Sell Real Estate FAST With A "Seller Second"

The real estate market has been showing signs of slowing and more and more properties are advertised for sale; however, one real estate transaction type is gaining in popularity and that is the "seller second". In such a scenario, the seller holds a second mortgage allowing the buyer to purchase the home with little or no-money-down. The down payment or a portion thereof is effectively financed with the "seller second".

Since the first mortgage balance will be less than 100% of the sale's price, there is a lower inherent risk to the first mortgage lender who in turn is willing to approve a buyer who would otherwise not qualify for a no-money-down first mortgage. This dramatically increases the pool of potential buyers and that leads to a quick sale in today's market.

Typical minimum credit score requirements for a no-money-down loan are 580 or above; but, with the assistance of a 5% (5% of the sale's price) "seller held second", a buyer can purchase a home with a 550 credit score. With a 20% seller held second, a buyer with a 500 credit score can buy a home no-money-down. With a 35% seller held second, there are no credit score requirements for the buyer.

After closing, the buyer will have two monthly mortgage payments, one payment to the first mortgage holder and a second payment to the seller. The second mortgage is typically structured as a thirty-year amortization with a five-year balloon. At the end of the first year, the buyer can refinance the first and second mortgage into one new first mortgage and at that time the seller will recoup the balance of the "seller second". In the meantime the seller will receive interest only payments from the buyer.

A year ago, it was a seller's market. Properties were selling as soon as the real estate 'for sale' sign was planted in the yard. At that time, it was not uncommon to hear of bidding wars in the driveway and the subject property would end up selling for more than the asking price. Now we are in a different market. We have entered a buyer's market. Properties remain listed for sale for periods of time that exceed a sellers comfort level. Driving down a typical street in Any Town, USA, one might see numerous 'for sale' signs and even signs reading the likes of "price reduced". Reducing the price of a house does not significantly increase the pool of buyers that potentially qualify for financing for that property and therefore, demand remains unchanged as the result of a price reduction. The solution can be found through offering a "seller second".

A "seller second" effectively increases the number of buyers that qualify for financing and subsequently increases the demand. FICO statistics seem to indicate there are approximately 25% of the scorable population in this country that have a credit score between 500 and 649. Offering a "seller second" to buyers in this range can turn them into qualified borrowers and happy homeowners.

To offer a "seller held second", a seller will need to have sufficient equity in the property. Also, sellers need to understand that there is a risk of default by the potential buyer.

Paul Jerome is a mortgage expert and contributor to Seller Helps Buyer, LLC. Seller Helps Buyer provides a format for sellers to showcase properties 'for sale' that are accompanied by a 'seller held second mortgage'.Milli Blog26958
Minnie Blog65967

Definition Of Supply Chain Management

Supply chain management can be defined as the process of planning, implementing and monitoring the everyday operations of a supply chain. Supply chain management is an all encompassing process as it undertakes the management of availability of raw materials, their processing into finished goods and the distributions of the same. The aim of all this is to provide the highest level of satisfaction to the customer and thus increase the business of the company. And with the increasing complexity of the supply chain, supply chain management has also become about coordinating and collaborating with the different trade partners now involved in the supply chain.

Supply chain management is supposed to be undertaken by the high level management committee of the company. The employees have to willingly adhere to their decisions in order to bring about maximum efficiency in the supply chain.

Supply chain management decisions are made on three different levels- the tactical, strategic and operational levels. Strategic level involves long term decisions while tactical level includes medium term decisions while operational level is concerned with very short term day-to-day operational concerns. The problems that the supply chain system is supposed to address includes the following:

* Distributor Network Configuration: Quantities and locations of people involved with the entire process of the supply chain including the suppliers, customers, warehouses, production facilities and distribution centers.
* Strategies for distribution: Centralized, direct shipments, push and pull strategies, cross docking and third party logistics.
* Information: Integrating systems and processes through supply chain to share relevant and significant information consisting of demand signals, forecasting, transportation and of course, inventory.
* Management of inventory: Number and location of inventory and also covers raw materials, finished goods as well as work in progress.

The flow of the supply chain execution is always bi directional and basically manages and coordinates movement of material, information and finances of the supply chain. There are some key supply chain management processes that have been identified. They are:

* Management of customer relations.
* Management of customer service
* Management of demands.
* Fulfillment of orders.
* Manufacturing flow management.
* Management of supplier relations.
* Developing the product and commercializing it.
* Managing returns.

Other key business processes which are used as supply chain procedures and are a vital part of the process and include:

* Customer service management: Steps used by companies to build successful customer relations include focusing on mutually satisfying goals; establishing and maintaining customer relations; produce feelings of positivity and trust between the customers and organization.
* Procurement processes.
* Product developing and commercializing: This includes coordinating with customer relationship management to identify customer articulated needs, selecting suppliers and materials and developing production technology to integrate and produce the best supply chain flow.
* Manufacturing flow management processes.
* Physical distribution.
* Outsourcing and partnerships.
* Performance measurement regarding cost, productivity measures, customer service, asset measurement and quality.

Together with all of these the supply chain management system has managed to put into place an integrated supply and demand management within and across business firms.

Sandra Stammberger owns and operates http://www.supplychainmanagementweb.com Supply Chain ManagementMasha Blog13011
Mariejeanne Blog57145

Don't Waste Your Time With Clickbank!

Let me guess...

You're looking for more streams of income?

I know I'm always on the lookout for a new income stream that can generate profits without a lot of work.

When I ran across CBmall, I knew I had found a program that hits the nail on the head.

Most affiliate programs have only one way you make money. You send them traffic, and they close the sale (hopefully).

Are you looking for more streams of income?

I know I'm always on the lookout for a new income stream that can generate profits without a lot of work.

When I ran across CBmall, I knew I had found a program that hits the nail on the head.

Most affiliate programs have only one way you make money. You send them traffic, and they close the sale (hopefully).

The best of them will add another stream with some follow-up emails. That's much better.

But CBmall actually has 15 different ways to make you money.

This is one powerful revenue engine.

And here's the beautiful part. CBmall does virtually all the work. All you need to do is drive some traffic. The mall does the rest.

The CB in CBmall stands for ClickBank. The mall sells thousands of the top-selling, most popular products on the ClickBank network. These are the best of the best. They got there because they convert browsers into buyers. And they are all available in one place. You get the power of this system by promoting one simple URL.

CBmall's automation is amazing:

* No html required - you don't even need a web site
* TONS of support and marketing ideas to help
* They do all the support
* ClickBank handles all the credit card processing
* Newsletters and eCourses that make YOU money from your traffic
* Automated income streams all over the place

I could go on, but a better ideas is to sign up for an eCourse called: 15 Powerful Ways CBmall Makes You Money.

This course details the power and sophistication behind CBmall. Understand this, and you'll see why CBmall represents a new trend in affiliate programs.

You'll also see some major names in Internet Marketing on the testimonial page at CBmall. I use it on several websites that I own plus I integrate it into my email lists which is something that you could learn to do to really bring in that profit.

Terry Dean actually called CBmall, "the perfect second stream of income". Pretty high praise.

So if you're interested in more profits, check out the CBmall.

I did, and I am loving the extra income it is making me.

Yours,

Prince Oversol

Prince Oversol is an online marketing expert who has lectured to thousands and is dedicated to helping people. For more FREE tips go to: http://www.challenge1.millionairestream.com or join our FREE eCourse at http://15secrets.millionairestream.comMerle Blog46821
Morlee Blog81172

Affiliate Programs The advantages of being an affiliate

Affiliate programs are becoming more and more popular as a fast-track way to start an internet business. These programs can offer huge advantages for affiliates, especially when they offer online training, support and marketing tools. There is a lot of money to be made if you join the right program.

I am a strong believer in the value of affiliate programs and believe that the best way to start an internet business is to become an affiliate of another program or to join a network marketing company. Why? To learn as much as possible from your sponsor(s) and make use of all the free advice and tips you will receive from them.

When you are eventually ready to start your own business you will already have a lot of experience and knowledge (that you obtained for free!) that will give you a huge advantage and save you a lot of money and time.

By the way, there are many very successful internet marketers that earn all of their money through affiliate programs and network marketing programs.

If you find a great affiliate program where you can make a lot of money and you decide to stay with the company instead of starting your own new business then good for you! If on the other hand you want to start a new business of your own then you would have at least learned a lot from the affiliate program, and hopefully made some money as well in the process.

The biggest mistake people make is to jump all the time from the one affiliate program to the other without taking the time to learn and understand the program and system. There are many programs on the internet. If you are going to leave what you are busy with every time you think you have discovered a better program then you will never learn anything.

Take your time to learn and be patient. I can assure you that you will not become an overnight millionaire following any affiliate program. Like any other business it takes time to build a successful affiliate business, even with the support and training you may receive.

I tend to look at things very logically. If something does not make sense to me I rather avoid it.

Consider the following:

You develop a great product that you want to sell for $10 on your website. It might have costed you thousands of dollars to develop and many many months of hard work with no income while you were developing your product. You are finally ready to launch your product. Since you are only one person with one website you realize the need to establish an affiliate program where you can have hundreds of affiliates promote your company and get thousands of people to buy from you. In order to get affiliates interested you must pay them between 20% and 50% of your sales price or gross profit.

I don't know about you but the above scenario looks like a lot of very hard work without any guarantee of success. The thought of it certainly does not get me excited.

Now consider the following - You join the above company as an affiliate and earn say 50% commission on all sales. You do not need to buy the product and have no investment in the company. You can start to sell the product from the 1st day you become an affiliate and make a lot of money. In fact, the company will make 50% and you will make 50%. You have no risk and can walk away from the program anytime you wish. What a pleasure! This is what I like the most from affiliate programs.

Remember that not all affiliate programs are good. Many of them only offer products that you would not want to give away for free to your mother-in-law. Furthermore, the support program and training offered is not always top quality.

I do not know about you but I cannot promote any product or service that I do not understand or do not believe in. You should always be able to sell the product to yourself. If you would not buy the product because you do not believe in it then please do not promote it to other people as the best product out there. You will sleep a lot better at night!

Remember that ultimately it is up to you to make a success of the program.

To your success !

Francois du Toit is the owner of http://www.money-maker-advice.com, a website designed to help new entrepreneurs succeed by evaluating various online and offline business opportunities, affiliate programs and network marketing options. The website also offers free articles and tools that will assist webmasters in building profitable websites.Myrilla Blog91514
Meryl Blog60659

Microsoft Certification: Your Career Is Waiting!

Microsoft, a leader in the IT industry, has developed a number of certification programs for professionals working in the business. The programs allow you to decide which certification is appropriate and best suited for your career. There are over 2 million IT professionals with Microsoft certification. You can join their ranks and greatly enhance your professional career with Microsoft Certification. It's important to note that Microsoft has restructured their programs to be very targeted.

Microsoft provides plenty of support as you study for your various certifications. The training includes classroom training, self-study kits, computer-based training, online classes, and books, and certification guides. You can take advantage of the way that you learn best. Depending on the career path you have chosen, you will find a certification that matches your skill set. Microsoft plans to, over time, introduce exams that rely on simulations and performance items.

You start by taking the appropriate entry- level certification. Prepare yourself with the most suitable Microsoft Certification Guides. You need to choose the right guide. A list follows of the various Certification Guides you can choose from. Match you expertise with these guides.

MCSE certification (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) is an industry standard targeted at the IT professional and provides the skills and training needed to design and implement infrastructure functions based on the Microsoft Windows 2000 platform and Microsoft server software such as MCSE Messaging and Security.

MCSA certification (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator) is for IT professionals who need skills and knowledge to administer system environments based on desktop and server operator systems. This training focuses on managing and troubleshooting system environments. With this level of certification you can now prepare for specializations like MCSA Security and Messaging.

MCDST certification (Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician) is for students who need the right skills and training to troubleshoot ordinary hardware and software issues in Microsoft Windows environments.

MCAD.NET certification (Microsoft Certified Application Developer ) provides you with the skills and knowledge that allows you to develop and maintain department level applications for Web clients, desktop client, components, and back-end data services all the way from development to maintenance.

MCSD.NET certification (Microsoft Certified Solutions Developers) is for IT professionals with the skills and knowledge needed for developing and designing leading edge business solutions by using various Microsoft tools, platforms, technologies and architectures. This certification allows you to develop custom .NET-based applications. This training encompasses everything from analysis to design, development, testing and maintenance using Microsoft development tools, technologies, and platforms. You become an expert on all aspects of the application life cycle.

MCITP certification (Microsoft Certified IT Professional Database Administrator) is for IT professionals who need to plan, administer, deploy, support and maintain databases created by using various Microsoft products.

MCITP certification (Microsoft Certified IT Professional Database Developer) gives you the skills and knowledge to plan, deploy, support, maintain and optimize IT infrastructures and databases created by using Microsoft products such as Windows Application Developer, Web Application Developer, or Enterprise Applications Developer.

MCPD certification (Microsoft Certified Professional Web Developer) distinguishes expert professionals who are Windows application developers, Web application developers, and enterprise application developers. Experts with these skills can build targeted applications using different platforms in the Microsoft.NET Framework 2.0.

MCPD certification (Microsoft Certified Professional Developer) is for students who need to distinguish themselves as an expert in comprehensive Windows application development, enterprise application, and Web application development using platforms that use the Microsoft.NET Framework. This certification is a stepping- stone to other Microsoft certifications.

MCTS.NET 2.0 certification (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist) is designed fir IP professionals who target specific technologies and demonstrate in-depth knowledge of .NET 2.0 and other specialized Microsoft technologies.

MCTS.NET 2.0 certification (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist) is for IT professionals who work with enterprise environment databases. It provides students with in-depth training and skills for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 product.

MOS certification (Microsoft Office Specialist) is designed for IT professionals who need the skills and knowledge to understand and use the advanced features of Microsoft Office software.

MOS MI certification (Microsoft Office Master Instructor) qualifies you to teach MOS courses.

Microsoft Certified Architect Program is designed for IT professionals who can apply successful frameworks and methodologies to create an architecture from beginning to end, through the IT life cycle.

CLC certification (Microsoft Certified Learning Consultant) is a credential for expertise in designing and delivering customized learning solutions for other IT professionals.

MCBDA certification (Microsoft Certified Database Administrators) are trained to design, implement and administer Microsoft SQL Server databases.

MCT certification (Microsoft Certified Trainers) are instructors who are qualified to deliver Microsoft training courses. MCTs are authorized to deliver Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC) or Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN).

Scott Elliott owns and operates http://www.it-certification-guides.com IT Certification Guides for Microsoft Certifications.Merci Blog68590
Mead Blog85884

A Word about "Word of Mouth"

A Word about "Word of Mouth"

Not long ago, marketing was considered taboo in medical circles, even unethical! My how times have changed! In todays world of declining reimbursements and fierce competition, many practices are seeking every competitive advantage possible, whether its a brand new facility with great access, friendly staff or waiting areas with internet access.

My definition of marketing is everything that shapes a consumer or patients perception. Your office environment, the personnel, the demeanor and ability of the physicians, the advertising and public relations effort, even the sign in front of the building, communicate something about your practice. Hopefully, something positive!

Frequently, I hear medical practices say they depend on "word of mouth" advertising, typically followed by a knowing, "Its the best kind of advertising!" To which I reply, "Yes it is!" But to be completely reliant on word of mouth is foolhardy.

You may have heard the tale of Henrys muffler. Henry wasnt a big believer in the power of marketing, allowing his work to speak for itself. He owned a muffler shop that did 99 successful installations in a row; everything was going swimmingly for the shop. But on that 100th installation, the customer exited the shop and the muffler gave way minutes later, clanking into the road. As you might imagine, this customer was quite perplexed at the shoddy workmanship provided by Henrys shop and proceeded to tell all his friends and family about this unnerving experience.

This illustrates the inherent problem with complete dependence on word of mouth, bad news travels like a wildfire out of control. There is a certain level of "expectation of experience" that each patient subconsciously visualizes prior to entering your practice and sometimes the mental bar is set pretty high. If that expectation is met or slightly exceeded the patient will most likely keep that good experience to themselves. Anything less than their expectation will ignite the word of mouth wildfire.

Physicians may ask patients to tell others, offer a unique service, add state of the art equipment or systems to improve the patient experience. These tactics will help garner positive word of mouth marketing. What really works is a consistent patient experience, from one visit to the next, encompassing the cleanliness of the facility to the friendliness of the staff, to the overall length of visit. If a patient returns, they have the first visit in their mental inventory to access as their subconscious expectation of the visit.

There is attrition however. People move, they become disenchanted and most importantly, they get well. With this expected turnover, word of mouth advertising also recedes. With todays busy lifestyles it is hard to imagine that even current patients are out championing your practice.

Marketing is critical in medical practices because it helps to communicate what is unique about a certain practice. In a patients view, a podiatrist is a podiatrist. One podiatrist may, however, more clearly communicate their services in newspaper advertising, editorial articles, websites and so forth. These tools reinforce the positive image that the podiatrists friendly staff, capable physicians and attractive building portrays.

In confectionery terms, positive word of mouth marketing should be viewed as the icing and the strategic marketing effort as the cake. With a shrinking market, its important to get your slice!

For more, visit http://www.medicalmarketing.ws.

Woody Stoudemire is a 17 year veteran of the marketing industry. He is President of Medical Marketing, a Marketing, Public Relations and Advertising firm that specializes in assisting medical practices promote their brand and increase their patient volume. The website is http://www.medicalmarketing.wsMerilyn Blog86155
Meaghan Blog71204

Can Anybody Make Money Online?

At one time weve all wondered how possible the chances are to make money off the internet. I was there once, and it took some time before I was able to do it, but I know that it is relatively easy to make money. The amount to be made is the hard part. There are many different areas of the internet you can make money with and sometimes all the areas flow together to form 1 huge money machine!

Ive looked through countless ways of making money online. Ive also tried different things offline but 3 years ago I never imagined I would be well off due to making money from the internet. Since I didnt have money to begin with I was going about everything the cheapest way I could do it. Sure you can make money with gold but you need several thousand dollars invested in order to make anything! The money Im making online is something anybody can do. Ive narrowed down the choices of online opportunities to the 4 methods that provide me with a living.

You have probably heard of paid surveys and Ill tell you now that they are the easiest way for ANYBODY to make online money with. The amount you make will depend on where you live but there is money available to everyone in all parts of the world. For instance, if youre in New York City youll be in the heart of the action so its possible to make a living just off of taking surveys and participating in focus groups. There are people out there living this way and theyre enjoying a simple life. Theyll never become rich but theyre job-free!

I live in Canada where Im 4 hours away from the closest focus groups so the income I make is strictly from surveys but I still make anywhere from $20-$100 a week. It might not sound like much but its extra money in the pocket! Throw in the occasional winning draw and those earnings go up higher. I once won $2500 and have won quite a few draws worth $100-$250! Paid survey companies usually include mystery-shopping opportunities as well so youre sometimes getting paid to eat a FREE meal. This is just my personal experience but if I were living ANYWHERE in the U.S.A. I could be making 4 times the amount.

Yes, you can make money taking surveys but thats not where the top dollars are. I cant give away the other secret methods so easily but I will tell you that the other opportunities I provide in my Four For 1 website are where people are making it rich off the internet! The amount made depends partly on luck and partly on how much you put into it. Some people may have a knack for the money-making-methods and could be earning $1000s a week within the first month. This can just as likely happen from a pure stroke of luck! Other people might have to work for 6 months before they see any significant profits. The thing is, the profits do come and when they do it is very exciting because you know youve done it yourself.

There are other sites on the net that give you a single opportunity and charge you money whether you make any or not. On my site I have provided all 4 methods because I know you will make money this way. Some methods may not work for everyone while others may make it rich using all 4 methods! I know all 4 methods work because Im becoming very wealthy because of them!

It is very possible to make money online and almost easier than most people think. It could be as little as 10 cents at a time or as much as $100 at a time. It all depends on the area youve chosen and how much work youre putting into it. 10 cents at a time may sound like very little but if youre making a steady 10 cents every 10 seconds then youre looking at an awful lot of money.

The amount of work you put into these methods is how you will make money. Surveys will pay you by piecework in other words youll get paid for each survey. With the other 3 methods there will be work in the beginning but it will run mostly on autopilot from then on. Sit back and watch your bank account grow. Its really a great feeling once youve accomplished it.

I work when I want now and its not all that much. My goal in the beginning was to make $100 a day so I would no longer have to worry about working in factories. That goal was hit rather quickly and I now average $500-$1000 every day of the week. I often get days where Ill make over $2000! That may sound like more than enough to you but my work has now become my hobby and Im constantly creating more ways to make the money. You need something to do in between vacations!

If you decide to try these methods out for yourself, I would set a goal equal to your current pay before quitting your job if youre currently working. Give up a couple hours of TV or video games every night and consider this your part-time job. Dont quit your job unless youre sure of the money coming in. If suddenly you hit your target it doesnt mean you will be making the same amount the next day. You have to be sure of yourself and know that the income is steady. I strongly recommend this.

So YES, there is money to be made on the internet but it doesnt come instantly. Even the surveys require work on your part, but being able to work from home in your spare time is worth the extra time and effort in the beginning.

If youre interested in finding out more on my other 3 methods, you can visit http://www.fourfor1.com

Good luck and happy earnings.

Doug Pineau is the webmaster of many successful sites including the work from home site, http://www.fourfor1.com.Myrta Blog32866
Melva Blog19769

Football Or Drama? Dallas Cowboys Tickets Will Give Fans An Interesting Show

Regardless of the circumstances, fans have always snapped up Dallas Cowboys tickets quickly. The team is one of the most glamorous in all of professional sports, and the 2006 season is providing several points of intrigue that are unlike any others the franchise has encountered in the recent past. Well examine the reasons below why the Cowboys will be perhaps the most interesting team to watch as the schedule plays out, and theres no telling how things will turn out.

Terrell Owens

Yes, the intrigue starts with Owens. Basically, hes getting closer and closer to meltdown stage, and the entire country saw his latest tantrum on the sidelines during a loss to the Eagles. Its becoming clear that he was brought to the team by Jerry Jones and not Bill Parcells, and its also becoming clear that Parcells wants nothing to do with Owens. Owens is a cancer, and his track record shows that when he decides hes not happy, he ruins his team. For points of reference, see the San Francisco 49ers and/or the Philadelphia Eagles. You know Owens is going to erupt, and the only questions that remain are when it will happen and how it will be handled.

Bill Parcells

Although hes never admitted it, its beginning to look like this is the legendary coachs final season. Parcells is about as old school as a coach can get, which is why the match between the way he does things and the cutting edge Dallas Cowboys has always been an interesting sub-plot. Parcells is a coaching star, and his addition to the payroll by itself moved Dallas Cowboys tickets, but hes yet to really make his mark on the team. Granted, he inherited a mess, but hes led the team to one playoff game, and theres no guarantee theyll even qualify for the postseason this season.

Drew Bledsoe

Bledsoe is far from a legendary quarterback, but hes always been a good, sound signal caller, especially under Parcells, who drafted him in 1993. However, his age is starting to show, and his lack of mobility is even more defined now than it has been over the course of his career. Hes been shaky at best so far this season, and its quite clear that he is not holding up well in the face of a pass rush. He always had a tendency to throw interceptions when he was harassed in the pocket, but, like many other quarterbacks when they get older, hes getting a bit of an itchy trigger finger when he feels pressure. Bledsoe may not make it through the season as the starting quarterback, and if he does get benched, itll be yet another intriguing sub-plot to witness.

Jerry Jones

Although Jones played a huge part in bringing the Cowboys back to prominence in the early 1990s, he also led to their downfall after his ego took over and he replaced Jimmy Johnson with Barry Switzer. The team fell to the bottom of the league after Jones got more directly involved with player personnel, and he appeared to have learned his lesson when he brought Parcells in and pledged to stay out of the way when it came to pure football matters. However, he seems to not be able to resist having his team in the headlines, which is exactly why he decided independently to bring Owens aboard without the apparent approval of Parcells. When Owens implodes, Bledsoe gets benched and Parcells reaches the end of his patience, itll be very interesting to see how Jones deals with the mess when its dumped in his lap.

Overall, theres no more interesting team in the league to watch than the Cowboys, and its a guarantee that Dallas Cowboys tickets will provide fans and observers alike with quite a show for the rest of the 2006 season.

Written by Jay Nault, sponsored by http://www.stubhub.com/ . StubHub sells Dallas Cowboys tickets: http://www.stubhub.com/dallas-cowboys-tickets/ sports tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets and more to just about any event in the world.Marabel Blog46359
Maurita Blog13857

Interest Rate Rise Affects Consumer Confidence

Last month's interest rate rise is beginning to affect consumer confidence, it has been revealed.

According to figures released by GfK NOP, the Consumer Confidence Index score dropped by a point over the course of June to stand at -3. The fall was attributed to the decision by the Bank of England's monetary policy committee (MPC) to increase the base rate to 5.5 per cent, which could impact upon borrowers' ability to make secured loan repayments.

Rachael Joy, consumer confidence representative for GfK NOP, said: "After an eventful May, this month sees the higher interest rates taking effect. Consumers have a more negative impression of the general economic situation with a six-point drop this month. Whilst at the same time, consumers are also taking advantage of the situation and the 'now is a good time to save' index has increased this month and now stands at its highest level in recent years."

Figures from the market research company also indicated that Britons are in a record mood to save money. In a move which could see them offsetting debt management and loan payment difficulties, the index for those thinking "now is a good time to save" rose by one to +36, the highest level GfK NOP claimed to have recorded in recent years. This figure was also reported to be four points higher than the score for last June.

Meanwhile, Britons' views towards their personal finances were said to have remained unchanged this month. The index recording consumers' view of their monetary situation over the past 12 months was reported to be +3 - the same figure recorded in May. Opinions about personal finance during the forthcoming year had also remained consistent, remaining at +13, a score which was also noted in June 2006. The study also indicated that trend for making major purchases rose throughout June to +6. However, this represents a five point drop compared with the same time last year.

Overall, consumers' views about the British economy over the past 12 months were said to have seen "the biggest change" throughout the course of June. GfK NOP report that the index has fallen by some six points to a score of -24. Meanwhile, outlook about the general monetary situation was noted to have stayed at the May figure of -10. However, this was some eight points higher from the same study carried out in June last year.

However, according to a study released by financial charity Credit Action there is a shortfall of savings among Britons. Just over one in four (27 per cent) consumers are said to not have any money set aside, with a further 25 per cent holding savings of less than 3,000. Meanwhile, some three million Britons declare themselves to be "frivolous spenders", as their decisions to purchase are based what they want instead of what they can afford"frivolous spenders", as they decide to make purchases based on desirability instead of affordability. With two thirds of Britons subscribing to 'the buy now, think later culture' which may well cause them problems when it comes to making loan payments.

Abbi Rouse writes for AllAboutLoans.co.uk, an online loans comparison site, visit us today for information on all loan topics including cheap loans applications and loans sourcing from all leading UK providers. Our Site: http://www.allaboutloans.co.uk/Margaux Blog27509
Marlyn Blog90579

Quantity Surveyor Jobs Are Up For Grabs

The recruitment companies across the UK are bustling with activity these days. The reason? They are busy recruiting candidates for many positions such as site engineers, site managers, site foremans and quantity surveyors in some of the most reputable rail and constructions companies. These engineering recruitment agencies are on the look out for high-calibre candidates for both permanent and contractual arrangements. Hence, if you are an engineering graduate and willing to have a long-term career as a quantity surveyors, site engineer or site manager for leading rail and construction conglomerates in the UK, a bright and promising future awaits you.

As a candidate, it is up to you which recruitment agency you want to choose. However, we recommend you choose an agency with a renowned recruitment history and substantial experience in recruiting candidates for a wide-range of rail, construction and engineering jobs site engineers, site managers, site foremans and quantity surveyors.

When selecting a recruitment firm, as a candidate, you need to be sure that it takes care of its candidates even after their placement. Typically, the recruitment agency should be looking after your career, not just a job placement. As an efficient and responsible recruitment firm, Keyman nurtures the careers of site engineers, site managers, site foremans and quantity surveyors in some of the most reputable rail, construction and engineering companies across and outside the UK

Keyman has remained a major destination from the employers standpoint as well. Specialising in the provision of experienced, high-calibre professionals to the rail, construction and engineering sectors, Keyman is leading the way for many engineering job aspirants in the UK. Having 30 years of formidable experience in construction recruitment and engineering recruitment, and being a well respected, established presence in the rail recruitment market place, Keyman is one of the most sough-after recruitment agencies in the UK.

Keyman offers a lasting and efficient recruitment solution for both employers and candidates alike. Log on to www.keyman.uk.com to view some of our most promising opportunities online.

Brad Smith: For further details visit http://www.keyman.uk.comMarlena Blog89438
Myrlene Blog76754

What Are The Best Google AdSense Alternatives?

Google AdSense has been revolutionary in terms of providing a way for webmasters to earn revenue from their web sites, particularly for smaller businesses. But are there any good alternatives to Google AdSense?

It is not usually a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket, so you should identify several alternatives. By doing this you may even discover an alternative that is more lucrative for your site, and at the very least you will be prepared in case something happens to AdSense.

Lets look at some of the best alternatives to Google AdSense advertisements on your web site.

Chitika

Instead of displaying the same old advertising units with text and image ads, Chitika provide active boxes that show targeted products from various manufacturers. Chitika boxes can even show an ad box containing a product alongside several competitors products.

Yahoo! Publisher Network

At the time of writing this Yahoo! Publisher Network is still in Beta mode but once it is fully released it should be a viable alternative to Google AdSense. As with AdSense you can provide your web visitors with contextual ads. Yahoo conveniently offers four ways to receive payment including PayPal. That will be welcomed by many international webmasters who grow old while waiting for US checks to arrive and then get cleared through their banks.

Sell Advertising Spots

This is a traditional alternative, but it is still a good one. If you have a strong customer base you should be able to find advertisers to purchase advertising spots on your web site. You can sell spots by the month and offer a discounted option for six and twelve months.

Write Affiliate Advertisements

If you dont want to spend time trying to attract traditional advertisers you can make your own ads for affiliate products. Check out the thousands of products at ClickBank or Commission Junction. Select several products that closely match your visitors interests. Now write affiliate ads, or use image ads with your own affiliate link.

CBprosense

If you dont want to manually write your own affiliate ads for ClickBank products then you could consider automating the process with CBprosense. It is a tool that will spider your site, analyze its content and then deliver a list of relevant links to the best performing products in the ClickBank marketplace.

These are five of the best alternatives to Google AdSense advertising. There are many more and several that promise to deliver contextual ads. However I suggest that whenever you are considering an alternative that promises contextual ads, do a quick check through your favorite search engine or webmaster forum to see if anyone is actually making any revenue by using their service. It is one thing to promise the technology, and another altogether to have sufficient advertisers to constantly deliver appropriate ads to your site.

Daniel Moro has been successfully building online businesses for ten years. Get more information on these Google AdSense alternatives and download a free report on '10 Remarkably Effective Traffic Building Techniques' at http://www.DanielMoro.com/AdsenseAlternatives.htmMerilyn Blog86155
Marleen Blog16589

Join The Pajamas Revolution Now!

You've heard it before, internet marketing and network marketing is a marriage made in heaven! One of the important factors is to get a product or service that your customers will buy monthly for years so that you will enjoy the residual income.

This is the information age where you can communicate across thousands of miles and different time zone at a click of a mouse. If you are in the east and you are sleeping, you can literally make money online because it is day time in the west, in countries such as USA, Canada and UK. And that is why it is called the pajamas revolution! When it is night time in USA, Canada and UK, it is day time in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. You can literally quit your day job and make money while you are in your pajamas!

This is not going to happen overnight! So keep your day job for a while before you jump into your pajamas to join the pajamas revolution! Many internet marketers and networkmarketers make this mistake of quitting their job too soon before they have build a steady and sustainable income from their businesses. You have to ensure that you have a steady residual income before you walk into the office to fire your boss!

Success takes time, money, effort and commitment. It requires you to work consistently and it will definitely happen in 6 months to 12 months when you work really hard at it and got help from those who have been there and done that! You must also leverage on a proven and tested system that keeps your business simple and duplicatable.

There are many companies with different products and services so you must find one that you believe will work for you. How do you select a product or services that you want to promote. First you got to see what are your objectives? Do you want a simple business where you can reach the world easily? It is a matter of preference, some people prefer to combine internet marketing with network marketing with a digital product, it can also be a physical product depending on which company you select. Some people believe health is the greatest wealth and want a product that promotes health and wellness.

Whatever business you are considering, here are critical questions you must ask: Is it simple? Can an ordinary person do it? Is the monthly cost of operating the business affordable? Does the system offer you the leverage to earn a good residual income? Are you comfortable with the products or services? Do you really believe it will work for you? Are you excited about the business that you just can't wait to join and start promoting it?

If it is your dream to make money online while you sleep, you must have an automated system that will work for you night and day non-stop 24 hours a day! You must also invest time, money and effort to build a responsive list by capturing email addresses through your opt-in box, autoresponder, blogs, article submission and advertisements.

You can apply viral marketing by offering a free report or ebook to your friends and ask them to share it with their friends. Many systems have incorporated a free report or ebook for you to start giving it away and it is designed in such a way that your friends who are interested in the business can do exactly the same!For more information on how you can join the pajamas revolution, go to:http://www.PajamasSecrets.com. Feel free to use this article on your website or ezine as long as the following information about author/website is included.

Bruce Seah is a Marketing Consultant and has been in internet marketing since 1999. Visit my website: http://www.BusinessAtAClick.com.Milly Blog58123
Melva Blog6093

How To Find A Good Internet Marketing Affiliate Program

You would think that finding a good internet marketing affiliate program wouldn't be that big of a deal, however, there are definitely good affiliate programs and bad affiliate programs online, so it's very important that you get a "heads up" so you don't get ripped off.

The first thing that you should be on the lookout for is if a company wants to charge you a fee for becoming a member. Most of these types of companies are Network Marketing or "pyramid schemes". I have nothing personal against "some" Network Marketing companies, as some of them do provide a good service or product. Actually, the Network Marketing business model is fantastic, if the rest of the world would just grasp it. Anyway, I'm getting off topic, but my point is that there are many companies that have given Network Marketing or "Multi-Level" Marketing a bad name so be very careful. That's not what you're looking for.

A legitimate affiliate program won't try to charge you a fee. They'll actually do pretty much everything they can to help you succeed because they realize that your success is their success too. This makes complete sense. Here are a couple reputable affiliate networks you can join that are excellent.

Commission Junction - http://www.cj.com

These guys are probably one of the most popular affiliate networks and are very reputable. They specialize in hard goods/physical products, but also offer service related merchants and business to business. The CJ interface can be challenging to navigate at first, but once you figure it out it's a breeze. Highly recommended.

Linkshare - http://www.linkshare.com

Also highly recommended. These guys have really taken off over the past few years and are giving CJ a run for their money. They sold out to a Japanese firm for over $400 million dollars several months ago and have since attracted many new major vendors.

There are several more like these two, but this should get you on the right track. Make certain to take advantage of CJU (Commission Junction University) as it's another great place to learn the basics of affiliate marketing. After studying a bit more, finding a good internet marketing affiliate program will be a breeze for you. I hope this helps you out.

Don't make these Affiliate mistakes or you may be throwing your time and money out the window. Grab your free copy of "Top 10 Affiliate Mistakes" right now at http://www.MakeAffiliateCash.com. Joe Stewart is an Internet Marketer and successful small business owner offline.Mirabelle Blog86006
Marci Blog8933

Marketing with My Space: An Interview

Matthew Sherborne started marketing on the internet in 1998 with his first website devoted to his commercial diving business. Matthew accumulated real-life knowledge of using low-cost advertising techniques and continually searched for new and innovative marketing methods. Through all of his research looking for the perfect system of promotion, he's discovered the most successful method has always been word of mouth advertising. With that knowledge he's been an enthusiastic supporter of searching and utilizing viral marketing techniques.

Since selling his diving service business in 2002 he's traveled from San Diego to Hawaii and finally to the San Francisco Bay area. Working a variety of labor intensive jobs, above and below ground and water, he decided in early 2005 to put 100 percent of his effort into internet marketing.

Since that time he's focused exclusively on the most effective low-cost marketing techniques to boost his online business. He now offers the very same techniques that's made him successful and yielded incredible results. Matthew has a passion for marketing and it shows as he shares today's most radically effective promotional techniques.

Matthew will take you behind the scenes to show you exactly how he makes his lucrative income and how he markets his own business online. With his "nothing held back" philosophy you can expect to get all of the inside secrets and sales boosting tactics to use on your very own online business.

Question: I read your ebook, "MySpace Cash Machine", and it is excellent. How did you get started marketing on My Space, and how did you find all of the techniques for marketing on My Space?

Answer: I got started marketing on My Space quite by accident in late 2005, in fact if not for a musician friend of mine, I would have missed it entirely.

He sent me to his My Space profile and told me how he was receiving some great exposure to his website from linking there. I'd heard in the media that My Space was literally exploding in popularity and that was enough for me to take the opportunity seriously enough to learn more. I discovered not only was My Space fast becoming the most popular website online, it held the potential to reach millions of people for free.

After some research I found that the most commented on and popular profiles were the ones that focused entirely on one subject and did so enthusiastically. Then I carefully studied what others were doing on their My Space profiles in regards to sending bulletins, comments and setting up profiles. My ultimate goal was to uncover exactly how they were making money.

I then replicated the successful money-making techniques by fine tuning my profile and website offer. By targeting one specific high-paying niche, it maximized results and brought more income. I then looked for other high interest topics within My Space and started experimenting with a variety of niche topics with different themed profiles designed to funnel people to websites exactly suited to their wants.

Question: Why do you think My Space is such an effective place to market your business? Why would you recommend My Space?

Answer: For starters, My Space currently has more than an 80 percent market share over all social networking websites. This accounts for a total number of profiles in excess of 100 million and My Space is currently ranked the 5th most visited website on the planet. As you can imagine the sheer number of people on My Space makes it an extremely attractive place to find hungry customers.

Coupled with the fact that My Space allows you to customize your own webpage with HTML code and CSS to give it any kind of look you want and link to outside sources is irresistible. Imagine the potential of having a popular profile centered around a lucrative keyword and linking it to your own Adsense monetized website or sales page.

Once you've got a popular profile it becomes an incredible opportunity just waiting for you to plug in to it. Through the use of groups, forums, messages, events, comments, blogs, videos and classified advertising you have a multitude of ways to reach people interested in your products and turn them into your customers.

You can use My Space to get targeted customers for virtually any product you have to offer and you can grow your opt-in lists to continue the selling process. The best part is, you can use My Space to tap in to the most powerful kind of marketing ever known, word of mouth.

Question: What marketing technique do you find to be the most effective, and how do you use it? Would you tell us one or two of your best marketing tips?

Answer: As a marketer, the most important key to remember is that your My Space profile is created to attract viewers to your website. To do this, you must determine the most remarkable aspect of your product and turn that into your own persuasive story. Your whole profile must reflect your unique story and be structured so that it not only appeals to your target audience but compels them to find out more.

Your My Space picture is often the first thing that people see; make sure you have one that stands out. The best pictures stir up an emotion in its viewer. A good rule of thumb is to select pictures that are relevant to your product and audience. My favorite strategy is to use a movable gif that is a little larger than the average and captures the viewer's attention.

You'll want to spend time selecting a strong headline for your profile since it will appear next to your picture. It will also be visible from comments you leave on other profiles and on the My Space search function. It's important that you use proper search engine optimization techniques in your headline and throughout your profile's content. The headline should reflect your overall strategy with important keywords.

Leveraging the efforts of many is key to building a profitable My Space marketing business. One of the best ways to market your offer on My Space after you've established your profile is through the use of groups. You have the opportunity to start a group on virtually any topic you want. When you start a group you have control over who can join and its content. To get your group started send a bulletin to everyone on your friends list. Once you've got a loyal following to your group, people will gladly share the information with others.

If you want to send viewers to a specific offer, sending bulletins to your My Space profile's friends list will get you instant results. You can use bulletins to offer something of perceived value to gain the acceptance of friends and have them become outspoken advocates for your product.

Commenting on popular profiles will get people coming to check you out. People on My Space love to share things with each other. If you have a unique video, funny picture or contest, you can post it on popular profiles and really spread your message. Once the word is out, its potential to spread is limitless.

Question: What trends do you see in marketing on My Space? What do you see in the future of My Space?

Answer: My Space has grown so fast due in large part to its success facilitating direct person to person interaction. Whether it's sharing pictures, videos or content, people are moving away from disruptive media sources and embracing those that involve user generated content. You can expect to see more consumer created media begin to appear on profiles and anticipate more people willing to share it.

In the near future people will not only research a particular product, but go to My Space to learn about the product's creator. Building relationships and connecting with others of like mind is what My Space is all about . For savvy marketers, this means allowing the consumer to feel like they have a direct connection with you.

Marketers who expose others to non interruptive sources of information will have the greatest success, as quality content becomes the accepted norm. Competition will intensify among traditional advertisers as the ad dollars spent on social networks approaches the billions. With its massive success My Space will branch out to being viewed via cell phones and expand to other countries like China and Japan.

Most importantly, successful online marketing will transform to become continually viral. Instead of buying a product based on brand alone, consumers will seek out and follow the recommendations of others. Marketers who have framed their message to be extraordinary will benefit from having it shared and heard worldwide.

Question: What projects are you currently working on, and where do you plan to take your business from here?

Answer: My future is focused primarily on helping other small business owners strategically place themselves in their market to stand out among the corporations without spending a fortune. The objective is to build resources that bridge the gap between consumers and marketers and generate customers who become outspoken supporters.

I plan on taking my business forward by concentrating on the most effective new forms of media. You'll hear a whole lot more of me as I venture into online video, audio products and viral promotions. My business plan incorporates a series of interconnected products all pursuing the goal of pushing the marketing boundaries to new limits.

Jinger Jarrett is the author of the book, "Internet Marketing for Free: The GUIDE (on Amazon). Get your free ebook download at http://www.askjingernow.com Matthew Sherborne is the author of the ebook, My Space Cash Machine: http://www.cashmachinebook.com/ Get your free ecourse now.Mathilda Blog9068
Muffin Blog80834

Would You Like A Hypnotic Take-Away?

I can remember when I was very young that when my Mum was doing the weekly shopping and I was either being towed alongside or sat in the trolley, we would fall prey to the shops clever psychology of putting sweets next to the counter. Usually, I would grab a packet of the sweets with the most colourful wrapping. When my Mum took them off me and put them back on the shelf, I wanted them more. I wanted that exact packet even more!

When I take clients into hypnosis in my therapeutic practice, I sometimes use a method called the Elman method because it was created and pioneered by Dave Elman, one of the major influences on modern hypnotherapy. His method of inducing hypnosis had someone relax really deeply, then have to open their eyes. Then, close them and relax even deeper and then open them and close them to relax even deeper and so on.

It works very simply because the person being hypnotised gets a taste of the deep relaxation, then has to open their eyes and refocus and become aware of what's around them. Then when they get to relax and close their eyes again, they really embrace it and go for more of what they just had a taste of, until they are instructed to open their eyes again! Then, when they close their eyes again, they fully embrace the relaxation and plummet into a deep hypnosis state.

What I want to point out here with both of my examples is this idea of taking something away. An unconscious, hypnotic take-away if you will.

One of the reasons that many salespeople are not more successful is that they push too hard. I do not know anyone that enjoys being forced into something, do you? So, how about if you wanted to sell something, you actually took the sale away to get the sales prospect to sell it to themselves? Interesting idea, eh?

When I talk about the sale, this could be anything; a message, an idea, a date or an actual product or service.

Taking the sale away is best used to advise the prospect that they cannot make a purchase that they have little interest in making anyway. There is pretty much nothing to lose and very much to gain by using this simple idea. Taking the sale away works especially well when someone is being highly resistant to you, your message or your product.

I can remember once, in my hypnotherapy practice, I encountered someone that we diplomatically say has a "polarity response."

Basically, this person disagreed with most things anyone said and stated the opposite in reply. They said to me within 5 minutes of meeting me "I cannot be hypnotised." My initial thoughts were "well, what the heck are you seeing a hypnotherapist for? And a very expensive one at that!" I kept that thought under wraps though.

Instead, I said something along the lines of the following:

"Hmmm... maybe you are right, maybe you actually are one of the few people that actually can't be hypnotised. Maybe you are never going to know the comfort and enjoyment of hypnosis. Maybe you will always deny yourself the benefits of deeply relaxing hypnotic trance. I don't know, it's up to you. Maybe you are unsure of what hypnosis is like and maybe you are apprehensive because of all the myths that you hear about it.... as you allow yourself to relax more NOW though... you can drift into the right kind of state for you to experience it in the way that you choose..."

This guy was highly resistant and wanted to push against me. When I began to suggest that he cannot go into hypnosis, the only way to resist and do the opposite of what I suggested, was to go into hypnosis. You see, I took away the sale, so to speak.

What I also did, was to add some of the benefits of hypnosis. To make this technique even more effective, you can state some or lots of the benefits of the message, product or service. This further illustrates that this is something they will not enjoy or benefit from as a result of not buying into it.

A car salesperson might use this technique and say the following:

"I really can't recommend this car to you because I suspect it is more powerful than you need. It has a very powerful engine, faster acceleration yet consumes relatively little fuel, it is more than you need. Plus, it is designed to withstand much more use than you are going to give it. This really is a car for someone who drives a lot and needs a lot of power."

Lots of people go weak at the knees at this kind of suggestion and want it there and then.

Since this salesperson is not being pushy, there is nothing to resist. The salesperson is not pushing against the prospect, so the prospect does not need to push back. Some people will respond by then preventing the salesperson from taking the sale away and invest in the product, service or idea. They sell themselves on it.

The worst case scenario here is that the prospect actually agrees with you and says "you are right, that car is too powerful for me and my requirements." The salesperson still wins. The sales person can now progress to asking about what would actually suit them and match those needs to another car. What's more, the prospect now appreciates the sales persons honesty and is far more likely to trust them and buy something else from them.

This is not to be used all the time in every situation of course. Think carefully about how you use it in your communication.

I believe that it is extremely important to be truthful when delivering a message or wanting to sell and product or service, so I recommend that you never say something will meet a prospects needs - unless you genuinely believe it is so.

See how you can use this in your life, your communication, your work; use the unconscious take away and see how people respond, I think you'll find yourself becoming more and more influential as a result.

Adam Eason is a best selling author, consultant and speaker please visit his website for a vast range of personal development resources and to receive your free, instantly downloadable hypnosis session and amazing ebook: http://www.adam-eason.com. Thanks.Moya Blog35996
Melisa Blog2424

Why on Earth are You STILL Cold Calling?

Think back to the last time you received a phone call at home just as you started into something important to you such as a meal with the family, watching a highly anticipated television show or sporting event, or reading an article or book. Chances are you probably werent too thrilled with the person on the other end regardless of who it was. If it happened to be a telemarketer, you were likely less than cordial with the person on the other end. Why, then, do many salespeople insist on cold-calling when there are so many alternatives to prospecting and uncovering legitimate prospects and potential customers?

Sales managers frequently utter the over-used clich of youve got to increase your activityits a numbers game. Their intent, increasing your sales, is well serving, but their methodology for accomplishment couldnt be worse. The key to increasing your prospect base without cold calling is marketing yourself as if you were your own company and presenting yourself as an expert in your chosen industry. The moment you quit thinking like yesterdays employee and start thinking like todays entrepreneur, your career will take on a new direction that will finally reward you in proportion to the effort you invest. Stop spinning your wheels cold-calling and allow your customers find you for a change. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Do you publish your own newsletter separate from your company? If not, this is a great way to stay connected with your best customers and nurture relationships. Its also a good prospecting tool to gain valuable exposure since it takes roughly six impressions for a prospect to become a customer. Tips and advice which relate to your product or service are common topics to include in a newsletter. Make sure the information is relevant and useful to your customer base, or youll lose their interest almost as quickly as you signed them up. A newsletter can be distributed in print or e-mail format so consider offering your prospects and customers a choice. Perhaps your company doesnt produce a newsletter; think of how that could distinguish you from your peers and shine in your managements eyes.

Advertise in someone elses newsletter or cross advertise. If you know of current newsletters which target prospects youd like to reach, consider paying to advertise in that newsletter for awhile. If you dont have the money to invest in newsletter advertising right away, consider swapping ads in your newsletter with the publisher of other targeted newsletters. This is a great way to gain name recognition with prospects you may never meet.

Creating your own website will go a long way towards distinguishing you from many of your competitors provided the website is targeted, contains useful information that solves common industry customer problems, and provides your contact information.

If you are unable to create your own site or dont believe you have the time to maintain one, a blog might be another alternative worth considering. There are many free blog sites available (Google the term free blog site), and a blog gives you the freedom to express yourself in a more engaging and conversational manner.

Conducting or participating in seminars may give your reputation a big boost especially if you are able to deliver a great presentation on an interesting and industry related topic. People who attend seminars will remember you as an authority long after the seminar even if you dont necessarily remember them provided you dont put them to sleep or offend in any way.

Generate a prospecting e-mail instead of calling with a link to a case study or relevant set of statistics to generate interest and/or recognition. Dont make your prospecting e-mails about youmake them all about the customer and how you might be able to help them. If they have an interest, theyll research you and your company when appropriate. Remember: you can only make one cold-call at a time, but you can send out one e-mail to many people at once which increases your number of dials and impressions.

Produce a podcast or downloadable audio seminar on a popular industry topic. This could even be done in an interview format, but be sure to include some tips and tricks that prospects can use rather quickly. Youre merely looking to increase awareness of you and your company.

Create a video or webinar that can be downloaded which addresses common customer questions and problems and shows them how to resolve the problems. Again, this needs to focus on the customer and their issues instead of you and your company. Avoid the temptation to talk about features and benefits of a product or service.

Write an article to be published in an industry publication. This will provide publicity and further differentiate you as an expert in your chosen field. Be sure to include a byline at the end of the article so people know how to contact you should they choose.

Write a book. This will provide the same benefits as an article but on a much grander scale. Authors regularly are asked to be guests on radio and television shows which, if you score a spot on one, will skyrocket your career.

While its likely impossible to implement each of these ideas today, you can begin by implementing a couple at a time to gauge their effectiveness. The more ideas you implement, the less reliant youll become on cold-calling and yesteryears prospecting methods. Your career will shift gears as well.

Roger Bauer is Founder and CEO of SMB Consulting, Inc., a Louisville, Kentucky based small business consulting firm specializing in strategic planning, web presence, internet marketing, SEO, technology, and business analysis. To learn more, point your browser to http://smbconsultinginc.com.Mona Blog48203
Melantha Blog77743

A Marketing Lesson From "The Godfather"

Maybe it was the commercials for the recent release of the video game based on the movie based on one of my all-time favorite novels that got me to thinking about how great marketers are just like Don Corleone, the infamous Godfather.

We all need to make em an offer they cant refuse.

Now, Im not suggesting that we all need to start sending dead fish wrapped in newspaper to anyone who doesnt buy from us, or start putting hits out on our competitors well leave those particular tactics to the Corleone family.

What I am suggesting is that, like Don Corleone, we tell our prospects all the reasons why it would be beneficial to them to do business with us. Highlight those benefits, and make it so obvious to them that they cant live (happily) without your product or service that they are dying to buy from you!

You see people dont really care about you or your company or even your product or service all that much. What they care about is how you and your product or service will benefit THEM. Youve heard of WYSIWYG (What You See is What You Get)? Well, heres a new one that your customer repeats every time he reads anyones marketing copy: WIIFM (Whats In It For Me)?

So you tell him! Dont talk about boring features (the drill is black and weighs 2 lbs. 3 oz.) tell him about the benefits your drill has to offer (our drill is so light weight, you wont feel like your arm is going to fall off even after 30 minutes of continuous use!)

Your customers dont want your drill they want the hole.

Show him how your drill will solve all of his problems, save him time, make his life easier, save him money and make him look like a virtual genius to his friends and family for having chosen such a perfect drill.

By highlighting the specific benefits of your product or service, you will appeal to your prospects on an emotional level and youll have made em an offer they cant refuse!

© Copyright 2006

Entrepreneur and outdoor photography adventurer Caroline Melberg is President and CEO of Melberg Marketing, Inc., a full-service virtual Marketing Communications Agency. She has over 20 years of experience creating marketing communications materials and writing copy for some of the largest and most successful companies in the world. She publishes the popular ezine, "Blue Chip Tips: The Secrets of Blue Chip Marketing...Revealed!" Get your Free subscription at http://www.melberg.com!Maye Blog17014
Marna Blog10910

Choosing To Earn A Criminal Justice Degree Online

One of the most overriding instincts in human nature is the desire to make a difference in the world. Just about everyone has the urge to positively influence their surroundings for the benefit of society. Many people choose to perform this service in the field of criminal justice. Individuals with the drive and ambition for this type of work can be seen in many arenas. Some are police officers, others are attorneys with special training in the criminal justice field, and still others benefit society by serving as probation officers hard at work to assist ex offenders in starting their new lives.

The desire to change the course of a chosen career isnt unusual in todays employment climate. More and more people are choosing to reroute the path of their lives and for those interested in criminal justice the way to go is to obtain a criminal justice degree online. There are many advantages to deciding to go for a degree in this manner. Studying online makes it possible for the student to further their education without the need to rearrange their entire work, family, and social schedules. Most criminal justice degree online programs are geared to be a study at your own pace curriculum. These types of programs are usually more affordable in terms of tuition and books as well. All of these benefits add up to create a better environment for the student to reach their goals and be ready to assist in making the world a better place with their criminal justice degree.

Like with any major decision, choosing which institution to study with should be a decision made with all of the facts checked out. The first thing to do is to be sure the school is accredited and any degree awarded from it is viable to employers. An easy way to do this is to check with the Better Business Bureau and companies and organizations that consistently hire people with criminal justice degrees. Look closely at the classes offered and at the tuition rate. Choosing to obtain a criminal justice degree online is an investment in your future and should be given your full attention before blindly signing on the dotted line. Most online educational institutions are legitimate, but it is important to do your homework first.

Receiving a criminal justice degree online prepares the graduate for several key functions in their new career. Criminal justice majors learn to be involved in a wide variety of services in the justice world. They are taught to be involved with supervision duties like probation, and assist in the incarceration system. Students are also taught to effectively interact with police at the apprehension level and to work closely with the prosecution. Newly degreed criminal justice professionals will need to learn quickly, communicate well, and have well honed problem solving skills to be successful. The ability to work well in a team environment is also helpful.

A career in the criminal justice field is rewarding in many ways. The graduate has a large range of opportunities open to them. Social service, working to protect the population, and personal enrichment are just a few of the benefits professionals in this field cite as reasons to work in this service. There are never enough caring, well trained people in this challenging field. A criminal justice degree online program is an excellent way to be prepared for the trials and rigors of your new career, all without sacrificing your current way of life. Taking advantage of this unique educational tool will have you well prepared for your new life and lead to exciting opportunities in the criminal justice field.

Andy West is a freelance writer for Virginia College. Virginia College Online offers many Criminal Justice Degree online programs. Please visit Virginia College Online at http://www.vconline.edu/site/department.cfm?Department_ID=2 to select the online program that is right for you.Myna Blog69815
Marcela Blog63756

5 Tips For Identity Theft Protection

Its that time of year.

This is when we all start getting those emails that want to steal our secret codes and passwords. You know the ones: Your Account Is About To Be Closed, Theres A Block On Your Account,, Congratulations Youve Won The Lottery (that you never entered).and my favorite Could You Help Me Claim My Funds?.

This is also the time of year when we start shopping for gifts and the last thing you need is for your bank or credit card accounts to be stolen by cyber grifters. They are counting on some of us to follow the instructions in the email.

First and foremost, DONT FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE EMAIL! If you think there might be a problem, access the account in question as you normally do on your PC and not with the link supplied in the phony email.

Ive had some very authentic looking email supposedly from banks, that even went so far as to copy the colors of the bank logo and stationery style. But, dont fall for the scam. In fact, dont even open the email, because many are just set to loose a virus program on your computer by being opened. Simply forward the suspicious email to the spoof email address supplied by your bank, or credit card company.

Identity Theft is a worldwide epidemic. According to the Better Business Bureau and Javelin Research, almost 9 million Americans fell prey to identity theft this year with fraud costing businesses and individuals over $56 billion dollars.

There are ways to reduce your chances of identity theft:

1. Understand debit card dangers: When it comes to fraud, debit cards carry much greater personal liability than credit cards, depending on how quickly you report the loss of the card. If you fail to report unauthorized use within 60 days of receiving your bank statements, you could lose all the money in the account and be held responsible for the amount of money that has been tapped from your line of credit.

2. Rethink check writing: That little slip of paper has way too much information. Some experts advise against check writing because it gives away your address, bank account number, signature and license number to complete strangers. On top of that, theres no federal legislation to limit your liability for forged checks (each state has its own set of rules). Experts advise that you look into automating your bill paying.

3. Secure your mail: Your mailbox is a goldmine of information. Between bank statement, bills, and all those pre-approved credit card offers, your mailbox is loaded with personal data which identity thieves can use to easily apply for a credit card in your name. Unless you diligently check your credit report, you may never even know about it. One way to avoid this is to have your mailbox under lock and key, but most of us in Santa Clarita have our mailboxes at the curb in front of our house and the postman frowns on carrying dozens and dozens of keys around. The other solution is to have a rented mailbox, or to foil dumpster-diving thieves by buying a shredder and destroy documents before discarding.

4. Go virtual: For shopping online, there are virtual card numbers. These are randomly generated credit card numbers that are disposable and that on-line shoppers use once and throw away. Its linked directly to your real credit card account so purchases show up on your monthly bill. The service is easy to use and its FREE! All you need to do is register with companies offering the virtual card, and they are MBNA, Discover, and Citigroup.

5. Create an emergency identity kit: Would you know how to contact your credit card company in an emergency? Create an emergency kit that contains: your account number, expiration date, issuing company name, and emergency contact number for each card you own. While youre at it, make copies of your drivers license, social security card, birth certificate and passport and store them in a locked box or file cabinet, or a safe deposit box. I like the safe deposit box best, because this gives you protection in the event of a catastrophe such as fire, earthquake, etc.

This may all seem like a lot of unnecessary work, but if youre ever the victim of identity theft even just once youll realize that its well worth the effort.

Many of us forget that were it not for what we carry in our wallets or in our purses, were all John and Jane Does if we cant speak due to injury or are unaccompanied by someone who knows us. How much less stressful is it to know that in a bank box, no matter where you are, there are items that can verify your identity. Better to be safe, than sorry!

Daryl Campbell invites you to check out http://fightidtheft.winthemarket.com.Merla Blog15898
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Vehicle Finance UK Own a Vehicle at Low Cost Funds

Buying a vehicle such as a car from own source is no possible for most of the people. A loan therefore becomes inevitable. Vehicle finance UK provides adequate financial support for buying a vehicle either commercial or personal at easier terms-conditions.

Vehicle finance UK is a secured loan. The loan seeker offers collateral to the lender in order to secure the lender for the lender. Though any of borrowers property can serve the purpose of collateral, but in most of the instances, the very vehicle the lender intends to buy is taken as collateral. This secures vehicle finance UK adequately. The owner of vehicle can drive the vehicle while deal papers are with the lender and are returned only when the finance is fully paid back.

Because the finance is well secured, lenders charge a lower interest rate which makes the cost of financing vehicle cheaper. One can even achieve a further lowered interest rate if an extensive search is made. There is a tough competition going on amongst the lenders to take advantage of. The borrowed amount under vehicle finance UK depends on equity in collateral. Higher equity enables you in getting loan for high priced vehicles. Because the loan is well secured the lenders can give you adequate repayment duration.

If you happened to have a bad credit, it should not bother you. Vehicle finance UK is available to bad credit people in a hurdle free manner. This is because the finance to bad credit people is given on the very vehicle they intend to buy or on any of their property. So in case the borrower fails to repay the loan, lender can recover the loan by selling the vehicle. Before approaching the lender you should have your credit report and check it for any errors. Knowing your credit score is always helpful in taking loan at better terms if you have a good credit score.

After you have successfully negotiated with a lender and got the loan, now you are on a driving seat as you can now go shopping for the vehicle. You exactly know the finance you have to buy a vehicle type. Make sure that the vehicle is without mechanical defects.

Numerous lenders have showcased vehicle finance UK offers on internet. Request for their loan quotes and compare them to arrive at the offer that has comparatively lower interest rate. It would be wise to apply online for the finance as this way the approval comes fast for a timely purchasing of vehicle.

Vehicle finance UK is an excellent opportunity for owning a vehicle of your choice. Make sure the installments are paid off in time as this will be recorded in your credit report for enhancing credit score.

Eunice Scott is a financial advisor at Vehicle Finance UK and provides advices on finance and insurance. In recent years he has taken up to provide independant financial advice through his informative articles. To know more about Personal vehicle finance, Used vehicle finance, Vehicle finance UK, Business finance vehicle visit http://www.vehiclefinanceuk.netMarielle Blog56652
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Top 10 Ways to Write Articles to Sell your Book

Are you a reluctant marketer for your book? Do you avoid the social and selling aspects of self-publishing and promotion?

Discover the easy and free way to promote your book. It's still the number one top way--writing and submitting articles to other ezines and Web sites.

Ten Tips to Create your Articles That Sell Your Book

1. Use your non-fiction book's chapter how to's or your fictions juicy chapter excerpts.

2. Keep your articles around 200-800 words each.

3. Keep your article focused on just one thesis or point.

4. Create a hook for your two or three-sentence introduction. Notice this one asked you a few questions to engage you.

5. Forget the old school of writing for print magazines and getting paid. Follow the internet way-- give your article away like Mrs. Field cookie samples, so people will want to visit the site where you sell your book.

6. Keep yourself out of it. Your audience wants to know what you can do for them. Replace those "I" constructions with "you."

"If you are like me...."

7. Number the main points for clarity. People love easy to read how to articles.

8. Collect ten well-edited articles before you blast off. Online readers will look at your more seriously when they see you offer more than one quick thing. They will see you as the savvy expert and click to where you sell your book.

9. Leverage one article into five. Change your audience. Change your number of how to's. Three Tips to... or Five Tips... or The Two Best Ways to....

10. Remember free information is the reason people go to Web sites, so put your articles there as well as in a blog.

Once you get dozens of short articles or excerpts out to high-traffic web sites in your field, you will notice the search engines optimizing your site because they see your important key words that link you, your book, or your service together. Your submitted articles lead to the magic of "viral marketing." The thing is that this is attraction, natural marketing at its best.

Judy Cullins ©2006 All Rights Reserved.

Book and Internet Marketing Coach, Judy Cullins, can help you build credibility and clients, sell a lot of books, and make maximum profits. Author of 11 books including Write your eBook or Other Short Book Fast and The Fast and Cheap Way to Explode Targeted Web Traffic. Get her free eBook"20 High Octane Book Writing and Marketing Tips" and two free monthly ezines at http://www.bookcoaching.com.Marla Blog53417
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Losing Money In Real Estate - A True Story

What if you were able to buy a decent two bedroom home for about $30,000, fix it up a little and put it on the market for $80,000? Do you think you could make some money that way? This is the story of a man who lost it all that way, followed by a few lessons to be learned from his sad tale.

The story takes place in 2002, in a mountain town in Montana, where the last of the good jobs had left town twenty-two years earlier when the copper smelter closed. It is a beautiful town, but the resulting economic decline caused a population decline of more than 30%, down to about 7,000 or 8,000 people. My wife and I bought a great little house there for $17,500, so home prices had obviously tumbled along with the population.

A neighbor, at eighty-years-old, decided to become a real estate investor. He bought the house next to us for around $30,000, and borrowed more from the bank to fix the place up. Given the price of our own home and the fact that this other house wasn't nearly as nice, I wondered if he had overpaid. He seemed sure that he had a good deal, though and could make some money.

As the weeks went by, he did get the place looking better. He put in an incredible fireplace, and new carpeting. The electricians worked on the old wiring on and off for a long time, always finding something else that needed to be done, and then taking their time doing it. The old guy was paying by the hour, with no contract, of course. The heating system needed replacing, at which point our neighbor mentioned, "I didn't know the house had so many problems." At some point his enthusiasm started to fail.

His bank account started to fail too. Eventually he admitted to me that he had over $65,000 into the place, but still seemed certain he could sell the home for $80,000. I politely nodded. It was too late to say anything anyhow. He didn't even have money to fix up the rusty iron fence around the house. In fact, from the outside, the appearance had hardly changed at all, since all his money went into the interior.

The sign went up, though I am not sure why the real estate agent wanted such a listing. Perhaps it was with the hope that he would maintain the listing when the bank took the house and dropped the price. In the end, that is exactly what happened. "I gave the house back to the bank," the old guy told me one day.

A Few Real Estate Lessons

I like this story because my old neighbor did so many things wrong. This makes it a great teaching story. Often real estate success consists as much in avoiding common mistakes as knowing intricate techniques. Here, then are some of the mistakes he made.

1. He had no plan. He had only a vague idea about what he would do and how much the home would sell for.

2. He had no idea of how to value a house. If he had compared the home to recent sales (like our $17,500 purchase next door) he would have realized that the most he would get for the home was probably around $30,000, if that.

3. He had no concept of his market. This was a two bedroom starter home. Buyers for these homes are not looking for a fancy fireplace.

4. He had no contracts or firm quotes from contractors. He let them find as much as they wanted to do and charge him by the hour.

5. He didn't get an inspection. Had he gotten the home inspected, he might have had some idea of how many problems it had, and how much it would take to correct them.

6. He didn't understand the concept of return on investment. Even if buyers liked the fireplace and other features he put into the home, these features probably increased the value less than what they cost.

7. He didn't have enough money or financing lined up. This was a fortunate mistake, perhaps. Since the project was doomed to fail, it may have been good that he ran out of money.

Why not learn from the mistakes of others? As a side note, we selectively put $1,900 into our home there for a total investment (with purchase price and closing costs) of $19,800, and sold it for $28,000 four months after we bought it. We might have been lucky, but we also avoided some common real estate investing mistakes.

Copyright Steve Gillman. For a Free Real Estate Investing Course, visit: http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com.Melita Blog69741
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The Pleasure Of Transforming Your Hobby Into Your Profession

If a hobby is a spare-time recreational pursuit, could you count the number of hobbies you have practiced over the past or you are still pursuing now and then that have given you some kind of return apart from the psychological one? In case you can identify even one, then you probably already know all there is to know about the pleasure of having a hobby as a profession. But if your hobby list is empty, or you are unsure if one of the things you are doing or have done during your free time could be categorized as a hobby turned into a profession, then you should better invest some time in reading the text that follows.

First of all, you should know that hobbies are practiced due to a person's interest on something and for the enjoyment that hobby can bring to the individual, rather than for financial reward that can result from the outcome of someone's efforts. Whether you are a collector, a crafter, a sports fun, or a painter, engaging in a hobby can lead you to acquiring a certain set of skills and advance substantially your capabilities, knowledge-base and experiences. But remember that these outcomes are directly related to the personal fulfillment a person receives from practicing the hobby of his or her choice.

Second, you probably are familiar with the phrase that says "The person that has turned his hobby into his profession is a happy one." It is true that for a number of reasons, more and more people have turned their hobby or hobbies into their daily occupations and those that have done so, state that this decision has dramatically changed their life towards the better. They advice others to do the same and they do have a point, if one considers that the person who uses his or her skills to earn a living actually practices something he or she loves doing. For example, if you have been receiving compliments for your cooking or pastry skills, from a variety of people, perhaps you should consider a career in that field. If you love computers and you spend every single minute experimenting in computer languages or playing computer games, then maybe a career of that sort could fit better your type. But generally speaking, a person who does something for fun and not remuneration is called an amateur or a hobbyist, as distinct from a professional.

But finally, in order to determine which hobbies you practice could become your future career paths, you should better examine how easy it is to make a living from your leisure and recreational activities. For example, very few people can live from stamp collection, but many find it enjoyable. A lot of people like to observe and study the stars, but few have actually invested in this hobby and became astronomers. But a number of people who enjoyed traveling and writing have become journalists, or others who preferred cooking than dinning out have turned their passion into a flourishing business venture. Regardless if others find your hobby trivial or boring, you should invest some time in examining whether it has been ever introduced as a type of career. Even if not, do not get discouraged. People always find new ways to explore their entrepreneurship and business usually evolve just based on an idea. If you add on this equation talent, skill, and determination, you most probably have a winner. Whether you are an amateur writer or a painter, give it a shot and who knows? Maybe the next Hemingway or Picasso is you!

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for http://recreationsource.net/ - In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for http://ecookingcentral.com/ and http://thetravelinglifestyle.com/.Nadeen Blog86416
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Advanced Nursing Degrees

There is a general feeling that nursing as a profession needs more of hands-on experience than pure academic knowledge. There is a reason or two there. We are known to laud the role of nurses who have excellent practical abilities and management supervision skills.

But apart from the too-obvious hospital care jobs, nurses have definitive roles to play in many other healthcare functions, and even in stellar roles in healthcare industry. It needs no telling that higher education in nursing is imperative for nurses to work in senior positions, many of which are suitable for none else than nurses themselves.

In practice however, there is lukewarm response among nursing students to pursue higher degrees, perhaps for reasons of convenience and cost. For example, though numbers of nurses having a BSN degree has increased during the last four decades, yet only about 44% of 2.7 million nurses currently hold a bachelors degree or higher.

Given the advent of advanced medical treatment and progressively longer lifespan of people, there is no denying that the nursing practice is set to undergo many changes in sync with technology and need. Keeping this in perspective, in October 2004, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) agreed in a resolution to support the doctor of nursing practice (DNP) as a terminal practice degree. The DNP will be different from the PhD in that while the PhD has wider acceptance as being research-focused to supplant the masters degree, the DNP is proposed to be for those nurses who want an advanced practice role, such as nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist. However, perhaps very few schools like University of Kentucky have embarked on this new educational path to offer the DNP degree.

A brief round-up of various advanced nursing degrees is provided below:

1. RN to BSN If you commenced your career in nursing with an associate degree or a diploma, you may consider attaining your bachelors degree. Many advanced nursing positions today are increasingly looking for a minimum of bachelors degree. The good news is that a number of distance learning courses has made this a viable option for quite a few of you who are working professionals. Besides, there are flexible programs in addition to distance learning that can be suitably timed around your work schedule. In some cases, universities are known to consider your work experience toward academic credit, which means your cost and time to complete your degree reduce substantially.

2. RN to MSN and beyond Positions in higher management, clinical positions and educational institutes require a masters degree. When you pursue a masters degree, you typically learn to focus on management and / or clinical specialties and if you so choose, you may prepare to teach nursing courses upon completion. Nursing educators are much sought-after in US, so teaching can very well enhance your career to help shape the future of nursing.

3. Nurses as doctors As discussed above, the top echelon in advanced nursing degrees belongs to PhD and now the Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP). In recent years, more nurses are proceeding to go for a doctorate degree in nursing, and accordingly, many institutions too are expanding their basket of course offerings to appeal to more students and also to meet this growing demand. In fact, about a dozen institutes have added a DNP program in their curriculum, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, and more plan to start in near future. A doctorate degree in nursing is helpful to teach at university level, conduct research, and even work in clinical settings or hospital management.

4. Other options Among other careers pursuable for advanced nursing degree holders while remaining in a nursing discipline, nurse practitioner and nurse anesthetist must come first. In case of nurse practitioner, it is usually an offering of masters degree, whereupon you will qualify to take the national nurse practitioner certification exam. A qualified nurse practitioner is able to diagnose and treat many common illnesses as well as to prescribe medications.

On the other hand, after attaining a masters degree, if you are interested in becoming a nurse anesthetist, you need to pass a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) certification program. A qualified CRNA can be expected to work independently or in association with other anesthesiologists to provide anesthesia services in case of both surgical and obstetrical patients. A CRNAs work may be patient-intensive during preoperative, intra-operative and postoperative periods.

As can be seen from above discussions, there is no dearth of career opportunities for advanced nursing degree holders. In fact, as experts opine, the advancement of medical technology will continue to enrich and enhance the requirement of nursing personnel who are equipped with one or more advanced nursing degrees.

Copyright 2006 Linda Raye

Linda Raye is an accomplished writer and editor of NursingChoice.com website. Her main interest lies in the healthcare field with one of her passions being nursing. Contact her at: LRaye@cinci.rr.com.Morgan Blog50134
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