Traditional Business Vs Ebusiness

Traditional Business Vs. E-Business

Since the explosion of the internet age, e-businesses have gradually come to compete with the long standing structure of traditional businesses. With every year that passes, starting an e-business becomes simpler and more cost-effective than creating a traditional business due to a variety of factors.

Audience

Traditionally, businesses focus on a local audience. And the only way to expand the audience is to expand into new areas by constructing multiple stores or outlets. The main advantage that e-businesses hold over this method is that the audience can be far more vast--virtually anyone who has a computer.

Segmentation of Audience

Another great advantage of an e-business over traditional business is that it can easily find and market to a specific niche or segment, which results in a higher conversion of sales. Traditional businesses are forced to choose correct locations to attract their desired customer base.

Upfront Costs

The most significant difference is that e-businesses cost very little upfront when compared to traditional businesses. Starting a business on the Internet does not have the burden of a physical storefront and any expenses that accompany it.

Adaptibility

When you have a physical store, there is not a lot of room for error. You can only customize your store, marketing, and product to a small extent. With an e-business, you can do massive customization, and change how and what you market, depending on your business performance.

Ease of Use

The vast majority of e-businesses are much easier to use for the customer--most sales and purchases can be done from the comfort of home.

Tags: that e-businesses, traditional businesses

Place A Classified Ad

Place a Classified Ad

Businesses use classified ads for various things--selling their products, attracting new employees and promoting events. No matter what the reason is, it's easy to interact with the press to place an advertisement--whether it's in print or online. Here are some helpful tips.

Instructions

1. What's the need? Why do you need to place an ad? Do you need to retain new talent, or are you looking to sell a product? When you think about the need and the prospective audience, it will help you tailor your ad to meet its target audience.

2. What's the right venue? Are you looking to sell goods or services, or do you need to find a new employee? Think about where people are looking for the need you have to fill. In many cases a local paper will work for hiring an employee. If you're looking for national attention, try an online ad on craigslist.com.

3. What are the rules? If you're looking to place an ad in a paper, most come with simple instructions for placing an ad, including how many characters you're allowed. Online boards may require a login to post an ad. Shop around and see what you need to post the ad, and pay attention to fees.

4. What's the content? Here's where you write your ad. Some classified ads have a limit on space, so you may be abbreviating words. Look at similar ads to see common abbreviations. If it's an unlimited space ad online, you have more freedom. Whatever you write, make sure it includes what you need with the appropriate contact information.

Tags: looking sell, Place Classified, what need

Grants To Start A Tattoo Business

New tattoo businesses are eligible for grants to help them set up a new studio.

Tattoo parlors are a popular form of business for artists. With pop culture and television taking the stigma away from tattoos, more and more people are getting tattoos than in the past. Individuals who wish to open a tattoo business are eligible for private and federal grant programs to help with startup costs and business expansion.

Federal Grants

Federal grants are available for tattoo parlors. Grants come from the Department of Labor and the Small Business Administration. Grant programs are available for women and minority business owners, low-income area businesses and expanded operations. The grants vary from $1,000 to $300,000. Federal grant programs award funds annually. Applications and deadlines for desired grant programs are available online through the Small Business Administration and the Department of Labor websites.

Private Grants

Private companies and organizations invest in small businesses in their local area. Tattoo parlors are eligible for these grants as well. Private grants come from various organizations, such as religious groups, small-business investment groups and trade organizations. Each organization has its own grant amounts, applications and deadlines. A list of private grants available for tattoo artists is online at the Small Business Grants website.

State Grants

States offer different grant programs through the Chamber of Commerce and Department of Labor for small businesses, including tattoo parlors. Grant programs include grants tailored for a location or business size or for the race and gender of the business owner. Specific requirements, applications and deadlines can be found on the state Department of Labor and Chamber of Commerce websites.

Uses For Grant Money

Grants are used to help the tattoo business grow and expand. The grant programs are used to help hire employees, market the business, open the business and support operations. Each grant helps the company survive and thrive in a local area. The purpose of the grants is to help boost the economy in an area and increase employment, leading to higher tax revenues. Grants help improve local areas by providing opportunities that would not exist otherwise for the local members of the community.

Tags: Department Labor, grant programs, Small Business, applications deadlines, available tattoo, Business Administration

Tsa Employment Requirements

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) jobs continue to be in high demand due to the constant threat of terrorism.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) jobs continue to be in high demand due to the pervasive threat of another terrorist attack on U.S. soil. Most TSA jobs consist of security professionals, although some involve program management and security analysis. Generally, TSA jobs require that applicants are United States citizens, are able to pass a favorable background investigation and are thus able to obtain a security clearance.

United States Citizenship

For security reasons, the Transportation Security Administration requires all employees to possess U.S. citizenship or U.S. national status. For U.S. citizens, this would require a birth certificate. For nationals, it would require a passport that indicates U.S. national status.

Written and Oral Communication Skills

Because TSA employees must interface with the public on a regular basis, they must possess strong oral communication skills. Furthermore, they must possess effective writing skills in order to write reports.

Background Investigation

Depending on how sensitive the position is in terms of security, the applicant may be advised that the TSA will initiate a typical background investigation or a more complex single-scope background investigation (SSBI). While the traditional background investigation involves looking into your financial records, employment and criminal history, a single scope background investigation (SSBI) is more thorough and includes contacting co-workers, neighbors, schools attended, employers, places lived and interviews with current and former colleagues.

Security Clearance

After the background investigation is successfully completed and the job offer is accepted, the new TSA employee is granted a security clearance. The security clearance generally means that the new worker is granted access to secure areas and classified information.

Tags: background investigation, Security Administration, security clearance, Transportation Security, Transportation Security Administration, Administration jobs, Administration jobs continue

Package & Sell Your Own Food Product

If you regularly whip up large batches of goodies in your home kitchen to distribute among your family and friends, commercial distribution may seem like the logical next step. However, food distribution is a tricky prospect that is very different from the making and selling of other crafts and products. In order to legally sell your own food products, there are several very important steps that you must take.

Instructions

1. Select a location for making your food products. You cannot whip up you famous creations in your home kitchen anymore. You will need to establish a commercial kitchen facility that will pass the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) inspection.

2. Determine the various types of food products that you will be selling and what their packaging requirements are. Do you need jars, boxes or bags? Do the products need to be refrigerated or frozen immediately, refrigerated after opening or never? The Cooperative State Research and Extension Service may be able to help you organize your plans in the early stages (see Resources).

3. Check your local licensing and zoning laws. Your kitchen facility must be properly licensed to manufacture commercial goods. You will also need the proper licensing for yourself and your company before you begin selling your products. These laws vary by state, but the Resources listed can help you determine your local requirements.

4. Review the FDA's Good Manufacturing Practices (see Resources). These rules and regulations determine the processes that you must adhere to when preparing, packaging and distributing your goods.

5. Purchase packaging for your products in bulk. You will probably want to begin to establish a good business relationship with a manufacturer who specializes in the jars, bottles and boxes that are needed for your company. After packaging your product in the proper container, you will also need to label it accordingly with ingredients and nutritional information. These labeled packages will then need to be placed in boxes or coolers for shipment to their final destination.

Tags: food products, also need, home kitchen, kitchen facility, packaging your

Use The Buttmaster

Using the ButtMaster LBX exercises in conjunction with the ThighMaster exercises can tone up your entire body. The following exercises will show you correctly use the ButtMaster LBX to tone up the bottom half of your body.

Instructions

1. Place the handles of the ButtMaster LBX on the side of the knees on the outside of the legs with the yellow ball behind your legs facing downward. Pull the legs apart slowly and do fifty of these to tone the butt and outer thighs. Do the same thing with your feet elevated and flat on a stool or chair.

2. Keep the ButtMaster LBX on the sides of your legs by the knees and grab the seat of a chair in front of you with your hands, bending at the waist. Move your knees in and out thirty to fifty times to tone the butt.

3. Get on all fours while keeping the ButtMaster LBX on the outside of your thighs above the knees. Raise your leg out to the side and back again. Repeat on each side about ten to twenty-five times to tone the butt.

4. Roll over on your back and end your knees upward. Lift your hips off the floor with the ButtMaster LBX still on the outside of your knees and the yellow cap close to the floor. Pull your knees apart and back together about thirty times to tone the butt.

5. Turn over on your right side and lean on the floor with your right elbow while keeping the legs bent slightly. Keep the ButtMaster LBX around the back of your legs at the knees and lift your left leg up. Count to three and slowly return your leg back down doing this twenty-five to thirty times on each side to tone the butt.

Tags: tone butt, your knees, times tone, times tone butt, with your, your legs

Definition Of A Planogram

A planogram is a diagram used by retail chains to determine the layout of a store. The overall goal is to provide customers with the best-selling merchandise and to guide the customer through the store in a way that produces the largest sales volume for the retailer. A planogram contains a visual schematic as well as a product listing, which is used by a merchandiser to place the products on the shelf. They are normally designed with the aid of computerized shelf management programs which are updated frequently to keep up with the ever-changing marketplace.

Purpose

The planogram provides the set-up person, known as a merchandiser, with a guide as to how the store should be laid out and the proper space allocation for each section. For example, a grocery store usually contains a series of 4-foot shelving units known as gondolas and may allow 20 feet of shelf space for canned goods, 24 feet for prepared dinners such as canned pasta or 32 feet for condiments. The planogram will also tell the merchandiser where each particular item needs to be placed on the shelf and in what quantity.

Components

Typically, there are three main components to the planogram: the cover page, the schematic and the stock keeping unit (SKU) listing with accompanying Universal Product Codes (UPC). The cover page includes general information and instructions. The schematic shows the overall layout of each section along with the number of shelves needed and the proper shelf heights. The SKU listing and UPC codes tell the merchandiser the correct placement of each item and the proper number of facings, or number of shelf positions, each product is to receive.

Design

It used to be that planograms were drawn by hand with the use of a mechanical pencil, a ruler and graph paper. These days, larger retail chains use computerized space management software to lay out a store set. The program makes use of information such as the size of the product and how fast it typically sells to determine proper shelf positioning.

Implementation

Store sets are usually carried out by a team of professional merchandisers or by store employees. If possible, store resets are conducted while the store is closed, although it is not uncommon to perform them during shopping hours. The merchandisers normally work in teams, with each member possessing a copy of the planogram for the section being set.

Follow Up

Planograms are not static. As new products enter the market and old ones are discontinued by the manufacturer, there is a need to update the planograms both at the home office and in the store. The use of an effective space management program can make changes easier to manage for both headquarters personnel and the merchandisers.

Tags: cover page, each section, proper shelf, retail chains, space management

Advantages Of A Job Agency

Job agencies, also called employment or staffing agencies, serve as liaisons between employers and job seekers. They work to place job searchers in long- or short-term positions, according to the "Encyclopedia of Business." Employment agencies also are actually starting to offer health and retirement benefits. Millions of Americans use these agencies to find work,with companies such as Adecco, Kelly Services and Manpower being some of the largest companies that help place employees in the United States and Europe.

The Job Seeker's Goal is the Agency's Goal

Job recruitment agencies often are paid a commission for each job seeker they successfully place with a needy employer, according to Gen Wright, author of "The Benefits of Using a Recruitment Agency to Find a Job." For this reason, agencies are determined to find the right matches for their employers, which means they're determined to see their job seekers succeed at landing the right job. The more information they receive about a job seeker's credentials, recommendations from previous employers or even the job seeker's particular areas of passion and interest, the greater the chance the right opening will be found and claimed.

Many agencies even keep a database of potential candidates. They maintain this database for future job opening. This is a huge advantage because the job searcher who used the agency's services before could be the first to know of new opportunities for which they might be qualified.

Agencies Do the Legwork

Employers using the services of a job agency are the ones who usually have to pay the fees, not the job seeker. The agency can even set up interviews for the job seeker and follow up afterward to see how the interviews went. In addition, agencies can negotiate the job searcher's salary and, in turn, receive a percentage of the annual salary for the position filled, according to Job-Application-And-Interview-Advice.com. This means they'll fight for the highest salary they can get the job searcher.

Specialist agencies also can provide more detailed information to job seekers about the sector in which they are applying, according to Careers4graduates.org. Agencies are helpful for both busy full-time workers who rely on an agency to work on their behalf, as well as new job seekers who are looking for several short-term positions with various companies to build experience.

More Employers Are Relying on Agencies

With the cost of recruiting new talent on the rise for companies, many employers are turning to job agencies as a more cost-effective way to hire new employees. Through this avenue, the job seeker who uses an agency actually can learn of more job openings other searchers typically won't hear about. Also, many employers have solid, lasting relationships with agencies, which means that even if a job seeker was turned down by a company before, the job seeker's affiliation with the respected agency might help them to claim a position with that company after all.

Tags: agencies also, even seeker, many employers, means they, short-term positions, which means, which they

Tv Advertising Information

Television advertising is a widely popular advertising medium for a variety of reasons. For instance, advertisers can select the time of day they want their ads to run. They can also pick the networks where they want their ads shown. Television advertising is also popular because of the visual nature of it and because it is personal. Still, there some disadvantages for TV ads, including costs and media clutter. Overall, it is a still a strong and popular advertising medium.

Time of Day

One characteristic of advertising that this medium has that many others do not is the ability to change according to the time of day. Television advertisements are different depending on what time of day it is. For example, there might be more television ads directed toward younger audiences between the hours of 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., because it is a time when many children are out of school and watching TV. Advertisers can buy ad time on TV depending on the type of audiences they want to reach, according to the time of day that audience typically watches TV.

Different Networks

Now that cable television is more popular than ever, we have the option to watch hundreds of different networks. These networks appeal to very distinct audiences. For example, channels like Nickelodeon and Disney primarily appeal to kids, while Oxygen and Lifetime often appeal to women. If a company has a product for a very specific audience, they can chose to advertise on a network that appeals to that audience.

Strengths

Television advertising has unique strengths that other vehicles do not. TV ads have the capability of using strong visual appeals and the ability to demonstrate how a product works. Also, the tone for television is generally more personal, which is helpful in gaining the attention of consumers.

Weaknesses

Like all media, television advertising has its weaknesses. One major problem for TV advertising is that it is the most expensive form of traditional advertising. Production costs and the costs of buying network time factors into the high cost of TV advertising. High costs often times prevent smaller companies from using TV as a vehicle for advertising. Another problem with TV advertising is the fact that there are so many commercials, viewers can sometimes see them as clutter and ignore the message.

Future Problems

TV advertising is starting to face a major problem with the growing popularity of digital video recorders (DVRs). With DVRs, viewers can tape their favorite shows and then watch them later on their own time, while skipping through the ads. As these devices become more widely used, TV advertising must deal with the consequences.

Tags: Television advertising, they want, according time, advertising medium, advertising that, major problem

Get Through To Verizon Customer Support

If you've ever called Verizon's customer service number, then you know that most of it is a seemingly endless loop of messages from an automated operator. Although almost every option takes you to an automated message, there are some options that put you right through to customer service. You'll need to have your account number or phone number and password handy to get through the automated messaging.

Instructions

1. Call 1-800-837-4966 to reach Verizon's residential phone service or 1-800-922-0204 to reach Verizon's wireless customer service. Call 1-888-625-8111 to reach Verizon's high-speed Internet customer service. Call 1-888-881-8161 for Verizon FIOS, which is Verizon's fiber-optic telephone, TV and Internet service; FIOS is not available in all areas.

2. Follow the automated instructions, which include entering your phone number if you're calling Verizon's phone service or entering your account number if you're calling about high-speed Internet or FIOS.

3. Select either "Technical Support" or "More Options." Technical support will get you right through to customer service without anymore automated messages. "More Options" will prompt you to say something related to your problem. Say "Customer Service" to be transferred to a live person.

Tags: customer service, reach Verizon, account number, customer service Call, entering your, high-speed Internet

Active Directory Recovery Tools

Active Directory recovery tools save the information needed to manage data on a network.

Active Directory is a component of Microsoft software known as Active Platform. It is responsible for managing directory resources so that programs and applications can utilize network resources. Active Directory stores a variety of data objects, including devices and information resources ranging from printers and user names to passwords. A variety of companies, including Microsoft, make tools for the retrieval of damaged Active Directory files.

Windows Restore Tools

Windows contains a built-in tool that is used for backing up and restoring active directory. In Windows Server 2000, the active directory files can be restored from a normal style backup with non-authoritative restore. This restores the Active Directory files in the system to their backed up state and then updates them according to the changes in the system after the backup. This process is commonly used to restore corrupted Active Directory database files.

Quest Recovery Manager

This program is designed to create backups of the Active Directory database files and restore them at a later date. It provides administrators with the ability to selectively recover specific Active Directory items or the entire Active Directory Domain Service database. It creates automatic, scheduled backups and provides comparisons between backed-up files and the version currently in use to identify where errors occur. It also provides remote restore functionality and a graphical interface for user convenience.

Active Directory Restore Wizard

The Netwrix Active Directory Restore Wizard is part of a larger software suite that is designed to backup, monitor and restore the Active Directory database. This software is designed to allow network administrators to restore Active Directory without the need to reboot the network's domain controller.

Recovery for Active Directory

This program is a relatively simple program that restores corrupted Active Directory files and recovers resources, services and users that were lost to corruption or deletion. However, this program does not recover lost user passwords or security IDs. Instead, it leaves lost user passwords blank and gives restored objects new security IDs.

Tags: Active Directory, Active Directory, Active Directory database, Directory database, Active Directory files, Active Directory Restore

What Is A Product Line Pricing Strategy

Pricing is one of the most important elements of the marketing mix and has the most effect on whether or not the strategy is successful. Product line pricing (PLP) is a pricing strategy used to sell different products in the same product range at different price points based on features or benefits.

When to use Product Line Pricing

Product line pricing is used when a primary product is offered with different features or benefits, essentially creating multiple "different" products or services. For example, a car could be the primary product. It could come standard, with a sunroof and navigation system or fully stocked with all the features and add-ons. Each product would then be priced accordingly.

Goal of Product Line Pricing

The goal of product line pricing is to maximize profits. The more features offered, the more consumers will pay. The goal is to draw enough interest in the primary product that the upgraded product will be sold (at a greater price) based off the interest in the "basic" primary product. By using PLP, some individual products may not make profits, but the goal is for the product line as a whole to turn a profit.

Common Examples of Product Line Pricing

Car wash options are common examples of product line pricing.

Product line pricing is seen from gas pumps to car dealerships and from ice cream shops to fast food restaurants. A basic car wash may be shown as one price, a super wash with wash and wax will cost a little more, and a full-service premium wash will be the most expensive.

Factors Involved in PLP

The biggest factor in the success of product line pricing is the success of the primary product. A customer won't get his ice cream cone upgraded to have sprinkles and whipped cream unless he enjoyed the ice cream itself. Products must also be priced correctly. One product in the line cannot be too much more money than the others, or it will not adhere to the pricing plan.

Specific Types of Product Line Pricing Plans

Specific types of product line pricing strategies include optional-feature pricing (as with cars), and two-part pricing, which could be an amusement park that charges for general admission but then also charges for particular rides. Product bundling is pricing a product so that if a product is bought with all available features it would be cheaper then buying accessories or feature upgrades individually.

Tags: primary product, product line, different products, features benefits, goal product

Measure My Luggage For Checkin On A Plane

Measure luggage before going to the airport to avoid fees for checked baggage.

With fees for checked bags at an all-time high, travelers are increasingly concerned with measure luggage for check-in on a plane. If your bag does not meet the maximum size requirements to carry the bag on the flight then you will be forced to check your bag and pay the associated fee. For that reason, it is important to understand measure luggage for check-in when traveling by air. The process is simple if you follow the steps explained below.

Instructions

1. Locate a measuring tape or ruler, and take measurements in lineal inches of all dimensions of the bag and log them for future reference.

2. Add the length, depth, width of the bag to assess the total lineal value in inches.

3. Elevate the bag so that it is easily accessible. Using the measuring tape or ruler, take the length of the long edge of the bag, measuring from right to left and record the value in inches, in your log.

4. Use the ruler or measuring tape to survey the bottom of the bag and record this measurement as the width in the log.

5. Measure the depth of the bag with the ruler or measuring tape by assessing the length from the front of the bag to the back of the bag. Enter this figure into the log.

6. Find the sum of the width, depth and length of the bag. For a bag with a width of 9 inches, a depth of 5 inches, and a length of 13 inches, add the three values. In this instance the lineal value of the bag is 27 inches.

Tags: measuring tape, value inches, fees checked, lineal value, lineal value inches, luggage check-in, measure luggage check-in

Introduce A Product Of Clothing Online

Many people choose to buy online rather than shop in stores.

Using the Internet to sell clothing can become a business or an economical way of cleaning out your closets. Children quickly grow out of clothes, and buying replacements can be expensive. Knowing introduce a product of clothing online can help you earn money to replenish your children's wardrobes. Once you have learned the basics of marketing your clothing items online, setting up a small business is a great way to increase your family's income.

Instructions

1. Mannequins can help make shooting photographs easier.

Use a mannequin to model your clothing. Take pictures from several different angles to show how the items fit. Model the clothing in different styles if it can be worn in more than one way.

2. Ask for a second opinion when inspecting clothes.

Inspect the clothing carefully. List every fault, such as stains, tears or holes. Include information concerning seams and which body types the clothing was designed for if it is a garment from a specialty line.

3. Adding a simple necklace can persuade consumers to buy your product over the competition.

List the brand name and size of the clothing and compare your price with that of your competitors. Add helpful fashion suggestions for wearing the clothing. Bundle the clothing with accessories such as jewelry or neck ties to give incentive and motivation for potential buyers.

Tags: your clothing

What Is A Music Performance Degree

What Is a Music Performance Degree?

The music performance degree is a degree that specializes in areas of music performance such as vocal performance, guitar, piano and jazz performance. This degree can be offered at the associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels and it is useful for music performance careers.

Benefits

The music performance degree offers credibility in some career fields. For example, if you receive a doctoral degree in music performance, this can help you if you decide to teach music performance courses at a university. It also gives you the opportunity to learn from established musicians who may teach at your school.

Time Frame

The time frame for earning a music performance degree depends on what type of degree you're getting and the school. The bachelor's degree program lasts four years in general, the master's program is about two years and the doctoral program could last four to six years depending on the school.

Features

After enrolling in the program, you spend the first two semesters working on your non-degree-specific courses and the rest of the years are spent on the degree-specific programs. For example, you would spend the first part of your college years studying English and the sciences then study your music courses later.

Types

There are various concentrations within the music performance degree program and they vary by school. One student may focus on jazz guitar while another student may take mostly courses in vocal performance.

Considerations

Not all music careers require a music performance degree. For example, there are musicians who already have experience in childhood musical recitals or playing in the high school band and often enter the music industry through hard work, practice and sometimes the help of talent agents.

Schools

Certain specialized schools like Berklee College of Music offer music performance degrees, but not all schools will offer this type of program.

Tags: music performance, music performance degree, music performance, performance degree, degree program, four years, Music Performance

Promotional Products For Dog Groomers

Bandanas printed with a groomer's information are just one promotional product.

Choosing promotional products is a crucial part of marketing a business and attracting new customers. If you're a dog groomer, handing out useful products with your business information on them to potential customers will help you stand out from the others.

Bandanas

Bandanas are an easy-to-distribute promotional item for dog groomers. A groomer can pass them out at trade shows, or she could also place one on a dog after a grooming job as a final touch. Promotional bandanas are available in different colors and designs and groomers can have them printed with their name and other information.

Grooming Products

Promotional grooming products are a particularly appropriate way to promote a pet grooming business. Combs or brushes imprinted with your information will remind pet owners about your services. Other ideas include printed dog dental care brushes or nail clippers for routine home-grooming jobs.

Dog Treats

According to Fetch Pet Care, 88 percent of dog owners give their pets treats. This makes dog treats a good choice for promoting your dog-grooming business. There are many treat varieties available that promotional companies package in printed bags. You could write to a dog food manufacturer's consumer affairs department and possibly obtain permission to package brand-name treats in promotional bags. You can pass the treats out to current and potential clients.

Dog Toys

Another way for groomers to connect with dogs and dog owners is with promotional dog toys. Frisbees are large enough to imprint a groomer's contact information. Many dogs enjoy playing with them, so send an owner home with your Frisbee so they'll remember your name and business.

Tags: with your, printed with

Locate A Phone Number

A phone book is just one way to look up a number.

Ever looked at the back of a bottle of commercial cleaner and seen an imperative along the lines of contacting a Poison Control Center immediately if you swallow it or get it in your eyes? But then you notice no phone number is listed on the bottle? A quick Internet search will do the trick for this and other numbers most of the time, but only if you perform it the right way.Though phone books may seem like relics, they are often the answer when an Internet search fails, and for local numbers can even be faster.

Instructions

Finding Phone Numbers on the Internet

1. To look up a business's phone number on the Internet, type the name of the business in quotes in the search field along with the city and state abbreviation.

2. To look up a personal phone number, go to a phone number directory Web site. Type the words "phone number directory" in the search field to find several. Any phone number directory site will prompt you for information, chiefly the name, city and state of the person whose phone number you are seeking.

3. To find a government phone number, it is best to go directly to the site of the agency you want to contact. This can be found via an Internet search. For example, just type "Poison Control Center" into the search field. On the Web site, look for links with phrases such as "Contact Us" or "Find Locations."

Using the Phone Book

4. Find a business number in either the white pages or the yellow pages of your local phone book. Yellow pages sort by business type, alphabetically. White pages sort by name alphabetically. The local business section in the white pages can be found directly after the blue pages.

5. Find a personal number in the white pages, which are organized alphabetically. In some areas, the major city will be listed in the front of the white pages, while smaller towns will have separate sections in the back of the white pages, after the local business section.

6. Find a government number in the blue pages section of the white pages. Blue pages list government numbers in sections: town and city, county, state and federal.

Tags: phone number, white pages, Internet search, number directory, phone number directory, search field

The Influence Of Packaging On Women Consumers

Blue is the favorite packaging color for women, followed by red.

Women make or influence 80 to 85 percent of all family purchasing decisions, rising to 93 percent in categories like over-the-counter medications and food, according to the Weatherchem Corporation. Since a woman may only dedicate 2.6 seconds to her selection, manufacturers would be wise to package their products for maximum feminine appeal.

Color and Image

Young women are especially drawn to packaging that has an elegant, stylish design. Surprisingly, pink is low on the spectrum of packaging color preferences. Women like blue best, with red a close second, reports the Packaging Digest. Surveys show that pictures of celebrities on a package do not particularly attract women buyers.

Ergonomics

Functionality and ease of use make a product female-friendly. A visually-appealing shape is desirable, but how a product is opened and closed is of the utmost importance, Weatherchem's research shows. Products with easy closures score high points with women. Control of the amount dispensed is also a key factor in preference.

Size

In general, smaller-sized packages attract buyers; since today's households are shrinking, products need to be easily consumed in a short time period. They also must be simple to store. Additionally, products should be packaged so that they can be gripped and lifted with ease, perhaps with handles attached.

Text

All lettering on a package had better be large and easy to read in order to attract woman consumers. In essence, it should scream the benefits of what is inside. A final female-friendly advantage would be the inclusion of uncomplicated instructions for use of the product, according to Packaging Digest.

Tags: packaging color, Packaging Digest

Start A Roofing Business

Start a Roofing Business

Starting a roofing business is a way to use your skills, be your own boss and make a decent wage. There are a number of services that your business may offer for both commercial and residential properties, which means that you can stay busy all year long.

Instructions

1. Purchase roofers insurance. This is one of the most important aspects of starting up your roofing business. Failure to protect your business against employee or public injury could be the end of your business. You will likely need liability, workers' compensation insurance and equipment insurance.

2. Hire qualified contractors that are both licensed and insured (or covered under your insurance). They should be familiar with many roofing materials such as tiles, slate, wood, asphalt shingles and sheet metal.

3. Purchase your safety equipment. This may include fall protection such as self-retracting cables, self-retracting lanyards, guardrails, roof fall protection kits, roof anchors, water coolers, hard hats, ear plugs, allergy masks, first aid kits, safety harnesses, coveralls, eye gear and gas cans.

4. Purchase your supplies and must-have equipment. This will include hand tools such as hatchets, hammers, shingle and slate cutters, pry bars, scissors, caulking guns and loaders, squeegees and trowels. Purchase hoisting equipment such as hoists, hoisting wheels and gravel buckets. You'll also need ladders of varying sizes, ladder hatches and brackets, as well as must have items such as measuring tape, marking tool, saws, nails, brooms and mops. In addition, you may need air compressors, blowers, paint, primers, sealant, caulk, kettles, roof or deck drains, roofing foam, receipt paper, and spraying systems.

5. Purchase a truck and trailer (if necessary) and truck supplies such as conveyors, winch bars and cargo straps. Then design signs to attach to your trailer.

6. Determine what methods of payment that you will accept. At first, you may only want to accept cash or checks. As your business expands, you may want to accept credit cards. If you will accept credit cards, you will also need to set up a merchant account. To determine your rates, contact other roofers in your area and get quotes.

Tags: your business, accept credit, accept credit cards, also need, cards will, credit cards

Explanation Of Product Mix

Products are often sold in different varieties in order to appeal to consumer taste.

Companies need to do more than create products that customers might want. They must also release and promote products in strategic ways. Instead of releasing a single product or selling a single product at a store, companies usually sell product mixes, which are several different products that are similar but appeal to different customers.

Company

Product mixes are products that are marketed together to earn a higher revenue than what would be earned if these products were marketed separately. Different yet related products are often marketed together to give customers variety, to spread company risk across a broader range of products and to more flexibly respond to a continually evolving marketplace. An example of a product mix is yogurt sold with a spoon.

Benefits

Product mixes broaden when new products are developed to respond to changing consumer tastes while also keeping older versions of products to appeal to nostalgia. Companies can encourage customers to purchase products similar to ones they’ve already purchased from the company by offering new features. Product mixes do not always expand, since some products lose their profitability and are eventually removed from the marketplace to make room for more profitable products.

Retail

Product mix also refers to all of the items that are sold by a particular company. Some product mixes are part of a complete product line released by product developers. For instance, a water filtering company might release a group of filters with different degrees of filtration and different prices. Other product mixes refer to the inventory of a particular retail store. These mixes take into consideration product types and also variants of specific types of products, such as bicycles that come in different colors.

Marketing

Product mix is sometimes considered a part of a larger context known as the marketing mix, which consists of the product, price, place and promotion. The elements of the marketing mix are the only tools businesses have to meet their goals. For example, when selling a new line of WiFi modems, companies entice consumers by improving the products, reducing prices, releasing products in a new location or offering promotional incentives.

Considerations

Product mixes must also reflect the demographics of the area where the retail store is located. Many product mixes provide variants of a single product that have different prices so that consumers seeking to save money and consumers seeking products that are more durable or have more features can have multiple options.

Tags: products that, Product mixes, single product, consumers seeking, different prices

Sell More Online Advertising Effectively

The internet is one way in which companies advertise their products to consumers.

Online advertising is one way in which businesses attempt to reach consumers to inform them about their company, products and services. These may be through banner ads, clickable text adds, RSS feeds or roll-over ads. High traffic sites like search engines may have no trouble selling their advertising space to companies, but less visited websites like blogs or small companies need to work harder to get their ad space sold. Like selling real estate, a website owner must convince a company that his advertising space is valuable and has the potential to increase the company's bottom line.

Instructions

1. Place banners of your own on available space with an "Ad Space For Sale" graphic, indicating that the available spaces on your site have not yet been purchased by other vendors and are available for purchase or rent. Include an email by which the interested customer may contact you.

2. Free more space on your site to sell at the top of each page. Advertisers are interested in having their ads seen as soon as the page appears without the user needing to scroll down the page. These spaces are more valuable, and you can charge more for them over ads at the bottom of your site.

3. Prepare a statement of your website's activity that you can send to interested buyers. Include how many hits your site gets a day and how many ad clicks the other advertisements receive. Include the number of impressions each currently shown ad has. An impression is the number of times an ad is shown to a viewer, though not necessarily clicked. Prove to the potential buyer that your space has the ability to make them money by showing them that your site is frequently visited. Gather demographic data on the people who visit your site.

4. Offer incentives that the buyers will receive upon advertising with your site. These may include coupons or special promotions for your own company's products. If you are running a blog, consider offering to have the ad sponsors do a guest post for you.

5. Gather customer feedback from advertisers who have already purchased space on your site. Hearing the growth that your other advertising companies have experienced may be enough to convince your potential buyer to give your site further consideration.

6. Price your space correctly. If your site is not as high traffic as your competitors, lower your price until you gather enough testimonials from other companies to give your site the credibility it deserves. Raise your price once you start getting enough offers to fill your spaces and you have to rotate advertisements regularly.

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Promote Your Product

You don't need to have a PR department or big bucks to promote your product. Thanks to the internet, there are many free ways you can promote a product yourself. It takes persistence and planning, but you can make amazing headway with the tips below.

Instructions

1. Make Facebook and MySpace accounts. These sites are no longer for kids! They are great places to network. Make sure to put links to your product's website on both accounts. In your personal information tell all about how you developed your product, not about your actual personal life.

2. Join forums that interest you and put the link to your product's website in your signature.

3. Likewise, make sure your email signature has your site's link in it and identifies you as the creator, seller, owner, whatever, to tell people exactly how you are linked to the product. For example, a good signature should look like this:Sincerely, Your Name, Creator of WebsiteWeb_site_name.com

4. Establish yourself as an expert on a subject that relates to your product. Write articles about the subject and post them on your site, on free article sharing sites and in your newsletter.

Tags: your product, product website, your product website, your site

Fight False Allegations In Child Custody

If you are falsely accused of abuse, neglect or other wrongdoing within the context of a child custody case, you will need to use concrete evidence and logical arguments to show that the claims are false. Fighting false accusations may be costly, since you may need to call in expert witnesses to evaluate the child and testify to the findings during the custody hearing. Since it is difficult to appeal the court's decision once the judge makes a custody ruling, plan your case carefully and avoid rash behavior.

Instructions

1. Hire an attorney. If you are in danger of losing your child due to false allegations, retain an attorney who specializes in child custody. If you cannot afford an attorney, contact Legal Aid or a nonprofit group in your area that focuses on parents' rights or child welfare. These organizations may be able to help you with little or no upfront cost.

2. Provide evidence to back up your case. You will need to show the family court judge evidence to back up your claims that the allegations are false. This may involve subpoenaing witnesses, such as the child's teachers, social worker, pediatrician, therapist and case manager.

3. Retain expert witnesses who can support your assertions. If you are accused of abuse or neglect, you may need to call upon a psychiatrist to assess the child and report her findings in court.

4. Establish that the opposing party lacks credibility. Although personal attacks will not help your case, if your accuser has a history of mental health problems or compulsive lying, the court will consider this when evaluating the merits of your case.

Tags: your case, abuse neglect, accused abuse, accused abuse neglect, back your, case will

Types Of Advertising & Benefit Costs

Newspapers are the oldest form of advertising.

Advertising is a method of publicly announcing a company's services or products, or both, to consumers. Advertising falls under the marketing mix of promotion and helps build brand loyalty amongst consumers. When a company or business opens, it puts together an advertising campaign to make money and let people know more about it. Businesses do this by using one or several types of mediums to reach potential customers. Advertising can be done in newspapers and magazines and via infomercials.

Newspaper Advertising

Purchasing newspaper ads is a form of print advertising. An inexpensive newspaper ad is normally purchased in the form of a classified ad in the back section of the paper. Classified ads are usually the size of a business card and are a good way to reach a large number of people. Newspaper ad costs depend on whether the paper is local or national and how frequently it is printed. Newspaper ads can range between $200 (for a local ad) and $20,000( for a local or national ad depending on the ad size). Companies often negotiate a contract with the newspaper for a specified period of time, and normally the longer the contract the better the ad rate is. Purchasing multiple ads is more cost-effective than a one-time advertisement. Classified ads are the most cost-effective advertisement in a newspaper.

Magazine Advertising

Magazine advertising is geared toward businesses with a niche market, such as fashion or music, and allow a business to reach those target customers. Magazine types include consumer publications, trade magazines, monthly publications and local and national publications. The two most expensive ad placements in a magazine are the inside front cover and the back cover. The ad price depends on the size of the ad, whether the ad is in color, where the ad is placed and the number of times a business runs the advertisement. Advertising in a magazine is more cost-beneficial for larger companies that can commit to a long-term partnership with the magazine and that already have established a sense of brand presence among consumers. Magazine ads can start at as low as $500.

Infomercials

Infomercials are a form of advertising for businesses that demonstrate how a product works. Infomercials are done on television as well as on the radio. Television infomercials normally last 30 minutes and provide in-depth product information and demonstrations to educate potential consumers and introduce a new product to the market. Televised infomercials have costs associated with producing the infomercial segment as well as costs of purchasing air time. The cost to produce an infomercial depends on the talent used, location and so on. The air time price for airing the infomercial ranges on average from $100 to $3,000 per spot. The cost of airing and producing an infomercial can be expensive, but companies using this type of advertisement get the benefits of reaching a mass audience.

Tags: local national, form advertising, producing infomercial

Become A Sporting Goods Reseller

The sporting goods market can represent a solid business opportunity for resellers.

Despite its one-time mystique in the world of high technology, a reseller is simply an individual or entity that buys something and then resells it to someone else at a profit. In that respect, a reseller is very similar to a wholesaler. The difference lies in the formal details of the business relationship between manufacturer or supplier and wholesaler or reseller. Because of its breadth and popularity, the sporting goods market can offer solid business opportunities for resellers. The key to success is identifying niches of opportunity where you can sell the right product to the right customer at the right price.

Instructions

1. Decide what you will sell. The sporting goods market offers a long list of options. Analyze your local market to determine what kinds of sports are most popular and where potential opportunities would be. One key to success is selecting products that have solid profit margins. It would require the same amount of time and effort to sell products with lesser margins, so maximize your bottom line by focusing on healthy margins.

2. Find vendors. You can buy directly from manufacturers or you can buy from wholesalers or distributors. Some manufacturers have reseller programs, others do not. The ones that do not will usually sell to you at wholesale or distributor prices. To earn those prices, you might have to agree to minimum purchase amounts or other terms and conditions, such as prompt payment.

3. Get it in writing. Create a written agreement with each supplier that spells out pricing, discounts, payment terms, and other terms and conditions. Include any detail that could ever be disputed by your suppliers in the future. Have a lawyer review the agreements before signing them.

4. Decide who your customer will be. You can sell to sporting goods stores or other retailers. You can sell to local sports teams. You can sell directly to individual athletes. Or you can sell to all three. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. One advantage of selling directly to consumers is the dramatically increased profit on a retail sale versus a wholesale transaction with retailers. A disadvantage is that selling to consumers increases marketing costs such as advertising and promotion, which are essential to a consumer-direct strategy.

5. Analyze how you will compete. Do market research to determine whether you should position yourself as the low-price seller or the provider of something unique, such as a cool new product not yet widely available in your area. In general, it's better to aim for some kind of exclusivity than it is to become known as the cheapest seller. Selling at the lowest price inherently limits profit margins. Selling exclusivity often maximizes them.

Tags: goods market, sporting goods market, other terms, other terms conditions, profit margins, sell sporting

Classroom Marketing Activities

Students at every grade level can participate in classroom marketing activities, which challenge critical thinking skills and build business knowledge. Educators can use marketing activities in conjunction with social studies, economics or business curricula from elementary school through college. This early introduction to the basics of marketing will give students a solid business foundation as they continue their academic careers -- and eventually step into the real world.

Product Pitch

A product pitch is an effective way for young students to learn the basics of marketing. Introduce middle or high school students to marketing by giving the class a product -- real or fictional -- to pitch to the class. Divide the students into groups, and assign each group a specific medium in which to build an advertisement for the product. One group can create a plan for a television advertisement, another can focus on a radio ad and yet another can focus on print media. Let the groups present their advertising campaigns to the class.

Market Analysis

A market analysis helps build students' analytical and research skills. This activity is particularly effective for older students at the high school level and up. Ask each student to create a fictional business and analyze the market for that business in his local area. The market analysis should include a look at the demographics of the region, and if those demographics satisfy the business' need. Also, ask students to measure the competition as well as the need for the business in the market.

Marketing Q&A

High school and college students considering a career in marketing can benefit from a discussion with successful marketing professionals in their region. Invite marketing professionals into the classroom for a question-and-answer session with students. Ask each professional to talk about her day-to-day marketing tasks. Then, open the floor up for students to ask questions, from how the professionals got their start in marketing to what advice they have for students who want to enter the field.

Marketing Plan

Students who have studied marketing throughout a semester or school year can benefit from a comprehensive end-of-class assignment. Ask students to build a marketing plan for a product or service of their choice. The marketing plan will encompass all of the marketing strategies students have learned. They should include a market analysis as well as goals for the marketing efforts. Then, students should build a marketing package for the product that mixes a range of strategies -- from advertisements to direct marketing -- to effectively sell the product.

Tags: market analysis, another focus, basics marketing, benefit from, build marketing

Organic Clothing Information

Organic Clothing Information

Forget the old-school organic fashions that looked like flour sacks. Modern eco fashion is trendy and young, with bright colors and cutting-edge design. As organic living rises in popularity, brand-name clothing stores are now beginning to offer organic options for the same price as conventional clothing. No matter what your style, there's sure to be a rising label that will suit your sartorial needs. Does this Spark an idea?

What Makes Organic Clothing?

Organic clothing is produced from materials that fit a number of criteria. First, the textiles must be cultivated humanely, with minimal impact on the environment. Also, all raw materials must be raised without chemical fertilizers or aids of any sort. GMO (genetically modified) seed is absolutely forbidden, as are harmful pesticides and herbicides. Growers have to be certified by a third-party organization and are regularly inspected to make certain that they're up to national and industry standards.

The Size of the Organic Clothing Market

The Organic Trade Association states, "In 2006, organic fiber linens and clothing sales in the United States grew by 26 percent over the previous year, to reach $203 million, according to the. . . 2007 Manufacturer Survey." The organic clothing market started out very small but has now expanded to include luxury designer fashion, fashion tee shirts, denim, shoes and accessories. There is also a bustling market for men's and children's fashion, with a niche market in cloth diapers and organic infant wear.

Organic Clothing Cost

The expanded availability of organic fibers, coupled with designer ingenuity, has brought down the cost of organic fashion considerably in the past decade. For instance, a pair of organic sneakers from Autonomie Project costs $50 or $60, and a t-shirt less than $30. Name-brand chain stores are also getting into the act, with Banana Republic, Target and H & M all selling organic clothing within their normal price points. Eco-friendly apparel is now available for the same cost as conventional fashions.

Who Buys Organic Clothing?

According to Eva Anastasiou, editor of Eco Fashion World, "[Organic fashion is] for sexy, trendy hippies and all the followers who desperately want to look as good as them." Many organic clothing buyers are fashion-conscious people who wish to live a life of low environmental impact. Buyers are likely to have knowledge about the organic and eco-friendly clothing industry and may also use other organic products. In fact, some may purchase their organic clothing while shopping at Whole Foods or at a farmer's market or local bazaar.

The Universality of Organic Clothing

As Anastasiou explains, there is now an organic fashion line to suit practically every style. She highlights a line for retro lingerie, designer panties and boxers, hip-hop, plus-size and avant-garde designer. Many celebrities also bring their star power to organic clothing, organizing and participating in fashion shows to bring attention to sustainable fashion. Worldwide, organic fashion is advancing into the marketplace as a viable alternative to conventional, pollutant-filled apparel.

Tags: Organic Clothing, organic clothing, Clothing Information, Organic Clothing Information, organic fashion

Create Business Gift Cards & Business Coupons

Creating business gift cards or business coupons is very easy to do. It can be done online or with the word processing program on your home computer. Microsoft Word offers many different templates to choose from, including selections that can be downloaded from the Internet. If you choose to create and print your gift cards and coupons from an online service there will generally be hundreds of designs to choose from that may be modified to fit your needs.

Instructions

Create Business Gift Cards & Business Coupons

1. Create business gift cards and business coupons using Microsoft Word. Gift certificates are available for download at Microsoft Office Online. There is no specific category for coupons but there are several gift certificate designs that will work as business coupons.

2. Customize the design to your business needs. Fill in all the fields that are needed for your coupon or gift certificate. Delete any extra fields that you do not need.

3. Print your designs on card stock paper that can be purchased at any office supply or department store. Cut as needed. Many designs will fit up to four copies per page.

4. To create your gift cards and coupons online, go to an online service such as VistaPrint or 123Print. Both of these services offer a variety of template and printing options for you.

5. Sign-up for an account at one of these services and choose the template you want to work with. Customize the design to your business needs. You can upload business logos, pictures or designs that you have used in the past.

6. Order your gift cards and coupons to be printed and delivered.

Tags: cards coupons, gift cards coupons, your gift, your gift cards, Business Gift, business needs

Crime Scene Investigator'S Annual Salary

Crime scene investigators collect and preserve evidence, such as weapons.

Crime scene investigator is an informal job title, popularized by television, for a forensic scientist or forensic science technician. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, forensic scientists earn competitive salaries for intellectually challenging work that involves handling and analyzing crime scene evidence, including blood, DNA and hair. Factors such as education, experience, employer and geography affect a crime scene investigator's annual earnings.

Average Salary

The BLS reported in 2010 that forensic science technicians earned an average yearly salary of $55,070 in 2009, the most recent year for which salary figures were available. Average salaries for forensic scientists ranged from $32,420 a year for the bottom 10 percent to $84,260 a year for the top 10 percent. The median salary for a crime scene investigator or forensic science technician was $51,480 a year in 2009.

Salaries by Agency

The majority of crime scene investigators work for state and local government agencies, such as police departments, according to 2009 data from the BLS. Forensic technicians employed by local agencies earned slightly higher salaries than their counterparts in state-level departments. Salaries for forensic scientists in local government agencies averaged $54,880 in 2009. Technicians in state government organizations earned an average of $53,070 a year.

Significance

A small number of forensic science technicians worked for the federal government but earned far higher salaries than crime scene investigators in local and state agencies. BLS reported that forensic technicians in the federal executive branch earned an average of $92,100 a year, well above the $55,070 average reported for all forensic science specialists.

Geography

The geographic region in which a crime scene investigator works also influences salary figures because of differences in cost of living. Forensic scientists in the Washington, D.C., area and the West Coast earned the highest salaries, according to the BLS. Forensic technicians in the South and Midwest earned lower salaries.

Considerations

Becoming a crime scene investigator and being paid to analyze criminal evidence and provide expert testimony in court requires at least a bachelor's degree in a scientific field, such as biology or chemistry. In addition, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences advises aspiring crime scene investigators to take college courses in criminal justice, law enforcement, criminal procedure and related subjects.

Tags: crime scene, forensic science, scene investigator, scene investigators, crime scene investigator, earned average

What Kind Of Education Is Needed To Become A Writer

Similar to other creative professions, there is usually not much educational background to become a write. However, this depends on the type of writing you are interested in and how much natural talent you already possess.

Journalism

In the early days of journalism, there were very few reporters with an actual college degree. Most of the seasoned news veterans simply had a natural knack for writing and a penchant for sniffing out a good story. Things have changed since that time and while there are still some vets around with these types of organic journalism skill, many of today's journalists have a college degree. In fact, more and more media outlets have made this a requirement of employment.

English

A degree in English is certainly not a requirement to become a successful author or even a good writer, but it can help tremendously. The pursuit of just a BA in English is guaranteed to expose you to a range of literature that can open your mind to all of the wonderful components of writing. A degree in English is also a terrific way to get a job as an education instructor with an emphasis in writing.

Philosophy

One of the best things a writer can do is to become educated in philosophy. While there are few job openings for philosopher these days, the things you can learn from studying the great minds of the past from Socrates to Althusser range from the concrete to the abstract. Philosophy is mainly useful for exposing the writer to perspectives quite different from their own and few things are more useful for a writer, especially a writer of fiction, than learning think like others.

Acting

Acting classes are not typically part of a writer's resume, however, for anyone that has ever dreamed of drafting a screenplay, they should be. Taking acting lessons as a writer exposes one to another side of their chosen professional. Writers of fiction should take acting lessons because it is another method for learning how think through a thought process that is different from their own.

History

History is a vital part of the writer's curricula even if he has no intention of writing historical fiction. For that writer, of course, history is essential. For the fiction writer, a knowledge of history can provide a deeper and richer sense of time and place and motivation. The writer of non-fiction articles should study history because knowing what has taken place before can provide explanations for what is happening now as well as offer the opportunity to predict future events.

Technical Writer

Technical writing is one of those writing jobs where a college degree is almost always required, though there will always be exceptions. Most employers looking to hire a technical writer, which is simply a writer who is hired to transform highly technical information into more readily accessible forms, begin by looking for a candidate with a degree in English, communications, or journalism. Employers then narrow those candidates down by focusing on what kind of education they have attained within a narrow field of speciality: law, technology, engineering, design and so forth.

Copywriting

Copywriters prepare writing intended to sell, advertise, or market goods or services. As a result, a writer with a background in marketing or advertising is more likely to impress than one without that educational experience. Writers interest in copy writing jobs should also pursue any classes specifically geared toward editing and grammar. Finally, a copywriter should consider classes in consumer psychology.

Tags: college degree, degree English, acting lessons, different from, different from their, from their

Measure The Effectiveness Of Web Advertising

Web advertising is the fastest growing advertising medium. Web advertising, unlike its print, radio, or television counterparts, is easily measured and tracked using basic software applications. You can measure the effectiveness of Web advertising by utilizing marketing analysis software to gather online statistics.

Instructions

1. Use marketing analytics software to gather Web advertising statistics. Marketing analytics calculates and records Web advertising statistics such as impressions (how many times the ad is shown), clicks (how many times the ad is clicked on) and what online customers view, search and purchase.

Many websites you will place web advertising on have some form of marketing analytics that calculates statistics automatically. You can obtain free marketing analytics applications online such as Google Analytics (http://www.google.com/analytics/) to track your own web advertising effectiveness.

2. Set a timeline for measuring Web advertising effectiveness.

3. Measure increased traffic in your store, increased online and in-store purchases, phone calls or page views on your business's website as a result of Web advertising.

4. Analyze findings. Access the monthly and annual statistics report from the website or advertising consultant with whom you placed the ad.

5. Compare Web advertising statistics by month and campaign. Use this information to budget advertising dollars on the most effective Web advertising in the future.

Tags: advertising statistics, advertising effectiveness, many times, marketing analytics, software gather

About The Market For Readymix Concrete

For the frequent do-it-yourselfer, ready-mix concrete already is a friend. For others, using this product may seem difficult because it is still fairly new. Using it is simple, however, and can turn a major household project into less of a chore. With the right tools and a little researching, anyone with a major home improvement project on the horizon can make use of ready-mix concrete.

History

At one time, few people used ready-mix concrete. Though the product is inexpensive, ready-mix concrete was not something considered suitable for residential use. Instead people sought out other building supplies. With the rise of environmental concerns, however more people have turned to concrete in all forms. Ready-mix concrete includes basic supplies--largely, a type of pulverized rock, combined with water. This product is more environmentally-friendly than other supplies, such as plastics or vinyl.

Types

Ready-mix concrete comes in a number of colors, which makes it unique and useful for the homeowner. Someone on the market for a red sidewalk, for example, will find a ready-mix variety of concrete available. The concrete also comes in various grades, which each grade producing a different grain of finish. Some grades are very fine while others may have larger pieces in them.

Benefits

People in the market for ready-mix concrete will find this product has a number of benefits for basic residential use. For starters, the price point is low, and most homeowners can complete basic jobs for $100 or less. Second, ready-mix concrete works for small jobs that are too little for the large mixers required for other types of concrete. Finally, the ready-mix variety has little learning curve, so even a novice can work with it.

Warning

Anyone who has breathing problems should stay out of the market for ready-mix concrete. Hiring workers to complete the project works better for people with asthma and other respiratory ailments as the concrete is dusty. Regardless of how careful one is when pouring the mixture, dust will fill the air. Using masks or wet cloths over the face helps with this drawback.

Potential

Ready-mix concrete works for a number of household projects. Someone closing in a fireplace is a perfect example of the target market for ready-mix concrete. This product also works for anyone trying to cement in a small pond, put in posts for a clothesline, or build a small shed. Anywhere with the potential for concrete as a grounding agent or foundation will find a use for ready-mix concrete.

Tags: ready-mix concrete, market ready-mix, market ready-mix concrete, ready-mix concrete, will find, concrete works, find ready-mix

Main Marketing Tools

Business cards can be a main marketing tool for companies to connect with the community.

Companies use marketing tools to increase brand awareness, let customers know about new products or specials and create a general buzz about the business. While trendy marketing ideas come and go, having an understanding of main marketing tools can help you decide which options work best for your company. Marketing tools also can be adjusted according to a campaign's specific needs.

Print

Printed products remain one of the main marketing tools for businesses wanting to get the word out about contact information or special promotions. Examples of printed marketing tools includes business cards, flyers, posters, and store signage. This marketing tool works well to relay larger volumes of information, since customers will be able to review the material at their leisure. Smaller printed products (such as coupons) can be redeemed for discounts or freebie products.

Traditional Online

Email and company website options are powerful, inexpensive marketing tools for businesses. Emails can be used to send company newsletters and online coupons for customers without the expense and hassle of traditional mail. They're also useful for including hyperlinks to outside websites for industry news. Company websites are a marketing powerhouse. Websites contain photos of products, contact information, customer testimonials and interactive features. Both can incorporate entertainment elements, such as online games or jokes. Send emails judiciously, however; customers may become resentful or unsubscribe if inundated with "junk mail" from your company every day.

Social Media

Social media has become a main marketing tool for companies looking to augment traditional online media with less formal marketing via social networking accounts. Because people approach social networking as a way to interact with friends and family, creating marketing campaigns through social networking helps create stronger brand loyalty among customers for preferred businesses. Customers can receive incentives like discounts or coupons for uploading photos to your social-networking account. Market new promotions via status updates, offering incentives to customers who interact by leaving online comments or "liking" your special deal.

Guarantees

A discussion of main marketing tools wouldn't be complete without touching on guarantees. Companies offer guarantees to build customer confidence in products or services because customers know that they can get a refund if dissatisfied. Create simply stated guarantees so that customers don't feel like they're wading through confusing legalese or red tape to get their money back. Standing behind your products and services through guarantees is a marketing technique that promotes a message of quality.

Tags: main marketing, marketing tools, marketing tool, social networking, contact information

Sell Promotional Products To Manufacturers

The fastest way to sell large quantities of promotional items is through a manufacturer. The manufacturer in turn sells their product lines to retailers. Manufacturers often seek new items to add to their inventory. When seeking a manufacturer, keep an open mind and consider both domestic and international manufacturers.

Instructions

1. Research manufacturers by searching their listings at google.com or within a Manufacturer's Directory guide such as Trade Key (www.tradekey.com). Learn what products they sell before you contact their product manager. You will get better results targeting manufacturers that already sell a product similar to the items that you want to promote.

2. The product manager will ask for information about your company, such as what other businesses you sell your products to and for what prices. She may have requirements, for example, minimum quantity that you must be able to supply in order to work with them. If you can handle their quantities, ask for a meeting so that you can present your products or product samples to the buyer.

3. Price your merchandise so that the manufacturer will profit. Make sure you present to the manufacturer both the selling price you are offering and the suggested retail price. This lets them figure out what their profit will be.

4. Close the deal at the meeting. It may take several phone calls and visits to seal the deal. Be prepared to negotiate, because the manufacturer will want to pay as little as possible.

Tags: manager will, manufacturer will, product manager, product manager will, their product

Write A Notification Letter

Unlike with emails, recipients tend to read letters.

Letters are the best way to ensure that employees or customers are notified of a change in policy. People tend to ignore signs and emails because they are bombarded with so many advertisements and email messages each day. Letters, on the other hand, are more difficult to ignore because they are associated with formality and important messages. Notification letters are simple to write and very effective.

Instructions

1. Load company letterhead into your printer. Most companies have policies that official communications must be on letterhead because it helps convey the idea of consistency and authority.

2. Open the letter by typing the date. If the letter is going to an individual, type the recipient's name and address. If the letter will be part of a mass mailing of similar notices, do not type the name, or use the mail-merge feature on your word processing program to insert the names.

3. Begin the letter by typing "Dear Mr./Ms. (Name)" followed by a colon, or for a more general mailing "Dear Valued Customer" or a similar pleasantry.

4. Begin the letter by briefly explaining the situation. If you are writing to give bad news, as in a notice of overdue books or a past due bill, explain what the bill was for and how late it is. If you are writing to notify customers about a change in policy, explain the problem that created the need for the policy change.

5. Explain the notice clearly and succinctly so that the recipient will not miss the message. Provide the relevant dates for when the policy will go into effect.

6. Give action information such as any deadlines or procedures that the recipient of the letter should follow. Provide your contact information in case they have questions.

7. Close the letter by thanking the employee or customer for his attention, and type your name. Sign in the space above your name.

Tags: because they, Begin letter, change policy, letter typing, that recipient, your name

Start A Promotional Products Company

Start a Promotional Products Company

Promotional products or advertising specialty companies usually sell items in quantity to business owners and corporations. Examples of promotional products include key chains, T-shirts, calendars and pens, according to Entrepreneur.com. Your job as a promotional products company owner is to get businesses to advertise their logos or company names on various products. Sell a large variety of promotional products because your clients will have a variety of product requests. Select items that are frequently used or would likely make an appropriate gift at a business convention. Advertising specialty companies often give promotional items to employees who attend conventions.

Instructions

1. Register your business name as a DBA (doing business as), according to Business.gov. Obtain your DBA through your local county administration office. Purchase a vendor's license so you can collect sales taxes from in-state customers.

2. Find a promotional products wholesaler for your company. Read through business opportunity magazines such as "Home Business" or "Small Business Opportunities." Reference the ASI (Advertising Specialty Institute) at Asicentral.com. Ask your ASI representative to send you a list of promotional products distributors.

3. Call several of the promotional products wholesalers. Find a company that will ship products out for you so you can focus on selling. Choose the promotional products wholesaler that offers the services you need at the lowest costs.

4. Contact companies and small businesses like restaurants in your local area. Set up appointments with businesses so you can show business owners and managers the products that you offer.

5. Take product samples, a catalog and price list to each appointment. Get the business owner or manager to order promotional items through you. Leave a brochure and business card if you do not make an immediate sale.

6. Advertise your promotional products business in various business trade publications. Place small classified or display ads that include your contact information. Mail copies of your sales letter and brochure to people who call you.

7. Attend business trade shows in your city or nearby. Join professional associations like the American Marketing Association. Start networking with other business owners or executives. Build up a list of potential customers, then hand them your business card.

8. Fill out the paperwork for you promotional products supplier when customers order products. Submit the orders along with your payment. Send a shipping label with your customers address typed on it.

9. Maintain a database of promotional products customers. Contact your customers every month or two and pitch them on new promotional products. Expand your business business on both a local and national level.

Tags: promotional products, promotional products, business owners, your business, business card

Schools For Children With Bad Behavior

Troubled kids are often confused and frightened. Professional assistance may put your kid back on the right path.

There is no blueprint for raising children. Despite a parent's best efforts, their child may have behavioral issues that interfere with their education and personal relationships. Fear and confusion are usually the root cause of bad behavior in children. The first step in recovery is for a parent to realize their child needs professional help. Fortunately, there are many schools available to help children overcome their self-destructive behavior and put them back on the right path.

Therapeutic Boarding Schools

Therapeutic boarding schools are residential programs that combine the academic curriculum of traditional boarding schools with therapeutic intervention strategies to help correct behavioral problems. Psychologists, therapists and certified teachers are provided to give your child personalized attention to treat his issues. Most children stay with the program for six months to one year. Most therapeutic boarding schools are for teenagers; however, there are some programs that offer assistance to younger children.

Troubled Teen Boarding Schools

Troubled teen boarding schools provide rebellious teenagers with highly-structured schedules filled with academics, sports, community service projects and other activities designed to provide discipline and build self-esteem. These schools are sometimes referred to as "scared straight" programs. Class sizes are limited to 5 to 10 students, in order to provide extra assistance, accelerate learning and help students to graduate on time.

Christian Boarding Schools

Christian boarding schools provide religious or spiritually-oriented treatment for troubled students. These schools operate by the philosophy of starting from the spirit and working outwards toward eternal salvation -- body and soul. Bible-based structure and individual counseling sessions are offered to help students complete the program quickly, so they can return to their families.

Wilderness Boarding Schools

Wilderness boarding schools are popular, because they help troubled youths face the consequences of their actions in a natural, serene and aesthetically pleasing environment, free from distractions and negative influences. Self-esteem, healthy communication and anger management skills are some of the many areas of development provided through this program.

Tags: boarding schools, back right, back right path, boarding schools, Boarding Schools

Auto Detailer Salary

Auto detailers scrutinize finishing jobs.

Auto detailers use solutions and waxes with various tools to thoroughly clean every surface of a vehicle body and interior. An auto detailer's salary varies depending upon the employer or client. A car detailer's hourly pay varies between employers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Car detailer earnings are also much better in some parts of the country than others.

Average Wages

The national averages for vehicle cleaners' pay are published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics along with separate figures outlining the pay rates for different industries and the regions of the country. The mean annual auto detailer's salary is $22,110 for employees throughout all industries. Auto detailers hourly pay based on the median is $9.47 as of May 2009. These employment figures do not include auto detailers who are operating private businesses.

Employer Pay Rates

The federal government offered the highest mean auto detailer's hourly pay at $19.46. The paper industry took second place at $19.30 an hour to beat all local governments' mean hourly wages of $18.75. Rail transit system car detailer earnings were a mean $18.33 per hour. The lowest auto detailer salary figures are from auto dealerships, repair shops, rental companies and service stations that paid between $9.16 and $10.66 hourly.

Geographic Influence

The federal government is the highest-paying employer for detailers, and Washington D.C. reported the highest car detailer earnings at mean $16.96 per hour. This includes vehicle cleaner pay from all area employers, not just the federal government. New York state reports auto detailer salary quotes of $13.26 per hour. Connecticut, Alaska and Washington were among the top five states with auto detailer hourly pay rates between $12 and $12.22.

Running a Business

It's possible for detailers to earn a living from an employer who pays high salary rates, but even more so for an entrepreneur who starts a business and keeps all the vehicle detailing profits. The price of professional auto detailing is between $100 and $200, according to Smart Motorist News & Driving Guideline. Keep It Klean detailers of Los Angeles, California charge $430 to fully detail two-door vehicles. Prices are commonly scaled for vehicle sizes.

Tags: auto detailer, auto detailer salary, Auto detailers, detailer earnings, detailer hourly, federal government, auto detailer

Forensic Engineering Colleges

Forensics engineering is a failure analysis program for litigation support. The goal of forensic engineers is to positively identify the sequence of events leading to failure. After an accident, forensics engineers investigate broken parts and compile a list of probable failure mechanisms to be investigated. Forensics engineers handle traffic accidents, fire investigations and a variety of wrongful injury cases. Forensics engineers' investigations cover everything from accident reconstructions to carbon monoxide accidents to civil engineering issues or electrical failures, fire investigation, equipment failure, cracks in piping or plastic structures and explosion causes.

College Requirements

Forensic engineers need to have a specialized knowledge in electrics, fires, gases or vehicle structure. A career as a forensics engineer requires an engineering degree that you will get after four years of college. If you want to be a forensic engineer in a specific field, you'll want to major in the relevant sub-field of engineering.The AAFS recommends that forensic engineers possess advanced degrees beyond the four-year degree or get more specialization through continuing education courses.

Specialties

The common specialties include electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, materials engineering, traffic engineering and computers. There are some common courses that you will take in all these fields. These foundational courses include introduction to engineering, systems, distributed systems and fields, advanced mathematics and control theory. You will take these courses with students in other fields of engineering. There is more specialized coursework for each engineering specialty that you will take with the students in your program.

Other Requirements After College

In addition to the required four-year degree in order to become a forensic engineer, you first need to become a licensed engineer in the state in which you wish to live and work. In order to get licensed, you will usually need to have several years of experience and also successfully complete the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam. Once you're a licensed engineer, you can complete the process to certify your specialty in forensic engineering. According to the International Institute of Forensic Engineering Sciences, this is a year-long process where you'll show your experience in forensic engineering, expertise in technical knowledge and ethics, and pass an oral and written exam.

Top Schools

According to US News and World Report, thel top schools to become a forensic engineer include the University of Mississippi, University of Central Florida and Loyola University of New Orleans. University of Mississippi's forensic chemistry program was ranked in the top five in the nation by the American Academy of Forensic Scientists. The school has an undergraduate population of about 12,000. The University of Central Florida, the former Florida Technological University, is a very large school with a population of about 35,000. Loyola University of New Orleans is a small school with a population of less than 4,000.

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Save The Grevy'S Zebra From Extinction

The Grevy's zebra is the largest of the wild equines.

The Grevy's zebra is different from all other zebras because it has big ears, wears pinstripes and is an endangered species. Its home range is in an area of limited water and grass, and those resources are being encroached upon by humans and their livestock. That livestock brings diseases that the wild zebra has no resistance to, and as a wild animal, it gets no medical care. It packs lots of meat wrapped in a pretty and eye-catching hide. People like to look at it and take its picture. These are the principal reasons the Grevy's zebra is on the endangered species list. People living around the globe, even though they never see a Grevy's zebra in the wild, can help save this beautiful animal.

Instructions

1. Stop poaching for meat and hides. Protein-rich meat is scarce for many peoples in Africa who subsist on a diet of cereal grains and greens. "Bush meat" (any wild game brought to market) can fetch a good price, and the Grevy's zebra is a large animal with a lot of meat on it. Zebra hides sell well in the fashion and decorating industries. For African countries, stopping poaching means hiring and equipping game scouts and wardens to find and destroy traps and snares and arrest poachers. In the U.S., it means not buying wild animal products, including hides in any form.

2. Reduce habitat destruction. Some of the national parks, especially the popular tourist destinations in Kenya, are being damaged by overuse. Take a safari in an African country that has fewer tourists, such as Ethiopia -- they have much the same animals to look at and photograph, the hotels are as good and the Grevy's zebra lives there.

3. Help ease the Grevy's zebra's need to compete with humans and domestic livestock for grazing land and water by supporting -- financially and politically -- projects that help African people learn to care for and renew the environment they already occupy instead of seeking to expand outward from exhausted lands. Donations to reforestation programs and other conservation efforts can be tax-deductible, and many U.S. zoos and museums support these efforts.

4. Seek out and support projects specifically designed to help the Grevy's zebra. The St. Louis Zoo WildCare Institute's Horn of Africa Conservation Center focuses specifically on the Grevy's zebra's range in northern Kenya and Ethiopia. The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund awards grants for studies of a diverse range of species across the world, including one to monitor and protect Grevy's zebra populations in northern Kenya.

Tags: Grevy zebra, endangered species, northern Kenya, wild animal