourself a new goal.

Now ensure that you write your plan down. Set your self short-term goals - what you will be doing in the next few weeks - medium term - say for the next six months - and long term - for the next year or two. You should then review your plan every month or quarter, making whatever amendments are necessary, and rewarding yourself for goals achieved.

Tony Murtagh has spent all his career involved in sales, sales management, marketing and PR. He was a UK National Sales Manger (Major Accounts) for a mobile communications company, had his own publishing company producing a monthly Business to Business magazine and has acted as a PR consultant for a number of small businesses. At present his main focus of attention is on his web businesses, especially his Gambling portal - The Betting Directory (http://www.betting-directory.org.uk/) and he also runs several gambling related blogs, including Online Gambling News (http://bettingandgamingnews.blogspot.com/).

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_W_Murtagh

How to Choose the Ideal Restaurant Location

By Amy Nutt

When it comes to restaurants, location is everything. You have to be where people can see you or you'll find that there are simply no customers, but there is much more to choosing the right spot for your eatery than merely walk in traffic. In fact, it's necessary to consider a number of factors before deciding on a locale.

People: The availability of clients is the biggest concern, of course. You'll need to make sure that there are enough potential customers in the area to make it worthwhile to set up a restaurant. It's a good idea to do a survey of the population in the area you wish to build your business. This will enable you to find out whether or not people will be interested in what you have to offer and whether or not they eat out often, among other factors. This can also help you decide which type of restaurant to start... a burger joint might not do well in a more affluent area, but it would be ideal for an area where people are looking for fast, cheap food.

Competition: Who is the competition? What are you offering that beats them? Whether you are offering lower prices, different cuisine or tastier food, you need to be better than the competition. There's no point in starting a coffee shop if there are already five in the same neighborhood. Also important is to find out how the pricing works in the neighborhood. If all the restaurants are very low priced, you might be hard-pressed to compete with a fancier gourmet food place that needs to have higher prices. This is also where it pays to know your clients. If they don't have money, don't expect to make it with $100 plates of food.

Parking: Don't underestimate the value of parking space. A new client isn't going to spend a lot of time searching for a spot to park just to try your food. While it's best to have your own parking lot, you should be good as long as there's ample space near the restaurant location.

Visibility: Many restaurants find that a large amount of their traffic comes from those just passing by. These people decide at the last minute to eat at a particular place and this is why you want to make sure to have an easy to see locale. Another important factor is how easy it is to get to the place. Places that are just off the main road, but still visible, are ideal. You want people to be able to see your restaurant and pull in without battling traffic or having to find a map just to get there.

The location of your restaurant is very important. You need to take the time to check the area out, take a close look at the people who live and work in the area and know your competition before making a decision to place the restaurant. The research will pay off in the long run, since you can be sure to select the perfect spot.

As restaurants Quebec offer some of the finest cuisine, Winnipeg restaurant also have outstanding desserts. If you're thinking about eating a one-of-a-kind meal, don't forget about visiting restaurant Calgary!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Nutt

An Introduction to Farm Strategic Planning

By Wayne Messick

Farm strategic planning is easier today than ever before, which is a good thing because strategic planning is an important part of planning for succession. Software tools and easy to use templates, containing detailed framework and sample texts, will help even the novice farmer along with their advisors create professional looking plans with tables and charts. For those people that don't know where to start, the tools are a big help removing one of the farmers traditional excuses for inaction.

Strategic planning for farmers involves creating a framework for making future decisions. This is critical today because if you need a bank loan for farm expansion, you will need to be able to fully explain your plan in a professional manner - something your banker can take to the board or to their masters in a distant city. How will your farm use the money? Will you be using the money to immediately increase revenues or is it for an investment that will take time before income results? What kind of monetary investment will be needed to get the ball rolling? How long will it be until you can expect to see a profit?

You can look at farm strategic planning as a sort of question and answer guide. You may need to take a step back and look at your ideas from the view of an outsider, something important when considering succession and planning. You might understand everything that there is to know about the farm, but others most certainly will not - especially the non-farm family members who are not part of the day to day activities.

One of the elements of farm strategic planning is to be able to explain and inform others. When planning for succession takes place, maybe one of the options under consideration is to interest investors in some part of the operation. A well thought out farm strategic plan may result in them wanting to become involved. If you have good ideas or something unique to offer, people will often jump at the opportunity to invest.

But, even if you don't need or want outside investors, farm strategic planning is essential. It allows you to put your goals on paper (or on your computer) where you can refer to them easily and stay focused on your objectives. Sometimes farmers realize too late that they have forgotten about a special market opportunity or failed to stay competitive where they were a market leader. They may have lost sight of their goals and their farm is suffering as a result.

Farm strategic planning tools are available online as well as in your local extension office. In many cases, the basic guides and other resources are free.

There is software available to help you assess your ideas and evaluate marketing strategies that you intend to use. Unless you are running a non-profit organization, farm strategic planning business should include ideas for growing the business to make passing down the farm financially painless for you.

How do you plan to reach your customers? How much will it cost? How effective has that type of advertising been for other owners?

Lots of questions are involved in farm strategic planning, but you already have all of the answers. You just might not know it yet.

When Don Jonovic PhD and I wrote "Passing Down the Farm the OTHER Farm Crisis", in 1986 - based on my experiences helping farm families plan for the future of their business during and beyond their lifetimes and Don's insights into family business dynamics. We submitted a draft of each chapter to a panel of farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness owners - who checked it for accuracy and clarity.

The result. It was packed with universal truths about relationships and the need to take charge of the activities that surround planning for the future of the farm. It remains a favorite of farmers and their advisors to this day.

When I decided it was time to create a version for the new millennium, we first had to ask and answer three important questions. "In two decades, what's changed, what's stayed the same, and what should we do?"

If you are serious about farm succession, or if you are a professional involved in farm succession planning - or an farm association executive, click the link below to learn solve the riddle of the emotional triangle that causes most farm succession plans to fail. http://www.passingdownthefarm.com/farm-succession-planning.html

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3 Easy Waitress Tips For Higher Gratuity

By Robert Y. Corrison

While waitressing can be a lucrative job, you might be wondering if there is something you can do to make your tips or gratuity a bit higher than what you are presently receiving. The answer is yes, for most servers there are simple changes or additions you can make to earn higher tips. I'm going to address 3 of them.

Sometimes we servers become so good and so used to the job that we just go through the motions without realizing that we aren't "performing" like we should be. You can be a very efficient server while neglecting to remember that you are actually in a "show" of sorts. The restaurant patrons are all eyes, including the ones outside of your section. People take notice of things like your smile (or lack of) after serving a table. Or your kind gesture to a fellow employee in need of a little help. Maybe the child who's a little fussy outside of your section could use a little extra attention. Often taking a minute off so to "show off" in a good way can leave a huge impression on those around you. People remember this, they see it and they talk about it. Always remember that you are one of the main characters in a huge "reality show" that's airing live as long as you are on the floor!

Stay away from any negativity and always be positive. It is so easy to slip up and this happens to even the most experienced of wait persons on occasion. For example, you could be wildly busy and a customer could make a comment like: "Wow, you're busy tonight. At least you'll make good tips!" Without thinking, you might innocently respond negatively with something like: "Yeah true, but it's just all going to bills. I never get caught up on those!" That type of response is not necessarily rude, those people aren't mad or offended, it's just negative and negativity is not good for tips. A better response would have been something cheerful like: "Yes, it sure is and I love it every once in a while! Thanks for bearing with me, now what can I get you?" Just stay away from being negative. It can take practice but it becomes second nature after a while. If you try, you'll find that it's quite natural to be cheery or at least neutral!

Know the menu. And I mean inside and out! If you do this you will shine above all the other waiters and waitresses, not only in your restaurant but other establishments too! The customers will quickly take notice of this and reward you with higher gratuity. When you actually know answers about the food on the menu, you become a professional instantly in the eyes of the customer. And professionals command a higher price no matter what profession. Subconsciously this is going through the customers mind and you will surely see bigger tips. You need to know everything about substitutions and what is available. How many ounces is that chicken breast? Is it pre-cooked? Is that butter? Margarine? A blend? Another good thing that will come from knowing the menu inside and out is your cooks will appreciate it! You will understand their position in the back of the house better and will not have to ask them so many questions. You'll be able to make decisions on the spot instead of running to the kitchen, distracting them, then running back to the table. Yes, this is a big one for bigger waitress tips and higher gratuity. If you do nothing else to try to increase your tip earnings, do this!

Are you ready to take action and start earning bigger tips? Often you can see higher gratuity on your next shift with a few simple adjustments to your approach. Get some more great tips for waitresses, waiters and bartenders that can significantly increase your tips. Take a peek right now! http://www.BiggerTipsForMe.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ray_Sherman

3 Mistakes That Will Cost You the Interview

By Barry Simpson

With the recent up tick in interview activity I have been spending more and more time working with clients on their interviewing skills. Without doubt the lack of practice over the recent months has taken a toll and I am seeing some common threads appear. Any one of these can damage your chances of success.

Before you start the interview remember what got you there, a good resume! Prior to any interview activity, and this includes a telephone screen, take time to review what you have written in your resume and make sure you know what you have said.

Mistake #1- By the time we have arrived at the interview/screen everyone should have practiced their answers to the question "Tell me about yourself" as it is one of the almost guaranteed questions that you are going to face. Making a pitch that is not aimed directly at the needs of the employer is a sure fire method of not getting that tick 'in the box'. As this is often one of the first questions asked it sets the tone for the interview. Be focused and demonstrate your value.

Mistake #2 - Not answering the question you are asked. Almost all of us feel the need in interviews (and resumes) to tell the listener everything we have ever done at any time and in every circumstance, relevant or not. This is a huge mistake, the interviewer is interested only in what you can do for them and adding irrelevant and useless information only serves to send them to sleep or makes them annoyed. If you are asked for 'One Example' provide 'One Example', 2 examples do not make you look smarter.

Mistake #3 - Humor or apologies can often backfire in interviews. Trying to use either of these can make you appear weak. This situation often arises when a candidate feels they have a missing piece of experience or qualification. Use other experiences to fill the gap only if you are asked about it and try not to dig yourself a hole that is difficult to get out of. This is definitely an area that requires practice in advance. Know your strengths and weaknesses and be prepared to answer to them.

To sum up all these words is simple, be prepared.

Good hunting

Barry

Barry Simpson
- Your personal job-search assistant.

http://www.virtualjobcoach.com
Follow me at http://twitter.com/DBarryS.

VirtualJobCoach is the premier web site dedicated to helping people find jobs faster. Combining development of resumes, cover letters, position tracking, and networking management.

Simpson has extensive experience of working with people at all levels in Fortune 500 companies and other organizations with the goal to help them land a new and rewarding position. I am, with my colleagues translating much of that expertise and knowledge into our offering at Virtual Job Coach.

If you are looking for a new position or simply interested in managing your career come over, visit our site and try it out for free. Contact me if I can help bsimpson at virtualjobcoach dot com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Barry_Simpson

No Need to Be Scared of the Mighty Interview

By Heather Eagar

Most people are pretty nervous when preparing for an interview, whether it's their first or 51st time. However there are some individuals who are beyond nervous when interview time rolls around - they're flat out fearful. Since an interview can be an intense experience, they may feel a bit insecure even when they're confident of their talents.

If you fall into the category of being fearful of job interviews, there are a few ways to side step the fear and enter the situation with confidence. If you're wanting to knock your interview out of the ballpark, here are some tips that can help with that.

Make Sure You're Prepared

One reason that people get nervous before and during interviews is because they're anticipating the unknown - they simply have no idea what will be discussed and fear they won't have the answers. There's nothing like preparation to make a person feel confident. Jump on the Internet, hunt for some questions that are commonly asked during and interview and practice your responses as much as possible.

If you're not sure how you effective going through the list will be for you, you can always have a friend step in and act as an interviewer. The more closely you recreate the interview, the more comfortable you're likely to be in the real thing. You can rehearse the ideas you want to get across, practice confident body language, and even learn how to ad-lib a bit by having your friend throw in questions not on your list.

Wear Your Favorite Outfit

If you have a favorite business outfit that you feel very comfortable in, wear it. You'll be surprised how much this improves your interview success. Don't wear something that causes you discomfort - either mentally or physically.

"Relax, Relate, Release"

You may have heard this phrase from time to time to signify calming down before a stressful situation, but it's something that you should definitely consider before your interview. You need to exude confidence in your interview so taking a few deep breaths may be helpful in calming your mind and body.

Rely On You

Sometimes, job candidates are so desperate to find work that they pretend to be someone they're not just to get the job. Interviewers will see through your facade-act and it'll make everyone in the room uncomfortable.Let your personality shine and if you get the job, you can be pleased that you can relax without having to be someone you're not.

Of course, a job interview can be a scary thing. However, if you make sure you're prepared, have a well-written resume, and are comfortable, calm, and confident in yourself, you'll ace the interview and will likely get a call back in no time.

Need a job? Be sure your resume is the best it can be. Choose a resume service that is best for you and your situation. Do it today at http://www.ResumeLines.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Heather_Eagar

The Complex Art of Medical Billing and Collections

By Nehag Gupta

Medical Billing and Collections may sound like a simple term but, in reality, it is an extremely complex process, where a thorough understanding of the rules of the health insurance providers and the medical billing process are a pre-requisite.

Overview of the Process

Whenever a hospital, a doctor or any other health care set up provides medical aid and other related services to a patient, they have to claim reimbursement from insurance providers. That's where the medical biller comes in. He takes stock of the services that have been rendered to the patient by studying the bills attached to his records. After that, he confirms the name of the insurance provider covering the patient. And finally, he fills out the relevant forms, completes the necessary paper work, and files the claims.

Doctors and Medical Billing and Collections

Doctors are not trained to handle the procedure of billing and collection of dues. When it comes to technicalities like that they are completely at sea. To do things like collecting accounts receivable, running behind insurance companies for payments, and keeping track of accounts that are past due is beyond them. Therefore, they depend on professionals to handle medical billing, coding and other related responsibilities, leaving them free to do what they are good at - administering to patients.

The Brave and Mighty Medical Billers

Medical billers need to be extremely responsible people, as they have a crucial task to perform. A lot of responsibilities fall within their purview such as:

Organizing medical statements and bills and ensuring that they are error free
Reviewing all the charge slips and keeping track of payments
Calling up collection agencies and negotiating with them
Responding to patient queries pertaining to the billing routine of the office
Following up with insurance companies on the status of the claim

To be a skilled medical biller, he also needs to be aware of Medicare rules, medical diseases and conditions, medical codes, compliance issues... the list is virtually endless. In addition to medical billing, coding, some billers also handle medical transcription.

Get more information on Medical Billing and Collections Visit:http://www.medeyeservices.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nehag_Gupta

How to Have a 4 Hour Work Week

By Mel Turao

Tim Ferris is seen as the Deepak Chopra of the digital world today for his book "The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich (2007)." For a 31 year old from Princeton and a Jujitsu cum tango master, writing a magic spell for a stressful life raises many eyebrows. The book promises to erase your worries and make you live a happy life. But many readers find the book's pitch to abandon your full time job and follow the DEAL credo hard to swallow. In these dire times getting a part time job is nothing short of miraculous. But Tim Ferris's loyal fans say DEAL (definition, elimination, automation, and liberation) is the real deal.

What's the deal with the 4-hour Work Week

Tim Ferris notes that there only three currencies you can use in the world today-time, mobility, and income. These three currencies make the digital world go round. Ferris observes that over the last 3 three years, many people have been living like millionaires while other people were doing their work for them. This was made possible by outsourcing and staff leasing. The new rich is made up of people who are extremely good at running their own lives while other people run their business for them. That is the beauty of virtual business, says Ferris.

The DEAL is on

Tim Ferris believes the idea of a 9-5 job and retirement doesn't have any place in the wired world. To get this idea across, Ferris explains DEAL thus:

Definition is knowing exactly what you want in life. You have to be able to figure out your source of fears and happiness. Definition is being able to rise above your self and seeing a clear path ahead. When you know where you're going, you can build your goals around it. Tim Ferris warns that it is a misguided idea to work hard today and look forward to a grand retirement tomorrow-sometimes tomorrow doesn't come. Your best bet is the here and now.

By Elimination, Ferris means you have to think about time but not get bound by it. Create your own idea of time, is what he proposes. Working with time as your tool and not the other way around, will enable you to attain effectiveness, not efficiency. Ferris draws the line between the two: effectiveness means being able to do something that gives you the most benefits. Ferris suggests that you need to take time out to un-clutter your life with too many undone tasks, and do only the ones that you need to. To Ferris, multi-tasking does more bad than good.

Obviously Ferris is priming up his readers for a long and bumpy ride ahead. The American economy is in bad shape and it has caused immense stress to all. Though things are beginning to look up according to some quarters, the American economy is far from gaining recovery. Ferris's "How to have a 4 Hour Work Week" strikes a sensitive nerve then, for it inspires you to becoming self-sustained in a time of crisis. That's what he means by Automation. In brief, he wants us to be masters of our fate: Through outsourcing and offshore services, you can literally turn yourself into a one-man empire. With outsourced and offshore people working for you, you can focus on core company functions. So when everything runs smoothly, you get your business's maximum return investment-your life.

Automation results in Liberation, although they overlap at some points. When you're self-sustained you can do business anywhere. You're no longer bound by office walls. Doing business online erases borders. Depending on your level of skill, you can do a lot on the Internet. This is the part where having an 8-5 job falls out of touch with today's reality. We live in a wired world, all right, but it is this wired world that makes our life complicated: emails, instant messaging, virtual work, Internet marketing, GPS-enabled and 4G mobile phone, and so on. So to free ourselves from grip of a hardwired world, Tim Ferris suggests we turn it on its head: Get outsourced work to unravel your self from the knot.

Tim Ferris's popularity as an author skyrocketed after the smashing success of How to Have a 4 Hour Work Week. But like all controversial works, the book is not exempt to bad publicity. Some people say Ferris sells pipe dreams. Others say his idea of a 4-hour workweek is incredibly out of step with the times. For all their rash comments, Tim Ferris lives a happy life and has won countless of converts. Now, they have got to say something about that.

Mel is the resident blogger and writer at Web Agents Pro, an offshore staff leasing company based in the Philippines. Our team consists of business and Internet marketing specialists with have one goal in mind: to help our clients grow their business. If you are looking to hire your dedicated webmaster, web content writer, link builder, SEO specialist, virtual assistant, graphics designer, and web designer, go to http://www.webagentspro.com for more information.

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Vietnam's Textile Industry - Opportunities and Challenges

By Tielman Nieuwoudt

Vietnam's textile industry has increased significantly since normalizing relationships with the United States in the 1990's. Vietnam was granted most favoured nation status (MFN) in December 2001, which led to a dramatic reduction in import tariffs in the US market. Vietnam's induction to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2007 and the Vietnamese government's strong support of the textile and garment sector, have provided strong incentives to attract foreign investors. The textile industry is now the second biggest exporter in Vietnam and is expected to become the biggest in 2009. However the financial crisis has had a severe affect on Vietnam's textile industry, which has suffered from a slump in demand from key export markets in the US, Europe and Japan.

Labour cost advantage

In the textile industry, companies are increasingly looking for lower cost countries that can provide outsourcing opportunities. The rising cost of land and labour are diminishing China's labour cost advantage and Vietnam is increasingly seen as a low cost sourcing alternative to China. Estimates are that wage levels in Vietnam are about one third of those in China's coastal region. Companies that are chasing lower labour costs are increasingly moving production to Vietnam. In a 2008 Booz Allen Hamilton survey 88 percent of companies originally chose China for its lower labour costs. Of the companies surveyed, 55 percent believe China is losing its competitive edge to countries such as Vietnam. The survey also indicated that 63 percent named Vietnam as their top low cost sourcing alternative to China. However, costs may be rising. The Navigos Group, a leading recruitment solutions provider in Vietnam, announced early in the year that there had been a 16.47 percent increase in Vietnamese workers' average gross salaries between April 2008 and March 2009.

Low cost location

However, low cost labour is hardly a competitive advantage in the long term. Labour cost keeps changing and today's low cost location is not necessarily tomorrow's viable outsourcing location. If it is not China or Vietnam, it could be Bangladesh or Cambodia. Ig Hortsmann, a professor of business economics at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management notes that Nike originally off shored manufacturing to Japan. As labour costs increased, manufacturing was later moved to South Korea and Taiwan. When labour cost increased in South Korea and Taiwan, it was moved to China and later also to Vietnam. Justin Wood, a Director of the Economist Intelligence Unit Corporate Network in Singapore makes the point that in the last 15 years Vietnam has moved from a low to a middle income country. The move towards a middle income will likely put additional pressure on Vietnam's low cost labour status.

The Vietnam advantage

Elisabeth Rolskov, founder of ER-Couture in Vietnam, notes that manufacturing advantages in Vietnam go beyond labour cost and the country has some competitive advantages compared to China. "Vietnam has very good embroidery skills and needle work", says Rolskov. "A lot of designers and manufacturers need embroidery skills and Vietnam has kept in touch with its traditional roots," she adds.

However, for local designers, Vietnam has limitations as a sourcing location. "Sourcing material, buttons and zippers from Guangzhou is much better," says Rolskov. In Guangzhou you can find everything in air-conditioned shopping areas and the shopping experience is less hectic." This can have a negative impact on a designer's creativity as the designer is restricted by what is on offer in the local market.

Rolskov thinks Vietnam is currently a great location for smaller manufacturers as the market is more flexible. "China is more volume focused", adds Rolskov, a view supported by Rebecca Lebold, director of apparel product and technical development at Lilly Pulitzer. "Vietnam has higher production minimums than many other countries. Lower minimums would allow smaller companies to source their product in Vietnam", Lebold notes.

Intellectual property threat

For many companies outsourcing to Vietnam, intellectual property (IP) remains a concern. Within the fashion industry, IP is not as enforced as it is within the film and music industries. Designers can "take inspiration" and it is seen as a major driver for setting trends in the industry. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has called for stricter intellectual property enforcement within the fashion industry to better protect companies and promote competitiveness within the textile and clothing industries. "It is a hard thing to take care of and you just have to be faster than everybody else", says Rolskov. For smaller designers and labels it is much easier to switch manufacturing. However to prevent the copying of designs is a challenging undertaking.

Infrastructure development

For Vietnam to advance as an outsourcing location, the textile industry supply chain needs to be considered. Local logistics are influenced by direct and indirect cost. In Vietnam's textile industry raw materials are often imported, which increases cost compared with those countries able to source locally. Managing reverse logistics can also be a challenging undertaking in Vietnam. Procedures, processes and infrastructure are sometimes not in place to manage repairs, returns and warranties.

According to a new market research report from Transport Intelligence (Ti) entitled Vietnam Logistics 2009, the high cost of logistics remains one of the biggest stumbling blocks in Vietnam. According to TI analyst John Manners Bell, logistics costs are estimated at 25 percent of Vietnam's GDP. Even with cheap labour cost, poor infrastructure remains a major barrier for entry. This is largely due to Vietnam being in the early stages of infrastructure development.

Many experts believe that China's advanced infrastructure gives it a major competitive advantage. Electricity and transportation costs will likely come down even further and and this will have a significant impact on the total cost, even if their labour is more costly. The Vietnamese government is aware of this dynamic and has invested billions of dollars in the country's infrastructure. The government is actively encouraging foreign direct investment in the country's infrastructure. This is visible with projects such as the Cai Mep Container Port in the Mekong River Delta and the new Long Thanh airport that's projected to be completed by 2015.

Through assessing the overall supply chain, rather than a singular focus on labour costs, it is easier to identify where Vietnam's opportunities and challenges lie in the textile industry. While small scale designers and manufacturers take advantage of a flexible environment, infrastructure and logistics processes will need further investment to make Vietnam an outsourcing destination and source for tomorrow's fashionista wardrobes.

Tielman Nieuwoudt has extensive supply chain and operational experience, covering more than twenty emerging market economies in Asia and Africa. He has managed end-to-end supply chains, from forecasting through order entry, control, inventory management, and Go-to-Market planning and implementation.

He is also an accomplished corporate trainer, and has been engaged in the development and implementation of various training programs in Asia and Africa. Tielman is a Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP APICS) and has a Bachelors degree in Marketing (SA) and a MBA in International Business from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.

Tielman is also a regular contributor to CHaINA Magazine (China) and Vietnam Supply Chain Insights Magazine. Please also see my blog http://thesupplychainlab.wordpress.com/ and website http://www.thesupplychainlab.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tielman_Nieuwoudt

East Timor - A New Investment Frontier in the World's Newest Nation

By Nicholas J Cameron

Timor Leste (East Timor) a country with a population of only 900,000 is one of Asia's poorest, emerging into nationhood only in May 20th 2002 after a period of occupation by Indonesia. In terms of nation forming, the government is very pro-business and is looking at making rather exceptional incentives for businesses to invest in the country. The economic credentials seem to be off to a sound start due to fiscal responsibility that is not the case in other developing nations.

East Timor has untapped resources for agriculture, fisheries and tourism. It is also has world class diving and flights linking the country to Singapore, Indonesia and Darwin will significantly open the market for tourism.

Fortunately, the presence of significant oil and gas revenues has laid a strong foundation for nation building. Significant investments from oil revenues are to be made in infrastructure such as roads and utilities. The presence of strong international support from Australia, Brazil, Portugal, Singapore, the Philippines and Kuwait as well as the World Bank, IMF and the UN. The government of Timor Leste is talking the language of pro-business economic development. They are proposing to reduce taxes to a level one would expect from places such as Dubai by having a tax free state! Could this potentially create a little Dubai in South East Asia? Certainly, this is something of interest to Asia's business community.

Some of the incentives currently on offer to foreign investors (outside petroleum & gas) include:

- Rent exemption on land
- An annual US$300 tax exemption for every East Timor worker
- No tax on capital inputs

The corporate tax rate is 30%.

Given these incentives, Asia's entrepreneurs should explore business and investment opportunities. Some of the more immediate projects will be related to agriculture potentially coffee, palm oil and vanilla production just to mention a few. Palm oil or biofuel may be very interest projects to explore there. In terms of tourism, there would appear to be quite a few very interesting opportunities.

It looks like the world's newest nation is going in the right direction.

This article was prepared by Nicholas Cameron from Asia Business Investor. Current investment projects for investors and those seeking investment in Asia can be viewed at http://asiabusinessinvestor.com/Angel/AngelInvestor.aspx

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicholas_J_Cameron

Exporter's Directory - A New World of Exporting Units Online!

By Gyan K

Indian skilled craftsmen and artisans are popular for their handicrafts, ethnic jewellery, hosiery, carpets, bed linens, floor coverings which are beautifully designed customised to your needs. It is these products which have attracted millions of them across the world. Thanks to the small scale and cottage industries who are putting their heart and soul into it. India exports a huge hunk from its agriculture stock and other related products which are highly valued in the international market. Knitted garments are exported in bulk to other foreign countries. The unit price of knitted garment is less than that of woven garment.

The knitting, spinning and weaving displays the ethnic and artistic designs of the country like India. It also showcases India's extraordinary products and models in the world market. It is the small scale industries which has its major share in the GDP of the country. Fashionable clothing accessories, Bed Linen, table Linen, curtains, toilet and Kitchen Linen, carpet and floor coverings.

During periods of international economic fluctuations opening an export business can be quite lucrative. It is more so in the period of recession. Indian government has to promote such small scale and cottage industries as it is indispensable to India's economic growth. Indian clothing is well renowned for its fabric texture, finish and designs. There are several garments for clothing that have been set up in the last few years. These are popular export variety and are in high demand across the world. Cotton knitwear today has acquired a new dimension to provide clothing of comfort and leisure in fashionable manner. Biotech products are also sought after by international clients.

Exporter's directory in India helps all those looking out for information on Indian products and its export unit. Find out about different Indian linen products, carpet, floor covering, hosiery, sandal wood items, decorative pieces online. You even have an option of comparing these products with its competitor's products.

Gyan k, Get all your tips related to Exporter's directory: Exporter's directory Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gyan_K

Online Business Meetings - Using Technology to Cut Business Travel Costs

By Belsheba Nyabwa

If you have a small business, you obviously envision it becoming a big and well established enterprise. As the business grows beyond city, country and continental borders, communication modes need to be upgraded. This is why as you nurture your business you have to think of the best way to cut traveling costs while maintaining a high level of productivity during business meetings.

In conventional business setting, designated employees would ideally travel across the world to make business deals or to attend conferences that would market the business. These business trips entail booking a hotel for accommodation, booking a meeting room, having transport arrangements to various meeting points, setting aside traveling allowances as well as organizing for meals for the traveling persons. We all agree that employees are bound to make fraudulent claims after a trip.

Some people misuse these business trips and turn them into their personal expeditions at the expense of their companies. Other employees turn the trips into a shopping spree. Monitoring the steps of your employees while they are away requires a lot of time and money thus many organizations would not think of spending funds to check on their employees whom they have sent away on business.

The best way to curb problems arising from traveling far to have meetings is to invest in a good online meeting room, with a powerful computer which can transmit multimedia. Have a web-cam, headsets if needed and install necessary software to support communication as the meeting goes on. It is also important to have a standby generator that ensures the meeting is not affected by power blackouts. With technology, you can link to your customers, suppliers and business partners at the comfort of your office.

In the long run, if you compare the money used to set up an online business meeting and that used to send staff to a physical meeting point, you will definitely settle for online meetings.

Belsheba is a business management expert. She researches and studies on big and small business organizational strategies. Website: Business Management Solutions for efficient business operation.

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Economist Magazine - Well Educated, Well-Off Readers Only Please

By Kostantinos J. Papahatzis

The first year of the economist magazine was 1843 when it started as a weekly news and international affair publication. It has evolved into a weekly magazine that targets people with main interest in Business, Economics, Global economy and Politics with above the average level of intelligence. Indeed it takes some effort to read and comprehend the Economist if you are outside the areas of business, trade or government.

One of the most interesting features of the Economist is the way that the articles are written; there is a uniform voice from the first up to the last page of every printed issue, giving the impression that only one person writes the content. According to the magazine's editors, it is more important to promote a unique personality and style to the magazine, rather than promote individual writers.

The magazine's special report feature running every fortnight is also one of the main characteristics focusing on a standard topic like Countries and regions, Business, as well as Finance and Economics. And the Technology quarterly, a special section that gets published every three months, targets the latest trends and recent advancements in science and technology.

The Economist magazine has a very loyal audience; the weekly circulation is nearly 1.5 million issues and almost half of them are sold in the United States; a major portion of the economist subscription volumes comes from other continents, mainly Europe and Asia. It is interesting however to notice a decrease in the search trend for the magazine in main search engines like Google and Yahoo, possibly indicating a change in loyalty and habits from those who follow the magazine closely.

The publication is always facing criticism throughout its history, not to mention censorship attempts from political regimes. Recent criticism example is a claim that the magazine was clearly promoting Obama throughout it's running for Office. One of the latest successful censorship attempts was the ban of the circulation of the magazine in 2006 in Iran, because of the mentioning of the Persian Gulf simply as 'Gulf' in one of the maps.

It is apparent that the magazine is trying to follow trends, and embody them in to their business; they maintain a well respected Web site, with 3.6 million visitors per month on average (nearly 1.2 m from the US), mostly men, between the age of 35-65, Caucasian with an above the average monthly income. There are digital and mobile editions, an online shop, and the ability to post classifieds online and offline. However, the magazine fails to make the most of the Internet in terms of acquiring more subscribers, simply by ignoring the importance of running a separate global affiliate program; instead the Economist simply relies on itself, and on standard Web distribution channels (Amazon, magazines.com) for sales.

Kostandinos Papahatzis lives in Athens, Greece and specializes in Associate marketing through Web and mobile channels; one of the most recent projects was the complete revamp of his economist magazine subscription web site.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kostantinos_J._Papahatzis

Nation of Knock Offs Growing Up - Future of Intellectual Property in China Challenged

By Lance Winslow

It seems just about anything an innovator or entrepreneur produces in the United States, someone in China will copy it, make 1 million copies, put them into a cargo containers and ship them all over the world to sell at a lower price. This drives people nuts, and it also causes a lack of investment in new businesses in the US. After all, why would any investor or venture capitalists invest in a consumer product which was easily copied? It just wouldn't make sense.

Unless you can roll it out, and ramp it up quick, well, the reality is that you still couldn't compete. The Chinese would make knockoffs and copies in a matter of months. And there is no way you can sue for intellectual property violations because the court system in China doesn't work the same way as it does in the US, and it is so typical it's expected. Some believe this is because the Chinese have a different philosophy when it comes to imitation, they actually think they are complimenting you by copying your product.

Although this may sound outrageous to most business people in the United States, you must realize that up until recently China didn't have any patent rules, and until they joined the WTO, no one was making them follow intellectual property rules. In any case if you think their philosophy is somehow jaded consider if you will that even here in the United States we have a similar philosophical theory when it comes to imitation. After all, you've heard the quote; "imitation is the highest form of flattery."

In China, everyone copied everyone else, when one farmer had a good idea, and it was working the word got around and soon everyone was doing it. There was nothing wrong with it, it made sense. You see, in the United States we think of things differently, because we think in terms of copyright and patent laws here.

Soon, in the future what we will see is that China will grow up, and demand intellectual property rights of their own innovations, inventions, ideas, and concepts. And at that point they won't want anyone to copy their products either.

Of course, some new country that is going from Third World to first world at a rapid pace will surely do the same thing they've done to others, and probably for about the same reasons. Perhaps, you will consider this, and it will take away any anger you have, because you will understand from their point of view. Please think on it at least.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes if you want hard-hitting business articles or online content, then you need to go to http://www.bloggingcontent.com.

Note: All of Lance Winslow's articles are written by him, not by Automated Software, any Computer Program, or Artificially Intelligent Software. None of his articles are outsourced, PLR Content or written by ghost writers. Lance Winslow believes those who use these strategies lack integrity and mislead the reader. Indeed, those who use such cheating tools, crutches, and tricks of the trade may even be breaking the law by misleading the consumer and misrepresenting themselves in online marketing, which he finds completely unacceptable.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Direct Mail Marketing Can Be Easier Than Internet Marketing

By Hank Steinman

Picture this: you have found a terrific business opportunity. You need to promote the opportunity, attract prospects and convert some of those prospects into customers. Given this scenario, most marketers would consider using some combination of internet marketing tools. You could use email via an autoresponder series. Of course, you'd need to either have a list of opt-in prospects, or rent a list, or both. If the business opportunity has a website, you'd need to develop your own squeeze page, drive traffic to that squeeze page, motivate visitors to enter their name and email address. You'd probably need to offer some incentive to do that -- perhaps a free report, or some information your prospect would find valuable. And, you'd probably want to drive traffic to your squeeze page. To do that, you'd need a sales page. You'd need to use up to the minute SEO techniques to ensure that the major search engines rank your page. You'd probably also consider using pay per click advertising to drive targeted search traffic to your sales page. You'd do some keyword research, bid on your keywords, set your daily budget, and activate your PPC campaign. And hope for the best.

Internet marketing can be very effective -- if you know what you are doing. No doubt, there are individual entrepreneurs and companies making big, big money online. There are also literally thousands of marketers losing money trying to learn how to succeed online.

There is a different route available to marketers. That route is direct mail. Direct mail marketing involves mastering critical skills too. Those variables include choosing an attractive product, finding targeted list of prospects, establishing optimal pricing, writing an effective sales letter. Direct mail marketing may be "old school", but is still works. Chances are it will continue to be a viable method of marketing for many years to come. There are several reasons for this. One reason is that prospects are receiving fewer offers in the mail. Marketers are so focused on internet marketing that they have moved away from direct mail. Prospects receive less direct mail than they used to -- so they are more likely to read the offers they do receive! For marketers that are open to the idea of testing direct mail -- that can be done very efficiently by making a modest investment in a direct mail program that offers a complete, ready-to-use package. The package includes a tested sales letter offering a proven product at a price that has also been tested and proven. The program also includes complete information as to specific mail houses that offer complete mailing services including list selection, printing, envelope preparation and mailing. This approach allows you to test direct mail without taking any unknown budgetary risks. All costs are known before they are incurred. All you do is arrange the mailing and wait a few days to see your conversions, and evaluate your results.

Hank Steinman, visit us at http://bit.ly/cCsp9. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hank_Steinman

What is Postcard Marketing? 4 Reasons Why Postcard Advertising is Effective

By Jared Wiener

There many ways in which to market your product or service. Some are more effective than others. Some are more expensive than others. From PPC marketing to Solo ads, you have to first ask yourself if you have the time and money to afford various advertising vehicles. There is an old saying in marketing when it comes to driving traffic to a website. It is as follows, "you can either work for your traffic, or pay for it." In this article, let's discuss postcard marketing.

Below are 4 reasons why postcard marketing is effective and should be incorporated in any marketing mix.

It's less expensive than most advertising vehicles.

When you compare postcard marketing with other advertising techniques, postcard marketing is one of the more cost-effective ways to market your product or service. To minimize costs, you can start with a smaller postcard. Many successful marketers even design and print their own postcards to cut down further on costs. In addition, it's less inexpensive to send out postcards than to send business letters stuffed in envelopes. As you may or may not know, stamps for postcards is less expensive than a regular postal stamp.

Postcards grab the reader's attention quickly.

Receiving a business letter from any marketer, most of the time, doesn't get read because of that extra step. What is the extra step? The recipient doesn't want to bother with opening the envelope. I know. It sounds really lazy but it's the truth. Be honest. Would you sit down in your kitchen and bother opening an envelope from an advertiser? I think not. The only place this letter is headed is the trash.

With postcard marketing, your message is read immediately the very moment the recipient takes it out of their mailbox. Why? Because there's no envelope that needs to be opened. You only have a few seconds to get message across and if you can eliminate the step of opening an envelope, then you increase your effectiveness of that message dramatically.

Tracking the results is easy.

Postcard marketing allows you the opportunity to track the success of your campaign by monitoring the response from your target market. A few ways to do this is by adding a coupon to the postcard so your customer can redeem the coupon when they enter your store. Another way, is by the opt-in form on your website where you can ask how the prospect found your site. Based on your sales with discounts or your opt-ins, you can tell almost immediately if your postcard campaign is successful.

People want to receive postcards.

Research has shown that postcards that are well-designed and have bright colors are eye-catching and in fact, less likely to be thrown out. Furthermore, many people would even go so far as to actually display the postcard on their refrigerator or in their office because it brightens up the room. Make certain that your postcard contains catchy phrases, is well-designed, and has attention-grabbing colors.

Next, if you want to discover and learn how to really create a killer postcard marketing campaign and drive thousands back to your website, then you will want to grab my special free report TODAY.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jared_Wiener

Why Are Vinyl Wristbands So Popular Today?

By Paul Sung

Among the world of parties, parties and more parties, it might surprise you to learn that simple things such as vinyl wristbands have a prominent place. In fact, it is not only at parties that you will find these brightly coloured wristbands. If you dare to look closer, you will be able to find these types of wristbands and more besides at events such as concerts and fundraisers. These wristbands are used for a number of purposes, one of these being as a primary means of visual identification.

This need for visual identification can be for just about anything, from age related purposes; to identifying those who are of a legal age to be served alcohol; to crowd control purposes, so that security teams can identify at a glance who is allowed to be on the premises; to being used as a means to identify special guests. Vinyl wristbands can be used for all of these purposes and more.

They have become as popular as their silicone counterparts and these days it is not unusual to see people sporting wristbands made from vinyl as well as silicone, plastic and paper (Tyvek). The truth of the matter is that people need change and these are a good way to give this. Standard silicone wristbands have become so common place that wearing vinyl versions of these wristbands can give the wearer an added sense of pride.

Along with the usual customisability for these wristbands to be printed on with your own particular message or logo, they can also come in patterns or designs of your choosing, or simply be one solid colour giving you the option to choose custom designed wristbands to suit your needs. What truly makes these wristbands different from silicone wristbands however, is the metal snap closure on them. Not only does this method of closure make vinyl wristbands more appealing in an aesthetic sense, it also allows the wristband to be worn more than once if desired.

Of course, for admission control purposes (such as at large events like concerts) it is not suitable to have wristbands that can be worn multiple times. It is for this reason that some people turn to paper wristbands. The simple truth of the matter however, is that the vinyl version of these is also offered in the single-use category, making them ideal for use at such events just as much as the paper wristbands. (This is accomplished by the means of a single-use snap that locks into place and cannot be removed easily - thereby making it tamper proof.)

Vinyl wristbands also come with the option for the bands to be numbered allowing for easier management of them to be kept track of. Another favourable point for these wristbands is that they are very definitely waterproof, as well as being durable and lightweight, making it comfortable to wear as well.

They can be put into any manner of situations, and the wearer can be assured that their wristband will come out unscathed, making these wristbands one of the better choices all around for security control, crowd control, identifying underage persons, and so on. The list of what can be done with vinyl wristbands is endless and the only limit is your imagination.

For more information on Promotional Vinyl Wristbands visit Promotional-Merchandise.org.uk. Here you will find more articles and tips on marketing items as well as a Promotional Products Quick Quotes form where you can conveniently submit your request in one form and get responses from multiple suppliers so that you can find the best price and product for your marketing needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Sung

Why Custom Silicone Wristbands Need to Be a Part of Your Marketing Campaign

By Paul Sung

You do not have to look far and wide to find one of the greatest marketing tools ever conceived. Just look at the person sitting next to you on the train, or at the child walking happily down the street, or even at the man waiting at the bus stand - chances are they will be wearing a brightly coloured wristband. Just about everyone has one, and most of us will wear one of these custom silicone wristbands at some point in our lives.

Be it a bright pink wristband saying you support breast cancer research, or be it a red and white one telling the world you favour a particular football team, or be it a pair of black and a white bands saying you are against racism, it cannot be denied that custom designed silicone wristbands are part of our lives. Even if you do not wear one, there is a better than even chance that someone you know is wearing one of these silicone wristbands right now.

You might see these wristbands on just about everybody these days, but in reality who wears these custom silicone wristbands? And why? What is the reason behind spending money on what looks basically like a large rubber bracelet?

The answer to the very first question is: Everyone. Everyone from celebrities, to sporting figures, to children wear these wristbands. Even your grandmother! It does not matter whether you are in school, working, or retired, anyone and everyone can wear these wristbands.

The 'why' part of the question, the reason people spend money on these wristbands, is for diverse reasons. However, most of these all boil down to one, or two, simple reasons, with the main reason being to help promote, or fund a cause that they believe in. This can be seen in the worldwide phenomena that was, (and still is in fact), the ever popular, yellow LiveStrong silicone bracelet.

People bought these custom silicone wristbands with this strong message of encouragement embossed on them because they believed in the cause that was being promoted; because they hoped and dared to dream that all would come right in the end, that the underdog would one day triumph and a cure for cancer would soon be found; because they believe that what they contribute when buying one of these silicone wristbands will help turn the tide in the favor of human-kind.

This then is psyche behind why people buy wristbands and why so many charitable organizations and research foundations and the like, keep turning to them again and again as a method to raise money necessary for funding - because people are not afraid to stand up and say I believe in this cause, I support what you are trying to do. And I am not afraid to show the world that I care. I will proudly wear these custom silicone wristbands and hope that it will encourage other people to follow in my footsteps so that one day we may be free of poverty, hunger, and disease.

For more information on Promotional Custom Silicone Wristbands visit Promotional-Merchandise.org.uk. Here you will find more articles and tips on marketing items as well as a Promotional Products Quick Quotes form where you can conveniently submit your request in one form and get responses from multiple suppliers so that you can find the best price and product for your marketing needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Sung

Treating the Job Hunt Like a Job

By Tara West

"The major difference between successful and unsuccessful job hunters is not some factor out there such as a tight job market, but the way they go about it." R. Bolles, What Color Is Your Parachute.

If you're serious about securing a job, you'll certainly treat it like a job and stack everything in your favour. This can mean:

1. Asking your family to be your personal cheering squad - seriously; you'll need it! There's nothing better than someone who'll pat you on the back when you're down and suffered a few rejections. They're the ones who should be giving you pep talks and carrying you through the hard times.
2. Creating a schedule; a plan of attack. If you're unemployed, this means putting in at least 7 hours a day in finding a job - treat it like your full time job. If you're employed, spare at least 20 hours a week - that is, treat it like a part time job.
3. Developing a strong relationship with your local job network provider or recruitment firm. Bug them (within reason!).
4. Networking with your friends and acquaintances. Get in their face and tell the world you're available!
5. Forming a mentoring / coaching relationship with someone you admire and believe in. This isn't to say they offer you mentoring in job hunting - on the contrary. It should be in another area that you need challenging in and of which keeps you on track with your ultimate goal - i.e. your dream job!
6. Conducting extensive research about various companies, your industry, and your occupation. Keep your knowledge current and up-to-date.

Getting back to point two above. I can well imagine the gasp of horror when you read it. Spend 7 hours a day on job hunting?! But how?

If you're currently spending half an hour each day in looking at job ads on the Internet and buzzing off the same old application each time, please stop! Challenge yourself, your thinking, and you could halve the time it takes to find a job!

Halve, hey? It is possible. It all comes down to your approach. Think about it - there are thousands of businesses out there... do they all advertise? No. Jobs are secured by other methods.

I have previously raved on about the 'marketing' aspect of your résumé; and your job hunt is no different.

Just as you should always look at the aspect of 'why' a hiring manager should employ you (eg: looking at it from the employer's perspective), you should also take an employer's approach in seeking a job.

So how do businesses try and gain your custom? Predominantly, advertising. You can do the same thing. Listed here are some fantastic methods to help you - something which could halve your job hunt!

1. Telemarketing: do you know which employer impresses you? Who would you like to work for? Undertake some telemarketing! Personally phone the businesses you would like to work for and advise of your availability and what you have to offer.
2. Direct Mail: plan an effective public relations campaign. Again, targeting the employers you personally admire and would like to work for, put together a killer cover letter and / or résumé and post (not email) to the business. Ensure you phone the organisation to gain the hiring manager's name - personalise your mail! An alternative to a cover letter and résumé is your very own marketing / promotional flier. Be creative. Dare to be different.
3. Personal Marketing: again, targeting the employers you would like to work for, personally call into these organisations and offer your services to the hiring manager. Don't be frightened to take this approach. Sure, half the time you may not get past the receptionist - but take the 'glass half full' (not empty) approach. It's the other half which counts. Make sure you have a cover letter ready which thanks them for their time; summarising your strengths and abilities as discussed with that person. This is similar to a letter you would send out after an interview. If you can't get past the receptionist leave your own personalised 'calling card' - similar to a business card.
4. Personal Advertising: This includes placing an A5 flier on community noticeboards (including the pizza joint - hiring managers do go out and read things like that; they too kill time whilst waiting!), or inserting a short advertisement in your local newspaper.
5. Opportunity Development: join some clubs to network. Ensure you have your 'calling card' ready - on the front you should have a headline which screams your area of expertise, along with your contact details; on the back concisely list your key attributes, skills and achievements.
6. Utilise social media as a marketing tool, such as LinkedIn, Twitter and so on. Always be professional.

Then of course you have the more traditional methods, such as applying for advertised vacancies and / or posting your particulars somewhere on the Internet.
Attitude counts for a lot these days - the six marketing points above will certainly demonstrate your initiative and attitude to a hiring manager.

Tara West is a Certified Professional Coach, Author and Career Expert who, since 1992, has assisted thousands of people, world-wide, via personalised writing services, coaching, software products, books and other career services and resources. Her passion and purpose is in helping people identify their values, career directions, and life purpose so they can step out on their career journey with a newfound passion so they never feel like they have to 'work' a day of their life.

For a free video on Tara's 10 secrets to finding your career passion and reducing your time in the job hunt by 50% or more, visit: http://www.HowToMasterYourCareer.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tara_West

Finding Education Jobs Faster Over the Internet - Using Classifieds Websites to Your Advantage!

By Jyotsna T Ramani

Whether it's because of the recession or because you hated your previous job, you can find it extremely difficult to find a great teachers or education related job. If you're searching for education jobs on the internet, you're sure to have tried online classifieds such as craigslist. There are certain tips you need to keep in mind to make life a lot more easier while looking at these classifieds. Check them out, and search smart!

Do not browse. Instead, Search for Education Jobs.

Surfing the website randomly under relevant sections and titles is a good way to pass time. But it is not productive, especially if you are pressed to find something useful within a stipulated time. You might end up finding nothing that suits you if you waste your time searching for good opportunities one by one.

Perform Nationwide Searches

Craigslist is a location based website, which means it gives you the results from only one locality at a time. This restricts your scope of getting what you yearn for. To find better options, you need to perform multi-city, or statewide or nationwide searches. To search the entire website, you have to download a craigs list reader which can help you trace your dream job from any nook and corner of the country without wasting your time.

Proper use of Search Keywords

Another important thing to keep in mind while performing any search is to choose the search keywords and phrases appropriately. There are a wide variety of education related jobs all over the country. Decide what position you want and are qualified for and type out the appropriate terms as keywords to narrow down your search to the best suited ones.

Search multiple locations on Craigslist to find that perfect education job you've wanted for years- it's as simple as a few clicks to view education related opportunities throughout the whole country!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jyotsna_T_Ramani

5 Ways to Understand Job Descriptions

By Leon Hosey

1. The who, what, where and when of the job description:

* Who: You should know something about this company. Are they reputable, have they been in business long and would you fit in with this kind of work?

* What: What duties,responsibilities, qualifications and pay, time ( days, nights), are they asking for?

* Where:Are they located close to you or within a reasonable driving distance. Where in the company is the position asking you to work...filing, mechanical, management?

* When: How soon is the job available, when will you need to start?

2. If you read through a position description and your asking yourself "I don't know what this job description means", then you should move on. Apparently you don't have the required qualifications for this job. Don't waste your time. Even a poorly written job description would have enough information that an experienced person should understand.

3. Some job descriptions are very brief, like in a newspaper ad. It may be necessary to call them and get the full description. This will be a very important call. If you know that this job fits your qualifications,then this conversation will give you valuable information that you will be able to use in your resume (keywords). I recommend doing this with every job.

4. Job descriptions may ask that you have a certification, license or training in a specialty, this can lead to furthering your education. If you are unemployed this is a great time to get this extra education. Call your local Job Service and see if they will help paying for the classes you need. Go to a local Community College and see what they have to offer...computer courses, medical transcription, truck driving all are in big demand.

5. Look up sample job descriptions for your work experience. See if you can create a job description about you. This will give you a better understanding of what you should be looking for in a job search and this will help you when you do find that job.

I think all of us have seen a job description and said " I can do that", knowing we don't have the experience or training. We send in our resume and then get denied or never here back from them. This is why companies are getting better with job descriptions and state exactly what they want in this job position.You can use this to your advantage though by having the requirements or not wasting to much time on this particular job. I use a (60% rule), if I have sixty percent experience in the job posting, then I will apply for this job. Best of luck finding that job.

Leon Hosey is the founder of Will Work For Jobs. He has years of experience in resumes from being a HR Specialist for a large corporation.

Working in an industry with one thousand employees and receiving over 300 resumes a month allowed me to fully understand what resumes worked and which ones didn't. I frequently hunt for high paying jobs. Helping people succeed in their venture is my primary goal.

For more information and help go to http://WillWorkForJobs.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leon_Hosey