Classifieds A Better Medium To Buy And Sell
With technological advancements, the process of buying and selling a product has become easier on an online platform. If you are a buyer, then one has to follow a four-step process. The first step will be creating a classified in which you will list all the details related to the item or product you wish to buy.
Do you wish to sell a product or wish to purchase a product? Are you one of those confused souls who are looking for a good platform that can make your job easier? If yes, then a buyer classifieds website is a good and the best option for you. Today there are various websites that are offering such services free of cost to the clients. In a way, these websites become a platform to mend the distance between a seller and a buyer.
Such a website can help in creating a classified ad for a product type they wish to purchase. Not only this, but they can mention the price and quality they are looking for in the desired product. Once their classified is available on the buy-sell platform, they can actually see the sellers compete and giving them their best prices.
Such classified websites are beneficial for sellers too who can easily hunt for potential buyers for their products and also can make offers on their classifieds to the respective buyers.
If you are a buyer, then one has to follow a four-step process. The first step will be creating a classified in which you will list all the details related to the item or product you wish to buy. If there are any particular requirements or specifications you are looking for in the product, you can surely mention it too. This will help in sorting out the particular product for you and the seller will also know whether his or her selling product meets your demand.
Next process is where you can see your sellers competing for your requirements in a product. Different sellers will offer their best products with the best offerings. One has to be very careful and choosy in deciding the best seller and the best prices. One should never bargain for a good quality and a good price.
After proper contemplation of the quality and prices, it’s the time for you to choose a seller. If you are satisfied with the quality of the product and the prices offered, you can select that seller as the winner for your choice. Once you have decided, you can finalize the order and confirm your purchase. This can be done by communicating with the seller chosen.
For sellers, such websites have special categories demarcated which can be browsed so as to reach the group matching your selling product. Here, the sellers can make offers or quote pies to the buyers who are looking for the similar product to buy that you wish to sell. Also, the sellers are given an option to look the offers they have made so far. In case, the seller has won the deal, he or she will get the notification in their account activity. Lastly, the option to communicate with the buyer will be given so as to simplify the deal between the seller and the buyer.
So, if you are looking for selling or buying a product, then go for a buyer classifieds platform so as to make the process easy.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Trade Show Conversation Tips
A recent survey of trades show attendees found that the most dissatisfied attendees are the ones that bought something they didn’t really want. They only bought something because they felt pressured into it. These attendees don’t do business again with the companies that pressured them and their opinion on the pressuring company is lowered.
How does this happen? Are these attendees just pushovers? Or are trade show employees just getting too pushy? It seems to be the latter. Many trade show employees think that you have to get in people’s faces to get their attention. But that’s not true. You can be a good salesperson without resorting to aggressive, forceful selling behavior.
Bullying attendees into buying your product is not the way you want to do business. You’ll eventually run out of consumers to bully because your reputation and brand image are so bad. Instead, try using a needs-focused approach to selling at trade shows. Engage attendees in conversation, and listen more than you talk.
It’s not hard to do be a good listener and to create productive, lucrative sales conversations. In fact, you’ve known the key to a good sales conversation since you were in grade school! When you learned the keys to telling a good story, the 5 Ws and H: what, why, who, when, where and how, you learned how to create a successful sales conversation with each attendee.
What: Figure out what the attendee needs. Is the product perfect, but too expensive? Is the attendee looking to try a new product and doesn’t know anything about the product? You need to know the attendee’s needs before you can move on to other questions.
Why: Why would your product or service fit perfectly with the attendee’s needs? Give concrete reasons. If the attendee needs a widget that is a size 5, but can’t find it, do you have a size 5 widget? If so, that’s the reason why the attendee should buy from you.
Who: If you know what other companies will be represented at the trade show, have your staff research them. (Or research them yourself and share the knowledge with your staff well ahead of time.) If your company worked with another company that’s at the trade show, your employees should know that. It can be a good conversation starter and you can say how your company has changed.
When: You need to know where the prospect is in her sales cycle so that you can figure out how you can help. If the timing isn’t correct right now, let her know how you can help her down the road, or how doing business with you know will save her time and/or money down the road in her cycle.
Where: Ask about where your prospect is located. Hopefully you have a store nearby, or you can travel to visit the prospect’s business. Let the prospect know you are willing to travel to get their business (if you are in fact, willing).
How: Show how your product and company can benefit your prospect. Use poster printing with clear photos and minimal text to help illustrate your point.
Not only do you need to know what to say, but should know how to say it. Pay attention to your body language. Smile when approaching someone and nod when they’re talking to show you’re listening. Don’t cross your arms or move your eyes across the crowd, looking for the next prospect. Keep your attention focused on the person you’re talking to. Make the attendee feel special and that person will stick around to listen to what you have to say, and may even end up being your best customer!
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
How does this happen? Are these attendees just pushovers? Or are trade show employees just getting too pushy? It seems to be the latter. Many trade show employees think that you have to get in people’s faces to get their attention. But that’s not true. You can be a good salesperson without resorting to aggressive, forceful selling behavior.
Bullying attendees into buying your product is not the way you want to do business. You’ll eventually run out of consumers to bully because your reputation and brand image are so bad. Instead, try using a needs-focused approach to selling at trade shows. Engage attendees in conversation, and listen more than you talk.
It’s not hard to do be a good listener and to create productive, lucrative sales conversations. In fact, you’ve known the key to a good sales conversation since you were in grade school! When you learned the keys to telling a good story, the 5 Ws and H: what, why, who, when, where and how, you learned how to create a successful sales conversation with each attendee.
What: Figure out what the attendee needs. Is the product perfect, but too expensive? Is the attendee looking to try a new product and doesn’t know anything about the product? You need to know the attendee’s needs before you can move on to other questions.
Why: Why would your product or service fit perfectly with the attendee’s needs? Give concrete reasons. If the attendee needs a widget that is a size 5, but can’t find it, do you have a size 5 widget? If so, that’s the reason why the attendee should buy from you.
Who: If you know what other companies will be represented at the trade show, have your staff research them. (Or research them yourself and share the knowledge with your staff well ahead of time.) If your company worked with another company that’s at the trade show, your employees should know that. It can be a good conversation starter and you can say how your company has changed.
When: You need to know where the prospect is in her sales cycle so that you can figure out how you can help. If the timing isn’t correct right now, let her know how you can help her down the road, or how doing business with you know will save her time and/or money down the road in her cycle.
Where: Ask about where your prospect is located. Hopefully you have a store nearby, or you can travel to visit the prospect’s business. Let the prospect know you are willing to travel to get their business (if you are in fact, willing).
How: Show how your product and company can benefit your prospect. Use poster printing with clear photos and minimal text to help illustrate your point.
Not only do you need to know what to say, but should know how to say it. Pay attention to your body language. Smile when approaching someone and nod when they’re talking to show you’re listening. Don’t cross your arms or move your eyes across the crowd, looking for the next prospect. Keep your attention focused on the person you’re talking to. Make the attendee feel special and that person will stick around to listen to what you have to say, and may even end up being your best customer!
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
Don’t Always Give Discounts
There are some companies that seem to do nothing but discount over and over again. They send out discount coupons, they have poster printing done with the massive word discount plastered over all of them. The whole purpose is to let you know that they will discount their prices in order to give you a better deal.
From a company standpoint this isn’t always the best method for properly marketing yourself. The thing of it is, if something is so heavily discounted, I have to wonder about the quality of the product that I’m getting.
People like to save money, sure, but people also like to get a product that is top of the line and they know is high quality. If you ask someone to give you a discount and they state that the product is as high priced as it is because it is simply too good to give away from any less, you’ll come away with the impression that you’re getting something worth the money.
And really, specifically for the company, every time you discount you’re losing money. That is the end all truth to the matter. Now, if you’re dealing with a product that hasn’t been selling well, then yes, a discount might be what is needed to drive up sales. In that case get all of the poster printing you want with the big discount slapped on it.
But often companies start discounting things they really don’t have to just because someone asks them for a discount. There are some people who are naturally going to ask for a discount no matter what because that’s what they’ve trained themselves to do. You never know when a company will give you one, so you might as well ask all the time, right?
That also means many of the people are perfectly willing to pay the set price if they have to. They aren’t demanding a discount, they’re only seeing if there is that possibility, so if you don’t give it to them they won’t always go elsewhere.
In a circumstance like that giving them a discount is only going to lose you money and not gain you any additional business.
How do you recognize which situation is which? That isn’t an easy question to answer. The best thing you can do if someone asks for a discount is ask them how much they were thinking about. If the number is small enough you might be able to go for it with little money lost, and if it’s too big you might be able to explain why the price is what it is, which gives you a prime opportunity to boost up your product.
It can be a delicate thing, I know, and there isn’t a perfect way to tell how to handle discounting. My advice is to really look at a situation before you start handing out discounts left and right. Once you start giving them once, people will know you’re willing to, and start asking for them every time.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
From a company standpoint this isn’t always the best method for properly marketing yourself. The thing of it is, if something is so heavily discounted, I have to wonder about the quality of the product that I’m getting.
People like to save money, sure, but people also like to get a product that is top of the line and they know is high quality. If you ask someone to give you a discount and they state that the product is as high priced as it is because it is simply too good to give away from any less, you’ll come away with the impression that you’re getting something worth the money.
And really, specifically for the company, every time you discount you’re losing money. That is the end all truth to the matter. Now, if you’re dealing with a product that hasn’t been selling well, then yes, a discount might be what is needed to drive up sales. In that case get all of the poster printing you want with the big discount slapped on it.
But often companies start discounting things they really don’t have to just because someone asks them for a discount. There are some people who are naturally going to ask for a discount no matter what because that’s what they’ve trained themselves to do. You never know when a company will give you one, so you might as well ask all the time, right?
That also means many of the people are perfectly willing to pay the set price if they have to. They aren’t demanding a discount, they’re only seeing if there is that possibility, so if you don’t give it to them they won’t always go elsewhere.
In a circumstance like that giving them a discount is only going to lose you money and not gain you any additional business.
How do you recognize which situation is which? That isn’t an easy question to answer. The best thing you can do if someone asks for a discount is ask them how much they were thinking about. If the number is small enough you might be able to go for it with little money lost, and if it’s too big you might be able to explain why the price is what it is, which gives you a prime opportunity to boost up your product.
It can be a delicate thing, I know, and there isn’t a perfect way to tell how to handle discounting. My advice is to really look at a situation before you start handing out discounts left and right. Once you start giving them once, people will know you’re willing to, and start asking for them every time.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
Selling Products And Advertising Are Very Legitimate Methods
While creating an income with the internet, most people don’t even consider a much more effective method for making money on the internet, which is by selling their own services. Now simple math will tell you that if you are selling DVD players and are making $5 for each one you sell, it will take 200 sales to make $1000 of profit.
The idea of making money online is attractive to many, primarily because of the benefits it offers. Building relationships is important when it comes to profiting. One of the most talked about ways of earning money online is to run your own website. It sounds wonderful earning money online that’s why you are here isn’t it. People are making money selling odd stuff from haunted vases to advertising their bare backs for ad space. You no longer need to have to know anything about PCs or programming to start earning money online .But I feel that when it comes to making lots of money online, the biggest mistake that most webmasters make is not having enough of one of two things (or both): Links And Content.
Forget making others rich on reseller mini sites. The web offers alluring new ways of making a living, ways that may allow us to profit from our deepest passions. People are skeptical about making money online because of the scammers and of the gurus who basically are only making cash for themselves. Although the number of money making seekers is growing all the time, new opportunities is constantly appearing on the internet, too . Bottom line is, no single method of earning money online will make you rich overnight. Sure, there are many legitimate online money making programs, but which one will work best FOR ME. Let’s review every option: Hobby: Maybe you don't know it but making money is millions of people's favorite hobby.
If you are serious about making money online, I suggest you leave these micro money making opportunities to teens and to move to more lucrative activities. Remember: starting your very own ultra profitable online business does NOT have to be hard especially if you know of all the great different and most profitable ways you can start making money on the internet ASAP. Thousands of people are making a full time income from the comfort of their own homes, working only a few hours a week. Income It seems that one of the hardest parts of creating an income with the internet is deciding what methods to use to achieve your goals.
Even if you’re not looking to work full-time at home, the internet offers a viable source of money which can help to supplement your regular income. The research involved with making money online is relatively simple. The real truth about making money online is that there is no real secret to it, it takes hard work dedication and patience and if you're not prepared to put it in you will not get it out. You may also be surprised to know that making money on the internet is pretty simple.
The keys to making money online is just like making money anywhere else, hard work and knowledge. The trick to making money on the internet is to find out what people want. Finally, in what I call a flash of brilliance, I discovered that making money online is easy if you follow the right plan.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
The idea of making money online is attractive to many, primarily because of the benefits it offers. Building relationships is important when it comes to profiting. One of the most talked about ways of earning money online is to run your own website. It sounds wonderful earning money online that’s why you are here isn’t it. People are making money selling odd stuff from haunted vases to advertising their bare backs for ad space. You no longer need to have to know anything about PCs or programming to start earning money online .But I feel that when it comes to making lots of money online, the biggest mistake that most webmasters make is not having enough of one of two things (or both): Links And Content.
Forget making others rich on reseller mini sites. The web offers alluring new ways of making a living, ways that may allow us to profit from our deepest passions. People are skeptical about making money online because of the scammers and of the gurus who basically are only making cash for themselves. Although the number of money making seekers is growing all the time, new opportunities is constantly appearing on the internet, too . Bottom line is, no single method of earning money online will make you rich overnight. Sure, there are many legitimate online money making programs, but which one will work best FOR ME. Let’s review every option: Hobby: Maybe you don't know it but making money is millions of people's favorite hobby.
If you are serious about making money online, I suggest you leave these micro money making opportunities to teens and to move to more lucrative activities. Remember: starting your very own ultra profitable online business does NOT have to be hard especially if you know of all the great different and most profitable ways you can start making money on the internet ASAP. Thousands of people are making a full time income from the comfort of their own homes, working only a few hours a week. Income It seems that one of the hardest parts of creating an income with the internet is deciding what methods to use to achieve your goals.
Even if you’re not looking to work full-time at home, the internet offers a viable source of money which can help to supplement your regular income. The research involved with making money online is relatively simple. The real truth about making money online is that there is no real secret to it, it takes hard work dedication and patience and if you're not prepared to put it in you will not get it out. You may also be surprised to know that making money on the internet is pretty simple.
The keys to making money online is just like making money anywhere else, hard work and knowledge. The trick to making money on the internet is to find out what people want. Finally, in what I call a flash of brilliance, I discovered that making money online is easy if you follow the right plan.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
The Top Elements Of A Marketing Plan
"You can pick up any marketing book at your local bookstore and it will have a different list of the top elements of a marketing plan than the book next to it on the shelf. Here is a compilation of the top list-makers for your quick perusal.
What You’ll Need before You Write
You’ll need to gather a few documents so that you can write efficiently without interruptions. Here are the items you’ll need:
• The company’s most recent financial reports and sales figures by region for the last three years
• A list of all of your products or services
• A detailed explanation of your target market
• An organizational chart, if applicable
• An in-depth examination of the marketplace: your customers, your competitors, your distribution channels, trend info and anything else that will help you understand your market in marketing terms
• A list of suggestions from employees about what should be included in next year’s marketing plan
Market Conditions
You’ll need a ""market conditions"" section somewhere near the beginning of your plan. This section should include your best and most clear description of the current conditions of your marketplace:
• Write down all of your products and services, and your top competitors’ products and services.
• Find out the dollar size of your marketplace(s).
• What is your sales and distribution setup?
• Note the geographic area you currently sell to.
• Describe your audience in terms of population, income levels, demographics and so on.
• List all of your competitors in each marketplace
• Historically, how well have your products sold?
A marketing plan gives the company a chance to pull all relevant information together in one place, to prompt new ideas and validate actions.
It also gives you a chance to compare your products and services to your competition – is there an opportunity somewhere that neither you nor your competitors are taking advantage of?
Threats and Opportunities
This section extends the thinking of your ""market conditions"" section, and it should focus on the good and bad repercussions of the current market. This section should answer the following questions:
• What trends in the marketplace are against you?
• Are there competitive trends that are threatening?
• Are your current products in the position to succeed in the current market?
• What marketplace trends favor you?
• Are there competitive trends working to your benefit?
• Are the demographics of your market in your favor? Against you?
You can get trend info from city and state publications and local chambers of commerce.
Marketing Objectives
In the ""marketing objectives"" section, you decide what you want your marketing plan to achieve in the coming year. Each marketing objective should include a description of what you what to accomplish along with numbers to give you something concrete to aim for. For instance, you can say you want to become one of the top selling all-electric car companies in the American marketplace by the end of the year. That’s a somewhat measureable goal and it will be easier to measure if you add some numbers. Let’s say you want over 35% of the American all-electric marketplace to belong to you. This is a much better measurable goal.
Tracking Methods
You need a way to track how well your marketing plan is working. Establish a schedule of meetings and spell out in writing what your definition of marketing success is. Is a goal to lower marketing costs? Separate out your business card printing budget you’re your brochure printing budget, and separate that from all of your other marketing costs. This way you can be more detailed and figure out where you can cut costs or add more to the budget.
Also write down how you intend to track sales and costs, and at what point will your marketing plan change? If you lose 10% of customers in the first quarter? Marketing isn’t science – you can use whatever metrics you’d like to measure success. Just make sure you measure consistently.
Executive Summary
Lastly, you need a summary of all the key points in your marketing plan. This should be no longer than one page. Use bullet points and headlines so it’s easy for people to skim through and see what’s important in your marketing plan.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
What You’ll Need before You Write
You’ll need to gather a few documents so that you can write efficiently without interruptions. Here are the items you’ll need:
• The company’s most recent financial reports and sales figures by region for the last three years
• A list of all of your products or services
• A detailed explanation of your target market
• An organizational chart, if applicable
• An in-depth examination of the marketplace: your customers, your competitors, your distribution channels, trend info and anything else that will help you understand your market in marketing terms
• A list of suggestions from employees about what should be included in next year’s marketing plan
Market Conditions
You’ll need a ""market conditions"" section somewhere near the beginning of your plan. This section should include your best and most clear description of the current conditions of your marketplace:
• Write down all of your products and services, and your top competitors’ products and services.
• Find out the dollar size of your marketplace(s).
• What is your sales and distribution setup?
• Note the geographic area you currently sell to.
• Describe your audience in terms of population, income levels, demographics and so on.
• List all of your competitors in each marketplace
• Historically, how well have your products sold?
A marketing plan gives the company a chance to pull all relevant information together in one place, to prompt new ideas and validate actions.
It also gives you a chance to compare your products and services to your competition – is there an opportunity somewhere that neither you nor your competitors are taking advantage of?
Threats and Opportunities
This section extends the thinking of your ""market conditions"" section, and it should focus on the good and bad repercussions of the current market. This section should answer the following questions:
• What trends in the marketplace are against you?
• Are there competitive trends that are threatening?
• Are your current products in the position to succeed in the current market?
• What marketplace trends favor you?
• Are there competitive trends working to your benefit?
• Are the demographics of your market in your favor? Against you?
You can get trend info from city and state publications and local chambers of commerce.
Marketing Objectives
In the ""marketing objectives"" section, you decide what you want your marketing plan to achieve in the coming year. Each marketing objective should include a description of what you what to accomplish along with numbers to give you something concrete to aim for. For instance, you can say you want to become one of the top selling all-electric car companies in the American marketplace by the end of the year. That’s a somewhat measureable goal and it will be easier to measure if you add some numbers. Let’s say you want over 35% of the American all-electric marketplace to belong to you. This is a much better measurable goal.
Tracking Methods
You need a way to track how well your marketing plan is working. Establish a schedule of meetings and spell out in writing what your definition of marketing success is. Is a goal to lower marketing costs? Separate out your business card printing budget you’re your brochure printing budget, and separate that from all of your other marketing costs. This way you can be more detailed and figure out where you can cut costs or add more to the budget.
Also write down how you intend to track sales and costs, and at what point will your marketing plan change? If you lose 10% of customers in the first quarter? Marketing isn’t science – you can use whatever metrics you’d like to measure success. Just make sure you measure consistently.
Executive Summary
Lastly, you need a summary of all the key points in your marketing plan. This should be no longer than one page. Use bullet points and headlines so it’s easy for people to skim through and see what’s important in your marketing plan.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
Advertising Inflatable Products
When it comes to off-line advertising the number one priority is to get creative, if you are running a limited time offer or if you're having a sale unique to find a way to get your business venue noticed, you may choose to run radio ads and even TV ads but the fact of the matter is that they can be very expensive which will definitely take a toll on your revenues.
An effective way to get your business noticed is to buy promotional products such as flags and banners that because of their attractive colors and designs will get your message across, promotional flags can indeed be a very effective way to draw attention towards your business but they are not the only way to get the job done.
Enter Inflatable Advertising Products
If you are going after cost effective solutions which will create a friendly atmosphere for your customers and business partners there is no better way than to organize an outdoor activity and promote your business through inflatable products, some examples of those are: advertising balloons, inflatable air dancers, advertising blimps, inflatable tents, giant inflatable caricatures, and even inflatable arches. Let's take a look at some other uses:
-- Giant advertising balloons: these can be very effective if you operate in the crowded area were surrounded by trees and buildings that may block visibility of your event, they can also be used in order to guide your customers towards your location, these are often used by car dealers and even by educational establishments.
-- Inflatable air dancers: these are very popular advertising tools because they quickly draw attention towards your business; they are often used by car dealers, car wash establishments and any other business which is running an exclusive sale.
-- Inflatable arches: these are very stylish promotional products that can be placed in front of your business venue as a way to greet your customers; these are used virtually by every type of business which runs outdoor activities.
Anyway you see it; inflatable products are a very effective, attractive and cost effective solution to advertise your products and services.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
An effective way to get your business noticed is to buy promotional products such as flags and banners that because of their attractive colors and designs will get your message across, promotional flags can indeed be a very effective way to draw attention towards your business but they are not the only way to get the job done.
Enter Inflatable Advertising Products
If you are going after cost effective solutions which will create a friendly atmosphere for your customers and business partners there is no better way than to organize an outdoor activity and promote your business through inflatable products, some examples of those are: advertising balloons, inflatable air dancers, advertising blimps, inflatable tents, giant inflatable caricatures, and even inflatable arches. Let's take a look at some other uses:
-- Giant advertising balloons: these can be very effective if you operate in the crowded area were surrounded by trees and buildings that may block visibility of your event, they can also be used in order to guide your customers towards your location, these are often used by car dealers and even by educational establishments.
-- Inflatable air dancers: these are very popular advertising tools because they quickly draw attention towards your business; they are often used by car dealers, car wash establishments and any other business which is running an exclusive sale.
-- Inflatable arches: these are very stylish promotional products that can be placed in front of your business venue as a way to greet your customers; these are used virtually by every type of business which runs outdoor activities.
Anyway you see it; inflatable products are a very effective, attractive and cost effective solution to advertise your products and services.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Common Mistakes Made In Business
Anyone considering starting a business needs to understand the common mistakes which lead to business failures. Ask yourself just the difficult question of how you are going to manage your business.
Revenue for your business does not mean that it is successful. There are many other factors to consider when managing your business that also play a part. Those other factors can also make or break your business.
Some of the more common mistakes which businesses make include.
Not striving for constant improvements.
The thing about business is that if you’re not leading the pack you could be considered obsolete and that is not where success lies. If you want to drive sales for your products and services you need to be on the cutting edge with your offerings. Constantly push the envelope to keep a steady flow of new customers along with satisfied ongoing clientele.
Bad service can lead to bankruptcy
If your customers feel they are not appreciated and receiving sub-standard service, you will be helping your competitors to achieve success. Why? Because if customers that feel they are receiving poor service will be quick converts to your competitors. It is the leading cause of declines in sales and business failures.
Marketing mistakes
If your target market does not know you exist, you can’t be successful in business. For a marketing campaign to be effective you need a clear message that is both understood and favorably received by your target market. Without effective and clear advertising if will be very difficult for your business to generate the customer support needed to survive.
Pricing yourself out of business
Too many businesses think that if they raise their prices they will achieve more profits. Unless your business monopolizes the market with a product which is a staple for life you may be mistaken. The fact is that most purchases are driven by pricing factors. If your competitors have similar products available for less your business may be in trouble. The key to pricing is achieving a price that your customers find value in.
Lack of investor capital
Many investors that are new to business start ups make a very common mistake when planning for expenses. They will add up the costs of getting the business going which might include inventory, equipment and set up. They will neglect the most crucial element which is businesses do not achieve positive cash flow immediately after setting up shop. Start ups will commonly operate with a negative cash flow for a period of time while they are building their business and cultivating a clientele. As an absolute minimum you should have three times the cost of getting your business set up to start your working capital. That is money that will keep your business rolling until you can build a positive cash flow.
As an example if the cost of setting up your business is expected to be $10k for equipment, location, inventory and misc expenses you should have another $30k set aside for working capital.
No working capital is the primary cause of bankruptcy in business.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=254523&ca=Business
Revenue for your business does not mean that it is successful. There are many other factors to consider when managing your business that also play a part. Those other factors can also make or break your business.
Some of the more common mistakes which businesses make include.
Not striving for constant improvements.
The thing about business is that if you’re not leading the pack you could be considered obsolete and that is not where success lies. If you want to drive sales for your products and services you need to be on the cutting edge with your offerings. Constantly push the envelope to keep a steady flow of new customers along with satisfied ongoing clientele.
Bad service can lead to bankruptcy
If your customers feel they are not appreciated and receiving sub-standard service, you will be helping your competitors to achieve success. Why? Because if customers that feel they are receiving poor service will be quick converts to your competitors. It is the leading cause of declines in sales and business failures.
Marketing mistakes
If your target market does not know you exist, you can’t be successful in business. For a marketing campaign to be effective you need a clear message that is both understood and favorably received by your target market. Without effective and clear advertising if will be very difficult for your business to generate the customer support needed to survive.
Pricing yourself out of business
Too many businesses think that if they raise their prices they will achieve more profits. Unless your business monopolizes the market with a product which is a staple for life you may be mistaken. The fact is that most purchases are driven by pricing factors. If your competitors have similar products available for less your business may be in trouble. The key to pricing is achieving a price that your customers find value in.
Lack of investor capital
Many investors that are new to business start ups make a very common mistake when planning for expenses. They will add up the costs of getting the business going which might include inventory, equipment and set up. They will neglect the most crucial element which is businesses do not achieve positive cash flow immediately after setting up shop. Start ups will commonly operate with a negative cash flow for a period of time while they are building their business and cultivating a clientele. As an absolute minimum you should have three times the cost of getting your business set up to start your working capital. That is money that will keep your business rolling until you can build a positive cash flow.
As an example if the cost of setting up your business is expected to be $10k for equipment, location, inventory and misc expenses you should have another $30k set aside for working capital.
No working capital is the primary cause of bankruptcy in business.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=254523&ca=Business
Common Mistakes Made In Business
Anyone considering starting a business needs to understand the common mistakes which lead to business failures. Ask yourself just the difficult question of how you are going to manage your business.
Revenue for your business does not mean that it is successful. There are many other factors to consider when managing your business that also play a part. Those other factors can also make or break your business.
Some of the more common mistakes which businesses make include.
Not striving for constant improvements.
The thing about business is that if you’re not leading the pack you could be considered obsolete and that is not where success lies. If you want to drive sales for your products and services you need to be on the cutting edge with your offerings. Constantly push the envelope to keep a steady flow of new customers along with satisfied ongoing clientele.
Bad service can lead to bankruptcy
If your customers feel they are not appreciated and receiving sub-standard service, you will be helping your competitors to achieve success. Why? Because if customers that feel they are receiving poor service will be quick converts to your competitors. It is the leading cause of declines in sales and business failures.
Marketing mistakes
If your target market does not know you exist, you can’t be successful in business. For a marketing campaign to be effective you need a clear message that is both understood and favorably received by your target market. Without effective and clear advertising if will be very difficult for your business to generate the customer support needed to survive.
Pricing yourself out of business
Too many businesses think that if they raise their prices they will achieve more profits. Unless your business monopolizes the market with a product which is a staple for life you may be mistaken. The fact is that most purchases are driven by pricing factors. If your competitors have similar products available for less your business may be in trouble. The key to pricing is achieving a price that your customers find value in.
Lack of investor capital
Many investors that are new to business start ups make a very common mistake when planning for expenses. They will add up the costs of getting the business going which might include inventory, equipment and set up. They will neglect the most crucial element which is businesses do not achieve positive cash flow immediately after setting up shop. Start ups will commonly operate with a negative cash flow for a period of time while they are building their business and cultivating a clientele. As an absolute minimum you should have three times the cost of getting your business set up to start your working capital. That is money that will keep your business rolling until you can build a positive cash flow.
As an example if the cost of setting up your business is expected to be $10k for equipment, location, inventory and misc expenses you should have another $30k set aside for working capital.
No working capital is the primary cause of bankruptcy in business.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=254523&ca=Business
Making Your Business Franchise A Good Investment
Buying a business franchising is not an especially new way of doing business, but it’s one that’s proven throughout the years to be particularly successful. Whether you’re the franchisor or the franchisee, business franchising has a number of plus points, and can be made into a good investment for everyone concerned, provided a few fundamentals are in place to make it a good investment.
The franchisor benefits from the franchise arrangement by being able to expand his business, often at a more rapid rate than would otherwise be possible. He also draws the financial benefits from the goodwill amounts built-in to the initial franchise investments, and potentially even from a share of the franchisees’ profits. The franchisees benefit from having a tried and tested business model, with a recognised brand or proprietary technology that will allow them to enter into business in a better position that they would have been had they started alone.
It sounds like a good investment to opt for business franchising, from both sides, but it’s important to understand what makes a franchise a good investment. First there must be real brand value, or goodwill, which the franchisee can use to boost his business. There’s no point in investing in a franchise that has never been run as a business, or has not been tried and tested to ensure it’s a working formula – otherwise, in the absence of any invention or technology, there’s no reason to invest in buying a franchise over starting your own business.
As a franchisee, you should also want to look further into the franchise deal to see exactly what you’re getting for your money. Could you be in the same market position as your franchise if you invested the start-up capital on your own? If the answer is yes, there’s no commercial reason for you to enter a franchise agreement, and you should simply invest the money on your own behalf. If not, you might have found a valuable franchise opportunity.
For the franchisor to realise a return on his investment through the business franchising model, he must make sure that he prices the goodwill of the franchise competitively to give him the best deal while making sure franchisees get true value for money. They should also make sure that the benefits of their business model are spelled out over those of starting a similar, competing business from scratch. That way, they can promote the unique value proposition of their own business opportunity, to ensure the growth you both desire.
Franchising a business can be a great way of achieving growth, or of building your own business with less of the risk involved. Look at some of the major franchise success stories: McDonalds, Starbucks – so we know it works. Provided the groundwork is put in place, franchising can be an excellent choice for parties on both sides of the table, and provided it’s worth the money to the franchisee, it should help provide a winning formula for business start-up and financial success.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=254758&ca=Business
The franchisor benefits from the franchise arrangement by being able to expand his business, often at a more rapid rate than would otherwise be possible. He also draws the financial benefits from the goodwill amounts built-in to the initial franchise investments, and potentially even from a share of the franchisees’ profits. The franchisees benefit from having a tried and tested business model, with a recognised brand or proprietary technology that will allow them to enter into business in a better position that they would have been had they started alone.
It sounds like a good investment to opt for business franchising, from both sides, but it’s important to understand what makes a franchise a good investment. First there must be real brand value, or goodwill, which the franchisee can use to boost his business. There’s no point in investing in a franchise that has never been run as a business, or has not been tried and tested to ensure it’s a working formula – otherwise, in the absence of any invention or technology, there’s no reason to invest in buying a franchise over starting your own business.
As a franchisee, you should also want to look further into the franchise deal to see exactly what you’re getting for your money. Could you be in the same market position as your franchise if you invested the start-up capital on your own? If the answer is yes, there’s no commercial reason for you to enter a franchise agreement, and you should simply invest the money on your own behalf. If not, you might have found a valuable franchise opportunity.
For the franchisor to realise a return on his investment through the business franchising model, he must make sure that he prices the goodwill of the franchise competitively to give him the best deal while making sure franchisees get true value for money. They should also make sure that the benefits of their business model are spelled out over those of starting a similar, competing business from scratch. That way, they can promote the unique value proposition of their own business opportunity, to ensure the growth you both desire.
Franchising a business can be a great way of achieving growth, or of building your own business with less of the risk involved. Look at some of the major franchise success stories: McDonalds, Starbucks – so we know it works. Provided the groundwork is put in place, franchising can be an excellent choice for parties on both sides of the table, and provided it’s worth the money to the franchisee, it should help provide a winning formula for business start-up and financial success.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=254758&ca=Business
Work From Home As A Customer Service Operator
The number of work-from-home customer service operator job opportunities is on the rise all over the world. These jobs involve crossing language and time barriers as local agents for dedicated companies from home. The work from home customer service operator job enables companies to reduce attrition in customer service jobs and save precious money on office utilities and equipment. This, at the same time, enables the home based business-person to make a living from home. Remuneration is based on different basis amongst different companies. This may take the form of a pay per call remuneration package, a fixed monthly earning or even in the form of hourly wages.
The advantages of work-from-home customer service operator job opportunities include flexibility of work hours. This is advantageous especially if you are dealing with a new born or physically-handicapped family member. The job scope of a work-from-home customer service operator includes general call handling, providing technical support, and handling all customer queries on behalf of the company. All you need to get started are the following basic essentials:
• A computer, either a lap top or desk top
• Basic computer skills, use of the programs within the software loaded
• Internet connection for quick connectivity and messaging
• Connecting to the computer operating system/system that the company provides
• Dedicated Internet and email applications for assured communication of vital data
• A phone line for the home-based call centre
• Good communication skills that ensure success with every call
Many work-from-home customer service operator jobs are provided by companies who provide you with the essential tools. Many stress on the completion of a crash customer service training course. Your experience in customer support, help-desk or any customer service helps a lot. There are a number of companies that hire customer service operators who are home based. The employment sections of these websites are always filled with advertisements. When you choose to work as a work-from-home customer service operator, the job responsibilities include taking care of customer queries as best as possible, on behalf of the company. You would have to dedicate a time and space within your home to fulfil the job’s requirement each day. Work-from-home customer service operator job opportunities are many and with low barriers to entry, competition is stiff.
Resources that offer work-from-home customer service operator job opportunities include online and offline recruiting agencies and newspaper advertisements. It also pays to network extensively and research for the best remuneration. Work-from-home customer service operator jobs enable you to tap the potential of your natural skills while tending to family responsibilities. With a little research and social networking, you can get started immediately. It does pay to plan before beginning work. Being methodical and charted is the only way to ensure the success of your home business venture. It will also do you good to maintain a space within the home from where you can take care of your of work-from-home customer service operator job. This ensures you greater ability to work productively without mixing work and home responsibilities.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=255103&ca=Business
The advantages of work-from-home customer service operator job opportunities include flexibility of work hours. This is advantageous especially if you are dealing with a new born or physically-handicapped family member. The job scope of a work-from-home customer service operator includes general call handling, providing technical support, and handling all customer queries on behalf of the company. All you need to get started are the following basic essentials:
• A computer, either a lap top or desk top
• Basic computer skills, use of the programs within the software loaded
• Internet connection for quick connectivity and messaging
• Connecting to the computer operating system/system that the company provides
• Dedicated Internet and email applications for assured communication of vital data
• A phone line for the home-based call centre
• Good communication skills that ensure success with every call
Many work-from-home customer service operator jobs are provided by companies who provide you with the essential tools. Many stress on the completion of a crash customer service training course. Your experience in customer support, help-desk or any customer service helps a lot. There are a number of companies that hire customer service operators who are home based. The employment sections of these websites are always filled with advertisements. When you choose to work as a work-from-home customer service operator, the job responsibilities include taking care of customer queries as best as possible, on behalf of the company. You would have to dedicate a time and space within your home to fulfil the job’s requirement each day. Work-from-home customer service operator job opportunities are many and with low barriers to entry, competition is stiff.
Resources that offer work-from-home customer service operator job opportunities include online and offline recruiting agencies and newspaper advertisements. It also pays to network extensively and research for the best remuneration. Work-from-home customer service operator jobs enable you to tap the potential of your natural skills while tending to family responsibilities. With a little research and social networking, you can get started immediately. It does pay to plan before beginning work. Being methodical and charted is the only way to ensure the success of your home business venture. It will also do you good to maintain a space within the home from where you can take care of your of work-from-home customer service operator job. This ensures you greater ability to work productively without mixing work and home responsibilities.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=255103&ca=Business
Inventors And Their Business Ideas
Starting a business, especially with a new invention requires a lot of creative thinking, luck and sheer hard effort.
With most inventors, creativity is certainly not in short supply, but not all of them were responsible for the spark that generated the idea. Some were, but not all. What a few have in common is that form of creativity that spots the potential of an existing invention and also the drive to convert that potential into reality and from there to hard cash. It’s that sense of dynamism that you can literally feel in such people, and the tenacity of a dog with a bone: they don’t let it go until the idea has been made reality.
Ever heard about chips being developed to implant in pets to track them when they’re lost? It might be a great invention for those who love pets and are worried about losing them, but it was costly and not an immediate business success. Many owners were concerned about the safety of placing an implant into their pet’s body.
However, one person had the idea of making this much safer and a lot easier, requiring no invasive techniques. The GPS collar for pets was the result. It was a simple idea using known technology. When you lose your pet, you simply connect to the internet and it is easily located. This idea involved not only creativity, but also the ability to spot a unique application of existing technology.
That is often all we have to do, when we are searching for an invention unique to ourselves. There is usually no need to reinvent the wheel, just to find a new use for it. It is often said that the best invention was not the wheel: it was two wheels! A new slant on an existing old idea…?
The essence of being a successful inventor is finding an easy solution to a common problem. What you need to do is to seek for a unique solution that is the most convenient and easily attainable for your target market. If you can think of something that can do that, then it is time to move to the next stage.
Various businesses / individuals face different, common problems each day and as an inventor, all you have to do is identify what they are and find a simple / flexible solution for them. Such solutions can come in many forms, from unique software for making a task easier to a safer way of carrying out specific tasks. It could be a tangible invention (who does not use a bagless vacuum cleaner these days?), or a concept that enables others to solve their daily problems. However, there is one feature common to the most successful solutions: they can be easily understood by the target marketplace.
As an inventor / entrepreneur, your idea must be easy to understand or it will not be adopted. The simplicity of many successful new products or ways of doing things is one of the reasons for their success – "why did I not think of that?" is a common comment. Make sure that you are able to explain in layman terms how effective your product is and how it will make life easier.
In order to spread the word about your new invention or product, you must use the internet as well as other forms of media. If you construct your website well, it can also provide a platform for consumer interaction which in itself is a very valuable tool.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=255084&ca=Business
With most inventors, creativity is certainly not in short supply, but not all of them were responsible for the spark that generated the idea. Some were, but not all. What a few have in common is that form of creativity that spots the potential of an existing invention and also the drive to convert that potential into reality and from there to hard cash. It’s that sense of dynamism that you can literally feel in such people, and the tenacity of a dog with a bone: they don’t let it go until the idea has been made reality.
Ever heard about chips being developed to implant in pets to track them when they’re lost? It might be a great invention for those who love pets and are worried about losing them, but it was costly and not an immediate business success. Many owners were concerned about the safety of placing an implant into their pet’s body.
However, one person had the idea of making this much safer and a lot easier, requiring no invasive techniques. The GPS collar for pets was the result. It was a simple idea using known technology. When you lose your pet, you simply connect to the internet and it is easily located. This idea involved not only creativity, but also the ability to spot a unique application of existing technology.
That is often all we have to do, when we are searching for an invention unique to ourselves. There is usually no need to reinvent the wheel, just to find a new use for it. It is often said that the best invention was not the wheel: it was two wheels! A new slant on an existing old idea…?
The essence of being a successful inventor is finding an easy solution to a common problem. What you need to do is to seek for a unique solution that is the most convenient and easily attainable for your target market. If you can think of something that can do that, then it is time to move to the next stage.
Various businesses / individuals face different, common problems each day and as an inventor, all you have to do is identify what they are and find a simple / flexible solution for them. Such solutions can come in many forms, from unique software for making a task easier to a safer way of carrying out specific tasks. It could be a tangible invention (who does not use a bagless vacuum cleaner these days?), or a concept that enables others to solve their daily problems. However, there is one feature common to the most successful solutions: they can be easily understood by the target marketplace.
As an inventor / entrepreneur, your idea must be easy to understand or it will not be adopted. The simplicity of many successful new products or ways of doing things is one of the reasons for their success – "why did I not think of that?" is a common comment. Make sure that you are able to explain in layman terms how effective your product is and how it will make life easier.
In order to spread the word about your new invention or product, you must use the internet as well as other forms of media. If you construct your website well, it can also provide a platform for consumer interaction which in itself is a very valuable tool.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=255084&ca=Business
Interior Design Marketing
It is estimated that only one in every five interior designers has any kind of formal marketing plan. They usually only market when business is slow and they more or less advertise in an impromptu manner. There are several ways to work on your interior design marketing. I will just name a few of the many ideas.
If you want to market your interior design business and see results, follow some simple guidelines to put you ahead of the game in your industry. You should first research your competition. Learn what they are doing to attract business. Find out where they are marketing their business and who they are targeting.
Take several pictures of your work and publish them in trade publications. Also include any specials or other items of interest you want to promote. Arrange speaking engagements whenever possible and have a professional sounding, well prepared speech ready.
Another great idea for interior design marketing is to create a portfolio with plenty of samples of your work. Put it together in a format that is easy to add new items or update. Rent a booth at trade shows or buy advertising time on radio or local television stations.
Any lead is a potential customer. Don’t presume any lead is not worth the effort. Even if a particular lead does not turn into a future customer, they may send others your way if you keep a professional demeanor and treat each lead special.
If all else fails, don’t forget cold calling. Okay, calm down. Take a deep breath. I know, I know, cold calling is every business person’s least favorite part of the job. However, for every ten cold calls, you will receive one positive answer. So if you make ten calls and you get one appointment, that’s one more than you had before. Persistence is the key in cold calling. It will be frustrating and discouraging if you make 25, 50 or 100 calls and get no more than one or two appointments but don’t give up. It will pay off in the end.
If your current clients are happy with your services, ask them for referrals. If they are truly pleased with what you have to offer, they will be happy to send more business your way. Equally important as gaining customers is keeping customers. Be sure you keep your clientele happy by resolving issues as soon as they arise.
Always, keep a positive attitude and display confidence in your demeanor. People will be more likely to hire a self-confident business professional. Give your customers a reason to come back. Offer something that your competition doesn’t offer or find a unique way to promote your business. Anticipate a client’s needs or questions and have the solution ready.
Following these simple tips and ideas will not only help you generate business, but will help you keep that business for years to come. Not only will you keep the business of loyal, return customers, soon you will be receiving the majority of your new business from referrals from satisfied customers and your client base will continue to grow.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=254890&ca=Business
If you want to market your interior design business and see results, follow some simple guidelines to put you ahead of the game in your industry. You should first research your competition. Learn what they are doing to attract business. Find out where they are marketing their business and who they are targeting.
Take several pictures of your work and publish them in trade publications. Also include any specials or other items of interest you want to promote. Arrange speaking engagements whenever possible and have a professional sounding, well prepared speech ready.
Another great idea for interior design marketing is to create a portfolio with plenty of samples of your work. Put it together in a format that is easy to add new items or update. Rent a booth at trade shows or buy advertising time on radio or local television stations.
Any lead is a potential customer. Don’t presume any lead is not worth the effort. Even if a particular lead does not turn into a future customer, they may send others your way if you keep a professional demeanor and treat each lead special.
If all else fails, don’t forget cold calling. Okay, calm down. Take a deep breath. I know, I know, cold calling is every business person’s least favorite part of the job. However, for every ten cold calls, you will receive one positive answer. So if you make ten calls and you get one appointment, that’s one more than you had before. Persistence is the key in cold calling. It will be frustrating and discouraging if you make 25, 50 or 100 calls and get no more than one or two appointments but don’t give up. It will pay off in the end.
If your current clients are happy with your services, ask them for referrals. If they are truly pleased with what you have to offer, they will be happy to send more business your way. Equally important as gaining customers is keeping customers. Be sure you keep your clientele happy by resolving issues as soon as they arise.
Always, keep a positive attitude and display confidence in your demeanor. People will be more likely to hire a self-confident business professional. Give your customers a reason to come back. Offer something that your competition doesn’t offer or find a unique way to promote your business. Anticipate a client’s needs or questions and have the solution ready.
Following these simple tips and ideas will not only help you generate business, but will help you keep that business for years to come. Not only will you keep the business of loyal, return customers, soon you will be receiving the majority of your new business from referrals from satisfied customers and your client base will continue to grow.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=254890&ca=Business
Monday, July 28, 2008
Crm Software Increases Performance And Profits
As a business owner it is vitally important to ensure that customers and potential customers are happy. You can do this in a number of ways, but one of the best ways to do so is through the use of a customer management software program. When you choose to utilize one of these programs, if properly done, you will see an increase in your profit margin. You can reduce your company’s costs by increasing loyalty throughout your customer base.
Customer relationship management software will create a company wide strategy to completely understand the customer. It gathers, organizes, and provides details from all angles including sales and customer service, among others to create a clear layout of each customer. This is a crucial step in ensuring your company approaches, and interacts with the client or potential client in a manner that will be positive to them. There are several kinds of customer management software available today, and you should take the time to ensure that you choose the one that is right for your company. They are often referred to as simply CRM software.
The first thing you should realize is that you need to know exactly where your company plans on going in the future so you can make sure the CRM software will fit into your plans. Complete your business plan with goals and how you plan to reach them, and compare the software to see how they well they will fit at different stages down the road. You also need to identify exactly what you want or need from your software. Is your marketing strategy not working so well? Ensure that the CRM software you choose will have detailed assistance to help you market to potential clients more effectively.
You can discover many variations of customer relationship management software including those that are web based and those that are installed at your company. If you are going to purchase one that will be installed at your location then you should ensure that you have sufficient equipment or computers before hand.
These are only a few of the things you should carefully consider before purchasing your CRM software. There are varying sites on the internet that you can visit to help you compare different versions of the software, just be sure that you are reading credible information. It’s very important to completely understand what you need, and what the software will do for you.
Once you have researched and settled on which CRM software you are going to use, you want to make the most of it. The only way you can be confident that you are using it to its fullest potential is to take the time to completely understand all of the features and how they work. Normally, a sales person will sit and go through everything with you. Most of them will have help or guided tour features that you can go through repeatedly to get a firm grasp of how to optimize results.
If you do your research, know the software inside and out, and help others in your company to understand how it works, then you can expect the CRM software to greatly increase the performance of your company.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=257774&ca=Business
Crm Software Increases Performance And Profits
As a business owner it is vitally important to ensure that customers and potential customers are happy. You can do this in a number of ways, but one of the best ways to do so is through the use of a customer management software program. When you choose to utilize one of these programs, if properly done, you will see an increase in your profit margin. You can reduce your company’s costs by increasing loyalty throughout your customer base.
Customer relationship management software will create a company wide strategy to completely understand the customer. It gathers, organizes, and provides details from all angles including sales and customer service, among others to create a clear layout of each customer. This is a crucial step in ensuring your company approaches, and interacts with the client or potential client in a manner that will be positive to them. There are several kinds of customer management software available today, and you should take the time to ensure that you choose the one that is right for your company. They are often referred to as simply CRM software.
The first thing you should realize is that you need to know exactly where your company plans on going in the future so you can make sure the CRM software will fit into your plans. Complete your business plan with goals and how you plan to reach them, and compare the software to see how they well they will fit at different stages down the road. You also need to identify exactly what you want or need from your software. Is your marketing strategy not working so well? Ensure that the CRM software you choose will have detailed assistance to help you market to potential clients more effectively.
You can discover many variations of customer relationship management software including those that are web based and those that are installed at your company. If you are going to purchase one that will be installed at your location then you should ensure that you have sufficient equipment or computers before hand.
These are only a few of the things you should carefully consider before purchasing your CRM software. There are varying sites on the internet that you can visit to help you compare different versions of the software, just be sure that you are reading credible information. It’s very important to completely understand what you need, and what the software will do for you.
Once you have researched and settled on which CRM software you are going to use, you want to make the most of it. The only way you can be confident that you are using it to its fullest potential is to take the time to completely understand all of the features and how they work. Normally, a sales person will sit and go through everything with you. Most of them will have help or guided tour features that you can go through repeatedly to get a firm grasp of how to optimize results.
If you do your research, know the software inside and out, and help others in your company to understand how it works, then you can expect the CRM software to greatly increase the performance of your company.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=257774&ca=Business
Customer relationship management software will create a company wide strategy to completely understand the customer. It gathers, organizes, and provides details from all angles including sales and customer service, among others to create a clear layout of each customer. This is a crucial step in ensuring your company approaches, and interacts with the client or potential client in a manner that will be positive to them. There are several kinds of customer management software available today, and you should take the time to ensure that you choose the one that is right for your company. They are often referred to as simply CRM software.
The first thing you should realize is that you need to know exactly where your company plans on going in the future so you can make sure the CRM software will fit into your plans. Complete your business plan with goals and how you plan to reach them, and compare the software to see how they well they will fit at different stages down the road. You also need to identify exactly what you want or need from your software. Is your marketing strategy not working so well? Ensure that the CRM software you choose will have detailed assistance to help you market to potential clients more effectively.
You can discover many variations of customer relationship management software including those that are web based and those that are installed at your company. If you are going to purchase one that will be installed at your location then you should ensure that you have sufficient equipment or computers before hand.
These are only a few of the things you should carefully consider before purchasing your CRM software. There are varying sites on the internet that you can visit to help you compare different versions of the software, just be sure that you are reading credible information. It’s very important to completely understand what you need, and what the software will do for you.
Once you have researched and settled on which CRM software you are going to use, you want to make the most of it. The only way you can be confident that you are using it to its fullest potential is to take the time to completely understand all of the features and how they work. Normally, a sales person will sit and go through everything with you. Most of them will have help or guided tour features that you can go through repeatedly to get a firm grasp of how to optimize results.
If you do your research, know the software inside and out, and help others in your company to understand how it works, then you can expect the CRM software to greatly increase the performance of your company.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=257774&ca=Business
Advantages Of Online Market
Online market rules the roost today and is used to carry out various operations like global sourcing and multinational purchasing. All these activities related to multinational purchasing and global sourcing can be carried out comfortably using the concept of online market and used to run or promote business and commerce. In this article we will have a look at some of the advantages of online market practices and their use in promoting global sourcing and multinational purchasing activities.
As we know the first big advantage of using an online market place for carrying out business to commercial activities such as global sourcing or multinational purchasing is the reach which such an online market provides. This means that a person can have access to millions of potential customers via the cyber space which might give a big boost to the concerned enterprise in terms of global sourcing, multinational purchasing and the likes. However this approach of using online market tools might not be appropriate in all sorts of products and services which are offered to customers and certain things need personal contact but nevertheless the use of online market in global sourcing and multinational purchasing cannot be undermined.
Another advantage of using online market for business processes such as global sourcing, multinational purchasing and even more importantly advertising relates to the cost factor of such operations. Advertising is the life blood of any organization and helps to increase sales whether in the form of global sourcing, multinational purchasing etc but whatever the case online market depends heavily on lot of advertisement at economical rates. To take an example a small company or an individual proprietor may not have the willingness or funds to carry out full fledged advertising campaign to increase global sourcing and multinational purchasing, in the traditional manner which requires lot of investment but the same process can be carried out in the online market scenario using very less investment. There exist several methods of doing it such as pop up ads and banners or simple links to another website and some of these are less expensive than others so any person in the online market can choose whichever form of online advertisement which would give a boost to activities like global sourcing and multinational purchasing.
This does not mean to say that online market transactions have all the advantages and no drawbacks for there do exist many disadvantages as well which could hamper the process of global sourcing or multinational purchasing but these are to be discussed in more detail in a separate article dedicated to the topic.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=193488&ca=Business
As we know the first big advantage of using an online market place for carrying out business to commercial activities such as global sourcing or multinational purchasing is the reach which such an online market provides. This means that a person can have access to millions of potential customers via the cyber space which might give a big boost to the concerned enterprise in terms of global sourcing, multinational purchasing and the likes. However this approach of using online market tools might not be appropriate in all sorts of products and services which are offered to customers and certain things need personal contact but nevertheless the use of online market in global sourcing and multinational purchasing cannot be undermined.
Another advantage of using online market for business processes such as global sourcing, multinational purchasing and even more importantly advertising relates to the cost factor of such operations. Advertising is the life blood of any organization and helps to increase sales whether in the form of global sourcing, multinational purchasing etc but whatever the case online market depends heavily on lot of advertisement at economical rates. To take an example a small company or an individual proprietor may not have the willingness or funds to carry out full fledged advertising campaign to increase global sourcing and multinational purchasing, in the traditional manner which requires lot of investment but the same process can be carried out in the online market scenario using very less investment. There exist several methods of doing it such as pop up ads and banners or simple links to another website and some of these are less expensive than others so any person in the online market can choose whichever form of online advertisement which would give a boost to activities like global sourcing and multinational purchasing.
This does not mean to say that online market transactions have all the advantages and no drawbacks for there do exist many disadvantages as well which could hamper the process of global sourcing or multinational purchasing but these are to be discussed in more detail in a separate article dedicated to the topic.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=193488&ca=Business
Friday, July 25, 2008
How To Be Really Successful In Your Home Business &/or Network Marketing?
The traditional method of growing most work from home business and network marketing is by spending hours on the phone calling prospects, convincing and converting them into customers. Out of these leads that you generate, you can recruit representatives to further increase your profits from your home business.
Keeping customers satisfied, gaining their trust and building a strong relationship with them are just some of the things to remember with your home business and network marketing. This is all part of Customer Relationship Management (CRM).
You have a few options - you can either purchase or generate your own leads – but once you have enough leads, then you have to know what to do with it. There is such a thing as a ‘bad lead’ where you will get prospects' objections and rejections.
However, there is a disadvantage in getting the services of a lead generation company since some of them might sell re-used leads – which you will not get to discover until it is way too late. So, please conduct your due diligence first.
Also, in your home business, it is important to learn how you can get your prospects to always say yes, instead of hearing a bunch of no’s from prospects. In addition, you need to make sure that your advertising money is worth it. Thus, you should measure and evaluate the Return on Investments (ROI) on the various advertising methods that you are using.
With Internet marketing, you have to be innovative and find ways to develop a well-thought out promotional campaign. Try to incorporate automation, for example, use of autoresponders in your business sales funnel & your leads generation methods. However, you cannot predict the results. You may have an extremely profitable and successful promotional campaign one time and then completely fail the next time. The important thing is for you to evaluate what went right and what went wrong. Do a post-mortem on your advertising methods. Reinvest in those methods that worked well.
With the popularity of blogging, you can use this in expanding your business and generating leads. For example, if you are an entrepreneur who has a small fashion business, you can have a blog where users interested in fashion clothes can post their comments.
Being a home-based business entrepreneur, you need to market and promote your business. You can easily do this and generate a lot of lead by having the visitors on your blog post comments and address their questions and feedbacks to you, personally. This would not just add on to your lead but also give you a feedback of what most of your prospective customers want or need.
To further automate your home business, you may want to consider the use of autoresponders, which allows you to send out pre-written messages to your prospects on a preset interval time. Imagine "freeing' yourself from the ardeous tasks of manually tracking and writing emails to all your prospects in different times!
In a nutshell, in order to be successful in your home business &/or network marketing, you need to evaluate and find a business platform which gives you the highest level of automation available, to achieve your online success.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=259820&ca=Business
Keeping customers satisfied, gaining their trust and building a strong relationship with them are just some of the things to remember with your home business and network marketing. This is all part of Customer Relationship Management (CRM).
You have a few options - you can either purchase or generate your own leads – but once you have enough leads, then you have to know what to do with it. There is such a thing as a ‘bad lead’ where you will get prospects' objections and rejections.
However, there is a disadvantage in getting the services of a lead generation company since some of them might sell re-used leads – which you will not get to discover until it is way too late. So, please conduct your due diligence first.
Also, in your home business, it is important to learn how you can get your prospects to always say yes, instead of hearing a bunch of no’s from prospects. In addition, you need to make sure that your advertising money is worth it. Thus, you should measure and evaluate the Return on Investments (ROI) on the various advertising methods that you are using.
With Internet marketing, you have to be innovative and find ways to develop a well-thought out promotional campaign. Try to incorporate automation, for example, use of autoresponders in your business sales funnel & your leads generation methods. However, you cannot predict the results. You may have an extremely profitable and successful promotional campaign one time and then completely fail the next time. The important thing is for you to evaluate what went right and what went wrong. Do a post-mortem on your advertising methods. Reinvest in those methods that worked well.
With the popularity of blogging, you can use this in expanding your business and generating leads. For example, if you are an entrepreneur who has a small fashion business, you can have a blog where users interested in fashion clothes can post their comments.
Being a home-based business entrepreneur, you need to market and promote your business. You can easily do this and generate a lot of lead by having the visitors on your blog post comments and address their questions and feedbacks to you, personally. This would not just add on to your lead but also give you a feedback of what most of your prospective customers want or need.
To further automate your home business, you may want to consider the use of autoresponders, which allows you to send out pre-written messages to your prospects on a preset interval time. Imagine "freeing' yourself from the ardeous tasks of manually tracking and writing emails to all your prospects in different times!
In a nutshell, in order to be successful in your home business &/or network marketing, you need to evaluate and find a business platform which gives you the highest level of automation available, to achieve your online success.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=259820&ca=Business
Business Valuation - Baby Boomers Tipping The Scales?
You, or someone very close to you, are part of 78 million Americans that make up the largest population segment in the United States: Baby Boomers. This generation is classified as anyone born between 1946 and 1964. According to a recent study by BIG Research, 9% of boomers with household incomes exceeding $50,000 are small business owners. Using simple math that means 7 million companies in the United States are owned by individuals 44 – 62 years old.
If you or a family member fall into this category (baby boomer business owner), what is your exit strategy with your business? Currently, 33% of business owners in America will successfully transfer their family business to the next generation (Family Firm Institute). If you fall into the majority of US business owners (67%), then your children (X & Y generations) have most likely opted to not follow in your footsteps of taking over the family business, leaving you with significant, life shaping decisions.
It is safe to say that 5 million baby boom business owners do not have a son or daughter aligned to take over their privately-held business (due to choice or circumstance). This massive group of societal leaders is now left with only a handful of options:
• Keep the business well into their retirement years, possibly leaving it to estate settlement proceedings
• Dissolve the business should competent leadership not be in place after retirement
• Sell the business to a qualified buyer and have financial stability for future retirement and heirs.
Based on the financial burden Baby Boomers have from their children, parents and own personal lives, combined with the wave of owners reaching retirement sooner rather than later, we recommend the latter -- sell the business.
The Exit Planning Institute has projected that over the next 12-15 years, more than 8 million privately-held US companies will be sold. This is a tidal wave of “for sale” companies flooding the market place, primarily due to baby boomers seeking retirement. The sheer volume of companies for sale will inherently reduce purchase prices due to simple supply-demand economics; tipping the balance of available businesses for sale compared to capable, motivated business buyers. Trying to stand out in a crowd of sellers will be difficult due to a saturated marketplace of other baby boom-owned businesses. Those business owners that truly plan ahead and start executing their exit strategy today, can avoid a major dilemma and be prepared for the future (a flooded marketplace of similar companies for sale).
In order to start the process of planning the sale of your business, you first need to know what that business is worth. Determining the fair market value of your business can be an eye opening and empowering process. Seek out professional, independent expertise in order to conduct an accurate business valuation report. For the purpose of planning and determining fair market value, you should expect business valuation fees to range from $3,000 - $7,000, relative to the size and complexities of your small business operation. Once you have identified what the company is worth, you can then make decisions with confidence and choose your future path wisely. You will also be able to better understand value drivers specific to your type of business and industry. If the stars are aligned, you may wish to consider selling the business sooner rather than later. If the value is lower than you had expected, you can strategically grow and refine your business to increase value for your future exit. Timing is everything in the sale of a business.
Don’t try to go at it on your own as that can be a long, painstaking process filled with inaccuracies and frequent misses. Rely on trained professionals and advisors to guide you down the exit planning path and give yourself plenty of time to do it right. A typical exit advisory group could consist of an attorney, accountant, business appraiser, business intermediary/broker, and financial planner. For smaller businesses, a couple of these roles can be consolidated for cost efficiencies.
Now more than ever it is critical that baby boom business owners figure out where they stand so they can strategically navigate for the future. You may have heard the adage, how can you be lost if you do not know where you are going? Ask yourself where you want to end up in life, not just for yourself but your family. What new challenges or hobbies do you want to take on in the second half of your life? Can you afford to do these things? Determine your ideal destination and end result, then reverse engineer your path to reach those specific goals. For the retirement planning of a small business owner, the starting point in all of this should be a small business valuation. It takes years to build a successful business, don’t rush your exit. Know your value, know your business!
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=197311&ca=Business
If you or a family member fall into this category (baby boomer business owner), what is your exit strategy with your business? Currently, 33% of business owners in America will successfully transfer their family business to the next generation (Family Firm Institute). If you fall into the majority of US business owners (67%), then your children (X & Y generations) have most likely opted to not follow in your footsteps of taking over the family business, leaving you with significant, life shaping decisions.
It is safe to say that 5 million baby boom business owners do not have a son or daughter aligned to take over their privately-held business (due to choice or circumstance). This massive group of societal leaders is now left with only a handful of options:
• Keep the business well into their retirement years, possibly leaving it to estate settlement proceedings
• Dissolve the business should competent leadership not be in place after retirement
• Sell the business to a qualified buyer and have financial stability for future retirement and heirs.
Based on the financial burden Baby Boomers have from their children, parents and own personal lives, combined with the wave of owners reaching retirement sooner rather than later, we recommend the latter -- sell the business.
The Exit Planning Institute has projected that over the next 12-15 years, more than 8 million privately-held US companies will be sold. This is a tidal wave of “for sale” companies flooding the market place, primarily due to baby boomers seeking retirement. The sheer volume of companies for sale will inherently reduce purchase prices due to simple supply-demand economics; tipping the balance of available businesses for sale compared to capable, motivated business buyers. Trying to stand out in a crowd of sellers will be difficult due to a saturated marketplace of other baby boom-owned businesses. Those business owners that truly plan ahead and start executing their exit strategy today, can avoid a major dilemma and be prepared for the future (a flooded marketplace of similar companies for sale).
In order to start the process of planning the sale of your business, you first need to know what that business is worth. Determining the fair market value of your business can be an eye opening and empowering process. Seek out professional, independent expertise in order to conduct an accurate business valuation report. For the purpose of planning and determining fair market value, you should expect business valuation fees to range from $3,000 - $7,000, relative to the size and complexities of your small business operation. Once you have identified what the company is worth, you can then make decisions with confidence and choose your future path wisely. You will also be able to better understand value drivers specific to your type of business and industry. If the stars are aligned, you may wish to consider selling the business sooner rather than later. If the value is lower than you had expected, you can strategically grow and refine your business to increase value for your future exit. Timing is everything in the sale of a business.
Don’t try to go at it on your own as that can be a long, painstaking process filled with inaccuracies and frequent misses. Rely on trained professionals and advisors to guide you down the exit planning path and give yourself plenty of time to do it right. A typical exit advisory group could consist of an attorney, accountant, business appraiser, business intermediary/broker, and financial planner. For smaller businesses, a couple of these roles can be consolidated for cost efficiencies.
Now more than ever it is critical that baby boom business owners figure out where they stand so they can strategically navigate for the future. You may have heard the adage, how can you be lost if you do not know where you are going? Ask yourself where you want to end up in life, not just for yourself but your family. What new challenges or hobbies do you want to take on in the second half of your life? Can you afford to do these things? Determine your ideal destination and end result, then reverse engineer your path to reach those specific goals. For the retirement planning of a small business owner, the starting point in all of this should be a small business valuation. It takes years to build a successful business, don’t rush your exit. Know your value, know your business!
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=197311&ca=Business
Wholesale Video Games Business - Economy Secrets!
Are there any other wholesale video games merchandise business secrets on the internet to know about? If there was not, most if not every wholesale niche market will be in danger for extinction. The current economic recession flags danger for many of our family, friends and neighbors but it also flags business for those of you who are starting to gather ideas to start a business venture around the wholesale and retail re-selling business, be it on eBay or on your own WEB 2.0 store.
The reasons are not quite easy to understand, but logical if you have been around recessions. As the overall business starts to decrease, working hour labors diminish - people stay more in their homes. That usually is a delicate situation for most of us, however, a good opportunity for those willing to capitalize on eBay and with your own mini mall on the Internet.
Since people would stay more at home, in a nutshell, thanks to the media, news and the overall fear that prevents economic growth with a wide touch of fearful spending spree on night time getaways - people stay at home more today than in past years. Its pretty logic and even obvious do to a recession! Now, what kind of opportunity that represents to you as the wholesale merchandise provider?
More business, more product trades since most of us start and continue to spend time inside homes. I mean, by looking at today slow economic growth, recession, offering products people want and need is a splendid way to start testing on your preferred wholesale venture.
Wholesale video games are an excellent product for immediate business at wholesale to actually profit. Right now the commercial opportunity for acquiring accessories, consoles and games at steep discount is better than ever. The fight between suppliers and distributors for selling to customers with minimum quantities while others limit the order limit by offering in bulk is one battle of the prices anyone with a love for video games should quite understand the eagerness to sell what they like on established traffic sites.
While others might believe you will be crazy to invest in a current economic recession, it might be understandable for them if they aren't coming from a business background, is just way to risky for some, actually most of us starting businesses in recession could be called crazy by the masses, understandable. But forgetting about the masses, what do you want as far wholesale business goes? If you want business growth, you can get growth if doing the right things, intelligently by considering today's industry experts.
An advantage probable fact for those who start a business today around the e-commerce tangible business is predictable. If you offer what people want and specialized heavily in a micro niche or in a sub-niche market while forgetting to beat Amazon, you should be able to thrive. No matter if it ends up being in the wholesale video games business or in the electronics re-selling business. The time for you could be now or never, you will always have a right to decide!
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=260268&ca=Business
The reasons are not quite easy to understand, but logical if you have been around recessions. As the overall business starts to decrease, working hour labors diminish - people stay more in their homes. That usually is a delicate situation for most of us, however, a good opportunity for those willing to capitalize on eBay and with your own mini mall on the Internet.
Since people would stay more at home, in a nutshell, thanks to the media, news and the overall fear that prevents economic growth with a wide touch of fearful spending spree on night time getaways - people stay at home more today than in past years. Its pretty logic and even obvious do to a recession! Now, what kind of opportunity that represents to you as the wholesale merchandise provider?
More business, more product trades since most of us start and continue to spend time inside homes. I mean, by looking at today slow economic growth, recession, offering products people want and need is a splendid way to start testing on your preferred wholesale venture.
Wholesale video games are an excellent product for immediate business at wholesale to actually profit. Right now the commercial opportunity for acquiring accessories, consoles and games at steep discount is better than ever. The fight between suppliers and distributors for selling to customers with minimum quantities while others limit the order limit by offering in bulk is one battle of the prices anyone with a love for video games should quite understand the eagerness to sell what they like on established traffic sites.
While others might believe you will be crazy to invest in a current economic recession, it might be understandable for them if they aren't coming from a business background, is just way to risky for some, actually most of us starting businesses in recession could be called crazy by the masses, understandable. But forgetting about the masses, what do you want as far wholesale business goes? If you want business growth, you can get growth if doing the right things, intelligently by considering today's industry experts.
An advantage probable fact for those who start a business today around the e-commerce tangible business is predictable. If you offer what people want and specialized heavily in a micro niche or in a sub-niche market while forgetting to beat Amazon, you should be able to thrive. No matter if it ends up being in the wholesale video games business or in the electronics re-selling business. The time for you could be now or never, you will always have a right to decide!
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=260268&ca=Business
5 Marketing Strategies On Using Information Products To Make More Money
When I was a kid, I couldn’t wait for the Lillian Vernon catalogues to arrive in the mail. Each page was chock full of items that had no real purpose other than they were fun to look at and buy.
As I thumbed through the pages, I wasn't dreaming about what I wanted to purchase (at fourteen, I didn't have much use for monogrammed teacups and dishtowels). I was picturing how utterly cool it would be to have a mail order business where every day checks arrived, as if by magic, in my mailbox.
Fast forward thirty-plus years and I STILL think it's utterly cool to receive orders. This is why I created an information product in the first year of my success coaching business.
What I've learned business coaching is that practically any business can create an information product. All it takes is branding, creativity, and an eye for how to turn what you do into a marketable product.
The other thing I've learned is that if you don't have an information product yet, now is the time to focus on creating one.
Why?
Here are my top 5 strategies for how you can use your own information product to create a straight "as-the-crow-flies" line to putting more money in your pocket.
Strategy #1: You're now THE expert.
Nothing catapults you into expert status faster than an information product. The reason is simple. Now you're an author and an author is an authority.
Once prospective clients find out you're an author, they immediately believe you're worth more and will seek you out for speaking and interviews, as well as purchasing your services.
Here's a business coaching tip: you don't even have to wait until you have your product to say you're an author. You can start adding, "Author of the soon to be released XYZ Home Study Course" to your email signature and other marketing materials. This WILL get you more business and instant prestige!
Strategy #: 2 Give away your product.
I know, this sounds like a backwards way to make more, but it works. Giving away your product to the right people can get you media exposure, speaking gigs, requests for interviews and new clients.
The key to making this strategy work is: don’t be chintzy! Your product doesn't cost that much to produce, yet the lifetime value of a client is worth thousands of dollars. I've sent my book to magazines for reviews, given copies to key people I meet, sent it as a "thank you" to guests on my Ask the Expert Salon teleseminars , donated it to charity auctions, and given it to different businesses to have in their waiting rooms.
I recommend that my success coaching clients set a goal to give away 100 copies of their information product. It's tangible, valuable marketing that costs little and pays off big time.
Strategy #3: Bundle your product with other services.
Once you have an information product, you can use it as a bonus to another service, or you can make owning it a prerequisite for your high-priced workshop (see #4 below.) Either way, you're leveraging your product to help sell more expensive services.
Strategy #4: Create a signature workshop or training program around your information product.
Just because someone buys your product doesn't mean that's all they want. In fact, statistically, you'll have an easier time selling your more expensive workshops or programs to existing clients than to strangers.
For example: my book, Brilliance Unbridled, nearly paid for itself in the first three months of publication. Success coaching clients began signing up for both private and group HorseWise Brilliance Unbridled -- just from reading the book.
Strategy #5: Get others to include your product in THEIR training, product, or service.
A few years ago, my Marketing Makeover Kit was included in a training program for interior re-designers. The training organization purchased copies in bulk from me every couple of months.
I passed this business coaching tip to a colleague who immediately implemented this strategy. Now her eBook is included in the new-student package for a monthly training program. Not only is she making money on the sale of ten copies of her eBook each month, she's been asked to speak at an upcoming training event.
Did you notice that none of my top five strategies included selling your information product? Of course, selling your product is an excellent way of bringing in the bucks, but I wanted to prove how lucrative an information product is, even before you sell your first copy!
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=201344&ca=Business
As I thumbed through the pages, I wasn't dreaming about what I wanted to purchase (at fourteen, I didn't have much use for monogrammed teacups and dishtowels). I was picturing how utterly cool it would be to have a mail order business where every day checks arrived, as if by magic, in my mailbox.
Fast forward thirty-plus years and I STILL think it's utterly cool to receive orders. This is why I created an information product in the first year of my success coaching business.
What I've learned business coaching is that practically any business can create an information product. All it takes is branding, creativity, and an eye for how to turn what you do into a marketable product.
The other thing I've learned is that if you don't have an information product yet, now is the time to focus on creating one.
Why?
Here are my top 5 strategies for how you can use your own information product to create a straight "as-the-crow-flies" line to putting more money in your pocket.
Strategy #1: You're now THE expert.
Nothing catapults you into expert status faster than an information product. The reason is simple. Now you're an author and an author is an authority.
Once prospective clients find out you're an author, they immediately believe you're worth more and will seek you out for speaking and interviews, as well as purchasing your services.
Here's a business coaching tip: you don't even have to wait until you have your product to say you're an author. You can start adding, "Author of the soon to be released XYZ Home Study Course" to your email signature and other marketing materials. This WILL get you more business and instant prestige!
Strategy #: 2 Give away your product.
I know, this sounds like a backwards way to make more, but it works. Giving away your product to the right people can get you media exposure, speaking gigs, requests for interviews and new clients.
The key to making this strategy work is: don’t be chintzy! Your product doesn't cost that much to produce, yet the lifetime value of a client is worth thousands of dollars. I've sent my book to magazines for reviews, given copies to key people I meet, sent it as a "thank you" to guests on my Ask the Expert Salon teleseminars , donated it to charity auctions, and given it to different businesses to have in their waiting rooms.
I recommend that my success coaching clients set a goal to give away 100 copies of their information product. It's tangible, valuable marketing that costs little and pays off big time.
Strategy #3: Bundle your product with other services.
Once you have an information product, you can use it as a bonus to another service, or you can make owning it a prerequisite for your high-priced workshop (see #4 below.) Either way, you're leveraging your product to help sell more expensive services.
Strategy #4: Create a signature workshop or training program around your information product.
Just because someone buys your product doesn't mean that's all they want. In fact, statistically, you'll have an easier time selling your more expensive workshops or programs to existing clients than to strangers.
For example: my book, Brilliance Unbridled, nearly paid for itself in the first three months of publication. Success coaching clients began signing up for both private and group HorseWise Brilliance Unbridled -- just from reading the book.
Strategy #5: Get others to include your product in THEIR training, product, or service.
A few years ago, my Marketing Makeover Kit was included in a training program for interior re-designers. The training organization purchased copies in bulk from me every couple of months.
I passed this business coaching tip to a colleague who immediately implemented this strategy. Now her eBook is included in the new-student package for a monthly training program. Not only is she making money on the sale of ten copies of her eBook each month, she's been asked to speak at an upcoming training event.
Did you notice that none of my top five strategies included selling your information product? Of course, selling your product is an excellent way of bringing in the bucks, but I wanted to prove how lucrative an information product is, even before you sell your first copy!
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=201344&ca=Business
How To Invent New Products
To invent new products, you need to know how to generate new ideas - lots of them. Then you look them over and pick out the good ones. Here is one of the many simple techniques for coming up with ideas for new products.
New Products From Old
Start with an existing product and extract some of the basic principles or attributes that define it. Then take those and apply them to other products, things or processes. That's the whole technique, by the way. Now for some examples.
A laptop computer has many attributes, but the one that comes to my mind as most important is that it is portable. That is what makes them sell, right? So let's start with the idea of "portable" and apply it to anything and everything around us.
As I write this, I can see my desk in front of me. The questions to ask then, are "Would a portable desk be useful or desired by people?" and "How could a portable desk be made?" The answer to the first question is clearly yes for me, since I would love one to take when we go camping in our van. Of course there are some fairly portable desks, so the second question should focus on new ways to make them even smaller.
I guess we would want to start with materials that are very strong and rigid for there weight, like aluminum or titanium. Maybe a small titanium desk top could fold into six parts and have telescoping legs. The whole thing might fit inside a briefcase-sized carrier and still fold out into a usable size. Or maybe, since the market might be laptop owners, we could just add telescoping legs to a laptop computer. Once you have a simple idea like this, you should jot it down and quickly move on to the next one.
Randomly searching my imagination for other products to apply the idea of "portable" to, I am thinking of a jukebox. To the best of my knowledge, there are no widely distributed portable jukeboxes. The question of usefulness is answered in the affirmative - just think what a great little money maker a portable jukebox could be. Take it to parties, set it up at fund raisers, maybe you could even rent it out. Now you just have to design one.
This technique isn't limited to new products. Lets look at how to do this with a service. For our existing service, delivery comes to mind. It is the essence of many pizza restaurants and flower shops, for example. What can be delivered that isn't typically being delivered now? Finding things to apply this to can be as simple as mentally listing everything that people go out to buy and considering whether there is some way to make a business delivering it.
People go out to buy plants, for example, because they want to see what they are buying. But what if a nursery had video cameras that could be operated by the customer to see everything in stock? The customer could scan the plants, note the numbers on them and place the order online or by phone for delivery that day or the next. "I'll take number t-243 (t for tree) and eight cucumber plants." Once a day a driver could run the rounds around the city making the deliveries.
You can also open the dictionary and start scanning pages to see what might be delivered. It took me less than a minute to scan six pages and see "pool." Could a business rent and deliver swimming pools for parties and events? Maybe it's already being done.
Just start with existing products or services and apply the existing principles and attributes in a new context. It's one of the simplest ways to invent new products or services.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=198963&ca=Business
New Products From Old
Start with an existing product and extract some of the basic principles or attributes that define it. Then take those and apply them to other products, things or processes. That's the whole technique, by the way. Now for some examples.
A laptop computer has many attributes, but the one that comes to my mind as most important is that it is portable. That is what makes them sell, right? So let's start with the idea of "portable" and apply it to anything and everything around us.
As I write this, I can see my desk in front of me. The questions to ask then, are "Would a portable desk be useful or desired by people?" and "How could a portable desk be made?" The answer to the first question is clearly yes for me, since I would love one to take when we go camping in our van. Of course there are some fairly portable desks, so the second question should focus on new ways to make them even smaller.
I guess we would want to start with materials that are very strong and rigid for there weight, like aluminum or titanium. Maybe a small titanium desk top could fold into six parts and have telescoping legs. The whole thing might fit inside a briefcase-sized carrier and still fold out into a usable size. Or maybe, since the market might be laptop owners, we could just add telescoping legs to a laptop computer. Once you have a simple idea like this, you should jot it down and quickly move on to the next one.
Randomly searching my imagination for other products to apply the idea of "portable" to, I am thinking of a jukebox. To the best of my knowledge, there are no widely distributed portable jukeboxes. The question of usefulness is answered in the affirmative - just think what a great little money maker a portable jukebox could be. Take it to parties, set it up at fund raisers, maybe you could even rent it out. Now you just have to design one.
This technique isn't limited to new products. Lets look at how to do this with a service. For our existing service, delivery comes to mind. It is the essence of many pizza restaurants and flower shops, for example. What can be delivered that isn't typically being delivered now? Finding things to apply this to can be as simple as mentally listing everything that people go out to buy and considering whether there is some way to make a business delivering it.
People go out to buy plants, for example, because they want to see what they are buying. But what if a nursery had video cameras that could be operated by the customer to see everything in stock? The customer could scan the plants, note the numbers on them and place the order online or by phone for delivery that day or the next. "I'll take number t-243 (t for tree) and eight cucumber plants." Once a day a driver could run the rounds around the city making the deliveries.
You can also open the dictionary and start scanning pages to see what might be delivered. It took me less than a minute to scan six pages and see "pool." Could a business rent and deliver swimming pools for parties and events? Maybe it's already being done.
Just start with existing products or services and apply the existing principles and attributes in a new context. It's one of the simplest ways to invent new products or services.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=198963&ca=Business
Tips to Successful Business Negotiation
Successful business negotiation can be worth a great deal to your business. It can mean the difference between securing a contract and losing a contract, and has the potential to be worth untold amounts of money to your business in the longer term. Thus, it's no surprise that good negotiators tend to go far in business.
Negotiation is relevant when it comes to closing contracts on favorable terms with suppliers and also during the sales process when dealing with potentially profitable clients and existing customers. For the business owner looking to close more profitable sales, learning the basics of negotiation is critical, and probably one of the most important skill to acquire early on.
The first thing to understand about business negotiation is that it's all about give and take except when you are negotiating a one off purchase. In this scenario, building and maintaining a relationship has almost zero value and you can definitely afford to be more ruthless. In this article I am looking at how you can negotiate effectively and create a long term business relationship in the process.
It is a good idea to do your research first and find out how the hungry the other party is for clinching a deal and / or gaining a new customer. Companies that are entering a new market will often be willing to make a loss in the first few years to rapidly build up a client base, whilst more established businesses will be looking to make a profit, however small, on every deal.
Obviously when negotiating in business you are out to get the best deal for your business, but it's important to understand that these objectives are mirrored on the other side of the table, and very few shrewd businessmen will be willing to allow such a one-sided negotiation where only one party wins. Therefore it's important to distinguish between what you must achieve and what the other party desires.
Mutual negotiation, on a psychological level, where it may appear that there has been some form of compromise, can have a significant effect on closing sales and negotiating contracts, and can leave the other party to the negotiation feeling as though both parties have got the best deal.
When involved in business negotiation, a key skill is to listen to what the other party is trying to achieve and then to try to understand their personal motivations during the negotiation process. This can help you understand more readily what the other side of the table desires, thereby enabling you to come up with suggestions that may help the deal through.
Don't fall into the trap of forcing yourself onto the other side. Listen to what they have to say, and put yourself in their shoes to understand their objectives before taking things forward. It's also a good idea to be relatively cagey in terms of what you desire, and revealing this too early in the negotiation process offers a key opportunity to the other side to negotiate a bargain at your expense.
Initially, after you have found out what requirements the other party has, start off by asking for more favorable terms then you are willing to settle for, thus building in some leeway for "giving in" to the requirements of the other side. Sometimes it is a good idea to walk away on friendly terms and reconvene another meeting at a later date after the first rejection.
Finally, negotiation is best conducted on friendly, personal terms. It's easy to create a positive relationship with the other party prior to negotiation, simply through the way you talk and interact with them in the pre-negotiation stages.
Knowledge is power and negotiation in business is very much about understanding other people and their plans, motivations and desires. People respond better to those that they share a good personal bond and for the limited effort required to achieve that bond it is well worth it.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=261339&ca=Business
Negotiation is relevant when it comes to closing contracts on favorable terms with suppliers and also during the sales process when dealing with potentially profitable clients and existing customers. For the business owner looking to close more profitable sales, learning the basics of negotiation is critical, and probably one of the most important skill to acquire early on.
The first thing to understand about business negotiation is that it's all about give and take except when you are negotiating a one off purchase. In this scenario, building and maintaining a relationship has almost zero value and you can definitely afford to be more ruthless. In this article I am looking at how you can negotiate effectively and create a long term business relationship in the process.
It is a good idea to do your research first and find out how the hungry the other party is for clinching a deal and / or gaining a new customer. Companies that are entering a new market will often be willing to make a loss in the first few years to rapidly build up a client base, whilst more established businesses will be looking to make a profit, however small, on every deal.
Obviously when negotiating in business you are out to get the best deal for your business, but it's important to understand that these objectives are mirrored on the other side of the table, and very few shrewd businessmen will be willing to allow such a one-sided negotiation where only one party wins. Therefore it's important to distinguish between what you must achieve and what the other party desires.
Mutual negotiation, on a psychological level, where it may appear that there has been some form of compromise, can have a significant effect on closing sales and negotiating contracts, and can leave the other party to the negotiation feeling as though both parties have got the best deal.
When involved in business negotiation, a key skill is to listen to what the other party is trying to achieve and then to try to understand their personal motivations during the negotiation process. This can help you understand more readily what the other side of the table desires, thereby enabling you to come up with suggestions that may help the deal through.
Don't fall into the trap of forcing yourself onto the other side. Listen to what they have to say, and put yourself in their shoes to understand their objectives before taking things forward. It's also a good idea to be relatively cagey in terms of what you desire, and revealing this too early in the negotiation process offers a key opportunity to the other side to negotiate a bargain at your expense.
Initially, after you have found out what requirements the other party has, start off by asking for more favorable terms then you are willing to settle for, thus building in some leeway for "giving in" to the requirements of the other side. Sometimes it is a good idea to walk away on friendly terms and reconvene another meeting at a later date after the first rejection.
Finally, negotiation is best conducted on friendly, personal terms. It's easy to create a positive relationship with the other party prior to negotiation, simply through the way you talk and interact with them in the pre-negotiation stages.
Knowledge is power and negotiation in business is very much about understanding other people and their plans, motivations and desires. People respond better to those that they share a good personal bond and for the limited effort required to achieve that bond it is well worth it.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=261339&ca=Business
What is the Key to Making Your Home Based Business Successful?
Do you know what it takes to make your home based business successful? There are a couple of different keys to becoming successful. You need to know what these keys are because if you don’t know them than you will struggle like a lot of other people do to make your business the success that you want it to be. Here are the keys to having a successful business.
One: Education – This is imperative to having a successful home business. You need to educate yourself on advertising a home based business, tools for your business and many other things. The more you are willing to educate yourself the faster you will find the success that you want. You can’t start a business from home and just expect to make money right away without knowing how to do it. So always take a little time each day to educate yourself on one thing.
Two: Advertising – This is an obvious one but most people don’t realize how much advertising they are going to have to do to be successful. You need to have 5 to 7 methods of advertising working for you at all times. Start out with just one method and when you feel comfortable using that method you can add another one until you have the 5 to 7 methods. This is also where you need the education because you will have to educate yourself on each method of advertising.
Three: Be different – How can this help you be successful with your own home based business? With so many businesses online you have to find a way to make your business stand out over all the others. There are a lot of different ways that you can do this but you will need to put some thought into it. Find out what others are doing and this will give you some ideas of how you can be different.
Four: Hard work and time – Building a successful home business is not as easy as most people make it out to be. You will have to work hard every single day and put in as much time as needed if you plan on achieving success for your home based business. This is one key that a lot of people don’t like to do but one thing they never think about is that if you don’t do it you will never find the success and freedom that your home business can provide for you.
These are not the only keys to having a successful home based business but they are the most important ones. If you can do all of these different things than you will soon find yourself on the road to success with your home business.
Summary: Do you have your own home business that you want to make successful? If you do then you need to know what the keys are to making your home based business successful. These keys are imperative to your success. Find out what they are now.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=261513&ca=Business
One: Education – This is imperative to having a successful home business. You need to educate yourself on advertising a home based business, tools for your business and many other things. The more you are willing to educate yourself the faster you will find the success that you want. You can’t start a business from home and just expect to make money right away without knowing how to do it. So always take a little time each day to educate yourself on one thing.
Two: Advertising – This is an obvious one but most people don’t realize how much advertising they are going to have to do to be successful. You need to have 5 to 7 methods of advertising working for you at all times. Start out with just one method and when you feel comfortable using that method you can add another one until you have the 5 to 7 methods. This is also where you need the education because you will have to educate yourself on each method of advertising.
Three: Be different – How can this help you be successful with your own home based business? With so many businesses online you have to find a way to make your business stand out over all the others. There are a lot of different ways that you can do this but you will need to put some thought into it. Find out what others are doing and this will give you some ideas of how you can be different.
Four: Hard work and time – Building a successful home business is not as easy as most people make it out to be. You will have to work hard every single day and put in as much time as needed if you plan on achieving success for your home based business. This is one key that a lot of people don’t like to do but one thing they never think about is that if you don’t do it you will never find the success and freedom that your home business can provide for you.
These are not the only keys to having a successful home based business but they are the most important ones. If you can do all of these different things than you will soon find yourself on the road to success with your home business.
Summary: Do you have your own home business that you want to make successful? If you do then you need to know what the keys are to making your home based business successful. These keys are imperative to your success. Find out what they are now.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=261513&ca=Business
Types of Material Handling Products
Recession-proofing your facility requires careful consideration of all time and safety issues pertinent to your process flow. With the correct material handling products, you can ensure that your production is being accomplished with maximum speed and efficiency and minimum risk of injury. Using the right tool also reduces the risk of penalties for non-compliance with safety regulations, and it can even possibly result in lowering general liability insurance rates.
All material handling products are designed to either transport materials or store them safely and efficiently. Understanding the benefits of each product category makes procurement simple and cost effective.
Pallet Jacks
Pallet Jacks are material handling products that provide an economical way to move heavy pallet loads without the use of a fork truck. Many models found in our online inventory feature special ergonomic designs that allow operators to steer corners with minimal effort and to pull heavy loads with only 75 pounds of total force. Other models feature hydraulic systems that allow operators to lift up to 4,000 pounds without back or shoulder strain.
Self-Dumping Hoppers
Self dumping hoppers are large boxes with hinged bases that serve as waste disposal units. They can be picked up by fork trucks and emptied through a convenient self-dumping mechanism that closes once the waste is disposed of. A wide range of hoppers exists that is designed to carry everything from wood and broken down boxes to hazardous materials and liquid waste.
Gantry Cranes & Jibs
Jib cranes and gantry cranes are material handling products that maximize mobility with a minimum of equipment and accessories. Gantry cranes feature pinned connections and do not require bolts or riveting for assembling. Not only can a worker disassemble these material handling products single handedly, the crane can also be carried with a two-strap harness that fits across the back.
Jib cranes are material handling products that allow workers to work more quickly with less risk to personal safety. Jib cranes allow workers to lift materials from a cart to a workbench with no strain on the back.
Both gantry cranes and jib cranes come in either steel or aluminum builds.
Lift Master Booms
Lift master booms are material handling products that can add up to five feet in height to a fork truck. Most material handling vendors carry both telescoping and non-telescoping designs. Short booms specialize in moving equipment through tight spaces and aisles, while larger models can handle up to 4,000 pounds of weight.
Hand Trucks
Hand trucks are some of the most versatile, cost effective, and efficient material handling products available. Specialized models exist for virtually every indoor and outdoor application. Each hand truck, regardless of design, is engineered to provide workers with the maximum amount of control for mobility regardless of weight loads. Most models are made from aluminum, although a fiber hand truck is also available for extra light loads and weight capacities.
Choose from designs such as special four wheel models for outdoor terrain, dual handle model for added ergonomic comfort, dual directional for maneuvering between pallet racks and mezzanines, and “P”-handle hand trucks specifically manufactured for easily moving heavy and awkward sized loads.
Work Platforms
Work platforms are material handling products designed to provide a convenient method of safely and quickly transporting maintenance personnel where they are needed. They attach to fork trucks by means of fork pockets and chains. Units feature emergency stop button kits, web lanyards, and safety harnesses.
Shelving & Storage Solutions
Easy Rack shelving and storage solutions feature everything from pallet racks for general pallet storage to medium and heavy duty cantilever racks. Both lines of material handling products offer flexibility and multiple options for customization. High density storage, tool storage, and parts organization can be done with any number of bin storage cabinets and bar racks. These tools maximize your floor space and vertical cube and significantly reduce the necessity of having to move to larger facilities for an apparent lack of room.
Fork Extensions
Fork extensions provide the extra support needed to lift long or large objects with a fork truck. Featuring welded steel construction with cast steel tips, steel retaining straps prevents fork extensions from sliding off forks during use.
It is always good to speak with a specialist when ordering material handling products. Not only will advice from an expert help better pinpoint your purchasing, but many material handling products can be obtained in good, used condition. Savings of up to 40% can often be generated on a significant number of purchases.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=261783&ca=Business
All material handling products are designed to either transport materials or store them safely and efficiently. Understanding the benefits of each product category makes procurement simple and cost effective.
Pallet Jacks
Pallet Jacks are material handling products that provide an economical way to move heavy pallet loads without the use of a fork truck. Many models found in our online inventory feature special ergonomic designs that allow operators to steer corners with minimal effort and to pull heavy loads with only 75 pounds of total force. Other models feature hydraulic systems that allow operators to lift up to 4,000 pounds without back or shoulder strain.
Self-Dumping Hoppers
Self dumping hoppers are large boxes with hinged bases that serve as waste disposal units. They can be picked up by fork trucks and emptied through a convenient self-dumping mechanism that closes once the waste is disposed of. A wide range of hoppers exists that is designed to carry everything from wood and broken down boxes to hazardous materials and liquid waste.
Gantry Cranes & Jibs
Jib cranes and gantry cranes are material handling products that maximize mobility with a minimum of equipment and accessories. Gantry cranes feature pinned connections and do not require bolts or riveting for assembling. Not only can a worker disassemble these material handling products single handedly, the crane can also be carried with a two-strap harness that fits across the back.
Jib cranes are material handling products that allow workers to work more quickly with less risk to personal safety. Jib cranes allow workers to lift materials from a cart to a workbench with no strain on the back.
Both gantry cranes and jib cranes come in either steel or aluminum builds.
Lift Master Booms
Lift master booms are material handling products that can add up to five feet in height to a fork truck. Most material handling vendors carry both telescoping and non-telescoping designs. Short booms specialize in moving equipment through tight spaces and aisles, while larger models can handle up to 4,000 pounds of weight.
Hand Trucks
Hand trucks are some of the most versatile, cost effective, and efficient material handling products available. Specialized models exist for virtually every indoor and outdoor application. Each hand truck, regardless of design, is engineered to provide workers with the maximum amount of control for mobility regardless of weight loads. Most models are made from aluminum, although a fiber hand truck is also available for extra light loads and weight capacities.
Choose from designs such as special four wheel models for outdoor terrain, dual handle model for added ergonomic comfort, dual directional for maneuvering between pallet racks and mezzanines, and “P”-handle hand trucks specifically manufactured for easily moving heavy and awkward sized loads.
Work Platforms
Work platforms are material handling products designed to provide a convenient method of safely and quickly transporting maintenance personnel where they are needed. They attach to fork trucks by means of fork pockets and chains. Units feature emergency stop button kits, web lanyards, and safety harnesses.
Shelving & Storage Solutions
Easy Rack shelving and storage solutions feature everything from pallet racks for general pallet storage to medium and heavy duty cantilever racks. Both lines of material handling products offer flexibility and multiple options for customization. High density storage, tool storage, and parts organization can be done with any number of bin storage cabinets and bar racks. These tools maximize your floor space and vertical cube and significantly reduce the necessity of having to move to larger facilities for an apparent lack of room.
Fork Extensions
Fork extensions provide the extra support needed to lift long or large objects with a fork truck. Featuring welded steel construction with cast steel tips, steel retaining straps prevents fork extensions from sliding off forks during use.
It is always good to speak with a specialist when ordering material handling products. Not only will advice from an expert help better pinpoint your purchasing, but many material handling products can be obtained in good, used condition. Savings of up to 40% can often be generated on a significant number of purchases.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=261783&ca=Business
All About Bakery Supplies
Bakery supplies are the fundamental component of any baking business. These items are divided into several types and they can be acquired through a number of sources.
Running a bakery is arguably the best option for you if you have the passion and talent in baking. No matter what the season is, you would always have customers buying your breads, cakes, and pastries. But in order to make your bakery a success, you need to understand the factors that are necessary in starting this type of business.
One of the most important factors in establishing a bakery is the set of supplies that you need in producing your main products. The first type of bakery supplies consists of the pieces of equipment where you would mix the ingredients for your breads. These supplies include bowls, molds, pans, and baskets. Additional related pieces of equipment include rolling pins, spatulas, spoons, and other stirring instruments. Containers that have specific units of measurement are also included in this type of bakery supplies.
The next set of bakery supplies are the devices for cooking and baking the prepared ingredients. These include stoves, ovens, and toasters. The sizes of these baking devices depend on the quantity of products you plan to produce daily. In purchasing these devices, you need to take note of the power consumed by each device as well as the maximum heating capacity it can provide. Furthermore, to ensure that the breads and cakes are baked properly, it is a good idea to use devices that record and display the temperature within the aforesaid baking devices.
Another type of bakery supplies deals with the presentation and decoration of breads and cakes. These are knives and cutters, instruments for placing icing on cakes, trays where the products are placed, and small ornaments to decorate your products. This type of supplies also include the glass shelves where you would present your products.
Aside from these bakery supplies, your apparel as a baker should also be present. You need to have your baker hat, suit, apron, and a set of gloves. If you are working with several other bakers, you should make sure that they also have the necessary clothing. These supplies not only protect you from the heat, but they also ensure that your products are free from foreign objects. Plus these pieces of clothing make your work area look more professional.
Moving on, the most important bakery supplies is of course the ingredients used in the products. Common examples are dough, baking soda, and bread flour. Again the types of ingredients you would need depend on the products you want to make. Other fundamental ingredients are eggs, cream, cheese, batter, and sugar.
After you have learned about the general types of bakery supplies, you may now proceed to find their sources. Culinary stores are good establishments where you can browse through a wide array of baking equipments. These shops normally have sections that are dedicated to baking breads and cakes. Here you would find several brands of bakery supplies and personally check the features and quality of each one. With regard to baking ingredients, you can look for wholesale establishments where you can buy in bulk. Alternatively, you can search for baking equipments and apparel on the World Wide Web.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=262609&ca=Business
Running a bakery is arguably the best option for you if you have the passion and talent in baking. No matter what the season is, you would always have customers buying your breads, cakes, and pastries. But in order to make your bakery a success, you need to understand the factors that are necessary in starting this type of business.
One of the most important factors in establishing a bakery is the set of supplies that you need in producing your main products. The first type of bakery supplies consists of the pieces of equipment where you would mix the ingredients for your breads. These supplies include bowls, molds, pans, and baskets. Additional related pieces of equipment include rolling pins, spatulas, spoons, and other stirring instruments. Containers that have specific units of measurement are also included in this type of bakery supplies.
The next set of bakery supplies are the devices for cooking and baking the prepared ingredients. These include stoves, ovens, and toasters. The sizes of these baking devices depend on the quantity of products you plan to produce daily. In purchasing these devices, you need to take note of the power consumed by each device as well as the maximum heating capacity it can provide. Furthermore, to ensure that the breads and cakes are baked properly, it is a good idea to use devices that record and display the temperature within the aforesaid baking devices.
Another type of bakery supplies deals with the presentation and decoration of breads and cakes. These are knives and cutters, instruments for placing icing on cakes, trays where the products are placed, and small ornaments to decorate your products. This type of supplies also include the glass shelves where you would present your products.
Aside from these bakery supplies, your apparel as a baker should also be present. You need to have your baker hat, suit, apron, and a set of gloves. If you are working with several other bakers, you should make sure that they also have the necessary clothing. These supplies not only protect you from the heat, but they also ensure that your products are free from foreign objects. Plus these pieces of clothing make your work area look more professional.
Moving on, the most important bakery supplies is of course the ingredients used in the products. Common examples are dough, baking soda, and bread flour. Again the types of ingredients you would need depend on the products you want to make. Other fundamental ingredients are eggs, cream, cheese, batter, and sugar.
After you have learned about the general types of bakery supplies, you may now proceed to find their sources. Culinary stores are good establishments where you can browse through a wide array of baking equipments. These shops normally have sections that are dedicated to baking breads and cakes. Here you would find several brands of bakery supplies and personally check the features and quality of each one. With regard to baking ingredients, you can look for wholesale establishments where you can buy in bulk. Alternatively, you can search for baking equipments and apparel on the World Wide Web.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=262609&ca=Business
How to Find a Business Wholesale Supplier Online
If you are trying to get yourself set up with a wholesale supplier, this can be quite an interesting process, especially if you are a newbie at this. The plain and simple truth is that some of the more technical material, tools and hardware are only available through a wholesale supplier. This is because of the fact that most retailers shy away from carrying inventory that is too specialized or that seem to be beyond the average consumer's comprehension.
When you think of wholesale, what comes to your mind? The first thing that pops into your head is that they are cheaper than retailers. Today that is not always true especially since the big dog warehouse mega stores came onto the scene. When these two entities start a slug fest, it can really work to your financial advantage. For your part, you just have to be vigilant at shopping around for the best deals.
Establishing credibility: It may be tough to try to establish credibility with some suppliers who are in the wholesale business. What you really need to do is to open a business checking account with a wholesale supplier. If you do not have an account, but pay with a company check, you are as good as in! You may even be in for a discount.
Where to look: Some of the time you may find wholesale suppliers by word of mouth, and at other times nothing beats the good ole Yellow Pages. Another very viable source that can be invaluable is the Internet. Now that you have it narrowed down as to where to look, you must then decide what kind of wholesale supplier you are looking for.
What am I Looking For: You first have to know what you are looking for in relation to products before you zero in on a specific wholesale supplier. Are you looking for clothing, accessories such as handbags, hats, scarves, belts sunglasses and the like, jewelry such as earrings, watches, rings, bracelets and diamonds, electronics such as cell phones, MP3 players, video games, DVDs, digital cameras, and car audio, gifts such as figurines, gift basket supplies, candles, baby gifts, gift boxes and gift bags, toys and collectibles such as baby toys, novelties, dolls, Christmas ornaments and games.
You may also want to be supplied with furniture and home decor such as housewares, clocks, curtains, furniture, kitchenware, towels and pottery or general merchandise such as dollar store bargains, closeouts, convenience store bargains, overstock, party supplies and books. Perhaps you already own a beauty shop and are looking for more bargains for your displays such as fragrances, skin care, bath products, beauty supplies, cosmetics and aromatherapy.
No matter what business you are in or what business you think you might like to try, there is bound to be a wholesale supplier who is able to meet your needs. An Internet search will bring you in contact with many of these suppliers. Then your business will be able to beat the cost of high prices and realize more profit.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=262972&ca=Business
When you think of wholesale, what comes to your mind? The first thing that pops into your head is that they are cheaper than retailers. Today that is not always true especially since the big dog warehouse mega stores came onto the scene. When these two entities start a slug fest, it can really work to your financial advantage. For your part, you just have to be vigilant at shopping around for the best deals.
Establishing credibility: It may be tough to try to establish credibility with some suppliers who are in the wholesale business. What you really need to do is to open a business checking account with a wholesale supplier. If you do not have an account, but pay with a company check, you are as good as in! You may even be in for a discount.
Where to look: Some of the time you may find wholesale suppliers by word of mouth, and at other times nothing beats the good ole Yellow Pages. Another very viable source that can be invaluable is the Internet. Now that you have it narrowed down as to where to look, you must then decide what kind of wholesale supplier you are looking for.
What am I Looking For: You first have to know what you are looking for in relation to products before you zero in on a specific wholesale supplier. Are you looking for clothing, accessories such as handbags, hats, scarves, belts sunglasses and the like, jewelry such as earrings, watches, rings, bracelets and diamonds, electronics such as cell phones, MP3 players, video games, DVDs, digital cameras, and car audio, gifts such as figurines, gift basket supplies, candles, baby gifts, gift boxes and gift bags, toys and collectibles such as baby toys, novelties, dolls, Christmas ornaments and games.
You may also want to be supplied with furniture and home decor such as housewares, clocks, curtains, furniture, kitchenware, towels and pottery or general merchandise such as dollar store bargains, closeouts, convenience store bargains, overstock, party supplies and books. Perhaps you already own a beauty shop and are looking for more bargains for your displays such as fragrances, skin care, bath products, beauty supplies, cosmetics and aromatherapy.
No matter what business you are in or what business you think you might like to try, there is bound to be a wholesale supplier who is able to meet your needs. An Internet search will bring you in contact with many of these suppliers. Then your business will be able to beat the cost of high prices and realize more profit.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=262972&ca=Business
Giving Gifts Is Good Marketing
Now that we've officially crossed the threshold of Thanksgiving, it's officially time to panic. Christmas is just right around the corner! The end of the year tends to be chaotic as businesses try to wrap up their activities for the year (as well as their personal ones too), but don't let your customers slip through the cracks. By remembering them during this merry and mad time of year, you'll be marketing your company at a time when people are sentimental and more likely to think warm, fuzzy thoughts about you.
The secret to client gift giving is that it is marketing, although it should never, ever appear to be. In thinking about what to give, get away from the thoughts of advertising your brand or slogan. It's simply the time to thank clients for their business and support of your company. Trust me, even if your logo appears nowhere on the gift, they will think of you.
Here's a step-by-step guide to knocking your gift-giving out early.
1. Make three lists and check them twice. Not all your clients or contacts are on the same level, so break them out into your top clients (where most of your revenue comes from), medium clients, and good contacts that you'd like to develop into good clients. You may have a list of people for whom a simple holiday card would be sufficient.
2. Set a budget. Each level should have its own budget. And before you get cheap, think: did this client net me more than this amount? When you look back at your income, you can easily afford even a $100 gift for an exceptional client who brought in 10 times that!
3. Keep it simple. If you have a long list, you don't have to be Santa. Find a single gift for each list and buy the same thing for everyone. Here are some good ideas that have different price levels:
* gift baskets with chocolate, wine, or baked goods
* nice pens
* gift certificates
* flowers
4. Order online. Take the sweat out of holiday gifting by skipping a trip to the post office laden with boxes. You never even see the boxes. You can order early and set your date for the gifts to arrive in time for Christmas.
Things to Keep in Mind
* Not everyone celebrates Christmas. Or Channukah for that matter. To avoid offending anyone for religious reasons, stick to cards with generic verbiage like "happy holidays."
* Not everyone drinks. If you send alcohol as a gift, be sure that person drinks.
* Don't forget the gatekeeper. Likely you talk to administrative assistants more than you talk to your clients. Don't overlook them for the holidays.
* Holiday karma is real! Giving gifts out of the goodness of your heart is more likely to come back to you than doing it to get something back. Let the holiday love pour forth!
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=209528&ca=Business
The secret to client gift giving is that it is marketing, although it should never, ever appear to be. In thinking about what to give, get away from the thoughts of advertising your brand or slogan. It's simply the time to thank clients for their business and support of your company. Trust me, even if your logo appears nowhere on the gift, they will think of you.
Here's a step-by-step guide to knocking your gift-giving out early.
1. Make three lists and check them twice. Not all your clients or contacts are on the same level, so break them out into your top clients (where most of your revenue comes from), medium clients, and good contacts that you'd like to develop into good clients. You may have a list of people for whom a simple holiday card would be sufficient.
2. Set a budget. Each level should have its own budget. And before you get cheap, think: did this client net me more than this amount? When you look back at your income, you can easily afford even a $100 gift for an exceptional client who brought in 10 times that!
3. Keep it simple. If you have a long list, you don't have to be Santa. Find a single gift for each list and buy the same thing for everyone. Here are some good ideas that have different price levels:
* gift baskets with chocolate, wine, or baked goods
* nice pens
* gift certificates
* flowers
4. Order online. Take the sweat out of holiday gifting by skipping a trip to the post office laden with boxes. You never even see the boxes. You can order early and set your date for the gifts to arrive in time for Christmas.
Things to Keep in Mind
* Not everyone celebrates Christmas. Or Channukah for that matter. To avoid offending anyone for religious reasons, stick to cards with generic verbiage like "happy holidays."
* Not everyone drinks. If you send alcohol as a gift, be sure that person drinks.
* Don't forget the gatekeeper. Likely you talk to administrative assistants more than you talk to your clients. Don't overlook them for the holidays.
* Holiday karma is real! Giving gifts out of the goodness of your heart is more likely to come back to you than doing it to get something back. Let the holiday love pour forth!
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=209528&ca=Business
Finding a Job in Pay Per Click…
The online travel sector is booming. As more and more people are booking their holidays and business travel online, the shift from the high street is becoming increasingly apparent. There has never been a better time to get involved in online travel, and a PPC job is a great way to get your foot in the door in an industry that is becoming more crucial every day.
Here’s a rundown of what you need to know when looking to get jobs in Pay Per Click advertising.
What is Pay Per Click Advertising?
When you use a search engine, and type in a product you are looking to buy or research, your search engine of choice (be it Google, Yahoo!, MSN or Ask) will typically show a list of 10 pages they believe will be of use to you. There may also be sponsored listings, websites that have paid to be placed alongside the results – it is these that a Pay Per Click Account Manager will create and manage for their employers.
Although they vary between each search engine, a PPC ad will typically consist of a snappy title to grab the attention, followed by a couple of explanatory lines and a URL – all of which have a fixed character count. Interested consumers will then click on the advert and be taken to the website – the company are then charged for each click. A job in PPC involves managing these adverts for the advertiser…
What does a Pay Per Click job involve?
The Pay Per Click process typically begins with picking the words for which you want to appear for. This is professionally done using keyword research tools to find out how many people are searching for industry terms.
From there, the keywords are then sculpted into enticing adverts within the word count to make sure that people click the ad when it appears to them, driving traffic to the website.
From then on, you have to monitor the adverts success, the average spend of each one and tailor them into income-generating machines!
How do you get into it?
Quite a lot of entry level Pay Per Click jobs require no previous experience, and offer their own in-house training. What is usually required is a degree education to show a level of aptitude and the ability to learn quickly.
That said, there are shortcuts to take to ensure that you beat the also-rans who are applying for these PPC jobs and get your feet firmly on the career ladder. There are a number of online marketing forums and weblogs where you can research the rapidly changing industry and learn the basic theories of what kind of adverts work well. If you can drop this kind of knowledge in at an interview, then you’re sitting pretty!
The other option is that some online marketing companies offer internships to interested parties, and some PPC practice will almost certainly be on the agenda. If you can point to some hands on experience with PPC accounts (which anyone can open, so you could explore the interface yourself outside of work) then you’ll be in a very strong position to get a job in Pay Per Click.
What skills do you need to succeed?
The thing about Pay Per Click jobs is that you need a good set of skills for each part of the process. Number 1, you need to be organised – you will be dealing with hundreds and thousands of keywords on spreadsheets and you need to keep an eye on them. Secondly you need to have a close attention to detail, and especially with numbers – you will be dealing with budget allocations, and you need to figure out which keyphrases present the best return on investment. Finally you need to be good with words, and have a marketing brain. You need to juggle the words and phrases to fit good marketing copy into a tiny space – Google’s Adwords tool, for example, only lets you have 35 characters for the title and 70 for the description. If you’re good at Scrabble, you’ll probably be good in PPC marketing.
How much does it pay?
Entry level PPC jobs range from around £15,000 to £20,000, but with some experience in campaign management, it’s not unheard of for Pay Per Click Experts to earn upwards of £35,000 for their unique skills. And as the industry is still quite young, you realise that these people cannot be that much more advanced than you!
If you sound like you have the ability, and want to enter the online marketing world, a travel PPC job is just the kind of gateway you might need to a rewarding and constantly evolving industry.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=263925&ca=Business
Here’s a rundown of what you need to know when looking to get jobs in Pay Per Click advertising.
What is Pay Per Click Advertising?
When you use a search engine, and type in a product you are looking to buy or research, your search engine of choice (be it Google, Yahoo!, MSN or Ask) will typically show a list of 10 pages they believe will be of use to you. There may also be sponsored listings, websites that have paid to be placed alongside the results – it is these that a Pay Per Click Account Manager will create and manage for their employers.
Although they vary between each search engine, a PPC ad will typically consist of a snappy title to grab the attention, followed by a couple of explanatory lines and a URL – all of which have a fixed character count. Interested consumers will then click on the advert and be taken to the website – the company are then charged for each click. A job in PPC involves managing these adverts for the advertiser…
What does a Pay Per Click job involve?
The Pay Per Click process typically begins with picking the words for which you want to appear for. This is professionally done using keyword research tools to find out how many people are searching for industry terms.
From there, the keywords are then sculpted into enticing adverts within the word count to make sure that people click the ad when it appears to them, driving traffic to the website.
From then on, you have to monitor the adverts success, the average spend of each one and tailor them into income-generating machines!
How do you get into it?
Quite a lot of entry level Pay Per Click jobs require no previous experience, and offer their own in-house training. What is usually required is a degree education to show a level of aptitude and the ability to learn quickly.
That said, there are shortcuts to take to ensure that you beat the also-rans who are applying for these PPC jobs and get your feet firmly on the career ladder. There are a number of online marketing forums and weblogs where you can research the rapidly changing industry and learn the basic theories of what kind of adverts work well. If you can drop this kind of knowledge in at an interview, then you’re sitting pretty!
The other option is that some online marketing companies offer internships to interested parties, and some PPC practice will almost certainly be on the agenda. If you can point to some hands on experience with PPC accounts (which anyone can open, so you could explore the interface yourself outside of work) then you’ll be in a very strong position to get a job in Pay Per Click.
What skills do you need to succeed?
The thing about Pay Per Click jobs is that you need a good set of skills for each part of the process. Number 1, you need to be organised – you will be dealing with hundreds and thousands of keywords on spreadsheets and you need to keep an eye on them. Secondly you need to have a close attention to detail, and especially with numbers – you will be dealing with budget allocations, and you need to figure out which keyphrases present the best return on investment. Finally you need to be good with words, and have a marketing brain. You need to juggle the words and phrases to fit good marketing copy into a tiny space – Google’s Adwords tool, for example, only lets you have 35 characters for the title and 70 for the description. If you’re good at Scrabble, you’ll probably be good in PPC marketing.
How much does it pay?
Entry level PPC jobs range from around £15,000 to £20,000, but with some experience in campaign management, it’s not unheard of for Pay Per Click Experts to earn upwards of £35,000 for their unique skills. And as the industry is still quite young, you realise that these people cannot be that much more advanced than you!
If you sound like you have the ability, and want to enter the online marketing world, a travel PPC job is just the kind of gateway you might need to a rewarding and constantly evolving industry.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=263925&ca=Business
Pallet Rack Removal
It is necessary, when planning a move, to outsource the professional removal of pallet racks and the subsequent installation and configuration of these vital tools in your new location. Because almost everything your receiving department takes in comes in on pallets, having your pallet racks correctly setup on the day you open the doors of your new facility will prevent you from missing a step in your receiving cycle. Professional and reliable pallet rack removal is an excellent way to safeguard efficient operations and ensure the safe storage of materials on rack systems you can count on to be ready for use the day you move in.
We recommend that you contract your pallet rack removal and moving through a professional organization like our own simply because the task is not as simple as it looks at face value. Modern warehouses are much more complex than the old shell buildings of decades past, and most use more than one size and type of pallet racking system, and each system consists of unique parts, supports, and safety features. Pallet racks removal may also require the use of special equipment for transportation, and smaller facilities may either not have these tools readily available, or they may be forced to subcontract them at additional expenses on top of the move.
The proper removal, relocation, and setup of these pallet racks requires an expert who can assess the dimensions of your new facility, estimate the most efficient use of your new floor plan, and take all relevant safety requirements fully into account. While it is theoretically possible for some companies to handle their own pallet rack removal safely, it is almost impossible to get it done quickly without losing time and money in the process. Professional pallet rack removal ensures not only the safety of humans, but also of your racks, materials, and supplies. Because these storage systems support hundreds and thousands of pounds of weight (and sometimes weigh quite a bit themselves), it takes trained professionals to properly remove stored components, disassemble your pallet racks, and remove them without damage or incident.
Outsourcing your pallet rack removal to a pallet rack moving specialist will minimize the risk of catastrophic accident in your storage areas, and it will also maximize your chances that your pallet racks will be moved and re-installed in optimal shape and working condition.
Qualified, experienced professional pallet rack installers will not only set your racks up, but they will test them for strength and integrity to make certain they are ready for use before you open the doors of your dock.
Many pallet rack removal specialists work with clients throughout the United States. Because each client and each pallet racking system is unique, and because every new facility is always a new experience as well as a new environment, pallet rack removal is normally handled on a case-by-case basis with attention paid to critical details such as heat stress levels in the new facility, securing the units to the cement floor, and any necessary bracing to offset seismic activity in your area.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=264862&ca=Business
We recommend that you contract your pallet rack removal and moving through a professional organization like our own simply because the task is not as simple as it looks at face value. Modern warehouses are much more complex than the old shell buildings of decades past, and most use more than one size and type of pallet racking system, and each system consists of unique parts, supports, and safety features. Pallet racks removal may also require the use of special equipment for transportation, and smaller facilities may either not have these tools readily available, or they may be forced to subcontract them at additional expenses on top of the move.
The proper removal, relocation, and setup of these pallet racks requires an expert who can assess the dimensions of your new facility, estimate the most efficient use of your new floor plan, and take all relevant safety requirements fully into account. While it is theoretically possible for some companies to handle their own pallet rack removal safely, it is almost impossible to get it done quickly without losing time and money in the process. Professional pallet rack removal ensures not only the safety of humans, but also of your racks, materials, and supplies. Because these storage systems support hundreds and thousands of pounds of weight (and sometimes weigh quite a bit themselves), it takes trained professionals to properly remove stored components, disassemble your pallet racks, and remove them without damage or incident.
Outsourcing your pallet rack removal to a pallet rack moving specialist will minimize the risk of catastrophic accident in your storage areas, and it will also maximize your chances that your pallet racks will be moved and re-installed in optimal shape and working condition.
Qualified, experienced professional pallet rack installers will not only set your racks up, but they will test them for strength and integrity to make certain they are ready for use before you open the doors of your dock.
Many pallet rack removal specialists work with clients throughout the United States. Because each client and each pallet racking system is unique, and because every new facility is always a new experience as well as a new environment, pallet rack removal is normally handled on a case-by-case basis with attention paid to critical details such as heat stress levels in the new facility, securing the units to the cement floor, and any necessary bracing to offset seismic activity in your area.
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=264862&ca=Business
E-commerce: 6 of the Most Successful Internet Business Models
The business model is the key step before launching a commercial project. The business model is a study just before the business plan. The business plan outlines your project, describing its potential and the investment requirements while the business model itself defines a global strategy without going into further detail: what principle you can adopt to make money?
The world of the Internet is still recent, business models are still proving themselves. Here are nevertheless those who appear the most promising.
1 - Merchant
It is the easiest business plan to understand. It is actually an adaptation of the shop to the online world. You sell products or services through your site. The sales can be done with fixed prices or dynamic pricing, for example in the form of auctions. Different variations are: virtual merchant offering traditional products or specific, adaptation of an offer to buy online, opening an online store to complete a chain of stores (FNAC). Note: some manufacturers are put in line and make the sale in direct violation of their distribution network. It is a policy that has some obvious risks.
2 - Membership
You want to create a network of dealers to whom you entrust the task of promoting your products and your brand, in exchange for which you provide a commission. Any logistics, such as billing, collection or shipment, remains at your expense. The different variations that can be cited are: the exchange of visibility, payment to click. The biggest site built on this principle is Amazon.
3 - Billing to use
This model is based on the principle of accessibility to resources. The customer pays for every minute where he uses the service or for each document accessed.
4 - Advertising
The best know model and the first that comes to mind when we talk about profitability of a site. The basic idea is to generate as much traffic on a site in order to be able to sell advertising space. The site brings together traditional media such as radio and television. This model is very difficult to put in place, the major problem is to provide your visitors with free information and services, continually renewed, which are attracting more and more people. The increase in traffic involve an increase of technical resources and therefore a higher fee.
5 - Community
The site seeks to build a community of people sharing the same interests. The viability of the concept relies on the loyalty of the user rather than their number. The returns are done through the provision of community members. These contributions can take various forms: monetary or otherwise (provision of knowledge, equipment donations, exchange of knowledge).
6 - marketplace
The marketplace is the place to exchange with buyers and sellers. The purpose of the site is to connect the two groups according to their specific needs, remuneration being in the form of commission, fixed or variable. Some examples of possibilities: auctions (eBay), classified ads (the seller pays the publication), reverse auctions (the buyer makes an offer that the seller is free to refuse), Research Offers (a robot travels the internet looking for the best offer), virtual shopping mall (several shops are on the same site and each seller pays its "location" in exchange for services managed by the site.
If your business model is not on this list, think about it several times and check your idea with other people before you begin. Better to be safe than sorry!
To Your Success!
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=264840&ca=Business
The world of the Internet is still recent, business models are still proving themselves. Here are nevertheless those who appear the most promising.
1 - Merchant
It is the easiest business plan to understand. It is actually an adaptation of the shop to the online world. You sell products or services through your site. The sales can be done with fixed prices or dynamic pricing, for example in the form of auctions. Different variations are: virtual merchant offering traditional products or specific, adaptation of an offer to buy online, opening an online store to complete a chain of stores (FNAC). Note: some manufacturers are put in line and make the sale in direct violation of their distribution network. It is a policy that has some obvious risks.
2 - Membership
You want to create a network of dealers to whom you entrust the task of promoting your products and your brand, in exchange for which you provide a commission. Any logistics, such as billing, collection or shipment, remains at your expense. The different variations that can be cited are: the exchange of visibility, payment to click. The biggest site built on this principle is Amazon.
3 - Billing to use
This model is based on the principle of accessibility to resources. The customer pays for every minute where he uses the service or for each document accessed.
4 - Advertising
The best know model and the first that comes to mind when we talk about profitability of a site. The basic idea is to generate as much traffic on a site in order to be able to sell advertising space. The site brings together traditional media such as radio and television. This model is very difficult to put in place, the major problem is to provide your visitors with free information and services, continually renewed, which are attracting more and more people. The increase in traffic involve an increase of technical resources and therefore a higher fee.
5 - Community
The site seeks to build a community of people sharing the same interests. The viability of the concept relies on the loyalty of the user rather than their number. The returns are done through the provision of community members. These contributions can take various forms: monetary or otherwise (provision of knowledge, equipment donations, exchange of knowledge).
6 - marketplace
The marketplace is the place to exchange with buyers and sellers. The purpose of the site is to connect the two groups according to their specific needs, remuneration being in the form of commission, fixed or variable. Some examples of possibilities: auctions (eBay), classified ads (the seller pays the publication), reverse auctions (the buyer makes an offer that the seller is free to refuse), Research Offers (a robot travels the internet looking for the best offer), virtual shopping mall (several shops are on the same site and each seller pays its "location" in exchange for services managed by the site.
If your business model is not on this list, think about it several times and check your idea with other people before you begin. Better to be safe than sorry!
To Your Success!
Article Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=264840&ca=Business
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