I Dare You To Do This Impossible Tip

Copyright © 2008 Nancy Fraser




Something that's as important to me as oxygen....is creativity.



Now you may wonder - what does selling have to with being creative?



Let me sum it up in 3 words:



IDEAS CREATE CUSTOMERS.



My office is absolutely gorgeous and it's not an accident. (a heck of a lot of reno work last summer!).



I have wall to wall leopard print carpet, a chandelier, fireplace, bookcases stuffed with my favorite books, mirrors, a stunning life-size painting of my grandmother in a bathing suit, a vintage black and white cocktail dress on a seamstress mannequin, pictures of people I love, encouraging notes from my clients, and a large chaise lounge on which I sit every week as I write my e-zine as the sun streams through the windows.



And everywhere - absolutely EVERYWHERE - you'll see words of inspiration on my walls. Why?



I surround myself with creativity in order to be more creative for my customers and my business.



One of my favorite quotes on the wall is from Alice in Wonderland:



"There is no use trying," said Alice, "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."



~ Lewis Carroll



Why Do I Do This Dear Alice?



2 Reasons:



1. It keeps me focused working ON my business vs IN it.



2. It helps me to think of "impossible things"



What's The Difference Between On and In?



Perspective.



When you're IN something - you're working hard, fulfilling orders, invoicing, tons of meetings, networking etc. But you aren't focused on WHERE you need to take your business or your sales.



Too much working IN the business is pretty much a guarantee your business will stay small and actually will shrink in time (just like Alice in Wonderland).



You Need To Be Like The "Large Alice":



When Alice drinks the magic potion - it changed her perspective. She first appeared large and clumsy but it also gave her a completely different view of her world.



She was looking "DOWN ONTO" it.



You need to:

imagine where you want your business and sales to be in 2 yrs, 5 yrs, 10 yrs.

examine where you're wasting your talent and time by doing every damn thing yourself.

evaluate the clients you make the most money from

decide WHERE you want to attract MORE clients.

Dare To Jump Down The Rabbit Hole



What feels impossible today?



Why are you allowing yourself to be "stuck" in that nasty place?



I am challenging you to SNAP OUT OF IT!



As your bossy Sales Diva sales manager I want you to start becoming more OUTRAGEOUS with your thinking. Do it for an hour per week (and not in your office or house either)



Before every action - someone had to think about it FIRST. Whether it was flying to the moon, or that creative woman inventing Spanx because she saw that EVEN Oprah cut her support nylons so she could wear capris pants!



And YOU can too.



Hop to it lady!



Love from your Sales Diva



P.S. If you loved this article, can you please pass it on to 3 of your sassy friends? They'll receive my FREE Report: The 5 Biggest Sales Mistakes Women Make as well as my savvy and sassy sales tips each week. All they have to do is sign up at www.salesdivas.com



Thanks a million!






About The Author:

Nancy Fraser of Nota Bene Consulting has been helping clients get better results with their marketing and advertising for over 20 years. Sign up for Notable News and get free marketing tips at http://www.notabenemarketing.com

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I Dare You To Do This Impossible Tip, by Nancy Fraser

Internet Fax - Do You Really Need It?

Copyright © 2008 Titus Hoskins




In business, as in life, habits are very hard to break. Over the years, the reliable old fax machine has become the standard way of sending faxes in most offices and workplaces. Despite a few paper jams or the occasional missed fax because of a busy signal, the old fax machine has worked out quite well.



There's no denying that point, but is there a more efficient way to fax?



Everything changes, including the way we fax. Now, there is a new method of faxing called Internet Fax or Email Faxing. It simply means you use the Internet and your email system to send and receive your faxes. You sign up to an online fax service provider which handles all your faxes. There is no need for a second phone line and you can access your faxes anywhere, anytime. And yes, you can still send your faxes via the old fax machine.



Trying a new way of doing things takes some effort on the part of everyone. And like anything new, not everyone or every business has embraced this new technology. Is this a crucial mistake? Do you or your company really need Internet Fax?



The answer to that question probably lies in a topic that's familiar to all businesses: competition. If you're in a competitive business, will you be at the top of your game without Internet Fax? That's probably the real question you have to ask?



Internet Fax gives you the advantage of accessing your faxes 24/7, anywhere you have Internet access so you are not tied down to your office fax machine. This can be a great benefit to those working on the road or in the field such as traveling salespeople, managers, real estate agents, engineers, onsite building contractors... and the list goes on.



Having access to your faxes at all times can make you more competitive in a very competitive world. It will give you that slight edge that can make all the difference in a crucial deal or transaction. It's probably your call or business decision whether or not you go with Internet Fax.



Keep in mind, an Internet Fax service is relatively inexpensive and there is no need for a second phone line. There are many fax providers you can choose from such as MyFax, eFax, RapidFax, TrustFax, and Send2Fax. You should also look at some lesser known fax providers such as Faxage out of Denver and Metrofax out of Seattle; many times choosing a relatively smaller company can give you better individual service in that you or your company don't get lost in the crowd.



In addition, many companies and individuals like to consolidate all their phone/fax services into one provider. RingCentral is a popular choice since it gives you virtual phone and fax services all rolled into one.



Like choosing any business service, it pays to shop around. You must find the service plan that suits your needs and budget. Internet Fax service plans range from the very modest $20 a year to around $10-$15 a month. Each plan will have a different number of faxes that you can send and receive. Rates are usually based on minutes with 5 cents per minute being the average cost. Multiple page faxes and International faxes will usually cost you more.



The question still remains, do you really need Internet Fax?



Since computers and the Internet are the wave of the future can your company or business remain truly competitive without Internet Fax? Again, this is your call or decision you have to make. It would mainly depend on how crucial faxing is to your business? Is faxing a vital element of your company? Does it play a part in generating new business or making sales? If faxing is a vital element of your company or business, then you may need Internet Fax just to stay in the game and remain competitive.



Many companies are switching over to Internet Fax or using it in addition to their current fax system. Considering the relatively inexpensive cost, this gives them the option of having access to their faxes at all times. For them going forward with Internet Fax is a wise business move on their part, one that will keep their company truly competitive in a very competitive world.






About The Author:

For more information on Internet Fax Services try this handy online Comparison Guide: Online Fax Or if you want more detailed information on Internet Faxing try here: Internet Fax Services. Titus Hoskins Copyright Â(c) 2008. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

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Internet Fax - Do You Really Need It?, by Titus Hoskins

Automatic Online Income - Myth or Fact?

Copyright © 2008 Titus Hoskins




Nothing excites the mind more than receiving automatic online income, day-in, day-out for all 365 days of the year. A true marvel to behold and the perfect solution to all your money worries.



It is totally liberating.



It gives you the freedom to pursue your life's goals, no matter what they may be. It gives you the freedom of mobility; you can live anywhere in the world. Moreover, it gives you the time to do the THINGS you want to do, whether it's sailing solo around the world or staying home to raise your kids.



Simply put, it gives you choices, plenty of choices. You are no longer tied down by a 9 to 5 job. You are your own boss. You decide when you work or even how much work you do.



But is automatic income from the web a myth or fact?



Are there really people making money 24/7 while they're sleeping, enjoying a delicious restaurant meal or even while on vacation?



The answer is YES!



Computers and the Internet are relatively new inventions. Like anything new, many people don't fully understand how they work or what excellent opportunities they offer. Most people just can't comprehend how someone can earn automatic income from the web.



To understand how this income is possible, you must first understand how the Internet works. Basically, at its very core, the Internet is simply information. We use the web to find information. We use it to find what we're looking for - whether that "something" is in the virtual world or in the so-called real world. Whether it's a pizza with the works or the theory of relativity explained in full... you can find it all on the net.



We use the Internet to solve problems, find a friend, buy a condo, book a vacation, write a book report... and the list is endless. But how do you earn income from the web, automatic or otherwise?



Again, the answer is quite simple, you just have to give web users what they're looking for and in most cases that "something" is information. They want information, neatly packaged and accessible at all times. They want things explained and pointed out to them in a direct manner. They want easy solutions to solve their questions or problems.



Information Is The Key



If you want to earn income from the web, you must place your website or sites squarely into this "information mix." You must offer something of value to your site's visitors, whether it's how to make the perfect angel cake or tips on buying a new laptop. You must offer valuable content, special deals, bargains... you must give people a good reason to use your site. They must benefit from using your site.



Just look at Google; they have built a billion dollar company by simply telling people where they can find information on the web. Their homepage is one of the simplest pages on the web and hasn't changed much since they started in 1998. But they offer the visitor valuable content/information which is needed and appreciated.



Granted you're not Google, but even the smallest webmaster can offer valuable information to their visitors. Everyone is an "expert" on something - just take your favorite hobby or pastime and run with it. Build a site, offer tips, give advice, gather information... create an online presence for your chosen topic or hobby and you're in business.



Once you have built a reputation for useful content, the search engines and your visitors will spread the word about your site's content. Then it is simply a matter of monetizing that content with affiliate links or thru advertising, such as Google Adsense.



There are countless ways or models of making automatic income on the web. The above example is just one of the simplest ways of earning income from your website. If you have your own product and an army of affiliates, then the above scenario is multiplied a hundredfold.



Automation Is Your Friend



You must keep in mind: computers and the Internet are tailor-made for automation. Once you create your sites and content, they run 24/7 without any help from you. Once you set up your follow-up autoresponders, they run 24/7 without any help from you. Once you set up your affiliate links and/or Adsense Code, they run 24/7 without any help from you. Once you have set up your viral marketing systems, such as free videos, free buying guides, free downloads, free articles and ebooks, they run themselves 24/7 automatically.



Of course, it is a good idea to monitor your site and your whole online operation. Plus, it would be wise to keep adding valuable content to your site or sites on a regular basis. But once you have set up your automatic income streams, they pretty much run themselves without much help from their creator.



Then you will see for yourself that regular automatic income from the web is indeed possible and not a myth. You will earn revenue, like clockwork, day-in, day-out; it is a true beauty to behold. Besides, there is no greater joy than coming back from a computer-free vacation only to find you have earned enough money to pay for your vacation and then some... all the while you were away enjoying the sun and the company of friends.



That's just one of the many joys having an automatic online income will give you. Many more await you...






About The Author:

The author is a full-time online marketer who has numerous websites, including two sites on Internet marketing. For the latest web marketing tools try: Marketing Tools If you want to create your own automatic income from the web, try these free courses from Ken Evoy's SiteSell: Internet Marketing Guides Copyright (c) 2008 Titus Hoskins. http://www.bizwaremagic.com This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

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Automatic Online Income - Myth or Fact?, by Titus Hoskins

How to Make a Sale Almost Every Time!

Copyright © 2008 Acey Gaspard




Making a sale is not the easiest thing to do. It takes skill, technique, knowledge, and persistence as well as many other skills. This article will help you improve your sales by focusing on one technique. Used correctly, your sales will skyrocket.



The best way to make a sale is to remove as many barriers as possible. I heard a story told by Bill Myers about how a World War II hero made a record flight, destroying several enemy planes single-handedly. When interviewed, the pilot revealed how he had accomplished this outstanding task. He said it was simple. The enemy planes were all in rows, still on the runway. That's how you'll want to set up your sales: aim for targets that are easy to hit!



To make a dramatic increase in your sales, simply find out what your customers want and give it to them. It's that simple!



Why try to sell your customers something that they don't want or something that you have to persuade them to buy? Doesn't it make more sense to offer your customers something they already want?



Here's a story I'm going to share with you. I love to use self-development courses on CDs. I'm eager to learn new things. I receive offers in the mail all the time, even though every time I finish a course, I say, “That’s it for a while.” The first step I take when I see a new offer in the mail is to open it and 50% of the time, I'll order the course. Some of the sales letters for these courses are 12 pages long. Do I read them from beginning to end? No, not really. I already know if I want it or not. I look over the benefits and the price, and I decide to buy it or not. I don't need a salesperson to persuade me. I don't need seven e-mails spread out over time telling me the benefits. I don't expect to have the offer shown to me. That’s it. The company that sends me the offers has an automatic moneymaking system. All they need to do is get the offer to me. Their sales are steady, they have a satisfied customer, and their return rate is low. For me, it's been zero returns since I’ve been buying these courses.



Now, if everything this company did was the same, except the product they offered was in a different category, they would have a zero percent response from me; because I don't want the product. If they sent this new offer to people like me, they would get a zero response rate. They might close the company, they might spend thousands of dollars to see what's wrong, and it's as simple as finding out what people want and giving it to them. Some business people spend thousands of dollars on products and services that no one wants. Then they spend thousands of dollars trying to market these products and services. Why go through all that trouble and spend all that money and waste all that time? Give your prospects and customers what they want! It’s the best way to make solid sales, get lifetime customers, and streamline your business.



You need to focus on one issue and make sure you don’t get off-track. Give your customers what they want and nothing else. Stay focused on the needs and wants of your prospects and customers, and your business will prosper!



That’s the way I see it. To Your Success! Acey Gaspard



Action Steps to Make More Sales



1. Find out what your customers and prospects want.



2. Provide products and services that your customers and prospects already want



Important Points to Keep in Mind for Making More Sales

To make a dramatic increase in your sales, simply find out what your customers want and give it to them.

Why try to sell your customers something that they don't want or something that you have to persuade them to buy?

Some business people spend thousands of dollars on products and services that no one wants. Don't guess, investigate!

Stay focused on the needs and wants of your prospects and customers, and your business will prosper!

About The Author:

Acey Gaspard has over 20 years of business experience. His site, A Touch of Business.com, http://www.atouchofbusiness.com is steadily growing with well over 1,100 original pages to help you run and market your small business. Get Tips you can use today! http://www.atouchofbusiness.com/tips.html

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How to Make a Sale Almost Every Time!, by Acey Gaspard

Why you don't want Michelangelo working on your website

Copyright © 2006-2008 Mark Silver




Everyone wants to live surrounded by beauty. Beauty soothes the soul, and lifts the spirit. It inspires us and keeps us healthy. We all want beauty.



Can you have beauty in your website? Sure you can, and it's important to have your website be pleasing to the folks you want to help. Unfortunately, this desire to have beauty and to please folks means that you can spend a great deal of time creating a 'unique and beautiful' web design that people actually avoid. How can you spend so much time on beauty, sacrifice so much money with a designer, and still end up with a mess?



Do you do Frescoes?



No one would complain about the beauty of the Sistine Chapel in Rome.



Michelangelo spent four years, from July, 1508 through October, 1512, painting over 5,000 square feet of the Sistine Chapel's ceiling.



Unfortunately, Michelangelo was a sculptor, and loved working in marble. Prior to the Sistine Chapel, he had only painted briefly as a student of Domenico Ghirlandaio in Florence. Which means that he got off to a slow start as he learned how to paint frescoes.



Luckily for him, Michelangelo was already an accomplished artist. He wasn't exactly doing the Sistine Chapel as a free promotional effort. Pope Julius II commissioned him for those four years, and didn't seem to mind that it took Michelangelo a while to get in a groove.



History reports that one of the Pope's motivations was to outdo Pope Alexander VI. So, the whole idea was to create an amazingly glorious ceiling that would stun everyone who saw it.



Are you trying to stun your visitors? Remember the purpose of your website: to create a relationship with the right people, connect with their hearts and needs, and to help them take the next step in relationship to what you offer. If you aren't being commissioned to paint the ceiling of your website by a fabulously wealthy Pope, and if you aren't trying to stun your visitors with beauty, I suggest you relax, just a little bit, any attachment you might have to beauty and uniqueness around your website.



Your visitor is waiting for dinner.



Imagine showing up at a friend's house to eat. You've worked all day, you're hungry and you've been looking forward to dinner. Yet, once you arrive, they keep you waiting for three hours while they pull out family home movies, or their wedding album.



It's not that you wouldn't eventually like to see those things. But first, can we have dinner, please?



The Two Functions of Your Design



Absolutely prepare and present the food with love and beauty. But just remember that your visitor is looking for food, not frescoes. It's been shown that when a visitor comes to a website, design plays two primary functions:



(1) to show that the website is solid and professional-looking enough that the business can be trusted, and



(2) to make sure that the visitor can find what she needs really easily without having to guess or hunt.



As long as you are meeting those two needs, your design is going to work.



So, where is it safe to bring forth beauty and inspiration on your site, and where will it keep you stuck to the ceiling for four years?



Keys to Website Design

Things to avoid.



Avoid putting a pattern behind your text, or using a text color that isn't very dark. In fact, I recommend that you stick with black text on a white background. Millions of novels of great variety, beauty and talent are written, all printed black text on a white background.



As a general rule, avoid animation and oversized photos and illustrations- anything that distracts from the food you want your visitor to eat.



Avoid unique design layouts. Many websites look the same structurally- and so do human beings. You don't have to look at the back of someone's knees to find their eyes. People know how to connect with each other more easily in part because of structural similarities.



Your visitor has been trained to expect certain conventions in web design, so they can find what they are looking for. Don't play a guessing game with them by creating some outlandishly creative and confusing design.

Things to do.



Keep your text front and center. Keep your navigation either across the top, or down one side, with clear labels. Don't use more than two columns- one for the navigation or side text, and one for the main content of the page.



Have a clear banner across the top with a simple message about your business.

Things of beauty and inspiration



Make your banner beautiful and inspiring, without being cluttered. Use colors you love.



Use creative bullets rather than just the usual round variety.



Use color highlights around navigation buttons, and in the frame around your page.

Above all, don't agonize over it.



If you don't have a website yet, or your website isn't effective and you are upgrading it, bring in what creativity you have, but don't agonize over the beauty aspects. Your visitors are waiting to be fed! Once you start having a lot of visitors coming to your website, and your business is humming, you can take the time and space to bring out the fine china for them.



My very best to you and your business,



Mark Silver





About The Author:

Mark Silver is the author of Unveiling the Heart of Your Business: How Money, Marketing and Sales can Deepen Your Heart, Heal the World, and Still Add to Your Bottom Line. He has helped hundreds of small business owners around the globe succeed in business without losing their hearts. Get three free chapters of the book online: http://www.heartofbusiness.com

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Why you don't want Michelangelo working on your website, by Mark Silver

How to Become a Medical Assistant

Copyright © 2008 Mark Stout, BSc, MD




The duties of medical assistants vary from office to office, depending on the location and size of the practice and the practitioner’s specialty. In small practices, medical assistants usually do many different kinds of tasks, handling both administrative and clinical duties and reporting directly to an office manager, physician, or other health practitioner. Those in large practices tend to specialize in a particular area, under the supervision of department administrators.



Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running smoothly. They should not be confused with Physician assistants, who examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the direct supervision of a physician.



The duties and job details of medical assistants vary according to what is allowed by State law. Some common tasks include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients for examinations, and assisting physicians during examinations. Medical assistants collect and prepare laboratory specimens and sometimes perform basic laboratory tests on the premises, dispose of contaminated supplies, and sterilize medical instruments. They might instruct patients about medications and special diets, prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician, authorize drug refills as directed, telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy, draw blood, prepare patients for x-rays, take electrocardiograms, remove sutures, and change dressings.



Medical assistants also usually perform administrative tasks such as update and file patient medical records, fill out insurance forms, and arrange for hospital admissions and laboratory services. They also perform tasks less specific to medical settings, such as answering telephones, greeting patients, handling correspondence, scheduling appointments, and handling billing and bookkeeping. Medical assistants also may arrange examining room instruments and equipment, purchase and maintain supplies and equipment, and keep waiting and examining rooms neat and clean.



In most cases a medical assistant is a none licensed health care professional and they are trained in a variety of way. Many receive informal on the job type of training while others learn the basics of a medical practice and patient care in a more formal setting such . Formal training for medical assistants may occur at a local junior college, vocational school, medical assistant school, high school technical classes, local hospital or online distance education programs. A good example to newer innovative online training is available at www.medassistant.org . St. Augustine Medical Assistant School is an educational service that uses internet based technology to train medical assistants online.



According to the United States Department of Labor, employment for this filed is projected to grow much faster than average, ranking medical assistants among the fastest growing occupations over the 2006-16 decade. Job opportunities should be excellent, particularly for those with formal training or experience.






About The Author:

Mark Stout, BSc, MD is the director of medical assistant education services at St. Augsutine Medical Assistant School online at http://www.medassistant.org

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How to Become a Medical Assistant, by Mark Stout, BSc, MD

Where is My Expired Domain? Searching For Good Expired Domains

Copyright © 2008 John Khu




Domain name traders are one busy set of people, who are always on the edge of their seats to grab up very good expiring domain names. Finding very good expired domains on time and within your limited budget is a great task and an intelligent act. Domain name traders are always very eager to search for good expiring domain names. They always ask to themselves- Where the hell is my expired domain name? To find very good expired or expiring domain names, you may wish to learn and understand the basic aspects of finding a soon-to-expire domain name much before than others.



Here are some very simple and easy to understand techniques that will help you identify and buy a good expired domain name in a flash and beat your competitors with their hands down:



List down the names of expired domain names that you already own: Right now, you may own a series of domain names. You may wish to buy an expired domain name that does not repeat these names. In fact, it is wastage of money to buy expired domain names that are similar in their name, phonetics and structure. This is quite obvious, but an important fact!



Research, Research, Research: You will need to know, when those soon-to-expire domain names actually expire and become orphan. This seems to be the most precious secret of a successful domain name trader. When you prepare a list of soon-to-expire domain names, you can really get ready to book and grab those domain names. This will be an ongoing process that is continuous and streaming.



Know where the potentially good domains are: Before buying an expired domain, you should know the previous owner of the domain name, the credentials of the domain and its Whois data. This will help you in contacting the owner before the auction of the said domain.



Use Sophisticated Software Applications: An experienced expired domain name trader will own an arsenal highly sophisticated software tools to grab those expired domain names much before other actually do. These tools will not only help you find a good expired domain, but also assist you in bidding your best rate before others suggest theirs.



Dedication and Perseverance: No one can survive domain trading business unless he or she shows utmost dedication and perseverance towards the business. You will need to focus and self motivate to survive in the business by buying the best possible expired domain names.



If you ask where your expired domains are, they are right in front of your own eyes. All you have to do to is to apply your energy, mind and resources towards finding good domain names. Finding money spinning domains expired is also a task that needs your skills and intelligence. These are basic and vital steps recommended finding very good expired domain names. You may wish to follow them in details to grab that eye catching and potentially money making domain.






About The Author:

John Khu is an author and also a seasoned professional with vast experience in expired domain name business. He is the owner of the path breaking web site called http://www.expireddomainsecret.com which provides complete and up-to-date information on expired domains and their eternal secrets.

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Where is My Expired Domain? Searching For Good Expired Domains, by John Khu

How to Please Most of Your Customers and Keep Them Happy with Less!

Copyright © 2008 Acey Gaspard




You want to keep all your customers happy. The problem is that everyone thinks differently and experiences things uniquely. You can't please 100% of your customers. But you can focus on the needs of a smaller amount of customers. Please them, and you'll automatically have a lot more happy customers.



Amy has a jewelry store. She has been in business for a few years and has a lot of experience in this field. One of her business policies is to get feedback from her customers. Although this is an excellent technique for finding out what your customers want, you must use the feedback with discretion.



Amy's problem was that she took each comment too seriously; she tried to please everyone and was constantly changing her business practices and product line. This constant change not only caused her frustration, a lot of extra work, and the extra cost involved with each change, it also made her business unstable.



Customer feedback is an essential part of running a business, but the way you interpret those results is critical. Since you can't please everyone, please those that you can. Find out what your customers want, and then choose products and services along that line. Do less, do a better job, and you'll do better in your business. You'll find that your profits grow, you're more focused on what needs to be done and you're more at ease. Don't go after quantity, but rather focus on quality. You can't please everyone, so please those that you can and you'll end up pleasing more customers. If you try to please everyone, you'll end up pleasing no one. When you combine your strengths and the desires of the majority of your customers, you'll be able to create a better, stronger business.



Let's take the above example of Amy's jewelry shop. Amy has expertise in diamonds, and 60% of her customers come to her shop to purchase diamonds. Amy also has gold rings, gold bracelets, and silver as well as other types of jewelry. Now, if Amy were to focus only on diamonds and build her business in this area instead of spreading herself thin with the other categories of jewelry, she would do much better.



She could take surveys to find out what areas of the diamond trade customers are interested in and determine what services are also needed. She can easily become one of the leading diamond retailers in her area simply by making an adjustment in her focus.



What part of your business do you need to focus on? What are your strengths? Focus on those areas, and eliminate the areas in which you're not doing so well and that are not what your customers want. You'll find that your business will prosper, and you'll move up the ranks with regard to branding, customer service, and quality. Do your best at pleasing the people you can and forget about those you can't. You'll end up with happier customers, and more of them, along with a stronger, stable business! That's the way I see it. To Your Success! Acey Gaspard



Action Steps to Please Your Customers



1. Keep in mind that you can't please everyone, so please those people you can.
2. Find out what your customers want.
3. Eliminate those areas that do not focus on your customers' desires.
4. Build on those areas that cater to your customers desires.



Important Points to Keep When Trying to Please Your Customers

Everyone thinks differently and experiences things uniquely.

Customer feedback is an essential part of running a business, but the way you interpret those results is critical.

You can't please everyone, so please those that you can and you'll end up pleasing more customers.

When you combine your strengths and the desires of the majority of your customers, you'll be able to create a better, stronger business.

About The Author:

Acey Gaspard has over 20 years of business experience. His site, A Touch of Business.com, http://www.atouchofbusiness.com is steadily growing with well over 1,100 original pages to help you run and market your small business. Get Tips you can use today! http://www.atouchofbusiness.com/tips.html

Article Source: thePhantomWriters Article Submission Service



How to Please Most of Your Customers and Keep Them Happy with Less!, by Acey Gaspard

Beware Of Magic Beans - A Warning To Newbie Internet Marketers

Copyright © 2008 Bill Platt




John (and other newbie online marketers),



Let me ask you a question. Why would you ever send out an email that destroys your own credibility? Credibility is absolutely essential to the success of any company on the Internet. And yet, you lied to me in your email, multiple times.



Lies? Yes, that is a strong word. Would you prefer me to suggest that you exhibited "extreme ignorance"?



I know that you likely have some very clever software that you are using to construct and mail your sales offers to folks.



Your only salvation here is that I know you likely made only one mistake. You trusted your handy-dandy software package to take good care of your business interests.



But your software has failed you.



The first problem in your mailing appears in the first and second paragraphs.



"I was recently reviewing automobiles ezine sites in some of the major search engines and I came across your web site: www.thephantomwriters.com."



"After reviewing your site I found that we are both targeting the exact same market, though we are not in competition with each other."



It is obvious that you really did not review my website, or you would not have written your sales message as you did. But then again, I also know that your nifty little software package wrote the actual sales script for you.



Later in your message, you also said,



"I offer this partnership very selectively, so please do act fast if you wish to go ahead with this."



Here is another lie that your software's nifty little sales script tagged to "your reputation". If you were selective about who you offered this too, you would never have contacted me. After all, I only have about 20 pages related to the automotive industry - in more than 6000 pages on The Phantom Writers website.



The truth is that ThePhantomWriters.com is not an automotive website!!! It does not even have its own ezine!!!



But, you know what? I decided to check out your offer anyway, because I actually do own an automotive website at a different URL. I am always on the search for monetization offers for my various websites, so I gave you a shot.



At the beginning and end of your message, you referred to my "automotive website", and you offered an affiliate program to enable my "automotive ezine" to earn money.



The biggest disappointment I found in your message is that your affiliate program has absolutely nothing to do with automobiles or the automotive industry. Nope. You are soliciting me to sign up for an affiliate program, to sell web hosting services to my visitors!!! Yes, it is true that most website owners own cars, but not all car owners own websites!



John H. (last name withheld for obvious reasons), I have news for you. My company specializes in the creation of informational and tutorial-style articles and in the distribution of those articles to publishers on the World Wide Web, for the purpose of promoting my clients' websites.



You know what else John? In responding to your email, I just wrote my newest article. The good news is that you are going to be famous!!! The bad news is that you are going to be famous for all of the wrong reasons...






About The Author:

Bill Platt - Owner of http://thePhantomWriters.com The Phantom Writers specializes in creating and distributing informational articles for the promotion of our clients' websites. Even if you write your own articles, we can help you out by distributing your articles to our network of ezine publishers, website owners, blog owners and newspaper websites. http://thephantomwriters.com/x.pl/tpw/info/nutshell.html

Article Source: thePhantomWriters Article Submission Service



Beware Of Magic Beans - A Warning To Newbie Internet Marketers, by Bill Platt

How To Create A Vision For Your Career

Copyright © 2008 Deborah Brown-Volkman




All of life’s journeys begin with the phrase, “I want.”



Think about your career and the times when you said “I want.” Maybe you said “I want” go to college—and then enrolled in school and completed your degree. Maybe you said “I want” to work for a large or a small company—and you are working there now. Maybe you said “I want” to lead teams—and that’s one of your current responsibilities. “I want” is a very powerful phrase. Without it, it’s hard to go very far.



Imagine going on a trip without selecting a destination beforehand. What would you pack? How would you get there? Where would you stay? Your trip probably would not end up being much fun.



It’s the same with your career. Not being able to visualize your desired result leads to results not happening. Goals are reached when you decide what you want, and then take action to get it. Without an end in mind, you will wander aimlessly; and as long as you are aimless, you will be wasting time. You will feel lost. You will be like a stray leaf, going wherever the wind takes you.



WHAT’S A VISION?



My definition of a vision is a visualization or a picture of where you see yourself in the future. Your picture can be one of where you want to be in a day, a week, a month, a year, or even farther into the future. The visualization of your goal is what compels you to move forward. A vision is a snapshot of what you want your career and life to look like in the future. This snapshot gives your journey a clear and reachable destination and provides focus.



All goals are reached in the mind first. You see yourself both achieving that goal and experiencing the satisfaction it will bring you once you are there. This picture is what will help you to persevere during times of doubt. Your picture of success will give you purpose, power, and excitement. Your picture will give you a reason to get out of bed every day.



HOW DO YOU CREATE A VISION?



Close your eyes. Let your imagination take over. Get in touch with what you really want and what is important to you. Ask yourself meaningful questions. Let the answers come to you.



WHAT QUESTIONS WILL HELP GET YOU TO YOUR VISION QUICKLY?



Here are some questions you can ask yourself:

If it was possible, what would be different in my career?

What type of job would I have?

What would I be responsible for?

What type of boss/co-workers/team would I have?

What kind of hours would I work?

What type of company would I work for?

What sort of culture would the company have?

What city would I live in?

How much money would I make?

How would I handle stress, my workload, and deadlines?

Once you have thought about these questions, it is time to get your answers down on paper. There are no right or wrong answers to these questions. The answers are what is true for you—not what someone else wants for you, but what is truly in your heart. Listen to yourself, and your answers will be the perfect ones for you.



Once you have your vision, then it’s time to make it real.



So, what do you say? You only have one life to live, so it might as well be a life you love!






About The Author:

Deborah Brown-Volkman, PCC, is the President of Surpass Your Dreams, Inc. a successful career, life, and mentor coaching company that works with Senior Executives, Vice Presidents, and Managers who are looking for new career opportunities or seek to become more productive in their current role. She is the author of “Don't Blow It! The Right Words For The Right Job,” “Coach Yourself To A New Career,” and “How To Feel Great At Work Everyday.” Deborah can be reached at http://www.surpassyourdreams.com

Article Source: thePhantomWriters Article Submission Service



How To Create A Vision For Your Career, by Deborah Brown-Volkman

Are You Looking For A Great Product To Market? Here's Where To Start!

Copyright © 2008 Acey Gaspard




Finding a product to market takes effort and several defined steps. You could go after the wrong product and end up with a failing business.



I'll discuss my view on this subject and if you take the advice, then you'll be headed in the right direction and find something fulfilling to put your time and effort into.



Doing what you love to do will dramatically increase your chances of success. Don’t waste your time and effort on something that’s not for you.



Alex loves computers; he can talk about them all-day. He keeps up with the latest trends and technologies. Computers are his passion. Alex has a successful career in selling computers. He's doing something he loves. He could market computers with little effort and he could go nonstop because of his passion for computers. Alex is blessed, because he's doing something he loves. Do you have a passion like Alex?



Many of us may be unaware that we can do much better by marketing something that we are passionate about. Don't look for the hottest products or latest trends to market just because of the money. If you want long lasting success you have to market something you enjoy, something that captures your interest.



Here are a few reasons you should market something you're passionate about rather than just doing it for the money.



When you're marketing something you’re passionate about, then you'll find new ideas easily. If you face a setback, you'll always a find away around it. You'll be creative. You’re focused and you won't jump at every unrelated opportunity that shows up. You'll be happy while you’re working. You'll be working at your peak performance. You'll feel satisfaction when you're successful. You'll enjoy your work.



When you're marketing something you’re NOT passionate about, then you'll think of giving up when faced with any glitch as opposed to looking for a solution. You'll be jumping from opportunity to opportunity, cutting your resources short. If you're successful you'll feel a void, because this is not your true purpose. If you work long hours, you'll ask yourself, “Is this worth it?” You'll feel overwhelmed when you need to give it all you've got. Your efforts and creativity are limited.



Here are some simple steps to help identify your true interests



Step 1: Consider the following questions:



What are you good at?
What are you interested in?
What are passionate about?
What do people ask you about a lot?




Step 2: Write down ONE answer for the above questions.



Step 3: Is there a product or service that you THINK the marketplace wants? Write down your answer on the next line.



Step 4: Go to Step 1: and repeat the steps until you have eliminated all other interests.



Step 5: Go over the list and do a little research on what's going on in the marketplace. You can do this by typing in a few keywords in your favorite search engine. For example: Your interest is art. You could type in any of the following: art business opportunity; affiliate program art; art; business art; starting your own art business



Step 6: With a little more knowledge of what's in the marketplace, you now have a better idea of what you want to aim for and what the marketplace wants. Follow your feelings and choose the area that interests you the most.



There is still work, but you are now on the right track. You can put your time and effort into something that you're interested in. Now you can develop or find the best product for the marketplace. You have just dramatically increased your chances of success, because you have a solid foundation and you're pointed in the right direction. Your passion will guide you and push you through any hard times you may face.



That’s the way I see it.
To Your Success!
Acey Gaspard



Action Steps When Looking for a Great Product to Market



1. Think about your passions, what brings you enjoyment, what you would do all-day without getting paid for.



2. Take some quiet time and do the exercise above.



3. After you have identified your passion and interest, then you must do research to find or develop a product or service for the marketplace.



Important Points to Keep in Mind When Looking for a Great Product to Market

Doing what you love to do will dramatically increase your chances of success.

Don't waste your time and effort on something that's not for you.

Many of us may be unaware that we can do much better by marketing something that we are passionate about.

Don't look for the hottest products or latest trends to market just because of the money.

Follow your feelings and choose the area that interests you the most.

Put your time and effort into something that you're interested in.

About The Author:

Acey Gaspard has over 20 years of business experience. His site, A Touch of Business.com, http://www.atouchofbusiness.com is steadily growing with well over 1,100 original pages to help you run and market your small business. Get Tips you can use today! http://www.atouchofbusiness.com/tips.html

Article Source: thePhantomWriters Article Submission Service



Are You Looking For A Great Product To Market? Here's Where To Start!, by Acey Gaspard

Using Domains Expired To Make Online Profits

Copyright © 2008 John Khu




Good and novelty domain names could be a great asset for you, when you consider their immense commercial value and perceived online utility. When the internet appeared first time, almost year's back, no one knew the potential value of domain names. With each passing day and as the concept of internet grew up down the years, people started identifying the potential money making values of good domains. With the impeding dot com bubble burst, several millions of domain names suddenly became orphaned and lonely over the wide expanse on internet. This was the unfortunate time when millions of net entrepreneurs lost everything they had, and they did not even have enough money to renew those domain names.



However, there were a fortunate lot of intelligent people, who anticipated and visualized the future prospects of holding all these domains expired. Soon, there was a new trend of people, who were racing against time to grab and buy domain expired. A new form of business took its birth, when intelligent domain name traders gobbled up millions of domains expired within days and months.



Why did they purchase such a huge number of domains expired? What were the real reasons? It seems that with the stabilization of internet and net business opportunities, new and enthusiastic people are looking for a good and old expired domain, so that they can use it for developing meaningful web sites. Secondly, trading in domains expired provides unlimited wealth and online riches to people within the shortest possible time.



Right now, people understand and perceive the commercial importance of buying very good domains expired. With a sustained rush for domain names, everyone is trying to test the waters to make some money online. As of now, the demand for good expired domain names is slowly increasing. A good domain name expired can cost you well under $100 to buy and register. But, it is possible to sell the same domain for an amount as high as $300, provided you sell it an auction process.



If you have a series of domains expired at your disposal, you can earn some decent income by using the power of expired domain names. One of the best ways to earn a simple income is to sell it straightaway to an interested buyer. But, with this option, you may not really earn a large income. So, you will need to devise a strategy that will provide you an opportunity to earn more income. One of the most preferred ways of earning small incomes by using domains expired, is to park it with a parking service. Parking service provides you a facility, where you can create a simple web page to host your expired domain name. When online surfers click on your page, they will navigate to other useful web site that can provide very good services, sell excellent products or provide useful online information. For very successful click, you can earn a small income and when pooled, this can be a very big source of income to you.



Other simple methods include registering your domains expired with convenient PPC and affiliate engines that provide a tiny share of income that arises out of successful sales or clicks. You can also use a good expired domain name to build a web site, develop it with good content and later sell them at premium rates to any interested parties. These are some of the simple methods that allow you to use the hidden power of domains expired to make a large pool of income. If you are careful enough in using your expired domains, you can earn a hefty profit and a sustained residual form of income.






About The Author:

John Khu is an author and also a seasoned professional with vast experience in expired domain name business. He is the owner of the path breaking web site called http://www.expireddomainsecret.com which provides complete and up-to-date information on expired domains and their eternal secrets.

Article Source: thePhantomWriters Article Submission Service



Using Domains Expired To Make Online Profits, by John Khu

How To Leverage Your List to Grow It Even Faster

Copyright © 2008 Willie Crawford




People are peculiar creatures... more alike in our thoughts and behavior than we like to admit. One thing that is true of most people, regardless of culture, and unique circumstances is that they like to know something that other people want to know.



We also like to share that information.



It makes us look and feel smarter :-)



It allows us to appear to have inside information and we like that. Not only do we like to share information, we like to steer our friends and family in the right direction.



People share all kinds of information. They tell their neighbors which exterminator to use and which one does a shoddy job. They recommend the talented barber or hair stylist.



The same traits are common among your subscribers. They consider you a trusted expert, and a great source of products or services, or they wouldn't stay on your opt-in list.



You need to find ways to take advantage of this human need to know what-is-what and the instinct to share useful information. Most people will share information willingly and without much incentive from you. However, providing a little incentive usually doesn't hurt.



Your first step is to convince your opt-in list subscribers that they really do have the inside track for success by being members of your list. There are about a million ways to tell people that they are smart and that by being members of your opt-in list proves it. Never miss the opportunity to share that compliment.



Your next step is to get these smart subscribers to share your great ezine with their family and friends thus building your list.



The easiest and simplest thing that you can do is to... ask them.



Ask them to pass along copies of your ezine or autoresponder messages, and include a link to your subscribe url at the bottom of each issue. That way, those who read "pass-along copies," and enjoy them, will know how to get more :-)



You can also Offer incentives for referring new subscribers. I actually PAY my existing subscribers (on some lists) for referring others.



You can offer cash payments for new referrals, having them send the referrals to get something like a value-packed free report. Use an affiliate tracking system such as ProfitAutomation.com to automatically track referral commissions and then once a month, pay those commissions.



If you want the paid referral system to be totally hands-free, set it up as an affiliate program using a script like Rapid Action Profits. With Rapid Action Profits, they would use a referral link to sell an inexpensive report, and when a referral gets the report they pay the referrer directly. The token fee for the report, is deposited directly to the referrer's Paypal account.



This is a very powerful way of using subscribers or customers to build a list of paying customers. Many people treasure a list built this way more because it's a list of PROVEN buyers. If you are not familiar with RAP, you can check it out at: http://TheRealSecrets.com/RapidActionProfits/



You can see how I implemented using RAP with an ebook that I wrote called "Secrets Of The Clickbank Millionaires." I let my subscribers sell the ebook for $5 (a real bargain for their friends) but the payment goes directly to them, and it's paid INSTANTLY. Since they don't have to wait for Payments, it's a very powerful incentive for those with cashflow problems.



You can see how I've implemented using "Secrets Of The Clickbank Millionaires" to incentivize subscribers to make referrals at: http://TheRealSecrets.com/ClickbankMillionaires/



Another powerful way to get your existing subscribers, and even just random website visitors, to make referrals is to use a tell-a-friend script on your site.



Perhaps, tell your list that referring your ezine to 4-6 people will earn them a free gift, and set the form to forward them to that download once they've completed and submitted the form. Don't base it on the number of people who actually sign up, but rather on them referring your list to their friends. Many of their referrals won't sign up, and you need to avoid creating frustration in existing readers who are trying to help you build your list.



You can find good tell-a-friend scripts in many places. The Rapid Action Profits script mentioned earlier even has a tell-a-friend script built in that allows customers and subscribers to make referrals right from your download pages.



I've just given you a few quick and easy ways to leverage your existing list to grow your opt-in list even faster. The leverage comes from you simply getting existing subscribers to recommend you to their contacts. You can do this with or without offering an incentive. Simple isn't it :-)






About The Author:

Willie Crawford is an Internet marketer with over 11 years of experience at generating record-breaking sales and massive email lists using viral marketing techniques. Rebrandable ebooks created using Viral Document Toolkit are a favorite tool! See the demo video at: http://ViralDocumentToolkits.com

Article Source: thePhantomWriters Article Submission Service



How To Leverage Your List to Grow It Even Faster, by Willie Crawford

Handling Complaints Without Making Things Worse

Copyright © 2008 Mark Silver




The email comes, or the phone rings, and there's an absolute flood pouring right at you. "Hey, you didn't do what you said you would do. This didn't work as advertised. You goofed!"



Yup, a complaint. Ahhh! A complaint?! But you poured your heart and soul into it, how could they complain?



Then you take a breath, and you read what they're asking for, and you realize... they were right. You DID make a mistake. Things are goofed up, perhaps badly.



Time to hang up your hat and go work in a cafe?



Well, no, not really. But it can sure feel that way. Why is it that when you get a complaint it always stirs you up?



I could say it's a gift from Source (and it is) but let's not go there immediately. Before you try to figure it out, take a moment, or two, or an hour, or even half a day, for yourself.



That's right, you don't have to respond immediately.



Not every complaint is going to shake you, but when they do resist the urge to respond immediately. Instead, take time for yourself to feel upset, to connect with your heart, and to realize that perhaps it's not as bad as you might think.



Once you catch up to your heart, then it's time to respond. Let's take a look, shall we?



We apologize for any inconvenience...



This is exactly what you -don't- want to say. Unfortunately, there's been 'corporate' language creeping into every day speech. Plus, as a small business owner, you don't necessarily see what other small business owners do in the dark of their email inboxes, so you don't have other examples.



You and I are only used to seeing the kind of emails/letters/phone calls that the big boys send out to their millions of customers.



This is not what you want to emulate. Not.



The three most important things in an apology response.



When someone complains, they are actually giving you an incredible testimonial. You see, trust and hope have been broken so often in our culture, that many people just take average or below-average as 'normal.'



For instance, our trash can broke just a year or two after we bought it. A trash can? It should last for years, really, but I didn't expect any better. And I didn't complain to anyone (except my wife.)



So, if you get a complain, that means they trust you enough to show you how much they wanted your offer/product/service to work for them. That they trusted you enough to handle them with care, even when they are upset. That they trusted that you will take care of them.



That's a lot of trust.



So, how about those three things that are needed in the response? Let's take a closer look at them.



Keys to Caring for Complaints.

Hear ye, O hear ye!

First and foremost they want to be heard. They want you to hear the facts of the matter, but even more importantly, they want you to get that they are upset to some degree.



Read their email, or letter, or listen to the words they spoke carefully. Did they say they were "frustrated?" Or did they say they were "really upset!" Did their tone sound like it had a LOT of energy in it, or was it fairly mild.



You want to let them know that you get exactly how upset they are, and the tone of the emotion. If someone says "really upset!" don't say: "Sounds like you're a little frustrated."



They aren't a little frustrated- they are "really upset!" So let them know you see it: "Wow, I get that you are really upset! I'm glad you let me know how upset you are!"

It's 'me' not 'we.'

We've all been trained to say "we" in these kinds of situations. "We apologize for any inconvenience." But, seriously, who is "we?" Even if you have a company of 10,000, you are the person responding.



They showed you trust by complaining, show them trust by being a little vulnerable here, don't hide behind the 'we' even if other people were involved.



For instance: 'I'm sad about the goof, because I want you to get the best from me (or us if there is more than one of you), and I'm grateful you let me know so I can fix it.'

Accountability.

Tell them how you're going to fix the problem. Give details. Instead of 'We'll replace it for you.' try writing something like this:



'I'm putting the replacement in the mail today by priority mail- you should have it in about three days. Please let me know when you receive it and if it's in good shape.'



Most of all, respond to the people who complain as you would talk to a good friend, not to someone who you need to hide from or keep at an arm's length.



An example.



We received an email asking about an order- and, you know what, our system dropped the order, and we weren't tracking. We got paid, but we never shipped the item. Luckily, this happens rarely.



The instinct from corporate examples is to respond like this:



"We apologize for any inconvenience. We're sending you a replacement copy immediately, and you should have it very soon. We really appreciate your business, and we want to make this right with you.



Sincerely,"



It's perfectly fine, in some ways. And yet, here is how we like to respond:



"Wow- I'm so sorry that we goofed your order like that! Ugh! I can imagine you've been frustrated, wondering where in the heck your order is, and here it is more than a week later!



"I want you to know that I just put your book into a priority mail envelope and it's going out today. It should take about three days to get to you. If you don't have it by Tuesday, let me know.



"apologies! appreciation!



"Mark (or whomever is writing the email)"



And, we also usually put a little extra gift in the package, as a surprise, when we goof.



If you let yourself breathe through your initial reaction to a complaint, then you will see the deep trust that is being given, and you can return it in a way that will feel great to your heart.



Stick with saying "me" instead of "we," being authentic, and show them how you are going to fix it, and you'll see how goof-ups can actually be doorways to creating deeper trust, and your upset clients just might turn into raving fans.



The best to you and your business,



Mark Silver






About The Author:

Mark Silver is the author of Unveiling the Heart of Your Business: How Money, Marketing and Sales can Deepen Your Heart, Heal the World, and Still Add to Your Bottom Line. He has helped hundreds of small business owners around the globe succeed in business without losing their hearts. Get three free chapters of the book online: http://www.heartofbusiness.com

Article Source: thePhantomWriters Article Submission Service



Handling Complaints Without Making Things Worse, by Mark Silver

Small Business Health Insurance: Escaping the Catch-22

Copyright © 2008 Melissa Mashtonio




As the economy continues to tank so do the number of Americans without health insurance—and the number small business owners who can afford to insure their employees.



A recent survey by the NFIB Research Foundation, a small business advocacy group, showed that only 47 percent of small business owners offer employee health benefits. Those employing 20 or more people are more than twice as likely to offer employee health benefits as those with fewer than 10.



The survey found that the low numbers are primarily the result of new small businesses opting not to cover employees. Most small businesses who offer benefits have offered them for a while and are reluctant to drop them for fear of losing good employees.



“It’s much better for employee morale if a small-business owner never offers health benefits, than it is to offer them and then be forced to take it away because it is too expensive to continue,” said William J. Dennis, NFIB’s senior research fellow. “Small-business owners experience considerable turmoil in their early years. They often experience cash flow problems and are reluctant to incur additional expenses such as health insurance. What’s new to this picture is that it appears that new small-business owners are waiting longer or choosing not to offer health insurance benefits to their employees at all.”



The fact that new small businesses are choosing not to offer benefits is a disturbing trend because of the swift turnover of the small business population. If the trend continues, the number of employers who never offer benefits will increase. And that will hurt small businesses because it will limit thet talent pool from which they draw.



What Can Be Done?



Small businesses aren’t alone in struggling with the cost of health care (and premiums) in the current economic climate. The U.S. Census Bureau reports 47 million people, or 15.8 percent of the U.S. population, were without health insurance during 2006



Unfortunately for the small business owner, new legislative approaches to help the uninsured may actually hurt them. One popular option is the "pay-or-play" mandate, in which employers are required to either provide health insurance for their employees or pay a penalty to offset costs the government incurs to provide health care for the uninsured. The rules likely would only apply to full-time employees.



Proponents say such mandates could significantly reduce the ranks of the uninsured, since the vast majority of the uninsured are in families with at least one full-time worker. Many of these are low-income families, suggesting that such measures could benefit the working poor.



Opponents argue that many low-wage workers will just be paid less, reduced to part-time or laid off to offset the insurance costs.



In their paper, "Employer Health Insurance Mandates and the Risk of Unemployment," researchers Katherine Baicker and Helen Levy found several factors affect the extent to which such mandates cost more jobs:

Cost of the insurance.

How much of the cost of coverage will be passed on to workers via lower wages.

How many uninsured workers have earnings so close to the minimum wage that their wages cannot be reduced enough to offset the cost of the new coverage.

The authors found that the mandate would still leave 54 percent of American workers without coverage.



“The vast majority of those who benefit from pay or play mandate live in families with incomes twice the poverty line or more and, depending on how coverage is determined, the mandate will leave a significant share of the working poor ineligible for such benefits either because their hourly wage rate is too high or they work for smaller exempt firms,” the authors wrote.



Most experts agree that such mandates are bad for small businesses. Employers are faced with hard choices. In the NFIB poll, only 20 percent of small employers said they would simply provide the insurance as required. Many more said they would either cut jobs or move more employees to part-time status.



Moving people to part-time work is a particularly attractive option to small business owners. In fact, how part-time employees are treated is a key influencing factor on whether small businesses support pay or play legislation.



According to NFIB, “The treatment of these employees will alter relative costs in one direction or the other, providing small employers’ strong relative incentive to change.”



Small business experts agree that if part-time employees are covered by a mandate, most employers will respond by simply eliminating jobs, adding to the jobless rate and doing nothing for the rate of uninsured.



Small business owners have always faced an uncertain future but the current economy and the health care crisis make this an extremely tough time to take the startup step.






About The Author:

Melissa Mashtonio writes for Manta.com, the authority for finding 45 million free small to large company profiles worldwide-and their related industries and products. Manta’s Small Business Center features thousands of how-to-guides for small business owners. http://www.manta.com/

Article Source: thePhantomWriters Article Submission Service



Small Business Health Insurance: Escaping the Catch-22, by Melissa Mashtonio

Does The Cutting Edge Of Social Media Really Pay?

Copyright © 2008 Mark Silver




So someone asks you: "What's your Twitter name?" And you look at them like they are a loony. Twitter? Huh?



And then the next person asks you, "You blog, right? What's the URL?"



Hold it. What happened? In the seeming blink of an eye, suddenly there's all this new so-called 'social media' on the web, and you know nothing about it.



What's worse, is that everyone else seems to be there already. It's like you went to the bathroom, and when you came out, the party moved on, leaving you in a dark room with empty glasses all around you.



Time to drop everything and catch up with the party... quickly! Quickly!



And let's say you catch up with the party...



You've got your blog, your Twitter name, and all of those things. And no matter how fast you run with it all, it doesn't seem to be making much of a difference.



The world IS moving, you can't safely ignore it. And yet chasing after it isn't working. What to do?



Innovation is a no-no.



There is a teaching in Sufism that speaks against innovation. Well, not all innovation, and only in certain circumstances.



This is sometimes where people get the idea that Islam is anti-science or anti-progress. Not true.



In the twelth century, during Europe's 'dark ages,' Islamic culture had some of the most advanced universities, scientists, and doctors in the world, at the very cutting edge of modern technology. The problem with innovation is that it can feed on itself.



Innovation is forbidden when it becomes a false idol.



We've come to think about technology as 'computers' or 'science.' But, the word 'technology comes from the Greek 'tekhnologia' meaning, an interest in an 'art or craft' (Oxford American Dictionaries).



The problem comes when someone studies technology for its own sake. For our personalities, our egos, the lure of 'newness' is strong. New sensations and learnings can encompass all of our attention, immerse us in the experience.



This can be a good, because immersion is a great way to learn. The problem is that with something like all the innovation happening in web technology, is that there is no defined 'end' point. There is no way to tell externally when you've done enough.



If you get caught in this loop, you can emerge months or years later, having totally lost track of the path you are on.



The irony is- people want connection.



The irony of web-based social media like blogs and Twitter is that it's coming out of the deeper hunger to connect to community, to love, to Source. Yet all of this innovation in the internet can leave you exhausted and isolated- even if you're good at it and like it.



As you may already know, that connection you're yearning for is in your heart, not Twitter. It's in the hearts of other people, not in the technology. If you forget that, you'll be lost. By remembering your true intention, then technology can be useful to you.



So do I blog and Twitter, or not?



Well, I'll give you a definitive answer: it depends. :) It depends on your business, and the hearts of the people you are trying to reach.



If you work with younger adults or teens, or with engineers or gadget geeks, then yes, you're going to want to meet them where they are, which is usually on the cutting edge of the latest toys.



If you don't, it may not be as critical. And, even if you suspect that a good portion of your audience is found in the 'blogosphere' as it's sometimes called, there's still no need to be so urgent about it.



How do you proceed? Well, take breath, connect to your heart, and let's take a look.



Keys to Technology

Your current website and newsletter is not obsolete!

Don't panic and discard what you've got now. Just because all of this new stuff is out there doesn't mean what you already have isn't perfect for what you're doing. My bicycle is more than fifteen years old, and it gets me around just fine. And, if you haven't even gotten your website done yet, it's still more than worthwhile to finish.

You don't need the latest, just adequate.

Unless your business is about social media and cutting-edge web technology, in which case you probably aren't even reading this article (hiya!), then forget about Twitter, Pownce, Digg, Stumble-Upon, del.icio.us for right now. You don't need anything but entry-level basic. Just start reading some blogs, without being in a rush. Here's a few to start with:



Dawud Miracle (http://www.dmiracle.com/)
Michael Martine (http://www.michaelmartine.com/)
Adam Kayce (http://www.viverati.com)
Heart of Business (my own) (http://www.heartofbusiness.com/wordpress)

Set a 1-3 month 'safe zone' of learning.

As you begin to learn, tell yourself that you don't have to do anything about it for one to three months, that you are just going to learn. It will work even better if you find a friend or colleague who can give you an hour or three for a personal guided tour of this stuff.



This approach doesn't just apply to blogs, but it applies to most anything new you need to learn about your business. And, once you understand the basics, the more obscure pieces will come MUCH more quickly.



You might actually find yourself enjoying the technology. :)



With blogs and other social media, remember that technology is just a tool, and that the craft you are studying is not blogs. You are involved with the craft of connection, and you're just learning a new tool to do what you already know something about.



Don't let gurus rush you. Take a breath, and dip in. You may find that all of this innovation and technology can actually increase your connection to what you care about most.



The best to you and your business,
Mark Silver






About The Author:

Mark Silver is the author of Unveiling the Heart of Your Business: How Money, Marketing and Sales can Deepen Your Heart, Heal the World, and Still Add to Your Bottom Line. He has helped hundreds of small business owners around the globe succeed in business without losing their hearts. Get three free chapters of the book online: http://www.heartofbusiness.com

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Does The Cutting Edge Of Social Media Really Pay?, by Mark Silver

Why Joint Venture Partners Don't Promote Your Product

Copyright © 2008 Willie Crawford




You spend months creating a product, designing a website, and having copy written and tested. You spend countless hours schmoozing joint venture partners. Then your launch day comes, you "push the button" and...



The silence from lack of orders is deafening.



What went wrong? Where are all those customers that you knew your 300 joint venture partners would send you?



Chances are, 95% of those joint ventures partners didn't promote, or didn't promote to the extent that you anticipated. Let's look briefly at why the sad sequence of events described above happens all too often. Here are four common reasons:



1) Your JV Partners Promised To Promote Too Many Products



If you are approaching all of the biggest players in your niche, and if there are a lot of product launches happening in your niche, your JV partners may have simply over-promised.



It's not uncommon for may super-affiliates to be approached with joint venture offers dozens of times per week. Some are so bombarded with repeated request from the same people that they often find it easier to give a "tentative yes." The problem is that if it's your launch, you may not know that it's a tentative yes.



The way to avoid this problem is to ask for a definite commitment. Just be frank and ask your joint venture partners "if you can depend upon them?" Another way to avoid this problem is to seek joint venture partners that aren't bombarded with constant joint venture requests. There are many times more less-visible potential joint venture partners who have very responsive lists, than there are overwhelmed "super affiliates."



A good place to have some of these potential joint venture partners actually FIND YOU is The International Association of Joint Venture Brokers. Just get your projects and launches into their database, and JV partners in your niche will find you!



2) Your Sign-up Process Is Too Convoluted



It's unbelievable how complex many people make the process of just registering as a joint venture partner and getting an affiliate link.



Don't make your potential joint venture partners register at three different places JUST so that they can help you with your launch. If you do... they'll say yes initially, but drop out when they see how many hurdles they have to jump.



3) You Don't Provide The Right Tools



Most successful affiliate marketers have favorite tools that they prefer using. For some it's videos, for others it's rebrandable ebooks, for others it's articles that they can change the urls in, and for others it's pay-per-clicks.



You absolutely must provide the tools that your affiliates prefer using. Don't expect them to change how they market to conform to your launch plans. They usually know from experience what works best with their customers.



You also need to provide some tools that allow a "soft sell" rather than high pressure tactics. Some affiliates will not use high pressure tactics on their subscribers. For affiliates like that, tools such as rebrandable ebooks (that actually teach something) which sell your product as a solution to problems mentioned in the ebook, work MUCH better. Use rebrander software such as Viral Document Toolkit to allow your affiliate to rebrand links, and even text in these ebooks.



4) Your Timing Is Incredibly Poor



If you are in a niche where there are hundreds of new product launches each month, such as Internet marketing, then your timing is critical! If your launch coincides with another MAJOR big ticket launch, your launch may simply be drowned out by all of the "noise" made by those promoting the other product. Your list members may be bombarded by some much email for the other product that they don't even SEE yours.



To avoid this, you need to consult launch calendars, such as the one available through The International Association of Joint Venture Brokers. Savvy product owners make sure that THEIR product launches, events, and even free giveaways are in this database.



Those planning product launches who don't want BIG disappointments consult this database to see what else is planned for the days, or weeks that they plan to do their launch.



Consulting a database such as one provided by IAJVB also uncovers another opportunity. When you see other launches in your niche, you are also looking at events where you can piggy-back or dove-tail your launches.



Instead of competing head-to-head with product launches in your niche, why not contact some of the other product owners and propose working together. Use their product as a backend to your product and ask them to do the same. Maybe ask them to offer your product to their exit traffic that doesn't convert.



There are dozens of ways that you can work WITH others in your niche when you know what they have planned, and you'll get much better results.



Another major thing that you'll accomplish is that you'll get more affiliate who actually promote your product. That's because you won't be forcing affiliates to choose between competing launches... instead you can coordinate for them to promote both launches... sometimes even with one email :-)



You put far too much blood, sweat, and tears into your product launch to allow it to hit a brick wall. Go back and read the common reason that joint venture partners DON'T promote launches... even after they've indicated that they will. Eliminate as many of those reasons from your product launch sequence as possible.



Doing a successful product launch with dozens, or even hundreds, of joint venture partners is not rocket science. However, like any "science" it does involve careful observation of what is actually happening, and responding appropriately. Now you know how to respond to the reasons joint venture partners often don't promote.






About The Author:

Willie Crawford is founder of The Internet Marketing Inner Circle, and Executive Directory of The International Association of Joint Venture Brokers. An accomplished joint venture broker, and affiliate marketer for over a decade, Willie shares his experience at: http://TheInternetMarketingInnerCircle.com

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Why Joint Venture Partners Don't Promote Your Product, by Willie Crawford