http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/computers/knowing-more-about-broadband.html http://www.articletrader.com/computers/knowing-more-about-broadband.html Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Typically, low-band Internet access is running up to 56kbps using a dial-up modem. Mid-band Internet is described as dialup access that operates at 64kbps or 128kbps. Standard broadband starts at 512kbps, which is about five times faster than dial-up service. Broadband is also available at 1mbps, 1.5mbps and 2.2mbps. There are companies that offer broadband at 4mbps and 8mbps. The maximum possible for cable is around 26mbps and 24mbps for ADSL. These speeds are not sold commercially because the cost to upgrade the telephone lines to be able to transmit data at these speeds is very high.

Downloading and streaming music and video is very quick with broadband. There are a lot of websites now that are designed especially for broadband users. They have intense integrated graphics, flash and video. Broadband is also popular for online gaming. Game consoles like Xbox and PS2 have broadband support included. You can then subscribe to different types of gaming packages from your current ISP, which makes it possible to play Xbox and PS2 games live with other gamers over the Internet. Actually, online PC gaming has been going on since the Internet came into use, but in the past it was difficult to do. Slow and jerky response from your computer made it hard to play, and you always had to keep an eye on the time. Now, with the faster speeds of broadband, it has become much easier and is quickly gaining in popularity. Some games are now being released that require an Internet connection to play.

The growing popularity of broadband has made it necessary for most providers to put a maximum limit on the amount of music, video and other data you can download. This limit can vary greatly, from as low as 1 GB up to 30 GB. Extreme users can get unlimited downloads if they wish. However, exceeding your ISP's download limit usually results in having a limited connection or no connection at all.

One of the possible futures of broadband is Internet Television. The current bandwidth, which is the amount of data you can send and receive, is not wide enough to provide an image that is of comparable quality to that of your standard television. The ever- increasing broadband speeds will make Internet Television a reality. Since you can currently download clips from the shows, music videos and other content you like, it will soon be possible to do it legally in real time. Another use of broadband is online telephony. This is software that allows you to use your computer as a telephone and talk to people from anywhere without any extra cost. It is becoming commonplace, and has a higher quality or recording than a traditional telephone line. With the increase in the speeds of broadband, it may soon replace your television and telephone, and will find its way into every home. The success of broadband is making the Internet a great resource that's easy to use and fun to access for a variety of needs.
Did you find this article useful? For more useful tips and hints, points to ponder and keep in mind, techniques, and insights pertaining to guides on ,computers, software, data recovery and other hardware related information , do please browse for more information at our websites.


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Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/aviation/points-on-aircraft-proficiency-checks.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/aviation/points-on-aircraft-proficiency-checks.html Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500 Prior to October 1, 2004, a CFII had discretion regarding what PTS tasks he or she could require for an instrument rated pilot to demonstrate instrument proficiency. That discretion allowed a CFII to be flexible in order to accommodate/address a pilot's strengths/weaknesses, as well as the pilot’s aircraft, instrumentation and intended missions. That is, the CFII was allowed to decide what tasks the pilot needed to accomplish in order to show the CFII that the pilot could competently operate an aircraft solely with reference to the instruments.
Although this discretion presented the opportunity for a CFII to conduct an IPC with minimal demonstration of ability by the pilot, most CFIIs required pilots to demonstrate sufficient skills and competence to show that they could safely fly in instrument meteorological conditions ( IMC). After all, no responsible CFII wanted to be the last IPC sign-off in a pilot’s logbook if the pilot was later in an accident or incident: Too many questions to answer and potential liability for the CFII.
However, the revised PTS no longer give the CFII discretion in how an IPC is to be conducted or the tasks to be performed. The current PTS now require completion of specific tasks including holds, unusual attitudes, intercepting nav-aids and dme-arcs, precision, non-precision and circling approaches, partial- panel and review of instruments and aircraft equipment.
Unfortunately, the removal of the CFII’s discretion seems to convert what used to be a learning experience tailored to a pilot and his or her needs into what is more closely akin to an actual check-ride. Under the prior PTS, a student and instructor could discuss and determine the appropriate and/or necessary tasks to ensure that the pilot could demonstrate the necessary competency to pass an IPC. This allowed a pilot to use the IPC as a learning tool by agreeing with the instructor to review or practice specific tasks on which the pilot may have felt he or she needed additional practice.
Under the revised PTS, all of the designated tasks must now be satisfactorily completed. Although a pilot and instructor can still tailor the IPC to focus on tasks needing additional work, the remainder of the designated tasks will still need to be completed. This will increase the time required for an IPC and may deter pilots from spending the time and money for additional practice of specific tasks.
Another concern is the requirement that an IPC candidate must now perform a circling approach. Unfortunately, this eliminates the opportunity for an IPC candidate to fully complete an IPC using a computer-based trainer such as an Advanced AD. Although an Advanced AD will still qualify for completion of a majority of the IPC requirements, if it does not have a wide, wrap-around display, a circling approach will be impossible and this portion of the IPC will need to either be demonstrated in an aircraft or in a simulator that is equipped for such an approach.
This new requirement also has the potential to increase the cost of an IPC for a pilot. If the pilot does not have access to an appropriate computer based trainer, he or she will need to perform a circling approach in an aircraft.
The revised PTS are here and are the standards for conducting an IPC. Pilots should keep in mind that an IPC sign-off received after October 1, 2004 that does not comply with the revised PTS will not be valid and may leave the pilot operating without instrument currency. Both pilots and their instructors should review the revised PTS to fully understand what tasks are required for an IPC.
As always, fly safe and fly smart.

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Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/travel/aviation/what-to-do-in-an-emergency.html http://www.articletrader.com/travel/aviation/what-to-do-in-an-emergency.html Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500 * Shirt - Long sleeved, natural fabrics. * Slacks/pants - Long, natural fabrics. * Shoes - Leather or canvas and low-heeled.
Child Safety Seat
Check with airline for policy on use before arrival at airport and on board the aircraft .
* Safely stow carry-on baggage. * Wear seat belt snug and low across the hips. * Keep your seat belt fastened at all times. * If you take your shoes off, put them on before landing.
Review the passenger safety card before each takeoff and each landing.
* Listen carefully to the safety briefing. * Ask questions if safety information is not clear. * Make a mental plan of the actions you would take in an emergency. * Be familiar with all exits. * Count seat rows between you and at least two exits.
Exit Row Seating
* Listen to the safety briefing and/or read the written instructions for aircraft specifics. * You must be physically capable and willing to perform emergency actions. If not, request another seat. * You must know your responsibilities in the unlikely event of an emergency. * Ask questions if instructions are not clear. * Consider the effects of alcoholic beverages. * In the unlikely event of an emergency, you should be aware of the following.
Evacuation Slides
* Jump feet first into center of slide. * Do not sit down to slide. * Place arms across chest, elbows in, and legs and feet together. * High-heeled shoes can damage slides.
Decompression
* Pull oxygen mask toward you to start oxygen flow. * Put your oxygen mask on as quickly as possible. * Help children and others with their masks.
Flotation Devices
* Know where they are and how to use them. * Life vests (under seat, if available), life rafts, and some seat cushions and evacuation slides can be used as flotation devices.
Evacuating the Aircraft
* Follow instructions of crew member (if possible). * Stay calm and proceed quickly to exit. * Leave all your possessions behind.
Fire or Smoke
Inflight - Use wet paper towel or handkerchief over nose and mouth. - Move away from the source of fire and smoke.
On Ground - Stay low. - Proceed by your predetermined count of seat rows to exit(s) and/or - Follow floor proximity lighting to an exit. - Exit the aircraft. - Leave all your possessions behind.
Outside the Aircraft
* Move away from aircraft, fire, and smoke. * If possible, help those requiring assistance. * Remain alert for emergency vehicles. * Never go back into a burning aircraft.


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Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/advertising/advertising-on-a-shoestring-budget-when-you-cant-afford.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/advertising/advertising-on-a-shoestring-budget-when-you-cant-afford.html Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500
First, get yourself signed up for several hits-for-clicks sites. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, a 'hits-for-clicks' site is a site from which you surf the net and get points for viewing websites. In return for surfing, you get points. You use those points to get exposure for your site(s). Most hits-for-clicks have free signups and most will let you enter up to three (sometimes five) URLs into their system. Here are some hits-for-clicks sites I use:

Fontoon (http://www.fontoon.com/?refid=3446)
StartXchange (http://www.startxchange.com/index.php?referrer=htack210)
TrafficG (http://trafficg.com/index.php?member=htack210)
Profit Charger hits (http://profitchargerhits.com/www.profitchargerhits.com/?refid=10717)
Traffic Pods (http://www.trafficpods.com/index.jsp?ref=htack210)
MyTrafficStorm (http://www.mytrafficstorm.com/?ref=385)
Traffic Swarm (http://www.trafficswarm.com/go.cgi?329064)
SurfMaster Club (http://www.webideas4u.com/team/htack210/smcp1.shtml)

Second, you need to get yourself a good browser that allows you to do tabbed browsing. What's a tabbed browser? I'm glad you asked! A tabbed browser, simply put, is a browser that lets you browse several sites at once using tabs instead of separate windows. To get the most out hits-for-clicks sites you need to surf from the hits-for-clicks site's start page. The more you surf, the more points you get. The more points you get, the more exposure you get. You could surf from each one of your hits-for-clicks sites one at a time, but you'll make better headway surfing from as many of them as you can at once. Now imagine how cumbersome it would be to have each of the above sites open in a separate window! Having each site open in a separate tab in the same browser window is much more convenient because then you can move from tab to tab and surf several sites at once.

"What are some good tabbed browsers?" you ask. Well, one that comes immediately to mind is Netscape 7.x. It has tabbed browsing built in. All you do is open one site, hit CTRL+T (on the PC) or COMMAND+T (on the Apple), open another tab, open another site, and so on and so on. Then, all you need to do is tab between the sites all in the same window. Another tabbed web browser that comes to mind is CrazyBrowser available at crazybrowser.com (where else?). Crazy Browser works in much the same way as Netscape 7.x and allows you to open whole groups at once. So, if you organize your hits-for-clicks sites in one folder under Crazy Browser, you can opt to open all the links at once and Crazy Broswer will open each one in a separate tab.

Okay, so now you're surfing! You're gaining points and building exposure for your site. That's great! But guess what? It's still not enough. There's one more thing you need to do in order to get the most bang for your click.

Third, you need to build your hits-for-clicks downlines in order to get more points for your clicks. Hits-for-clicks sites thrive on getting more people to sign on. It's how they make their living. One way they do this is through referrals. As an incentive for their current customers to get them more customers, hits-for-clicks sites often give extra points for referrals. "How am I supposed to do that," you ask, "when I'm already clicking my fingers to the bone?" That's where free rotators come in.

A rotator is a web device that lets you put several URLs in one place. The rotator then takes those URLs and rotates them. In other words, when the user happens upon your rotator address, he or she will see one of several sites you have entered. Let me illustrate. Let's say I have a free web rotator that I signed up for at pageswirl. I log in and I put in several sites:
http://gman.167aday.com
http://solutions.juvio210.com
http://www.juvio210.com
http://pageswirl.com/?aff=htack210

When the user goes to my rotator site, he or she will see one of these sites. They will come up at random and I can weigh the sites. In other words, I can cause one site to be seen more often than the others.

"Okay. So how does that help me?" you ask. With a free rotator, you can input the referral links for your hits-for-clicks sites along with the main site you're using to promote your business. Enter the free rotator URL into your hits-for-clicks sites. Make sure that your particular hits-for-clicks allow the use of rotators. Many do. Some do not. And some only accept rotators from certain providers. (For example, Profit Charger Hits only accepts Pageswirl rotators.) With the free rotator installed, you're getting referrals, building your clicks-for-hits downline, gaining more browsing points, and getting more exposure for your site. And what's nice about all of this is that you don't have to pay a dime!

When it comes right down to it, the sites that advertise the most, get the most hits and have the potential to make the most money. And with hits-for-clicks sites even people with little or no advertising budget can get the word out. So why are you still here? Get out there and start surfing!


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Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/advertising/advertising-business-opportunity-reaches-new-levels.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/advertising/advertising-business-opportunity-reaches-new-levels.html Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500
There are many areas of the Internet that need to be learned before starting your advertising business opportunity. Multi level marketing, or MLM, is one way of generating advertising and sales at the same time. MLM is a system that allows someone to collect commissions on their own sales as well as on people they recruit under them. This used to be known as pyramid schemes.

MLM has become very popular with product sales, helping the organization build wealth by paying commissions on multiple levels. The concept from an advertising point of view is great, the more motivation you have to recruit people to sell your product, the more your product is out there on the market. Some examples of companies that use MLM are nutritional product lines, make up product lines, and home decoration lines.

Multi level marketing has been around for years and not likely to go away anytime soon. Focus needs to be clear however on what the drive is for the company. If your focus is only on recruiting people to recruit more people, then your product sales are going to suffer. When your product sales suffer, your business as a whole suffers and then no one wants to be a part of the industry. Keep your focus when dealing with MLM with your advertising business opportunity.

Ezines are another emerging way to get a product or service out to the public. Ezines, or electronic magazines, are usually specialized to a certain areas of interest. This is very much like conventional magazines. However, advertising in ezines is low-cost and even occasionally free. Another advertising business opportunity that is wide open.

Ezines in themselves will need advertising to get their word out. A perfectly written ezine does no one any good if no one knows that it is out there to be seen. Finding an audience for your ezine may be easier than you think. Make sure when going into ezines that you know your material and that the writing is concise and accurate.

SEO, or search engine optimization, is a proven method of advertising on the Internet and a field, which is very much in demand at this time. SEO is a system of writing web content that uses specific key words and phrases that will pull the page up when that keyword or phrase is typed into any of the search engines. Knowing how to effectively use keywords to get a site recognized is critical for small businesses on the web.

When you open a search engine such as 'Yahoo!' or 'Google', and type in the phrase Internet advertising, you will get a list of results. Those results are formulated by the words Internet and advertising. Sites that have those two words incorporated consistently throughout the site will come up on the list. These lists are in order by the most hit on sites at the top of this list. Of course, that is where you want your advertising business opportunity clients to be.

Educating yourself on these concepts and a few more will allow you to start marketing your Internet advertising business. Becoming an Internet business advertising consultant to companies who are looking to expand their presence on the web is a first step in building your reputation and presence in this field.

You must have a well-written profile centered on your Internet advertising experience and an up to date resume'. Businesses today are being inundated with new, and sometimes bogus, advertising opportunities and you need to stand out above all those other offers. Keep your presence, online and in the field, professional at all times and make sure you can deliver what you promise. With those things in mind, you should be successful.


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Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/advertising/advertising-and-generate-new-website-traffic.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/advertising/advertising-and-generate-new-website-traffic.html Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500 Step #1 - Understanding "PI" - Per Inquiry Advertising.
Radio has a unique advertising format known as "PI" or per inquiry advertising.
"PI's" main benefit is that your commercial is aired and you ONLY PAY for inquiries phoned into the station from listeners !
Inquiries are in the form of callers asking for more information.
The radio station counts each caller, and re-directs them to your web site address.
Step #2 - How To Start a "PI" Campaign.
Find a good directory of all commercial radio stations where you intend to advertise.
Other online resources can be found by searching for keywords like "Radio Directories."
Alternatively, visit your library and in the references section ask for the Yearbook of Independent Local Radio Stations.
Note details such as :

· Ad manager's names,
· Telephone numbers,
· e-mail addresses
· Programming and schedules

Listener profiles:

· Age,
· Income,
· Sex,
· Location.

Step #3 - Decide on Strategy and "Wanted Response."
Before you contact the radio stations, be clear on strategy, goals and have your draft commercials in outline.
* Are you advertising a product offer at your website ?
Specify product details fully to avoid paying for "tire kicker" inquiries.
* Is your "Wanted Response" to build an opt-in list ?
Decide how you will entice visitors to your web site. Will you offer FREEBIES, or a competition of some sort ?
* Are you advertising for market research purposes ?
Tell listeners how and why they should participate.
* Decide how much you are prepared to pay per inquiry.
Step #4 - Use Your Strategy To Build A "PI" Proposal
Two aims in this step :

· Make it as easy as possible for the station to schedule your commercial.
· Negotiate the lowest Per Inquiry cost during the best advertising time slots.

Keep in mind :

· Listener profiles you want to reach.
· Times you want your advert to go on air.
· Which commercial will best deliver your "Wanted Response".

Write to the ad manager by e-mail or normal mail. In your letter :

· Introduce yourself.
· Inform them this is a "PI" Per Inquiry advertising proposal.
· Inform them you of what you are trying to achieve, refer to your strategy.
· Detail your product or service prices and how much you are considering paying for each inquiry.



Sidebar
If your "Wanted Response" is not selling a product, you must pay for inquiries out of your "own pocket". Negotiate a keen cost per inquiry !!

* Explain how you will handle all the administration
For instance writing the commercial Outline, handling product fulfillment, dealing with refunds and product support questions.
Depending on your negotiation skills and size of Radio station you might be able to work a deal where you only pay for *Converted Inquiries*.
This is practically *FREE* advertising, because you only pay for referrals once a sale is made !
Step #5 - How To Deal With Radio Ad Managers
If you do not hear back within a few days, call the station.
Commercial radio is a busy environment. Be prepared to explain yourself and answer questions quickly and clearly.
Radio ad managers are always looking for advertisers. That is their job and advertising fees are the lifeblood of Commercial Radio.
However, "PI" is not the only money earner for stations, so be prepared for a polite but cool reception.
If this happens, pick another station and start the process again.
The rewards of a successful "PI" campaign will pay back your effort many times over.
Step #6 - The Commercial Ad
Write your commercial's outline to maximize your "Wanted Response."
Write the outlines for at least two 30 second, and two 60 second commercials.
Writing commercials for broadcasting is very different to writing ad copy for printed media. However, stations will help you by taking your outlines and turning them into finished commercials for a fee.
Alternatively, if your copy writing is good and you have time to tweak it for broadcasting, then do it yourself.
Listen to the station's ads, jingles, and catch phrases and pre-record your own following a similar model. Ask objective people to listen to your ad and give you critical feedback.

Sidebar

When recording for radio you may or may not want to use your own voice. Radio stations have "Voices" to record your commercial for a fee before it goes on air.
They also have royalty free music to include with your ad.

Make your commercials memorable, with clear contact information for listeners to follow up on.
When such ads go on air during relevant programming, you cangenerate considerable traffic.

In closing, "just do it" and learn more than I can show you in a brief article.
Radio is often overlooked by online advertisers, but it can bring good results depending on your "Wanted Response" and at a surprisingly low cost.
Ad Managers are tasked with maximizing revenue for the broadcaster. They are flexible and as long as you demonstrate a financial benefit to the station, they will listen to your "PI" proposal actively.
This is good news for you because for minimal outlay and sometimes for free you can drive quality traffic to your site, product and services.
"PI" is the lowest cost form of broadcast advertising. Make this a new part of your overall advertising strategy.


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Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/advertising/advertising--the-key-to-success.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/advertising/advertising--the-key-to-success.html Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500 There are several methods of advertising on the Internet. Some are free, some are low cost, while others are insanely expensive. The first thing you will need to look at is how much you are willing to pay for traffic, and how far your advertising dollar can go.
One of the most effective, and cheapest, methods of advertising is through e-zines. There are thousands, if not millions of e-zines published every single day. The best way to approach e-zines for advertising is to join a couple that fit your product profile and that you find interesting. Most e-zines offer incentives to new businesses signing up, and will even run your ad for free just for subscribing. You can find many e-zines that offer ads for as little as a dollar. It is a fantastic way to reach thousands of people who are already interested in your type of business.
In fact, you can utilize e-zines to promote your product for free, if you can write an informative article. E-zines are desperate for content, and will often offer to publish your article in exchange for a link back to your site. If you go this route, make sure that your article is informative and not just a sales pitch. For example, if your e-business deals with making money from home, an article about how working from home decreases stress would be very well received. You can rely more on making a good impression with the article and a simple link back, than a hard sell that might not even make into print.
Link exchanges are another free alternative to costly advertising. Be prepared to get lost in the shuffle if you choose a popular site. The best way to make use of this method is by running your own link exchange from your site and offering a free posting in exchange for a link back to your site.
Targeted advertising is by far the best way to bring in traffic to your website. By using targeted key words, your customers are not just stumbling into your website. Half the work is already done by the key words. You just need to supply the information. Google Ad Words can be used very effectively as well as other targeted key word companies. Most of these operate on a pay per click basis, so you will need to research your key words and supply the best possible words to ensure a good cost-to-click ratio.
Press releases are a great way to get the word out about your site and possibly create media buzz. While this method is more expensive than the above methods, it has the potential to bring in substantial traffic. Before sending out your release, make sure that it is formatted correctly and contains a powerful first paragraph. News editors are inundated daily and you do not want to get lost in the shuffle.
When writing your press release, it is important to make it news worthy, instead of a plain announcement. Using our example above, if a recent study is released about stress management and working from home, it would be a perfect time to send out a press release that mentions the study and your business. Be prepared to receive phone calls and answer questions if your release is a hit.
You don’t necessarily have to wait for an event to happen to send out your release. If all else fails, get creative! There are many ways to tie in your business to current events, all you need is a little imagination.
We have covered just a couple of ways to effectively advertise your new or existing e-business. The best advice is to start wisely, plan your advertising budget accordingly and get the word out as effectively as possible.


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Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/a-lunchtime-lesson-on-print-advertisinga-lunchtime-lesson-on-print-advertising.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/small-business/a-lunchtime-lesson-on-print-advertisinga-lunchtime-lesson-on-print-advertising.html Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500 Print ads are here to stay. That’s right. Those dusty, musty, fusty old relics of the century past are still with us. And despite the ubiquity of commercials on radio and TV; despite the onslaught of banners, pop-ups and all manner of intrusive online ads; newspapers and magazines are, and always will be, a mainstay forum for mainstream advertising.
There’s something about the readiness, the handiness, the heft and feel of a magazine or a newspaper that appeals to the nature of human beings. Yes, flat screens that glow with vivid colors are attractive. Especially when they’re displaying something we specifically asked to see.
But as we page through a magazine or a newspaper while enjoying our lunch or riding a commuter train, we don’t mind at all if a surprising or intelligent or just plain appealing ad – even one in black and white – suddenly grabs our attention. We expect it. We secretly look for it. We even welcome it as a break from all the dull gray type we’ve been slogging through. Why? Because – let’s face it – a really good ad is a delight to behold.
Is this the kind of ad your target audience is seeing? Do your ads stop them and make them smile…think…take in your message and make a mental note to look closer at your product or service? Maybe even go to your website for the kind of information that could lead to a sale?
Think carefully about this. If your ad doesn’t stand apart, doesn’t attract, appeal or grab; if it doesn’t delight in some way, the readers you want to capture and bring into your world will simply turn the page and plow on through the dull stuff . . . until they bump into your competitor’s delightfully different ad. And then they’ll stop – and, unfortunately for you – pay attention to the message.
So take a close look at your company’s ads. Do they stand out from the crowd of other ads? Are they different from your competitor’s ads in a powerful and relevant way? And most important, do they convey your core message in an engaging, persuasive and delightful manner?
If so, let them run and run, because they’re bound to bring you business.
If not, better change your approach soon. Before the competition eats your lunch.

Gary Watson writes ads for companies that want to add to their bottom line. He also does product/service naming, slogans/tag lines, billboards, web content, sales letters (print and email), etc.


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Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/marketing/business-marketing-strategy-that-double-results-through-5-simple-questions.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/marketing/business-marketing-strategy-that-double-results-through-5-simple-questions.html Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500
First, do you have a marketing plan to deliver your marketing message? How are you marketing yourself and your business? Even if you are a Single Office Home Office Business (SOHO) or a home based business, you need a marketing plan. Obviously if you are a larger organization, you understand the value of having such a plan. HINT: If you don’t have a plan or have been procrastinating about writing a plan, STOP right now. Find; hire someone to help you write that plan. These plans should be directly tied to your strategic plan of Who Does What By When within your business plan. Read about where to begin at www.processspecialist.com/articles/DoYouKnowandPlanforthe3RsforBusiness.pdf

Second, does your marketing message interrupt your prospect or suspect? What makes your message stop your prospects’ behaviors to want to further listen to what you have to say? Look to those now infamous Super Bowl commercials or even the ever-changing ones on television. Why does one commercial literally STOP YOU? Is it the graphics? Is it the music? Is it the content within the message? HINT: Use some measurable term such as double your results, triple your business, increase profits by 100% to interrupt your prospect.

Third, does your marketing message engage your prospect or suspect? OK, now that you have your prospect’s attention, how do you keep it? This engagement may be just for a few moments as in those 30-second sound bites we hear every day. Engaging your prospect is critical to the success of your marketing strategies. HINT: At this point, you should be providing some benefits that create the What’s In It For Me?

Fourth, does your marketing message educate your intended audience? Can you provide some solid education in your message? Citing proven, documented data or statistics helps to solidify your message.

For example, within our business services, we provide a student leadership development and interpersonal skills program (America’s Rising Stars). We let parents know that: “According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average national timeframe to earn a 4 year degree is 5.3 years. Many universities report that it will take 6 years to earn a 4 year degree.” If you are a parent with a college bound student, would this not be a valuable piece of education? Just, imagine how much more money the parents are envisioning that they will be spending. If they have more than one college bound student, the numbers are incredibly high and that vision becomes very, very expensive. Can you see the parents needs as well as their pain? HINT: Connect the education to the needs of your prospect.

Fifth and final question, does your marketing message provide an immediate offer? How many times do you hear? “If you call right now, we will reduce the price by $50? or “Call right now and you will receive 2 for the price of one.” The offer is clearly stated. Why, because the seller, that being you, wants the buyer, that being your prospect, to take action right now, not later, but right now. HINT: Be creative with your message by offering a substantial discount if one buyer secures 10 other buyers.

Remember, you absolutely need a marketing plan where your marketing message interrupts, engages, educates and offers. If your current message is not delivering these 4 objectives, then take some time to rework your plan. You will be simply amazed by how quickly your results double.



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Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/basic-marketing-dope.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/basic-marketing-dope.html Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Hot Dope #1) The more that your potential customers see your name in front of them, the more likely they are to call your number (and not someone else’s) when they need the services you offer.

Many marketing efforts go unrewarded, not because they were off target but simply because they weren’t given enough of an opportunity to work. Showing your TV commercial one time, running an ad in the newspaper once, or doing one mailing of postcards may not be enough to grab and keep the audience’s attention.

Get your name out there, do it on a regular basis and people will remember you when they need someone in your line of business. Actually, this particular “Hot Dope” cannot be stressed enough – and failure to adhere to it is the #1 reason new businesses fail.

You should also know that taking the time to really see which pieces will generate the response you want will pay off. Don’t just totally give up when a response is low – persistence is vital.

Hot dope # 2) Measure your Return On Investment (ROI) in terms of actual MONEY not response rate. An advertising vehicle is working when the MONEY that it brings in has more value than the MONEY and time that is spent on the marketing.

Don’t fall into the trap of becoming discouraged by a small number of callers responding to a large number of pieces. If you spend several hundred dollars to be in the view of a few thousand possible leads, it may only take a few customers responding for you to make enough of a profit for this type of marketing to be valuable. The usefulness of any vehicle can only be determined after the amount of income generated by the promotion has been calculated. If you spend 1/5 of what you generate or generate 5 times what you spend, your campaign was successful.

Hot dope #3) It is much easier to "sell" a prospect once you get them to call or come in to your store. In 2-Step Marketing, step 1 is to get them interested; step 2 is having them speak to a representative to get all the details – and get “closed” by that representative.

Your design must be eye catching and informative, but don’t try to close the sale by explaining all of the details in one piece of advertising. The details of a business transaction often take many more words to explain than the main concept of what is being sold. For example, if your company offers great prices depending on the quantity purchased, there is no need to list the prices for every quantity that you sell. Simply give examples of two or three different quantities and state somewhere in the advertisement that other discounts are available for other quantities. This will prompt them to call to get the rest of the details once you have gotten their interest.

Marketing can be as simple as 1-2-3 when you know the basics. By no means have I given you all the basics here, but by learning and implementing these 3 marketing fundamentals, you are already on your way to marketing success!


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Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>