Archive for May, 2008

Creating a Foundation for Your Marketing

Thursday, May 29th, 2008

By Ken Waller Creating a Foundation for your Marketing A marketing calendar is the key to bringing your value proposition to life. Intelligent marketing is marketing based on your firms core ideaor value proposition. What is the main benefit you offer your clients? Every one of your marketing weapons must be an extension of your value proposition. Advertising, stationary, direct mail, telephone marketing, signs, web site, all must support your value proposition. To do this, you need to have a focused strategy. Your marketing calendar propels you to your goal by coordinating your marketing weapons in an orderly, logical manner. Benefits Among the benefits calendars offer: Process, not event. Marketing calendars encourage on-going consistency rather than hit-or-miss marketing that never builds momentum and often results in lost opportunities. Freedom from budget surprises. Marketing calendars control your investment and help you avoid overspending or under-spending. No more deadline madness. Marketing calendars protect you from last-minute costs, stress, and surprises. Marketing calendars make planning, buying and staffing easy. Tracking your marketing Guerrilla Marketers also use marketing calendars to identify their most profitable marketing tools by measuring the results of their marketing against written goals. Tracking helps you eliminate marketing investments that miss the target and double investment in those that hit the center of the bulls eye. Case study A recent client, for example, who owned a furniture store, doubled the effectiveness of her marketing by creating a marketing calendar and tracking the success of her promotions. By asking customers how they heard about the store, she was able to cut newspaper and radio ads that were not pulling their weight. This made it possible for her to invest more in the weapons that produced the most sales and profits. Many successful Guerrilla Marketers soon feel their marketing calendar is their most precious business asset! Calendar elements Every firms marketing calendar is different. Some are daily, others are weekly or monthly. But, most contain the following elements: Marketing weapons employed Starting date and length Title of promotion or event Co-op funds or fusion partners Total cost Sales and profit Choosing the right weapons Sample marketing weapons include: Follow up phone calls or letters Classified ads Public relation announcements Your 10-second elevator speech Networking and speeches Flyers Business Cards Newsletters Signage Web site Direct mail There are over 100 Guerrilla Marketing weapons available. A marketing calendar helps you select the most appropriate, so you can reach your market as often as possible. Repetition is a proven component of a successful marketing attack. A failure to plan, however Marketing calendars take the guess work out of marketing. Without a calendar, consistent action is unlikely. Youre likely to miss important promotional, co-op, or fusion marketing opportunities because there wont be time to act. This results in lost sales and/or expensive last minute efforts, reducing your bottom line. A marketing calendar permits you to see far into the future. Marketing will come into clearer focus. Youll find it easier to commit to a program, see it as the investment it is, and profit from consistency. John Wanamaker, 19th century department store magnate, once noted, Half of my marketing is wasted. I just dont know which half! With a marketing calendar, this will not happen to you! Ken Waller is a Certified Guerrilla Marketing Trainer. Register for a complimentary training session today at http://www.MakeMarketingFun.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Waller http://EzineArticles.com/?Creating-a-Foundation-for-Your-Marketing&id=74105 secured vs unsecured loans personal loans not a payday loan amscot pay day advance no credit check business lines

Shrunken Wool Sweaters? - Recycle them!

Monday, May 26th, 2008

By Jill Wright Haven’t we all shrunk a wool sweater in the wash? You drop it in the washer and when you pull it out it’s a perfect fit for your 4 year old. WONDERFUL! An amazing thing has happened - your wool has thickened and ‘felted.’ Yes - when wool is subjected to heat and pressure with soap, the fibers’ scales rub together and bond irreversibly. This new felt fabric will no longer stretch as it did, but will now hold its shape fairly firmly. No - unfortunately there is no way to get your precious sweater back to its original state. A felted fabric has been formed, which will not fray when cut. Don’t be disheartened. If you loved that sweater so much in the first place, then maybe you’ll want to keep it and make it into something else. Here are some ideas of what you can make with your shrunken felted wool sweater:mittensdiaper coverbaby dungareeshatcushion coverpurse or bagcat toys This by no means is an exhaustive list. Here are more ideas for using felted wool. If you have a few shrunken wool sweaters to use up, you may like to try making a quilt or patchwork blanket. Just cut your felted wool into pieces of the same size and shape (say 6 inch squares for simplicity) and stitch together. You don’t need to worry about fraying - it can’t happen if your wool is felted properly. Just stitch on a backing fabric and a bias binding to make the edges neater. If you’re even more ambitious you could try hooking a rug. To make a rug you’d also need a rug hook, some hessian and a wooden frame (and a lot more time and wool strips). Maybe you would prefer cutting the sweater into strips and weaving them together - that could make a very attractive cushion cover or table mat. You could also knit or crochet felted wool strips to makea really warm hat. See - there’s no need to toss out that sweater if you can recycle it. If you can’t do it yourself, then ask someone else to help you or do it for you. If you decide on a larger project and need more felted wool sweaters, try hunting in a thrift or second hand store - chances are someone else has shrunk their sweater too and just got rid of it. If you find a sweater in a color you like but it’s not felted - felt it yourself in your washing machine. So - don’t cry too hard. Just pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get crafting. Jill Wright is a work at home Mom and has been crafting for many years. Jill owns a website dedicated to crochet and felting. http://www.woolcrafting.com You will find full color instructions for how to crochet, crochet stitches and free original patterns. Discover felting and follow the color pictures illustrating felting by hand, or try felting wool with your washing machine. Uncover how to make wool felt ropes and beads and turn them into fun earrings. Also included is information about yarns and fibers. Learn about taking care of your wool clothing too. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jill_Wright http://EzineArticles.com/?Shrunken-Wool-Sweaters?—Recycle-them!&id=228725 hard money lenders in antioch ca what you need to apply for an unsecured small business loans natwest ban loan short term how long before school starts receive loan money

Advanced Weight Loss Secrets of a Top Fitness Professional

Saturday, May 17th, 2008

By Craig Ballantyne Are there really any fat loss secrets? Well, of course! After all, if everyone knew these secrets, we wouldn’t have any fat people, would we? And if you knew them all, then you’d be able to boost your metabolism and fat burning and get rid of that last bit of fat around your belly. So take a look at these tips to burn your belly fat and lose weight fast. An interviewer recently asked me, “What are your top 5 fat loss tips”? Well, here’s my answer on my fat loss secrets. Starting with the top 5 beginner tips… 1) No liquid calories (with the exception of milk - as long as it fits your daily nutrition plan). So get rid of all the juices, the sodas, and the sports drinks. Liquid sugar is the last thing you need when you are trying to lose fat. And say goodbye to booze - not only will it lead to excess calories in, but it can also reduce the quality of your sleep - and that just leads to a whole other list of problems. 2) No fast food. Do not eat at fast food restaurants. Even if you choose what you think is healthy, remember this: Fast food restaurants are all about profit. And in order to profit while giving you cheap, quick, and easy to prepare foods, the quality of the food ingredients will be poor - especially the protein. Now you might have read that you can still make healthy choices at fast food restaurants. But you know what, that’s just politically-correct nonsense. If it’s fast food, it’s poor food. You do realize it’s no coincidence that fast food chicken breasts are the exact same shape and size, right? Walking into a burger joint and grabbing a pre-formed chicken breast on a white bread bun with a piece of old lettuce and a half-green, half-pink tomato is not healthy eating. The politically-incorrect truth is that it’s going to take time and effort to eat properly. You will have to plan, shop, and prepare healthy meals. You will have to spend time cleaning, cutting, and cooking your food. That’s the truth. But believe me, it will taste so much better than fast food, and healthy eating will make you more alert. Eating fast food will make you feel terrible, and will make you want to have an afternoon nap at your desk. Do the best you can to improve on your nutrition everyday. 3) Eat more fruits and vegetables. If you are eating 2 servings per day, then go up to 4 servings per day by the end of the week. And even if you think you are doing great by having 5 servings per day, you still need to double that (take 2-3 weeks to work your way up to 10 servings per day). Stick with fiber-rich fruits and vegetables. And go organic whenever possible. 4) Eat 1oz of almonds or walnuts per day (1/2 oz in the AM, and the other half in the afternoon). Most nuts are roasted in hydrogenated oils (trans fats), so stick to non-roasted nuts. 5) Be consistent with your workouts, and make sure the workouts are efficient and effective. To make it easy for you to follow, stick with the strength and interval workout system. It doesn’t matter if you train in the morning before or after breakfast, or at night before or after dinner, or at 1pm on days when the moon is in line with Saturn…don’t worry about the details, just train consistently. 6) BONUS TIP: Go for a walk after lunch or dinner (or anytime you eat a big meal). Research shows this will help you control your cholesterol and triglycerides, plus any movement is better than sitting around watching the TV and snacking. You have permission to publish this article in your web sites, ezines or electronic publication, as long as the piece is used in its entirety including the resource box, all hyperlinks (HTML clickable) and references and copyright info. Craig Ballantyne is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and writes for Men’s Health and Oxygen magazines. His trademarked Turbulence Training for Fat Loss have helped thousands of men and women with weight loss and fat burning in less than 45 minutes three times per week. Turbulence Training for Fat Loss workouts help you burn fat without long, slow cardio sessions or fancy equipment. Craig’s bodyweight workouts for fat loss help you lose fat without any equipment at all. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Craig_Ballantyne http://EzineArticles.com/?Advanced-Weight-Loss-Secrets-of-a-Top-Fitness-Professional&id=555685 cash advance san diego maryland cash advance companys fax loan new no payday personal loans with poor credit

Bankruptcy Records - A Means to Find Out Who Has Financial Problems

Wednesday, May 14th, 2008

By Amit Mehta Bankruptcy records are a result of an individual or company filing for bankruptcy. This means that the individual or company has recognized that the income they are earning is not enough to meet their financial obligations. There are two kinds of bankruptcy in the United States. The first is liquidation, where all your assets are sold off, and the second is reorganization, where you file for a new payment plan to address your financial obligations. Filing for bankruptcy means that you are admitting that you can no longer turn your losses into profits and as a consequence, you need to be freed from further payment of debts. Bankruptcy Records are Public Records If you think that filing for bankruptcy only means being absolved of debt, then you should be aware that bankruptcy records are created in your name or your company’s name for public access. Bankruptcy records could deter future partners or companies from ever engaging in business with you again because of your poor financial history. On the other hand, it may also demonstrate how you were able to rise above adversity. If you know where to look, obtaining bankruptcy records should not be too difficult because these are considered public records. You can actually call the Bankruptcy Court in the vicinity where the bankruptcy was filed and conduct a search based either on the case number of the bankruptcy, the name of the person or company who filed it or the social security number or tax identification number of the involved parties. Finding the case number will enable you to request for a copy of the entire bankruptcy file for your perusal. The United States Courts has an administrative office with an official website that allows you to look up bankruptcy records. Although some of the personal information found in bankruptcy records will be withheld, the new cases in the bankruptcy courts are shown on a daily basis on this website. For purposes of safety and protection, bankruptcy records that are used in criminal cases will not be displayed on this website. Apart from government sites, there are plenty of private companies online who can assist you in locating bankruptcy records. Apart from the convenience they offer you, most records can be in your hands in as short as a couple of hours from the time you file online. Why You Should Access Bankruptcy Records If you are thinking of joining someone in business, then it is important that you check on your future partners’ financial records. Bankruptcy records serve as an excellent source of research either for business students and entrepreneurs. You can read extensively about public bankruptcies to learn about what others have done wrong and how you can avoid making the same mistakes in your own business endeavors. If you are deeply mired in debts yourself, bankruptcy records can help you determine the next course of action to take on your own. Want to Know the Top Sites to Find Bankruptcy Records? Read Dr. Amit Mehta’s Unbiased Reviews ==> RecordsSiteReviews.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amit_Mehta http://EzineArticles.com/?Bankruptcy-Records—A-Means-to-Find-Out-Who-Has-Financial-Problems&id=284763 borrow loan shark money christmas no fax cash advance cash advance erie street racine wisconsin pay day rules

Wedding Vow

Friday, May 9th, 2008

By Reidar Aas The wedding vow is going to be important, as this is a statement you make to your new spouse, husband or wife that is going to express your love for each other. The wedding vows of your choice can be short and to the point, or you can make an elaborate story of your vows. You will find that your hobbies, your interests and the things you love the most are going to have an impact on the wedding vows that you finally do choose. Wedding vows can be written by yourself, by the minister, or you can have someone you now write your wedding vows for you. How are you going to know what type of wedding vow you should be using and stating in your wedding? Depending on the type of person you are, the type of wedding you are having and your dreams for this day these are all going to play a big part in what you are going to say during your wedding vow for the day. The wedding vow you do choose, no matter what, should relate information that you are interested in living and being with the other person for the rest of your life because you love each other. Love is the reason why a wedding is going to take place and your wedding vow should reflect that point if nothing else at all. Where can you find out about wedding vows you need to write? Simply sitting down with a piece of paper and your thoughts is going to give you information about the wedding vows you should consider stating. The wedding vow that you write yourself should be a reflection of your thoughts and feelings, and no one elses. Using a few adjectives, along with the thoughts and expressions about how you want to live and be together for the rest of your life is really all you are going to need while you are writing your wedding vow. Using the original wedding vow that is part of the ceremony is often what many couple wants to use. The wedding vow that is all a part of the wedding ceremony is going to simply state that you will love, care and be together for the rest of your life. Yes they are simple wedding vows, but they are meaningful and will states everything that you need to know during the wedding ceremony. Using prewritten wedding vows, that are already established in the wedding ceremony will make one less thing that you are a part of the couple is going to have to worry about getting done and ready for the wedding ceremony. Have fun on your wedding day and remember to state your vows slowly so your soon to be spouse will remember them for a lifetime. Written by Reidar Aas, webmaster and author of http://www.weddingv.biz This article may be reproduced as long as a Live link back to =>http://www.weddingv.biz is present. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Reidar_Aas http://EzineArticles.com/?Wedding-Vow&id=327256 free no credit check bank accounts uk short form loan policy va bad credit lender computer purchasing no credit check

How To Choose Your Wedding Music

Saturday, May 3rd, 2008

By JB Anthony Many bride-to-be have battled with the repertoire to be played on their wedding ceremony, not to mention, music for their reception. Frustrated brides may have even questioned the importance of choosing the right kind of music for their wedding. After all, music is just music, no matter what type, what form. But is music really just some form of aural diversion to accompany the event? Is music really worthy of second thought or of sitting down for hours of planning with your wedding planner and musicians? Yes. Music is as important as any part of your wedding, as important a lovely gown, as important as the weather on your wedding day, and even a half-step important as the man standing at the end of the aisle waiting for you. What do these all have in common? They all spell a successful wedding that you, your spouse, your family and guests will remember forever. Music sets the tone and mood of the whole ceremony. Wedding music has the power and the ability to evoke the emotional response you want to get from your guests. Music adds drama and heightens the emotions of the bride and groom, and also of those who are witnessing the most emotional and important moment of you and your spouses life. Consequently, a ceremony without music, or a wedding ceremony without its appropriate music may very well go smoothly but will turn out to be dry, flat and lifeless. For solemn, church wedding ceremonies, Gregorian chants and religious classics are highly recommended. Of course, different religious groups have different musical requirements. In the reception, light listening music should be played during dinner. You dont want your guests choking on their caviar to the banging of heavy drums. However, you dont want your guests napping when its time to dance and party, too. Therefore, it is advisable to have a string quartet for the first part of the reception or during dinner. Light classical music speaks of refinement and culture. It makes the guests feel formal and well-respected to be serenaded by such music. On the later part of the reception, when people are expected to get up, get their groove on the dance floor and party, a band may be hired to provide for the appropriate music or entertainment. Knowing the next part of the ceremony is essential to choosing your wedding music. Each music played should have a lasting effect on your guests long after they leave the ceremony so that even years after your wedding, they will still be able to remember your beautiful wedding every time they hear the same music played on that long-ago day, and remember the feeling of love between you and your spouse. JB Anthony is the webmaster of http://www.weddingetiquette.hottestniches.com For more articles, information, tips, guides, advice, wedding etiquettes, links to wedding preparations and links to wedding planning, please visit http://www.weddingetiquette.hottestniches.com and http://www.your-wedding-plans.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=JB_Anthony http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Choose-Your-Wedding-Music&id=323343 how long before school starts receive loan money personal loans to consolidate debt cash advance florida short term loans debt consaladation

Cell Phones Accessories - Get More…

Thursday, May 1st, 2008

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Martin_Smith]Martin Smith Accessories can complete an outfit, dress up something like a purse, a coat or shoes. Accessories can also add to the performance of something like a cell phone. Cell phones have almost as many accessories as Barbie does. Some accessories are practical, some are ornamental and some are just available. In the world of cell phones, there are accessories that are practical, they aid in the safe operation of the phone or allow you to carry the phone safely. Some are there if you want them like downloadable ring tones. I have broken the accessories down into groups to make it easier to describe them. There are operational accessories. These accessories include battery chargers. Bear in mind these chargers are often phone and model specific so that they are not interchangeable. There are hands free kits that are easily installed in your vehicle. These enable you to talk on the phone and keep both hands on the wheel. There are antenna boosters that help to strengthen the signal between your phone and its cell tower. These are particularly good in areas where cell phone signals are not strong. Batteries are available for your cell phone but they are made specifically for your model and manufacturer of cell phones.An attachment is available to attach to your phone that will add some time on your battery when its low until you can get it charged again.There are speaker phone kits. These are attachments for your cell phone that allow you to talk on the phone without holding your handset in one hand and trying to control your vehicle with the other. There are a variety of dashboard mountable holders that can be placed within arms reach. Cases and holders are available in various styles. There is the horizontal case that looks very much like an eyeglass cases. Vertical cases look like pocket eyeglass cases. Cell phone holsters are available for your belt or to be worn across you shoulder like you see policemen wear on television. Multi-use cases can be worn on the arm, on your thigh or on your wrist. These cases not only hold your cell but they can hold your license and maybe a few dollars. These cases are usually fastened with Velcro(tm). There is a variety of other cell phone accessories that are somewhat technical in nature. Internal cell phone accessories include downloadable games to help you pass the time when you are waiting for someone and downloadable ring tones these can be anything from the traditional ring to the William Tell Overture and traditional holiday songs. Cell phones are not just phones, they are mini computers with internet capability, organizers, calendars, note recorders, and to do lists. They also have number directories and record the numbers of callers and names and numbers of calls that you missed so you can return calls later. Text keypads might be available for your phone. Antenna boosters increase signals and there are radiation shields that are supposed to reduce your exposure to radiation. Other accessories that exist for cell phones are phone covers and face plates. Phone covers have two pieces one to cover the front and one for the back. Face plates just go over the keypad and front of the phone to add some decoration such as patriotic designs, animal prints. One of the cutest accessories is plush animal covers for cell phones. Not only are they cute but they actually are functional the cell is placed in the back of the animal. The body of the animal acts as a cushion in the event the phone is dropped. Cellular phones and the accessories that go with them can vary in price. They are all optional but some might be just plain fun. The thing to remember with cell phone accessories they are not necessarily interchangeable. Do your home work, learn all about your cell phone and learn how to operate it. About the Author Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of products which includes [http://www.mobile-n-cell-phone.com]Cell phones Plans His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Smith http://EzineArticles.com/?Cell-Phones-Accessories—Get-More…&id=50639 business credit report free best credit cards consumer reports student credit cards fixed rates fired due to bad credit