Network Marketing: Free Enterprise Exemplified

Author : Pam Murphy
Network marketing is a business model based on the concept of leverage that is being endorsed by Robert Kiyosaki......"If I had to do it all over again, rather than build an old style type of business,
I would have started building a network marketing business."Robert KiyosakiSome people get network marketing confused with pyramid schemes. Pyramids without products where only money is exchanged are illegal and have given network marketing a bad name.However, the pyramid shape.....is the shape all business takes..... in traditional business you have a CEO at the top....then a President.....then maybe a few Vice Presidents....and so on down the chain....to the lowly guy in the company mail room.....That kind of business model is DELEGATIONAL..... and the CEO at the top makes more money then the Vice Presidents below......and the VP's make more money than the folks below.....etc etc on down the chain....In network marketing.....though this business model is pyramid shaped......everyone has an equal opportunity .Why?.....because of leverage.....in fact, a good definition of Network Marketing is the single word, leverage. If you want to go to point B from Point A..... wouldn't you get there faster if you had help? Another way to say it.... can you effectively and efficiently reach Point B working alone? Or would you reach Point B faster with a network of people helping you? Those "helpers" represent LEVERAGE to get to Point B . In terms of work, wouldn't 100 people, each working 20, 30 or 40 hrs a week, be able to accomplish more than one person working 40 hrs a week? Network marketing gives you the ability to leverage other people's efforts for mutual benefit.The beauty of network marketing is everyone in the network has the same opportunity; an equal opportunity to get from point A to point B, as you do. In fact.... if any of them work harder or smarter than you do, they can get to point B before you do!Network marketing incorporates leveraging of TIME and WORK EFFORT.Probably the best explanation of leverage is illustrated in a quote by J. Paul Getty, who created one of the world's greatest fortunes:"I would rather make 1 percent on the efforts of 100 people than 100 percent on my own efforts."The free enterprise system is exemplified in the network marketing business model. By educating and coaching the people downline, you help them grow their businesses which are part of your business. Network marketing is a collaborative approach to business. It is smart, efficient, fair, and a win:win for all parties who are willing to learn and grow and help others to do the same.How many people today feel very confident about their financial future? How secure is yours? Much of the population is worried about their company downsizing. How content are you with your current situation? Many people wish they had more autonomy . How much freedom do you have? Do you have the freedom to choose your days off? Are you still working at a job which subjects you to "performance evaluations"? What if you found a way to create a higher quality of life without risking your current situation? Would you be interested? If so, network marketing may be the vehicle to create the life you desire.Pam Murphy,B.S.,RRT has a thriving network marketing wellness business and is completing a Masters in Holistic Nutrition.

http://glyco.com/prohealthlife
Category : Business:Network-Marketing

Questions Investors Should Ask When Buying and Selling Investment Property

Author : Jeanette Joy Fisher
If you're a real estate investor, here are several questions to consider when looking at investment properties. Providing sound answers to these questions will greatly increase your profits:Why do homeowners sell for bargain prices?There are many factors that can prevent owners from being able to maintain their homes. Such factors as job transfer or loss, divorce, illness, addiction to gambling, drugs, or alcohol, or any of a wide variety of other problems may overwhelm a homeowner. When that happens, their home becomes a low priority and necessary repairs are no longer made. The house may even go into foreclosure.The death of a homeowner may leave relatives with a house no one wants, which then becomes a burden. These homes may just be "tired" and only in need of cosmetic upgrades in order to compete with other homes on the market.I recently purchased a "Triple D" house: one that had been involved in a Divorce, was going through Default, and was a Doghouse. But it needed only cosmetic work, so my daughter and I bought it and we're doing it all ourselves, without the help of the men in our lives, and we expect to make nearly $50,000 for one month's work. That's not as much as our husbands generally make on their "doghouses," but we're not going to work nearly as hard.What should you look for?The hardest house for a homeowner to sell is a "doghouse," which is also commonly known as a "dump" or "fixer-upper." These run-down houses scare off most buyers, who lack the up-front funds for the down payment, closing costs, new furniture, and things like new carpeting, roof repair, and other repairs that may be required. With that in mind, looking for key words such as "handyman special," "as is," "fixer," and other tell-tale words in real estate ads or listings can make you money.Tell your realtor to use those types of key words when doing a Multiple Listing Service search in your target area. Once you find a fixer that you can transform from a doghouse to a dollhouse, find out the seller's problem and then offer a solution. Those problems are often money-related, so being ready to close quickly is generally important and can lead to a bargain price from a seller in a financial bind.How do you close quickly?You can close more quickly by having your loan in place before you even begin negotiations with the seller. Motivated sellers will respond favorably if you've been pre-approved for your loan, so getting yourself both "pre-qualified" and "pre-approved" by an experienced lender will let sellers know that you can close quickly.How "bad" is good?When you first start out in the real estate "fixer" business, look for UGLY houses that are in need of only cosmetic work. Entry level "blow 'n go" fixers are houses that just need cleaning up, paint, and carpeting.Know your limitations, and use caution when looking at houses that are in need of structural repairs. Such homes can be very profitable (we've made $75,000 for one month's hard work, for instance), but they're not good candidates for most beginning investors. Since my husband knows how to do construction, we're able to take on houses that other investors might not. He's replaced structural beams, sub-flooring, walls, plumbing, and electrical systems, but he learned those skills over the course of many years.Over time, you may learn how to do much of the structural work yourself, but when you're first starting out, make sure to get estimates from reliable contractors for any structural repairs that might be necessary, and then decide if there will be enough profit left over to make the project worthwhile.What's the easiest house to sell?Selling a "dollhouse" in a desirable family neighborhood is easiest. For instance, we once sold a house we called "Orange Tree Cottage" just three hours after it hit MLS! Buyers first look for a particular neighborhood, and then look for a house within that area with the right number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and other amenities. They'll ultimately buy the house that not only meets their basic requirements, but also supports their emotional needs.What are buyers' emotional needs?We find that the use of Design Psychology and Marketing Psychology makes a huge difference when we sell our investment properties, selling them more quickly and at higher prices. But both concepts go far beyond simple "curb appeal."We first entice buyers onto the porch, through the use of potted plants and flowers near the front door, which we've painted a happy color. Once buyers are inside the house, we use colors that target our prospective buyer's income level and match the selling season. Generally, buyers of higher-priced homes prefer complex colors, and using cool colors during hot weather and warm colors in cold seasons sets the stage for making buyers feel comfortable in our houses.As a real estate investor, asking yourself these questions, choosing your properties carefully, being prepared to act quickly, and using Design Psychology and Marketing Psychology can all work together to greatly improve your bottom line.(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and sales flyer template, see http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm
Category : Finance:Real-Estate

How to Compose Using ABA Form

Author : Edward Weiss
ABA form is like a musical sandwich. You have the 2 slices of bread with the contrasting meat and cheese on the inside. Instead of bread and meat, you use musical materials. Perhaps an 8-bar phrase for the A section followed by a 4 or 8-bar phrase for the B section. A nice little musical sandwich.A piece of music made from ABA form can last anywhere from 45 seconds to 5-6 minutes or longer DEPENDING ON HOW THE COMPOSER UTILIZES THE TOOLS OF REPETITION AND CONTRAST!For example, I can take an 8-bar phrase, repeat that twice, play another 8 bars for the B section, then back to the A section again for another repeat (with variations of course). Now, how long will that last? It depends on tempo or how fast the piece moves through time. Most small ABA sections don't last longer than 2-3 minutes. Why? Because if they were repeated for longer periods of time, the music would become dull and repetitious.BUT, if we create another section of music - the C section, it provides the relief the ear is searching for and we can then repeat the entire thing again so the form would look like this: ABACABA. This form extends ABA and provides the necessary contrast to create longer pieces.Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/piano_lessons.html for a FREE piano lesson!
Category : Pregnancy

Choosing The Right Blog-Tools

Author : Gunnar Berglund

Choosing The Right Blog-Tools Bloggers are constantly discovering new ways to express their ideas through new markup.There are bloggers who are using the latest state-of-the-art visual web design programs, but few others consider using HTML code is not a bad idea altogether. The XHTML family can accommodate extensions through XHTML modules and techniques to develop new XHTML-conforming modules. These modules permit the combination of existing and new feature sets when developing content and when designing new user agents. With so many different ways to access the Internet, the XHTML family is designed keeping in mind the general user agent interoperability. Through document profiling mechanism, servers, proxies, and user agents are able to create best effort content transformation. This language is both RSS and XML conforming. The content can be readily viewed, edited, and validated with standard XML tools. XHTML documents can utilize applications (e.g. scripts and applets) that rely upon either the HTML Document Object Model or the XML Document Object Model. Bloggers may also use Movable Type for the weblog. Movable Type is a powerful, customizable publishing system, which installs on web servers to enable bloggers to manage and update weblogs. This enables a blogger to hand edit the other parts and pages, including the Daily Links, in TextPad. Bloggers may use a date format string for the individual entries, and for monthlies. Movable Type Installation is followed by Plugins. There are many to choose from. MT Plugin Directory and the Movable Type Support Forums are two resources that can be referred to. Most of the plugins make users typographically correct and enables them to properly use curly-quotes, ellipses, em-dashes, and en-dashes. A feature of pluggins combines trackbacks (comments on other articles from other blogs) and comments into one page. Another use is to create author comments and addendums in the comments engine. Few plugins may allow bloggers to add additional fields, example: using keywords field to create additional fields. Few others create a collection of links at the bottom of each individual entry page. Title attributes can be used with all the links. Movable Type includes a default RSS Feed. Bloggers may set up individual feeds for each thread and comments feed by following the naming convention of individual archives - changing it to an .xml ending. Bloggers may even add a Subscription Field. Also, bloggers may consider using a WebDrive in place of a FTP client. This tool is used to map FTP and WebDAV servers to a network drive letter in Windows using remote files like local ones in any application. Blogger may also consider using validated HTML 4.01 Transitional code with a validated stylesheet. Blogs demand more than graphic design and HTML proficiency. They demand extensive interaction with visitors. So, installing a Discussion Forum is a must, as it allows communities to exchange ideas and opinions. Tools that could be considered are database programming, CGI/Perl scripting, Flash animation etc. In addition to this, bloggers may consider having an Accessory Sideblog - another blog that stores ancillary information and tools for the existing blog. Accessory Sideblog allows: Easy updation Changes in entries/ information from within Movable Type interface Availability of comments and trackbacks Bloggers may consider buying opensource weblogging softwares. These easily installable softwares offer features like: fully-integrated comments, searching, file uploading and image handling, completely customizable output through dozens of templates and variables, multiple author support, etc. For example: few blogs allow bloggers to provide a template of their page that indicates where they want your posts to appear. Clicking the "Publish" button automatically sends their new page to the website where they want their blogs to appear. Similarly, there are sites that enable bloggers to place the RSS feed of their blog onto any html page. For example: bloggers can copy the completed JavaScript and paste it on any web page they would like to distribute. Bloggers can host their blog on their own as well with any good web-hosting company. They can choose a good web host, buy space on their server and host their blogs with them. ------------------------------------------- 2003 - 2004

Category : General Scams

Carved in Granite

Author : Nan S. Russell
In the Black Hills of South Dakota, carved in granite, the six-story faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt create a grand impression viewed from a distant, or standing on the national monument's viewing terrace. Visiting Mount Rushmore on vacation, I found the documentary of its making fascinating. Weeks later, one story stayed with me.It turns out the sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, planned to have the figure of Thomas Jefferson on George Washington's right. But after painstakingly carving a portion of the massive face, Borglum reached such poor quality granite that he could not complete the stone portrait the way he desired. So, he decided to blast away the carved face he had worked months to create, starting again in a new location.But unlike Borglum, many of us aren't willing to do major revisions to our work. We treat our endeavors, ideas and projects as if they were carved in granite. We cling to an original vision or stay the course even when results are lacking. We resist revision, redirection and starting over. We see our completed work as unchangeable, often resisting input, feedback, critique or suggestions that would cause us to rethink our approach. And because we do, our results are often mediocre at best.I learned that lesson when asked to write speeches for a company president as part of my other job responsibilities. I found myself entrenched in holding-on behavior. Instead of tearing up a finished draft I wasn't pleased with and starting over, I treated my words with a permanence, working to preserve their essence no matter, only to realize I'd wasted enormous effort producing something inherently flawed. Only when I realized I had an abundance of approaches and words did I changed my behavior.I learned in twenty years in management, it's better to let go of the attachment to completed work. It's better to start over, dramatically cut, enhance or revise projects, businesses, and work endeavors as needed. It's better to think of your work as if sculpted in sand, not stone; as a fluid and ongoing process, not a finished piece.People who are winning at working have that mind-set. They practice non-attachment. They're comfortable with change, improvement, input and new ideas. They understand they can create a better work, come up with a better idea or develop a better result if they let go of what's not working. They treat their work like renewable putty, confident there are plenty of ideas inside them.If you want to be winning at working then you'll need to make changes, correct errors, fix mistakes and enhance ideas along the way. Sometimes that requires the workplace equivalent of blasting granite. As Tom Peters puts it, "You can't live life without an eraser." And I would add, you can't achieve results and be winning at working without one either.(c) 2006 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved.Receive a copy of 21 Winning Career Tips (a free download) at http://www.winningcareertips.com Nan Russell has spent over twenty years in management, most recently with QVC as a Vice President. She has held leadership positions in Human Resource Development, Communication, Marketing and line Management. Nan has a B.A. from Stanford University and M.A. from the University of Michigan. Currently working on her first book, Winning at Working: 10 Lessons Shared, Nan is a columnist, writer and speaker. Visit http://www.nanrussell.com
Category : Business:Careers-Employment

Video Game Rental: A Real Money Saver

Author : Christopher Luck
What is my best option if I like video games, but don’t find it cost effective to buy all the expensive games? The answer depends a little bit on what kind of game system you are using, but the truth is there is only one answer: video game rental. Home video game systems can be a lot of fun, but the games can be very expensive. That can be a real problem if you don’t have the time to play them or if the game you are playing has a definitive end. No matter the reason, video game rental will prevent you from spending too much on your home video game entertainment.
Video games, though becoming more affordable and more exciting, are very expensive. Even after you have purchased your home gaming system, you still need to purchase the actual game to play on that system. That can be expensive since games can be as much as $60, $70, or even more. By using video game rental, you can curb that cost. Generally you can rent a game for just a few dollars and keep it for a few days. If you don’t play your system very often, then you have saved a lot of money you would have spent on purchasing the game. Video game rental can definitely be a real money saver.
Another reason to consider video game rental is for testing a game you are considering purchasing. If, for instance, you enjoy playing games and are willing to put down the money to purchase a certain game, you want to be sure you actually like it. What you can do is go out and get a video game rental of the game you are considering. For a few dollars you can play it for a day or so. If you don’t like it, then you are only out the cost of the video game rental. On the other hand, had you bought it and then found out you don’t like it, you may not be able to return it for the full purchase price
A final reason for considering a video game rental for games that may have a distinct ending. Some games, like adventuring games, have an end point. Once you have figured out how to win the game, it is useless to you. If you are good at adventure games and can win them quickly than you may find that you are forking out a lot of money for a game that is useless to you in a few days. A video game rental can save you that money.
If you love video games and playing them on your home system, you know how expensive that can be. The cost of the system is a lot, but then you have to buy games for your system, which is quite an added expense. However, one way to curb that cost is through video game rentals. By renting games instead of buying them you can save yourself money in a couple of ways. You can play a game to its end, you can test a game for purchase, or just play a game you know you wouldn’t play enough to justify the cost. No matter what, you can save yourself hassle and money with a video game rental.If you would like the latest information on game rental , or find more of my personal articles like the one you just read, visit my video game site!
Category : Weight Loss

Save money and travel the world in luxury? It's possible, if you look for deals in all the right places

Author : Andrew Regan

With so many fantastic travel deals out there, why would you make a purchase without actively seeking out a bargain first? The online world, for example, affords endless offers on flights, accommodation and even activity-inclusive holiday packages - you just have to know where to look. Many people refer directly to travel sites when trying to find special deals for flights or accommodation. However, it's wise to keep in mind that valuable travel deals and packages can be found everywhere, including through companies which are not directly related to the travel industry. For instance, it's not unusual for credit card companies to team up with airlines in providing their customers with "sky mileage", discounted accommodation or even free flight tickets. After all, with an increasing number of people searching for and purchasing their flights online, it makes sense to use a credit card to finalise any purchases. And, with incentives to use a specific credit card to pay for travel products or services, the consumer, as well as participating credit card and travel companies, will benefit. So what's the best way to track such great deals? Take into account industries that might be related to the travel sector - even indirectly - like credit card companies. When you visit the website of the chosen company, make sure you click right through to their "special" or "current" offers; if there are any special travel deals to be had through the company, they'll be listed in this section. And while many companies offer special travel incentives to drive business, clients who take advantage of the deals needn't worry that they'll end up paying more in the long run than they would if they had found travel arrangements on their own. For instance, your "sky mileage" or travel points might depend on the amount of money you spend with your credit card. But if you keep up with your credit card repayments, you'll get to take advantage of the rewards without having to pay interest fees. So whether you've been dreaming of exploring Thailand, relaxing in the Maldives or soaking up the splendours of Dubai, taking advantage of various money-saving travel deals ensures a comfortable yet cost-effective travel experience. It's always possible to save money and travel the world in luxury - you just have to know where to find the best deals. And if you really keep your eyes open for great travel offers, you might even fly for free. Andrew Regan is an online, freelance journalist.

Category : General Travel and Leisure

Passing Cisco's CCNA and CCNP Exams: Five Tips For Exam Day Success

Author : Chris Bryant
As you get ready to pass the CCNA or CCNP exams, you can feel quite a bit of stress as you enter your last week of study. Let's take a look at a few ways to reduce that stress.1. Do not stay up late cramming. The CCNA and CCNP are not exams you're going to pass by cramming. "Cramming" is a study technique best left behind in junior high school. The CCNA can't be passed by memorization - you've got to know how Cisco technologies work. That leads us to the second point...2. Get lots of rest. By far, this is the most overlooked factor on exam day. The CCNA and CCNP exams are going to demand your best. You're going to be performing subnetting, binary and hex conversions, analyzing network diagrams for troubleshooting, and much more. You've got to be mentally sharp. You can add 100 points to your exam score just by showing up well-rested. And let's be realistic - if you don't know something at 11 PM the night before your exam, you're not going to learn it overnight. Get some sleep!3. Get everything together the night before the exam. You don't want to be running around the house the morning of the exam looking for your keys. Make sure you have your keys and your ID the night before the exam.4. Know where the testing center is. If you've never been to the center you'll be passing the CCNA in before, go there before the morning of the exam. Do not rely on Mapquest or a friend's directions. You don't want to be late for your exam.5. Allow for traffic. Many CCNA and CCNP candidates prefer to take their exams in the morning. Again, if you haven't been to the exam center before, you should drive there during morning rush hour traffic before your exam date to make sure you have enough time to get there. You don't want to be sitting in traffic when you should be sitting in the exam room!Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages.
For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, “How To Pass The CCNA” and “How To Pass The CCNP”, visit the website and download your free copies. You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day! Pass the CCNA exam with The Bryant Advantage!
Category : Muscle Building

Uniform Application In The Spray & Metering of Agrichemicals

Author :

Positive Displacement pumps create a pulsating flow and hydraulic shock due to the reciprocating nature of their stroking action. This pulsation makes the uniform application of product in spray and metering applications extremely difficult and can potentially damage the entire pumping system. Blacohs SENTRY Pulsation Dampeners remove virtually all system shock, enhancing all-around performance, reliability, and uniformity of fluid flow in spray and metering applications.SENTRY Pulsation Dampeners use a compressed gas separated by a bladder from the process fluid like a shock absorber. During the pumps discharge stroke, fluid pressure displaces the bladder, compressing the trapped gas. During the next cycle, fluid flow stops momentarily causing expansion of the compressed gas, forcing the bladder to push accumulated fluid back into the discharge line. This fills the void created by cycle shift, dampening pulsation up to 99% and creating a steady, continuous, and uniform flow.SENTRY also ensures the accuracy, longevity, and repeatability of in-line meters and effectively reduces product agitation, foaming, splashing and product degradation. SENTRY bodies and bladders are available in a full range of chemically resistant materials for all positive displacement pumps with discharge sizes from 1/8 to 6. Models from stock offer pressure ranges up to 4000 PSI and with capacities up to 10 gallons. Custom models are available up to 100 gallons and 25,000 PSI.For more information or to speak with a trained Blacoh Customer Focus Team member, contact Blacoh today at 1-800-603-7867 or e-mail e-mail protected from spam bots. Blacoh Fluid Control offers a complete line of SENTRY Pulsation Dampeners, Surge Suppressors, and Suction Stabilizers to eliminate pulsation and surge in municipal and industrial pumping applications. Blacohs Spill-STOP is a patented spill prevention device for air operated diaphragm pumps. Blacoh Sentinel Diaphragm Seals isolate gauges and other pressure instruments from contamination or corrosion from the process fluid.

Category : Press Releases

French Translation: Easy with Software

Author : Karen Force

The internet has made the world a smaller place and many are looking for a way to communicate in a foreign language. Businessmen need to correspond with customers, suppliers or employees. Many others may need to translate French for travel, school, or personal correspondence with friends.It is estimated there are over 150 million people across the globe that speak French and it is the native language for 30 countries. Effectively communicating can be difficult, this is where translation software can help.Although there are human translators available for this purpose, it is not cost effective or physically possible to translate the huge amount of documents needed within the time frame required.With a language converter, or software translator you can get translations instantly 24 hours a day with an impressive level of accuracy.What can French translation software do for you?1 Convert any text into a foreign language 2 Translates e-mail message to/from a foreign language 3 Translates letters, reports, and memos in a foreign language4 Translates training manuals and employee handbooks in a foreign language 5 Perfect tool for converting web pages, Excel files, Microsoft Word and Power Point Presentations and PDF files.Easy to use!When thinking of purchasing French translation software many might wonder how much time it takes to learn this type of new program. The good news is that you can easily start translating within minutes. With new technology you can work directly inside Microsoft Office, the most popular word processing products on the market. You can easily open the document, choose the language and click the translate button. Almost instantly the document appears in the other language. Accuracy and Speed of French Translation SoftwareFrench translation software helps to translate all types of documents into a foreign language but one question you might have is, how fast is it and how accurate? The speed can be from a sentence per second, a simple document in less than a minute or a 250 page document can be translated in about 30 minutes.The accuracy of the results can vary depending upon the features in the product you choose and your original text. The software can deliver a very high gisting level which means you will not get 100% accuracy but it will give you a good idea what the page is about. You can improve the results by using advanced tools that are available in the more professional versions of the software. Results can also be improved by inputting text that is grammatically correct, using proper punctuation and does not contain idioms or slang.Choosing the Correct French Translation SoftwareWhen researching translation software you find it has changed a lot over the past 5 years. To translate from French to English or from English to French, there are several good options available and now even professional translators are using software to increase productivity.The product you choose should be sensitive to the linguistic rules and grammar that is specific to the French language. You should also choose a product that uses the standard dialect with the ability to customize the software for additional dialects. There is the Standard French or Parisian French, Canadian French, Cajun French, African French and even a Belgian French. If you choose a software that can be customized you will be able to translate French from all these dialects.You also need to choose a product that has advanced tools that allow you to train it for your own terminology or style of writing. This is very important because some software can be trained better than others.If you can find the right French translation software, then you can translate most of the documents on your own. Thereby, you will require the services of translator only to tweak results and proof critical documents. Considering the high prices of hiring translators, you will easily recoup your investment into a software package on the first couple of translations.No matter what your requirements are, there are automatic software translators to suit everyones needs and budgets. With this type of tool you will be able to communicate in a foreign language instantly. The author is a translation specialist at Translation Software 4u. Translation Software 4u is trusted by people from world over for French translation software offering software which combines both affordability and accuracy, their products are well distinguished from other software products on the market. To recieve the free part minicourse visit the French Translation Website.

Category : General Computer: Software

PaidSurvey.com.au Donates To Steve Irwin Charity Fund

Author : James Douglas

The number one work from home website in Australia has decided to make a significant contribution to the Steve Irwin Wildlife Warriors Fund in the recent and tragic death of the Australian icon.For the entire period of October 2006, PaidSurvey.com.au will be donating 25% of the websites revenue to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors A tribute to Steve campaign.We are deeply saddened by the loss of Steve Irwin, whom the team at PaidSurvey believe was an instrumental Australian legend, said Chris, founder of PaidSurvey.com.auSteve was committed to effective wildlife conservation and we believe his work should not be forgotten and long continue, despite his recent passing-away. We will do anything we can to help contribute to this valuable fund and believe that a donation of 25% for every person that joins us through the month of October 2006 can only help.PaidSurvey.com.au (http://www.PaidSurvey.com.au) helps people earn extra cash by working part time from home participating in online surveys and focus groups. The website has fast-become one of the most popular in Australia and this recent act of charity can only help increase its popularity.The donation will be sent to wildlifewarriors.org.au as soon as the month has come to an end and the Paid Survey website will publish the exact amount raised on their website, www.PaidSurvey.com.au Chris is the owner of Bean Marketing, the company who run the popular Paid Survey website (PaidSurvey.com.au)

Category : Press Releases

How to Care for Your Diamond Ring

Author : Afshin Yaghtin

Congratulations! Youre getting married and now have a lot of planning ahead of you. However dont forget to tDownload as Text |

Time Management Training

Author : Josh Riverside

To become a 'successful' individual in the traditional sense of the term, it is essential to manage one's time well. There are individuals all around us who go wrong with their Time Management, day in and day out. It is not only a working professional who might be in a desperate need of developing Time Management skills. It is also important to develop such skills for domestic and personal purposes.Time Management Training is available in a variety of forms. There are workshops and seminars that initiate the individual into the right mode and make him aware of a number of things that are mandatory for proper Time Management. Time Management self-help books are always in great demand, and book sellers often find them flying off the racks, faster than hotcakes.Besides, there are official programs that might help one to develop and hone Time Management skills. Both seminars and programs may at times prove to be a little tough on the pocket. However, inexpensive programs are also available that train the individual online.The main skills that one is taught are: learning to set one's goals, both long term as well as short term; learning not to pay too much attention to details; learning to prioritize and thus finish the more important tasks first; learning to do more than one activity at the same time, learning to ignore or lessen interruptions (visitors, telephone calls) and so on.On the one hand, training may be had professionally, with one's teammates and colleagues. On the other hand, there may be individuals who prefer self-training, and this may be done in a number of ways (internet, offline seminars, official diploma programs, self-help books etc.). The key idea is to reduce unnecessary time wastage and make one do his tasks and chores in an organized and neat manner. Business Time Management provides detailed information on time management, business time management, personal time management, time management programs and more. Business Time Management is affiliated with Best Discount Cigarettes.

Category : General Medical: Mental Health

Sob Sisters - Heart Wrenching Journalism

Author : Lindsey Williams
Sob SistersNewspaper publishers were early converts to the feminist movement inasmuch as lady journalists were good with words and related easily to pathos which boosted circulation.The first sob sister was Elizabeth Cochran. In 1884 she responded to an article titled, "What Girls Are Good For" published in a Pittsburgh newspaper. The article expressed the usual male sentiments of that day – not any too flattering to aspiring womanhood.The next day, Editor George Madden received a stinging – but well written – rebuttal from Miss Cochran. He was impressed and asked her to do an article on girls and their purpose in life.Elizabeth wrote the article right away and was invited to drop around for a visit. Madden hired her as a reporter at $5 per week, a handsome sum for a woman in Victorian America.Miss Cochran was an imaginative and persuasive writer. She was the prototype of all women reporters who came to known in the newspaper business as "sob sisters."As was the fashion in those days, Elizabeth chose a penname for her byline.The famous French authoress Amadine Luci used the male pseudonym of "George Sand" to gain acceptance. Elizabeth determined to use a feminine name. She chose "Nellie Bly" from a Stephen Foster song.Right away, people began to ask questions about Nellie Bly. "Is the writer really a woman? Who ever heard of a woman reporter? Good grief! What next?"Nellie had a "nose for news." Sympathetic to problems of the poor, she went into the slums to find stories. She was a genius at wringing tears from her readers over the plight of the unfortunate. The result was a half-admiring, half derisive description for her special type of journalism.After establishing a reputation, Nellie headed for New York City. It was then the era of newspaper publishing giants such a Horace Greeley, Charles Dana and Joseph Pulitzer.The "World" was Pulitzers flagship. It was setting the pace for dynamic journalism. Nellie went there to seek a job."Name one idea the World might possibly be interested in," challenged Pulitzer.She replied, "I want to pretend I'm insane and get myself committed to the asylum on Blackwell's Island and live there as an inmate. I have always wanted to find out how the insane poor are really treated and to tell the story.This was the kind of thing Pulitzer couldn't resist. He gave her $25 for expenses and told her to go ahead.Nellie convinced a policeman, a judge and a succession of doctors that she had gone mad. They locked her up!Ten days later she came out with a sensational story: "Behind Asylum Bars." It launched a major reform of institutional care. Nellie Bly became Pulitzer's star reporter and was given free rein as a crusader.* * *The story that fired the imagination of the world and made Nellie a celebrity, was her pioneer, record-breaking trip around the world in 1889. Jules Verne had stirred public interest with his fictional "Around The World In Eighty Days."Nellie set out to better this imaginary race against time. She left New York City on Nov. 14, 1889, and completed her trip in 72 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes and 14 seconds. She filed long telegrams to Pulitzer at every stop.Readers of the World were invited to guess the time it would take Nellie to complete the trip. More than a million people entered the contest.Songwriter Joe Hart, the most popular composer of his day, wrote "Globe Trotting Nellie Bly" about her. A board game was created that traced her journey.Everyone was asking: "What next for Nellie Bly?"There were not any more trips, but she augmented her salary as a lecturer and syndicated columnist. Her income for the next several years averaged $25,000 – a substantial sum in those days of no radio, TV, movies, income taxes or inflation.Nellie retired from journalism when she married Robert Seaman in 1895. After his death ten years later she took over his failing factories and restored them to profitability.She ran her plants in enlightened fashion – establishing physical-fitness gymnasiums, bowling alleys, health care nurses, teachers and libraries for her employees. While vacationing in Europe at the start of the first World War she was trapped behind the Eastern Front. Whereupon, she filed war stories to various newspapers. She died in 1922.Vera BrownEvery newspaper, of course, then had to have its own sob sister, Usually she was one of the best paid reporters and adopted colorful manners that went with notoriety.The last of the old-time sob sisters was Vera Brown who wrote a front-page column "Our Times"of human interest stories for Randolph Hearst's "Detroit Times." She began her career by taking flying lessons and reporting her progress. She went on to other things after crashing her plane into the Detroit River during her solo flight.Vera had a heart as big as all outdoors which she attempted to disguise by a steady stream of epithets which made stevedores blush.As a Navy Yeoman press liaison at Detroit, Mich., in the early years of World War II, I helped arrange a fly- in by movie star Cary Grant on a new B-28 bomber. The event was a benefit for the Army-Navy Relief Fund. Vera Brown covered the story for the Times.The plane was late and Vera demanded of the general in charge, "When is that g-d d-m bomber going to get here?"The general was taken aback and related the remark to Vera's editor. The editor, accustomed to his sob sister's blue language, teased Vera about offending a general.Vera, then a gray-haired grandmotherly type, had removed her dress to type her story --as was her custom on warm days before air conditioning. She never took off her hat, and always had a cigarette dangling from her lips.Indignantly she rose to her feet, straightened her slip and shouted to the crowded newsroom, "I did NOT say g-d d-m bomber. What I SAID was, g-d d-m B-26.Having defended her professional accuracy, Vera sat down, lighted a new cigarette and turned out a masterpiece of needs by the widows and orphans of our service men.After the war, I worked for awhile as a reporter for the Detroit Free Press. Our "sob sister" was a guy. Jimmy Pooler -- a superb wordsmith I tried to emulate -- who penned a daily, front-page column "Sunny Side."Today, sob sisters like Nellie, and Vera, and Jimmy have been liberated to the "beats" and editors' chairs. Too bad. A lot of sensitivity and soul has gone out of newspapering.September 10, 2000Lindsey Williams is a Sun columnist who can be contacted at:LinWms@earthlink.netLinWms@lindseywilliams.orgWebsite: www.lindseywilliams.org with several hundred of Lin's Editorial & At Large articles written over 40 years.Also featured in its entirety is Lin's groundbreaking book "Boldly Onward," that critically analyzes and develops theories about the original Spanish explorers of America.
(fully indexed/searchable)
Category : News-and-Society

Think Rich To Be Rich

Author : Anne Hartley
When money gets tight the majority of people either cut down on spending or rebel by spending money they don't really have. There is a balance between the two. The last thing you want to do is reinforce a poverty consciousness by acting poor. Expectancy plays an important part, so act rich – dress up, set the table nicely, pick flowers for the house. If there is enough money available, have a manicure or visit the hairdresser. If you are acting prosperously you cannot talk to everyone about how tough things are. It is much better to say nothing. This is not play-acting or burying your head in the sand, it is focusing your attention on what you want.A natural tendency is to get caught in the trap of treating symptoms of financial problems. Symptoms could be debts, or never having any money left over for you, or could be constantly living beyond your means. One friend of mine has a tendency to overspend on credit cards. Once she's in too deep, she moans about her situation. Then she obtains a consolidation loan, or her father bails her out, and she does the same thing again. Overspending in her situation is a symptom of a deeper problem.Many people think nothing of consulting a doctor to identify the cause if they are sick, and the same goes for financial problems: it is perfectly natural to ask for help. Help can come from a financial adviser or a life coach, from a book or from attending a course. Because money is one of those subjects that people don't talk about readily it can be difficult to broach the subject or to ask for help.Myra's storyAnother client gave herself endless anxiety because she was afraid to seek help. My first contact with Myra was on the phone and I noticed how abrupt she was. She was also very tense at our first meeting. For the past twenty years Myra had not lodged a tax return and she lived in fear of being discovered. Finally overcome by guilt, she confessed, 'I cannot stand it any longer. I realise I may lose my home and even go to jail. Every time I drive past a women's prison I think I'll be in there one day'. When I explained that the worst that could happen was that she would receive a fine, she really didn't believe me.Another of her problems was that she had barely enough money to live on, although she earned a good salary. She had not been brave enough to fill in a tax rebate form that would have automatically reduced her tax, as she did not want to alert the taxation department to her situation.It only took minutes to assess that Myra had paid too much tax and was due for a substantial refund. We could only find records dating back seven years, and the Taxation Department was happy to accept those. The end result was a tax refund of $25,000 and no fine.It is hard to believe now that this client is the same person. Whereas before she was lucky to have twenty cents in her wallet, she now always carries a reasonable sum of money. She has a new car, new clothes and a new attitude. Opportunities have arisen for her and it is very possible that she will soon be a wealthy woman.Make money your slaveAs it is virtually impossible to ignore money, make money your slave. Once you master money it no longer controls you and will lose its importance. It is only when there is not enough, or you fear losing what you have, that you have to cling to it, worry about it, talk about it, and constantly look for solutions. This is misdirected energy which only creates more problems.Money has a host of myths associated with it: you have to work hard to make money; money only comes through work; there is not enough for everyone else; if you have more than your share then someone will do without; you can't make money being honest; artists, or certain professions have to struggle; it's different for some people; money changes people; rich people are snobs; or, you only get one chance.If you limit yourself by accepting any of these beliefs then your life will not change. Good fortune may fall into your lap but you will lose it somehow. Desire is the most important ingredient and if you want something badly enough you can achieve it. Prosperity is not just about making lots of money, it is being happy with whatever state you choose.A mistake that some of my friends and I made when we first started practising positive thinking was to believe that if we spent and thought positively, the money would come. Sometimes it did, but mostly it did not. You cannot 'fake it till you make it' by living beyond your means and running up debts. This is not acting prosperously, nor does it change the real cause of your problem. By all means act prosperously and pamper yourself, but start living within your means now.ConclusionKeeping up with taxation, investments and credit laws is a full time job, even for those who work at it every day. So don't expect to be an expert on every subject. Never be too embarrassed to ask for help.Make your own list of items that make you feel prosperous. It need not cost money and should be within your means. If money is limited, join up with someone else to share the cost. In my local baby health centre, there is an advertisement from a young mother wanting to share the cost of a nanny. Two other people share a cleaner, who works for two hours in each home.Anne Hartley started her career as a single mother of two working from the kitchen table. She went on to own and run a women's investment advisory group, become a financial journalist and author. She now owns Hart Life Coaching a company dedicated to teaching others how to improve their lives. She is the author of four books. For more information please visit: http://www.hartlifecoaching.com.au
Category : Finance:Wealth-Building

Wordpress - The Good, The Bad, and The Annoying

Author : blackbeard

Blogging is fun and potentially profitable, but finding the right blog platform to get your blog really going is a PITA at best. So, what do you do? First of all I highly reccomend using Wordpress. Out of the box it's the best blog software I've used. It's got tons of great themes and extensions to make it an absolutely killer blogging tool.That being said Wordpress out of the box also requires a lot of tweaking before I would consider it "optimal". For me, I've spent a lot of time in the last few months tweaking various blogs to see the outcomes of all kinds of different optimizations.Overall, I've had a lot of success and I've come up with a good set of strategies to use when building a blog. Yet, when I put up a new blog I find myself spending a couple hours tweaking the blog template and adding in various plugins just to make it work the way I need it to. Now, obviously I run a fairly specialized group of plugins, settings, etc to get my blog "just so", but it occurs to me that most people are going to run into the same basic problems and time-consuming changes for their blogs.My solution? I think the best way to manage creating new blogs is to have a list of plugins that you want to install on each blog. Then, you also should get a list of elements that you want in each theme that you use. When you install run through your list as quick as you can and then see how you can improve your list. I've done this and I've found that there are some things that are not something I need to do right away for my site to succeed.For example, there is no point putting DP Co-op or Link Vault on your sites right away because you get no benefit until your site is indexed. Thus, just wait a month before spending time on that. Getting your AdSense ads on your site is important to do right away, but spending the time to make them optimized might not be a good way to spend your time until you start getting traffic. There are going to be other things like this, but you get the idea.The point in all of this is to realize that your time is valuable and that you should want to be as efficient as possible when developing a new site. Not every blog you develop is going to be a winner or even profitable...ever. So, instead of trying to optimize everything right away, you should get the basic optimizations in right away and then spend the rest of your time developing content and links. If you already have your content, then just worry about grabbing links. Once your blog is indexed and getting traffic, then go back and optimize ads and add link networks if that is your thing.By spending on things that need to be built before you get traffic, then you have a better chance of your blog being a success earlier on. Also, the sooner you get your blog up, the sooner you can start working on another blog. More blogs == more money. Good luck! Blackbeard is an independant web developer and marketer who specializes in developing blogs and online communities.

Category : General Technology: Internet

Adult Body Acne

Author : Max Bellamy

Unfortunately, acne is not restricted to facial skin only. If you develop acne on certain areas on your body more often than other parts, chances are that it is caused by an external irritant. Backpacks and purse straps cause friction, which could result in acne. Very tight clothing also irritates the skin and can result in acne. It is impossible to keep the area of the back and body untouched; we must at some point sit down and carry things. For this reason, it is best to look for a good treatment rather than obsessing about what might be irritating your skin. Because the skin of the back is thicker than other parts of the body, it is often able to withstand the effects of benzoyl peroxide well. This would be the only instance where benzoyl peroxide can be safely used without harming the surrounding areas. The pores of the skin on the body are very different from the face; they are bigger and more active. The fact that most of the time they stay covered by clothes does not help. Sweat, oil, and synthetic fabrics irritate the pores and this can lead to infectious bacteria clogging the surface, causing acne to form. Many reasons, such as hormone imbalances or overactivity, also play a part in the outburst of acne. Fortunately, the simplest and best way to prevent acne from forming is by keeping the skin in a condition that does not allow for acne-forming bacteria to invade.There are many things one can do, such as avoiding synthetic fabrics. Another is to always take a shower after strenuous physical activity, and exfoliate thoroughly after periods of heavy perspiration. Also try to avoid using body oils and comedogenic body lotions. If you get body acne after waxing, make sure to remove any remnants of wax by using rubbing alcohol. Adult Acne Treatment provides detailed information on Adult Acne, Adult Acne Treatment, Adult Acne Causes, Adult Acne Cures and more. Adult Acne Treatment is affiliated with Home Remedy For Pimples.

Category : General Medical: Dermatology

Basic Technology History

Author : Tyler Falls

Online Technology Source

Computers:

First Computer Invented:

Most people when they think of first computer invented they
think Bill Gates. This, however, is not true, for the computer
was invented long before Bill Gates was around. Bill Gates only
revolutionized the computer, buy creating a more compact and
useful form of the computer and making it available to everyone
with a job.

There are many people out there who would say that the first
"computer" was the abacus, invented in Asia about 5000 years
ago. I however, wouldn't.

The first of the "modern" computers was invented during World
War II, in 1941 by a German engineer named Konrad Zuse. Its name
was the Z3 and it was used to help design German airplanes and
missile's. Then in 1943, the Allied forces developed a computer
called Colossus. It helped decode German messages. The Mark I,
designed by Howard H. Aiken, an engineer working with Harvard
and IBM. The Mark I was positively huge, taking up half of a
football field. It was useful though and it helped to create
ballistic charts for the US Navy during the war.

Shortly after this, came the Electronic Numerical Integrator and
Computer (ENIAC), developed by John Presper Eckert and John W.
Mauchly, working with the government and the University of
Pennsylvania. ENIAC was about 1000 times faster than The Mark I
but no smarter.

The Use of transistors, ment computers that could store memory
and even run programs. Soon after computer languages were
invented so that people could change the programs run by the
computer. Finally computer research brought us smaller, more
useful computers, and eventually the kinds of computers that we
have today.

First Laptops Invented:

Although it is a little hard to determine what the first
portable or laptop computer was, and when it was invented, we
can however say that there is more than one claim to laptop
fame. There was even signs of laptops dating back as early as
1979. Designed by a Briton, William Moggridge, for use by NASA
in early 1980's. IT was one fifth the weight of any model
equivalent in performance and was a 340K byte bubble memory
lap-top computer with die-cast magnesium case and folding
electroluminescent graphics display screen.

Since then notebook PC's released in 1981 lay clam to being the
first. It was the Epson HX-20, a battery powered portable
computer, with a 20-character by 4 line LCD display and a
built-in printer that started the new widespread desire for
these laptop computers.

In January of 1982, Microsoft's Kazuhiko Nishi and Bill Gates
begin discussions on designing a portable computer, based on
using a new liquid crystal display or LCD screen. LCD technology
in 1982? Yeah that's right! Believe it or not we had the
technology to make the LCD tvs and monitors that you've seen
only recently over 22 years ago. But that's another story in
itself.

First PDAs Invented:

First of all PDA stands for personal digital assistants in case
you didn't already know. In 1993, Apple Computer Inc. released
the very first PDA(personal digital assistants) "The Newton®".
For the next three years, PDA sales dwindled, and were almost
off the charts. Then, in March 1996, Palmâ„¢, Inc. delivered the
industry's first truly compelling handheld computer, the
PalmPilot. Today there are to many PDA companies and products to
even bother mentioning.

Some Things You Can Do On A PDA:

Get a Wireless Connection

Surf the Web

Play Music and Video Files

Watch movies Using PocketTV

Play a Game

Use Your Pocket PC as a backup device

Update Office Documents

Download and read E-books

Listen to Audio Books

Connect to Windows servers using Terminal Services

Use Messenger Tools

Change the theme of your Pocket PC

Project the Pocket PC screen onto your desktop

Study

Do Your Taxes

Some PDA Software:

Medical/Drug Resources PDA Software

Medical Calculators PDA Software

Learning Tools PDA Software

Patient Tracking PDA Software

Document Readers PDA Software

Medical Equipment PDA Software Databases PDA Software

Printing PDA Software

News and Information PDA Services

Street Finders and Maps PDA Software

Bible Study PDA Software

Voice Command PDA Software Language Translator PDA Software Tax
PDA Software

Home Entertainment Technology:

Home Entertainment really is just a collaboration of all our
entertainment technologies into a package that surely will not
disappoint us. Home entertainment systems have many different
parts that together give us the feeling of being at the movies.

Plasma TV

LCD Panel TV

DLP Rear Projection TV

Video Projectors

Surround
Sound Audio Systems

Speakers

DVD / CD / VCR Players

Accessories and Furniture

Satellite Television

Media Center HTPCs

First Television Invented:

The first signs of a tele date back to the 1862 when Abbe
Giovanna Caselli invents his "pantelegraph" and becomes the
first person to transmit a still image over wires. In 1900, at
the World's Fair in Paris, the 1st International Congress of
Electricity was held, where Russian, Constantin Perskyi made the
first known use of the word "television." In 1930 Charles
Jenkins broadcasts the first TV commercial. The BBC begins
regular TV transmissions.

Then throughout the years the inventions came one after another.
In 1950 the FCC approves the first color television standard
which is replaced by a second in 1953. Vladimir Zworykin
developed a better camera tube - the Vidicon. In 1956 Robert
Adler invents the first practical remote control. In 1973 giant
screen projection TVs are first marketed. Followed by Sonys
release of the first home video cassette recorder in 1976.By
time 1996 came around there was a billion TV sets world-wide.

First DVD/Player Invented:

We can only assume the transition over from cd's and cd players
over to dvds and dvd players wasn't that hard. The technology
was already there for them. So the dvd player was surely
invented before or right after the dvd was invented. DVDs are
the work of many companies and many people. The DVD evolved from
CD and related technologies. Companies such as Sony, Philips,
Toshiba, Matsushita, Time Warner, and others announced the new
"high density" dvd in September of 1995.

Category : Management

Comparison of Airsoft and Paintball

Author : Justin Kander

Freebie Promotions - How Giving Away Free Stuff Can Boost Your Business

Author : Mark Falco
Everybody Loves A Freebie!It's true! Who doesn't like to get free stuff, no matter how cheap, lame or otherwise undesirable? You know it, I know it and you can be darn sure the marketing departments at the big boys out there know it and thrive on it.So why aren't YOU getting in on this?Giving away promotional freebies is a great way to get people to buy from you, to sign up for newsletters, to get a heap of free advertising and to generally boost the profile of your business both in the online and offline world.Thankfully, in the online world these kinds of promotions need not cost a fortune either which again begs the question:Why aren't you doing this already!Here's a few reasons why giving away free stuff is such a wonderful thing for your business.Freebie & Coupon SitesThere are thousands of websites, forums, blogs, newsletters and other online communities who report on nothing but all the freebies currently out there on the internet. If you are giving away something free then these guys will find out about it and will more than likely list what you are giving away on their own sites. That's free advertising for your business and it'll be seen by THOUSANDS of potential new customers! It'll also do no harm to your link popularity and hence search engine rankings...Turning The Maybe's Into The YES PLEASE's!How many customers do you think hit your site each day, look at what you are selling, umm, ahh and then leave without buying? Why not give them a very good reason to buy from you, right there and then rather than chancing to fate they might find your competitor's site in the meantime or decide perhaps, they won't purchase what you are selling after all? A freebie promo can do this for you - just offer it as part of the purchasing deal.Building Your Mailing ListDoes no one subscribe to your newsletter? Give them a good reason by giving something away for free to newsletter readers. Easy. Make it something different each month and limit it to say, the first few readers to email you the hundredth word in the newsletter and you'll keep them reading too!Increase Your Visitors - VirallyTell-a-Friend scripts used to be a big deal but now they're not used all that much. However! Incentivize this form of viral marketing and it suddenly becomes much more effective. Give access to some kind of freebie if your customer tells a friend about your business and suddenly you've turned a somewhat mediocre form of marketing into a much more useful prospect. Make this freebie and small discount voucher for both the 'teller' and the friend and you've just got yourself two more customers for just a slight hit on your profit margin.Need we go on? I expect not. If there is an area of your business you are looking to grow them I'm sure you can think of a way in which a promotional freebie, no matter how small, can help you achieve those goals.But "is it worth it" I hear you say! Of course, but you've gotta be smart about it. DO NOT promise what you can't deliver and DO NOT promise what you can't afford. Fortunately, there are a number of things every online business can afford and here are a few ideas to get you started:Ideas For Free Stuff Promotions1) Vouchers, coupons, discounts codes. The simplest freebie you can ever give away. It costs you nothing as an online business (you email the coupon code to the customer rather than printing vouchers) and it can be used in many different ways. For example:a) Encourage new customers to try out your services by offering new customers and ONLY new customers a $10 discount off their first order...when they spend $40 or more to cover your losses. So you might break even this time, or make a smaller profit, but you have probably got a new customer who'll be back next time for more.b) Encourage people to sign up for your newsletter by offering a discount voucher for use against your products or services for all registrations. You get a newsletter registrant and a buyer all in one. Of course, you will make this pay back time and again with each newsletter you send out.c) Ensure a customer bookmarks you site and comes back for more. Simply give away a coupon to use against their NEXT order from you. Make sure this is redeemable for orders over a 'definite profit' level (e.g. $10 of orders over $50) and you've got a winner.See how easy this is?2) Ebooks and Other Electronic MediaDepending on the kind of business or service you are offering online, a free ebook giveaway can be an excellent freebie. This is particularly useful for getting people to join mailing lists and you can also offer different ebooks as part of upcoming newsletters too, in order to keep them reading. Make sure you can use the ebook in this way however by checking with the author first. Many are more than happy for the exposure. Alternatively, write your own ebook and get double exposure!3) Cheap Stuff With Your Logo All Over It...Now this one will cost you money but if used correctly can become the gift that keeps on giving. Make it something useful, especially something people will put near their computer or office and you'll be giving them a constant reminder of your services. Mouse Mats work great for this.It will depend on your business on what you give away. For example, a toy store might want to give away a cheapo soft toy, maybe one which didn't sell or can be bought in bulk for peanuts. Slap your branding on it (put a ribbon with you internet address around its neck for example) and voila! Now this freebie becomes a viral advertising machine because these things get left on buses, given away to charity shops, handed down to younger children and so on.4) Free Services and SamplesGiving away samples of your services is a great way of showcasing your talents and encouraging people to buy. This works particularly well with intangible products, like graphic design services for example. I would advise caution giving samples of physical products however as many people will grab anything they can regardless of whether they are in the slightest bit interested in what you have to offer and this could give you a real headache in terms of costs and the time spent packaging and mailing....and of course your own ideas! You know your business better than anyone and there are bound to be ideas specifically suited to your own business area. Think about it!Everybody loves a freebie and so will your bottom line.Mark Falco is the owner of the Just UK Freebies website and free stuff mailing list. He likes to think he knows a thing or two about marketing a website too.
Category : Business:Site-Promotion

Barefoot Coffee Roasters and Global Blends Coffee Give Back to the Community

Author :

ust 12th, 2004

Call Center Software Solutions

Author : Josh Riverside

Call centers are complex work environments with broad software needs. Some of the software they require is for call management, call content, infrastructure, personnel management, accounting and general office management.Call centers deal with a variety of business types and call campaigns, so each centers software needs will vary. Generalized software tools like Customer Response Management (CRM) and predictive dialing programs are often used to increase efficiency of call centers.In addition to third-party programs, call centers also need data processing professionals and programmers to help them integrate these client applications into their environment. A complete software solution is a comprehensive software suite of unified applications and utilities for modern call centers. Software requirements can also vary between call centers, virtual call centers and work-from-home centers. Each requires a different software platform to integrate into the call center systems.Inbound, outbound and blended call center software solutions improve customer interaction by adding features such as call routing, IVR, multimedia and agent scripting. These programs help in increasing agent productivity and consequently, lead to greater profitability. They also contribute to an enhanced management support by decreasing operational deficiencies, increasing decision support and enhancing security with real time reporting, inbound and outbound alerts, call monitoring and recording.Computer telephony integration is a crucial part of any call center. It helps in effective management and use of data. It enables agents to retrieve relevant data and anticipate and react to customer requests without lengthy delays. In some cases the agent can control the flow and pace of the contact. This helps in ensuring that less time is spent on wrapping-up individual calls. Data is provided instantly while transferring calls between two agents. This allows users to create data displays and scripts tailored to individual campaigns.Predictive dialers are sophisticated software algorithms that maximize the productivity and efficiency of an outbound call center. This ensures accurate call monitoring, a lower abandon rate of calls, more readily available resources and stricter software compliance with service level agreements. It also contributes for increased efficiency with accurate algorithm calculation, fast adjustment of settings and reduced idle time. It results in significant reduction of unproductive call center agent time. Interactive voice process (IVR) is used in inbound customer service or sales or in an outbound call center. It helps to achieve higher call volume at peak times. It also fulfills the requirement to automate an outbound processes.Countless software solutions are available and it is a challenge to choose the right one. Careful assessment is therefore necessary to determine the correct solution. Call Center Software provides detailed information on Call Center Software, Call Center Software Solutions, Call Center Monitoring Software, Call Center Recording Software and more. Call Center Software is affliated with IT Help Desk Software .

Category : General Business

Religious Practices

Author : soden-styles@tiscali.co.uk

This article describes the services of the world?s major religions which are (in no particular order):ChristianityBuddhismHinduismIslamSikhismChristianityThe most common way in which Christians worship is by the taking of bread and wine. This is known as several names, Mass, Eucharist and Holy Communion. It usually takes place in a church. The purpose of the taking of bread and wine is to remember how Jesus ate the Last Supper with his disciples. The bread and wine is blessed before being taken by the congregation. The service is usually accompanied by the singing of hymns and readings from the Bible. A collection is held for the congregation to donate towards the upkeep of the churchBuddhismBhuddhists may be split into two distict group, Theravada Buddhists and Mahayana Buddhists. Theravada Buddhists originate from India, Sri Lanka, Myananar and Thailand. They traditionally worship in a temple where incense is burned and paper lanterns are lit. While worshipping they offer gifts to the Three Jewels, which are the Buddha, the Dharma (the teachings) and the sanha (the monks). Flowers, incense sticks and small statues are traditionally offered as gifts and bells are rung during this gift-making.The Mahayana Buddhists originate from China and Tibet and worship in pagoda styles buildings. These temples contain a set of prayer wheels, cylinders with prayers inscribe don them. Turning the wheels is believed to carry the prayers to all parts of the world. Many Mahayana Bhuddhists go to the temple to ask questions about the future. They do this by throwing two pieces of red wood onto the ground. Depending on how the pieces of wood land, the person takes a piece of paper or wood from a drawer and hands it to a priest who informs them of the answer.HinduismThe most important place of worship for a Hindu is his home where they will have a room or a corner of a room dedicated for worship. Traditionally they will place pictures or statues of their favourite gods or goddesses.Carrying out the morning worship is the responsibility of the woman of the household. After praying she will offer flowers, incense, light and food to the gods. She will also dress a statue.This food is then eaten by the family. In the evening the light is lit and the whole family gathers to pray.Hindus also worship in temples. These temples house statues that are dressed in different clothes for every day if the year. Food and flowers are offered an dincense burned while the priests chant. Food is given to the worshippers as they leave the temple. The service is made up of three parts, the kindling of the fire, the worship of the eight and the singing of the bhajans. The priest lights a sacred fire and sections of the Vedas are chanted. Then the arti tray is placed in front of the gods. A spot of red paste is then placed on the foreheads of the statues, on the pictures and on the worshippers whilst the arti tray is carried around the people. They hold their hands over the fire and then pass their hands over their foreheads and hair. Food is then given to the worshippers and hymns sung.IslamMuslims worship in a mosque. In Muslim countries these are usually square buildings with a dome on top. Water is provided outside the mosque for worshippers to wash before praying. The mosque will have one or more tall towers known as minarets from which the muezzin will call the people to pray. All Muslims must pray to God (Allah) five times a day, having washed. This is to ensure they are clean and pure for prayer. Having washed, the worshippers face in the direction of the Kabba in Mecca. This is a shrine in the city of Mecca that contains a holy Black Stone.Muslims pray in a variety of positions, standing, kneeling and touching the ground with their foreheads, using a prayer mat to ensure that the place of prayer is clean and to keep the body clean while praying.All Muslim men are expected to go to the mosque for midday prayers on Friday, where the Iman delivers his sermon. This is given in two parts, firstly he deals with matters of everyday life and secondly then discusses a passage from the Qur?an.SikhismSikhs worship in a temple called a gurdwara. In the centre of the gurdwara is a throne known as a takht which is covered with a canopy. The Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib is placed on this throne. On entering the gurdwara the worshippers remove their shoes. They then place money, food or a romalla (a cloth to cover the Guru Granth Sahib) in front of the takht. The men wear turbans and the women wear silk scarves while worshipping cross-legged. Men and women must sit apart. The leader of the worship, the Granthi reads from the Guru Granth Sahib. Hymns are sung and this is followed by a sermon, more singing, readings and prayers. The service is given in Punjabi.At the end of the service everyone shares karah parshad, a mixture of semolina, ghee, sugar and flour to show that they are all equal. The service is completed by a meal provided by the guru, called the langar http://www.theoracle2006.com

Category : General Religion

Using Reclaimed Wood in Home Construction

Author : Aldene Fredenburg

Frugal Yankees have been doing it for centuries-cannibalizing old buildings and incorporating the material into new ones. Wood from old barns has been used to build new barns; doors and windows have been taken out of demolished homes and recycled. Even once luxurious resort hotels in upstate New Hampshire and other New England states, long closed, have been torn down, the material finding its way into residential homes all over the Northeast.What is different is that now architects and interior designers are purposely incorporating vintage building materials into their plans. Barn boards become wide plank flooring, intricately carved mantels add a focal point in the rooms of new homes, and architecturally interesting crown molding and windows are recycled into new construction. The practice makes sense both aesthetically and environmentally. Traditional architectural details in mint condition reflect a workmanship unequalled in today's machine-tooled era, while every piece of fine hardwood salvaged from an old building means one less piece needs to be harvested from old-growth forests.Contractors are finding that incorporating salvaged wood and other building materials into the homes they construct is actually a good business move; many environmentally conscious prospective homeowners who decide to build rather than buy a home look for help from professionals willing to consider working recycled materials into their plans. With awareness about environmental concerns and possible solutions rising among the public, the use of building materials recycled from demolished structures will continue to be an accepted, and possibly preferred, practice for a long time into the future. Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern New Hampshire. She has written numerous articles for local and regional newspapers and for a number of Internet websites, including Tips and Topics. She expresses her opinions periodically on her blog, http://beyondagendas.blogspot.com.

Category : General Home Repair

Create Memories with Fun Valentines: Remember Loved Ones and Friends with the Gift of Fun this Valentines Day

Author :

MIAMI, FL January 17, 2005 - The phrase My Funny Valentine, has new meaning with GiveFun.com, the online gift certificate and gift registry service for travel, leisure and entertainment. Suggesting an alternative to standard Valentines Day flowers and candy, GiveFun.com gift certificates inspire recipients to have Fun. GiveFun.com gift certificates are not only convenient and practical; they also ensure a personal touch. Its a great way to say I care about you, by offering the recipient a good time on you. Whether it be a day at the spa, dinner and movie, tickets to a Broadway show or a round of golf, a GiveFun gift certificate is guaranteed fun, making it the only gift certificate that is convenient for you and meaningful for them.Flowers and candy are nice, but GiveFun adds the spice, said Tamy Aberson, Co-Founder of GiveFun.com. Everyone expects to receive flowers, candy or even jewelry on Valentines Day, so why not surprise your Valentine with the gift of fun? With online ordering and various delivery options, GiveFun.com makes it easy to surprise your valentine or friends and family members with a fun Valentines Day gift alternative. GiveFun.com gift certificates can be emailed instantly or on a specified date, or printed for hand delivery and are available in a variety of designs including a Valentines Day option. GiveFu.com gift certificates are redeemable online at &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.givefun.com" target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;www.givefun.com</a> for 100s of participating merchants original gift certificates or services. Redemption options include only fun-related activities such as: restaurants, spas, hotels/bed&amp;breakfast, airlines, movies, live theatre, sporting events and more.And, for those soon to marry their Valentine, be sure to check out GiveFun.coms gift registry service for our Winter/Spring special offer to receive free GiveFun.com dollars with each guests gift contribution. With GiveFun.coms registry service, friends and family can make contributions toward honeymoon expenses or other fun activities that newlyweds can share all year long. About GiveFun.comEstablished in December 2003, Miami and Los Angeles based, GiveFun.com offers gift certificates and registry services for travel, leisure and entertainment. The company is a great resource for those interested in giving or receiving the gift of an experience over typical stuff. Since launch, GiveFun has partnered with a wide variety of merchants and features 100s of services. GiveFuns participating merchants include: airlines, hotels, spas, theatres, restaurants, golf, sporting event and concert tickets as well as other services. GiveFun.com takes the guessing out of gift giving the giver gives the gift of fun via a GiveFun certificate and the recipient choices how, when and where to use itGiveFun.com certificates and registry services are great for birthdays, holidays, graduation, retirement gift, employee and corporate incentive or any special occasion.

Category : Rugby

Have you got a good solicitor on your team?

Author : Leo Love

Have you got a good solicitor on your team? Welcome to my article. Today I want to talk to you about having the rs Text | Downloaight people in your team when real estate investing. In a recent transaction I hired a new solicitor to handle the conveyancing of the property for me.At the start it became aware that we did not have a good relationship with each other, mainly because we didnt know each other. This put immediate pressure on me. And at times made the whole process unnecessarily uncomfortable. I love investing so I want to enjoy all parts of itThe company that I normally use for my real estate investing, went out of conveyancing for a short period of time. But prior to me doing this transaction they had contacted me to say that they were doing conveyancing again.When they did call me up I thought at the time they were a little bit expensive. But through this transaction I thought back to the previous company that I was using. How they would always call me up, they would always prioritise the timing, at times I thought they must never sleep. Then it occurred to me this is what I was paying them for. They are a critical part of your real estate investing team. The sale I have just done was a great deal, but it was soured a little by being charged default interest , because of an extension on settlement.So my point here is set up a good relationship with your solicitor or conveyancer. You will need them for other things down the track as well. Quite often little things, they dont even charge you for. If you are ablse of an extension on settlement.So my point here is set up a good rele to call them up on a little matter that is bothering you and they can clear it up for you with that phone call that is great value to you. Take the time to get to know them and it will pay off for you. We will talk later about other people you need in your real estate investing team later.To your investing success.Leo Lovewww.therealestateinvester.com PS If any of your family or friends is interested please pass this on to them.

www.therealestateinvester.com

I am an experienced and passionate investor. I buy typical mum and dad type houses that give me cash flow and capital growth. My website offers helpful tips and ideas for any type of investor to help you with your wealth creation. Using my site will help to prevent you falling into the traps the inexperienced investors do.

Category : General Business: Real Estate

LIVE BAIT It's Not A Crime

Author : Steven Vonbrandt
The time from Ice-Out to the time when the water warms to above fifty degrees can be the prime time to catch a true "TROPHY" bass in almost every area, all over the world. Many of the largest specimens are taken this time of year on "live bait".In the Northeast, a "trophy" largemouth, is usually a bass that is over five pounds. This will vary from state to state, but some of the largest bass of the year are taken every spring in small to medium sized lakes and ponds all over the world on "live bait." Lakes and ponds of as little as two acres have produced some huge bass over the years, and many of these waters are easily accessed by the public. Most of these waters are underfished because they are overlooked by tournament anglers, and others with larger boats. Most are shallow, with an average depth of four feet, and there are thousands of small bodies of water just waiting to give up the trophy of a lifetime all over the world. Many large bass are taken here in the Northeast every year on spinnerbaits, plastics, and hard baits each year, but some of the largest bass are taken by anglers using live bait. This is well known to anglers in places like Florida, where many of the larger bass feed almost exclusively on shiners. Here in Delaware and Maryland, there are lakes and ponds that consistently give up bass in the seven and eight pound class each year in March and April, when water temperatures are still in the low thirty degree range. These bass are very reluctant to hit most artificial baits, but large live shiners always produce numerous bass in the high end of the trophy class range.LOCATIONS:These large females will be staging in the deeper water at the mouths of creeks and shallow bays on the North shore, usually in or near some type of wood structure at first. The other shorelines shouldn't be neglected though, as many of the lakes and ponds are very shallow, and the water temperature remains pretty much the same in most areas of the lake. Many times, structure and proximity to deep water and the spawning grounds are more important. Any areas that contain a hard bottom, relatively few overhanging branches, and some type of wood and vegetation on the North shore, are prime spawning grounds. Most people don't realize that many of the largest bass will go on their beds very early in the year. They start feeding up as the water continues on a steady warming trend from thirty-eight degrees up to about fifty degrees. Once the water reaches fifty degrees and above, and the sun starts to stay out longer and longer, these large females will begin roaming the shallows and looking for food that will build weight and is easy to catch without expending a lot of energy. They will start making beds as early as April, or when the water warms to just fifty-eight to sixty-two degrees. This is the time that large shiners come into play!BAIT:Most tackle stores have a variety of sizes available in most areas of the country in regard to live shiners. In the areas where they are not available, you can catch your own with a throw net, but you should practice this technique first, as it is not as easy as it looks. The schools of baitfish can be located using good electronics. They also are abundant in many of the spillways and in the tidal creeks at the slues gates. The best sizes for trophy bass are from four to ten inches. If you want to eliminate most of the bass that are from one to four pounds, and just target bass that are four pounds and above, then the extra large shiners that are from seven to ten inches are the ticket. You need to keep them lively, and try not to vary the water temperature you keep them in by more than plus or minus five degrees, as they die easily from shock. Some chemicals and a good aerated livewell or baitkeeper system will assure that they are lively all day. In areas where it is allowed, "Millroach," or "Golden Shiners," are a very good choice for live bait tactics. Always check with your local state agencies to see what is legal to use for live bait in your areas or particular body of water, as the laws vary from state to state, lake to lake.TACKLE:We use baitcasting gear when fishing for trophy bass with live bait. We use a seven foot rod, in medium/heavy to heavy action, in a G.Loomis, St.Croix, or Bass Pro Shops rod. We use a Superbraid line such as Pline or Stren, in a heavy test such as forty or fifty pound test. It has no stretch, and really socks it to them when you set the hook. It is also good when they are near or in heavy cover that can fray or break your line.We use floats on occasion, but not the plastic kind. The best floats are pencil bobbers made of wood, or the foam type in the large variety. We use balloons almost exclusively when fishing live bait for trophy bass. You just blow up the balloons to the size of a large orange, and tie them directly to the line. We use a small split shot below the balloons to keep them in place. The best size for hooks are a size 1/0 to 2/0 in a good quality brand. Don't skimp on hooks! Most of the time we tie on our own when trophy hunting, and use Gamakatsu hooks in red, but any good quality hook can be used.WEATHER AND TIMING:You must be able to brave the elements to catch the really large bass in the early spring. Just because it is raining, or even snowing, and the winds are blowing at twenty to thirty miles per hour, it does not mean that the bass won't hit! Many anglers miss out on this action every year because they don't believe the fish will strike in the bad weather in water that cold, or they just can't drag themselves out on the water in wind chills that are in the teens. This is the most common error people make. Another common belief is that the bass don't hit early as the sun rises, and in most cases it is better a little later in the day, don't think they won't strike in the early hours. It is best to get there early, and stay late. Just dress for the weather, and you will be fine. Get out there early and often, and I guarantee you that you will catch the largest bass of your life this year! We use artificial lures almost exclusively all year, everywhere we go, but we are not afraid to use "live bait" when hunting for trophy bass early in the year. Sometimes it is just the thing to do!Good Luck and tight lines from ReeltimeanglersSteve is the 1998 Big Bass World Champ/De and in the NAFC Hall Of Fame. He can be contacted at his website at http://www.reeltimeanglers.com
Category : Weddings

8 TOP Ways To Promote Your RSS/XML Feed For MAXIMUM Exposure

Author : Cory Threlfall

RSS(Real Simple Syndication) is the new technology on the block and is taking the Internet by storm as Internet marketers are hurrying to incorporate this new form of communication and technology into there existing online businesses to Maximize there exposure online with NEW and/or Existing customers.I recently received a post on my Blog from a fellow that inspired me to write this article since I found the nature of the topic important to ALL who are serious about getting the most out of there RSS feed and this new technology.I'm pretty sure you can guess what he ask from reading the headline of this article.Well... I did some research on what he had asked of me and came up with..."8 TOP Ways To Promote Your RSS/XML Feed For MAXIMUM Exposure"So, with that said, let's dive into the first and MOST important step to Maximizing your RSS feed for the exposure it deserves.Step #1. Build a dedicated webpage for your RSS feed.This is probably the most important part of getting the most out of your RSS feed, is by building your own dedicated webpage for your RSS feed subscription.The KEY here is to give your potential readers many options to adding Your RSS feed.The best way for me to illustrate this to you is by clicking on the link below that leads to my dedicated RSS feed subscription page so you can see first hand what you need to do to get yours started.Click here:http://www.internetwondersezine.com/rss_feed.htmlDid you notice all the different options I give?That's what you need to do.Now, for those of you who aren't so web savvy, don't worry, I have something for you that will auto-generate a RSS feed webpage for you within minutes if you already have a Blog or RSS feed.The service I'm talking about is called FeedBurner.com -- http://www.feedburner.com -- and is a free service for you to sign up for.Here's what my webpage through FeedBurner.com looks like so you'll have an idea of what yours will look like.http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheInternetWondersBlogDo you see all the options they give your potential readers to add your RSS feed to there RSS readers?Once you've accomplished one of the two options above your all set to start promoting your RSS feed for MAXIMUM exposure.Step #2. Add links to your RSS feed webpage on your website.This is yet just another way to pull your visitors towards your RSS feed webpage by simply adding Text or Graphic links to your existing webpages.Make sure you put them in Highly visible area's where your visitors will see your links.I would would put one at the top, middle and bottom of your website.This really depends on what kind of website you have so you'll have to use your own dicression.Here's what I have done on my website to give you an example.Click here: http://www.internetwondersezine.comStep #3. Add this HTML tag to your RSS feed webpage.Here's something you can add to all your websites webpages that will get the attention of Search Engines spiders to come on over and check out your RSS feed further.Simple add the following HTML tag to the of your document:link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="YOUR SITE TITLE RSS Feed" href="URL TO RSS FILE"/(note: add this < in front of "link rel" and this > to the end after the forward slash /)Step #4. Some idea's if you have your own newsletter.If you have your own newsletter like I do, here's a couple ways to get your visitors to visit your RSS feed webpage.Add a link on your "Thank You" page that leads to your RSS feed webpage. Whether its a Text or Graphic link.The key here is to get your RSS feed link in front of your readers as much as possible to get them to add your RSS feed to there readers.The next one is, add a link inside your "Welcome" email that's sent out to your New newsletter subscriber after they've subscribed.This again, will give you another chance of getting them to add your RSS feed to there readers.Step #5. Put together a "Signature File".Here's another couple great ways to get your RSS feed webpage more exposure every time you send out an email or post to any online forums is by simply putting together a "Signature File".Now, every time you sent out an email to your list and/or business contact you can attached your "Signature File" at the end of every email you send.The same goes for online forums, every time you make a post or answer someone else's, your "Signature File" will be automatically attached.Your "Signature File" doesn't have to be a huge, a few enticing lines will do fine with your RSS feed URL.Step #6. Submit your RSS feed to RSS Directories and SE's.Another great way to give your RSS feed more exposure is by submitting it or them to RSS Directories and Search Engines.I've listed a few resources for you below to get you started with. - Feed Shark

http://feedshark.brainbliss.com - Ping-O-Matic

http://pingomatic.com - RSS Top 55

http://www.masternewmedia.org/rss/top55Step #7. Write an article, if you write articles.This is a great way to get your RSS feed webpage in front of thousands of targeted readers absolutely FREE!Simply write an article on a HOT topic within your niche, and at the end of your article add an enticing, attention grabbing "Resource Box" that points to your RSS feed webpage URL.Step #8. Set-Up a PPC(Pay-Per-Click) campaign.For the last step to getting your RSS feed webpage Maximum exposure is to set-up a PPC campaign.By doing this you will be able to send HIGHLY targeted traffic to your RSS feed webpage that are hungry for the information you have to offer.The only downside to doing the PPC tactic is that it will cost you.And, this tactic solely depends on whether or not you chose to set-up an RSS feed webpage of your own.Now, I'm sure there are many others ways out there that could draw in more visitors to your RSS feed, but, these ones I just outlined in this article are the Best ones in my mind and are the ones I use.Well, this concludes the, "8 TOP Ways To Promote Your RSS/XML Feed For MAXIMUM Exposure", so, the only thing I have left to say to you is... Get Started! Looking for MORE Information or Webmaster Resources on RSS promotion? Look NO Further! Go shop Cory Threlfall's TOP Rated CBmall that carries over 10,000 of the Internets BEST 'Information Products' available Online. webmaster resource site

Category : RSS and Blogging

A Virtual Assistant Can Help You Grow Your Small Business or Home Based Business

Author : Karen Fritscher-Porter
A virtual assistant can help you grow your small business or home based business by handling your administrative support tasks. If you're a successful small business entrepreneur, you've already learned the value of outsourcing tasks (even ones you're capable of doing yourself) in order to spend your time strategically growing your business and working on bottom-line functions.You probably already outsource tasks like your accounting and advertising. But did you even know that you can outsource your clerical and administrative support tasks to a virtual assistant? Also called a VA, a virtual assistant is an independent contractor who works from his or her own home or office space. A virtual assistant works virtually, thanks to technology like email, telephone, fax machines, postal mail and courier services. Virtual assistants can work for you on an hourly basis, project basis or on a monthly retainer basis.Once you find a virtual assistant that meets your criteria, you will develop a long-term working relationship so that you can call on this VA for years to come. As your business grows, you may even develop working relationships with multiple VAs who can handle your administrative business needs. That way you will always have the administrative support you need at a moment's notice and you can outsource projects to various VAs based on their specialties such as Internet research, press release writing and distribution or translation. That's in addition to the ordinary administrative tasks a virtual assistant can do for you like database entry, updating your Outlook contacts, mail merges, creating reports and more.Here are 12 reasons that you want to hire a virtual assistant now:1. You will have more free time to spend with your family and friends.2. You will have more time to work on growing your business.3. Pay only for work you need completed.4. Reduce your business overhead costs. You don't provide benefits, office equipment or office space. You don't even provide a paid lunch hour and holidays!5. No need to train staff. VAs come equipped and trained in their specialty areas.6. You will be provided with skills that you don't have but need (e.g. Create PowerPoint slide presentations).7. Virtual assistants provide you with additional help. VAs are an additional set of hands.8. You will have someone who helps you implement your great ideas quicker to build your business faster.9. Virtual assistants do even your boring tasks! Hate data entry? Hire a VA to do it for you.10. Get help with emergencies quick. 24 hour support available (by some VA's and VA agencies).11. Use software you don't even own (many virtual assistants own and use PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat and more).12. VAs are professionals and independent business owners. They understand better then anyone your needs as a home-based or small business owner and give your business the same care and service they expect in their own business.When you use the services of a virtual assistant, you're investing in your business growth.Karen Fritscher-Porter publishes http://www.GetYourAssistant.com - a global directory of virtual assistants for hire to small businesses and home-based businesses. Visit now to hire your next virtual assistant.
Category : Business:Small-Business