Differences Between Mba Diploma & Mba Degree

MBA diplomas do not secure a job in the business industry.

Earning a Masters in Business Administration, or MBA, degree from an accredited school is very different from earning or buying a MBA diploma from an online or technical college that may not even be accredited. One major difference between MBA diplomas and MBA degrees is accreditation, which is always one way to spot a fake school.

Degree Programs

Earning an MBA degree is harder than earning a diploma. The top five degree schools include Harvard, Stanford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan), Northwestern University (Kellogg) and the University of Chicago (Booth). These degree programs comprise intensive graduate study courses with lectures and teaching from top business analysts. These schools do not offer MBA diplomas. They require high Graduate Management Admission Test, or GMAT, scores in the 600 to 700 range just to compete with other admission applications. MBA diploma mills reach out to those with poor GMAT scores.

MBA Diploma Mills

Typical online MBA diploma mills have no domain identifier but use .com or .net instead. This means that anyone can make these websites because they are not government or education facilities. Another identifier is notoriety. MBA diploma mills have a reputation for scamming and lying to students as well as for selling diplomas. For instance, Buy a Diploma offers to sell anyone an MBA diploma with full accreditation. MBA diploma mills operate a scam business model. If your resume lists an MBA diploma mill as your education, employers will be wary of a school that they have never heard of or of a degree that you were able to purchase without doing the necessary work. These diplomas are not accredited by the same institutions as Harvard or even a state university program such as the University of Florida.

Accreditation

The only accreditation recognized by employers for business degrees is the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, or AACSB. This accreditation provides an external review of the school's ability to provide quality programs. AACSB is the same accreditation used by top schools such as Harvard and Stanford as well as state universities such as the University of Iowa. AACSB publishes a full list of accredited schools. If your MBA diploma program is not on this list, then you probably will be unable to fool an employer into giving you a job.

Job Security

Business employers want MBA graduate professionals with degrees working in their companies. An MBA diploma is a temporary fix to a much larger problem. If you do not have the GMAT scores to get into a MBA degree program, then you must study to improve your application scores. MBA diplomas do not come with high-paying jobs because anyone can buy a diploma, but not everyone can earn an MBA degree.

Tags: GMAT scores, anyone diploma, diploma mills, diploma mills, diploma mills have, Harvard Stanford

Advertise An Ebook

An e-book can function not only as an alternative to traditional book publishing, but also as a knowledge-based marketing device to help promote you, your business or your organization. E-books are also a surging segment of the publishing industry, with e-books passing print books in net sales revenue for the first time in April 2011, according to CNN Money. If you're publishing an e-book, knowing the inside scoop on details such as pricing and bundling can help you successfully market and advertise your book to readers.

Instructions

1. Publish your e-book on several major online publishing platforms. As each platform is typically linked to a type of device, sales performances can vary widely among platforms. Publishing on only one platform may hide your e-book from readers on other platforms. Examples include Apple's iBooks, which works on iPads and iPhones; Amazon, which works with the Amazon Kindle; and Barnes and Noble, which has its own Nook e-book reader line.

2. Bundle your e-book with another service or product. For example, you could market your e-book as a free, value-added giveaway if a customer purchases a service or product from you. Alternatively, you can bundle it with other products or services as a way to increase its price while also raising its perceived value to the customer.

3. Sell it cheap, or even free, because "free can be a useful marketing tool," says e-book author Declan Conner. If you give your e-book away for free, a high level of "purchases" can send it to the top of the most-popular lists promoted by your publishing platform, further increasing your e-book's visibility.

4. Publish testimonials about your e-book from trusted authorities in your e-book's industry. This can increase the perceived value and authoritativeness of your e-book, especially if you're an unknown author or if you're trying to break into a crowded product space. For example, an e-book on raising chickens could benefit from the endorsement of other poultry book authors or industry experts, such as farmers.

5. Send out free samples of your e-book, such as a chapter or page excerpt. Distribute the samples to your company's mailing list, hand out printed excerpts at conventions or meetings, or send them out in a direct mail campaign. This can give readers a taste of what they'll find in your e-book, and show them you're selling a high-quality, valuable read.

Tags: your e-book, e-book from, perceived value, samples your, service product, which works, your e-book from

Is It Legal To Sell Lottery Promotional Materials

Selling promotional lottery materials is illegal.

Laws governing lottery promotional materials vary by state. The type and size of promotional materials often falls under the guidance of local regulations. Licensed lottery dealers are permitted to give away promotional items at their stores.

State Laws

Typically, state laws permit promotional lottery materials to only be used in a complementary fashion or as prizes. Selling lottery promotional items is routinely not permitted in any state. Commonalities among existing state laws permit promotional lottery materials to be presented to customers without charge and to retail staff as an incentive.

Anti-Lottery Laws

Federal anti-lottery laws prohibit the sending of lottery-related promotional materials by mail. Title 18 of the United States Code states any "instrument" which purports a ticket, gift or prize related to a game of chance is illegal. Pamphlets or advertisements promoting a gift or prize drawing dependent upon a lottery or game of chance is also against the law.

Racketeering Statutes

As of 2010, 40 states permitted state-sponsored lotteries. Promoting a lottery with promotional materials with a business permit or interstate agreement outside of a state which allows a lottery is illegal. Interstate transportation of wagering materials falls under federal racketeering statutes. Handing out promotional lottery materials for games of chance which are not state-sanctioned is considered a criminal act.

Tags: lottery materials, promotional lottery, promotional lottery materials, promotional materials, falls under, game chance

Sue After False Allegations

False allegations may include direct accusations of wrongdoing or a subtle implication of criminal mischief.

False allegations about you or your company can have devastating effects, both on your personal reputation and your bottom line, so it's important to deal with them straight away by filing a lawsuit. Generally, you will need to meet strict conditions in order to win a libel or defamation lawsuit. If you feel your case has merit, you can start the ball rolling on a lawsuit that could repair your reputation and perhaps even win you monetary damages.

Instructions

1. Determine if your lawsuit can win. In order to win a defamation case, you will need to demonstrate that a person published or made statements about you that were intended to be factual and reflect negatively on your image. Generally, the allegation must be demonstrably false. Also, you will need to prove that the allegations in question were "of and concerning" you. If you can't prove these things, you have a slim chance of prevailing.

2. Gather evidence, as you are the one who must prove guilt. Collect statements by the defendant and any documentation proving that the statements were about you. Collect proof that the allegations were false; for example, if a newspaper suggested that you were arrested for drinking and driving, get a police report that indicates the charge was for speeding and that the police never mentioned alcohol. Find evidence that these allegations negatively impacted you; for example, you could include correspondence from former customers who wrote that they will never do business with you again because of the allegations. Finally, collect proof that the allegations were made to a third party.

3. Contact a lawyer who specializes in libel and defamation lawsuits. The lawyer can advise you on the merits of your case and what more you will need to bolster it.

4. File the lawsuit if you and the lawyer agree that you have a good case. The lawyer will be able to file it in the appropriate venue.

Tags: will need, that allegations, allegations were, False allegations, libel defamation, proof that

Design A Radio Station

Designing your own radio station requires careful planning.

Radio stations transcend international borders, which means you can tune into programs from across the world at the touch of a button. Designing your own radio station gives you the chance to play your own music, and inform people from other countries of musical styles and trends. Turning the design into a working radio is the biggest step. However, you can create an initial plan by simply performing some research and deciding what kind of station you want.

Instructions

1. Perform research about currently available radio stations. Make notes about their format, style and schedule, and write a list about their strengths and weaknesses. Keep a file of all the information you collect throughout the steps for reference.

2. Become familiar with how radio stations are operated. Volunteer at a local network, hospital or community radio station or college station to do this. Understand how they operate, what equipment is needed and the management system in place that enables the station to function.

3. Decide what type of music your station will play. Jazz, rock, indie, classical or rock are just a few musical styles available. Choose the audience at which you want to aim the schedule and programming . For example, your audience may be teens, college grads or listeners 55 and older. This effects the tone of the presenters and style of the station.

4. Choose where and broadcast the station. You can rent an office and set up a transmitter (although this may be costly), or you could broadcast solely over the Internet. It is possible to stream your music over a hosting site such as spacialaudio.com, live365.com or talkshoe.com.

5. Make a plan on how you will operate the station-- this is largely dependent on your budget. Decide if you need a station manager, program controller or if you can work independently online. If you choose to have a team, design it to include a head of music, head of technology and presenters, for example. Refer to the information you gather in steps 1 and 2 to refine this.

6. Write a schedule. Plan what content the station will feature. A site such as talkshoe.com is purely speech based programming so allocate different subjects, presenters and styles to different days. If you follow a format similar to spacialaudio.com, which streams music, decide the order of the music you want to play so that it flows smoothly together.

7. Draw a floor plan if you are going to have a base for the station. The basic things you need are a soundproof studio, computer, mixing desk, microphone, music library and transmitter. Make a list alongside the plan about the equipment you need to obtain.

8. Collect the information about the station and review the information. Review the details you have chosen and check that the project is cohesive. For example, there is no point creating a design if your budget is $100. This project would be better suited to the online domain.

Tags: about their, Designing your, Designing your radio, musical styles, radio station, radio stations

Laws For Plagiarism

Plagiarism is misrepresenting another's ideas as your own.

According to Plagiarism.org, plagiarism involves two elements: taking another person's words or ideas, and passing them off as your own. This can be outright, such as direct copying and misrepresentation, or it can be unintentional, as when someone implies she wrote something by inadvertently failing to use quotation marks or to cite a source. While plagiarism is always a serious academic offense, in some instances it can also be grounds for a lawsuit resulting in civil or criminal penalties.

Laws Regarding Plagiarism and Copyrights

Plagiarism and copyright infringement are related offenses, and legal penalties for plagiarism are imposed because the act of plagiarism infringes on a copyright. According to the United States Copyright Office, a work is legally copyrighted "from the time a work is created in a fixed form." A story published on the Internet, a photograph in a book and a video posted to YouTube are all examples of copyrighted works, and if a person other than the copyright holder wishes to use them, the law requires that he obtain permission. Certain legal exceptions exist to this requirement, most of which fall under the doctrine of fair use, which allows small parts of works to be used, for example, in academic papers or articles, as long as credit is given. The creator of a work does not have to register it with the U.S. Copyright Office in order for copyright protection to exist, although registration is helpful should an act of plagiarism arise.

Civil Penalties

Civil penalties for plagiarism that involves copyright infringement are in the form of fines. They are defined by statute and range from $250 to $150,000, although a judge may impose higher fines if she determines the violator acted willfully and the use wasn't inadvertent. A court may also order any profits made from the violation to be turned over to the holder of the copyright. The largest plagiarism award ever involved musician Michael Bolton's alleged plagiarism of the melody of an Isley Brothers song, "Love is a Wonderful Thing," in his own song by the same title. Although Bolton claimed never to have heard the Isley Brothers' song, the jury in Three Boys Music v. Michael Bolton nevertheless found he had inadvertently plagiarized the melody and awarded the Isley Brothers $5.4 million. The award was affirmed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the case, letting the award stand.

Criminal Penalties

Because Bolton's plagiarism was found to be inadvertent, he only faced civil penalties. Had he consciously and willfully infringed on the Isley Brothers' copyright, he could also have faced a separate criminal action. Criminal penalties for plagiarism include fines in an amount to be determined by the court and a prison sentence of one to five years, depending on the scope of the piracy.

Tags: Isley Brothers, penalties plagiarism, Brothers song, copyright infringement, Copyright Office, Isley Brothers song, Michael Bolton

Ideas For Graduation Gifts For An Elementary Graduate

Encourage a graduating child with a gift.

Graduation is a rite of passage. The move from elementary school to high school is one of the many rungs in a ladder leading to adulthood. Just as kindergarten preceded elementary school, junior high, high school and college follows it. Mark his first steps on those rungs to success using ideas for graduation gifts for an elementary graduate.

Inspirational, Funny and Devotional Books

Books are traditional and lasting graduation gifts, as they inspire and urge students on to great achievements. Graduation book gifts are there, sitting on a shelf, waiting to be re-read when difficulties arise, stamina is low and determination becomes weak. Good examples of these books include the Bible or the relevant spiritual text for any particular student's faith, and even humorous books such as Dr. Seuss's "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" Suitable selections gently but firmly guide students on the right path. In the end, the best choice of a graduation book is whatever speaks most clearly to the student on their own level.

A "Keep in Contact" Address Book

Students leaving behind friends and family members and moving to junior or middle school are comforted by the thought of maintaining contacts with old classmates. Give the thoughtful elementary school graduation gift of an address book full of the telephone numbers, email addresses and street addresses of the important people in their lives. This gift encourages students to maintain good links with the past while moving into their futures. Glancing through an attractive address book also reminds students to maintain open lines of communication with family members, such as grandparents, and previous teachers who are all anxious for news of their student's recent achievements.

Achievement Album

Students moving on to a much larger school occasionally feel lost and insignificant in the midst of a new school with hundreds more pupils. Give the kind gift of a photograph album containing pictures of the student's achievements to date. These include their roles in the school band, sports team successes, photographs taken on stage during theatrical productions and shots of their home study group. This album encapsulates the elementary school experience and preserves valuable memories for the future of the elementary school graduate.

New School Kit

A school bag containing supplies for the coming high school year is an inexpensive elementary school graduation gift for a student. Include a notepad, pens, an organizer or year planner, desk accessories and a small folding umbrella or packable raincoat and pack all the contents into a new school bag for the new beginning. This ritualistic shedding of the older and less desirable, or even outgrown elementary school bags and equipment marks a change in the student's life and encourages them to welcome changes in their lives.

Tags: elementary school, high school, elementary school graduation, family members, graduation gift

Product Positioning Strategies

Positioning

Product positioning is a marketing strategy that helps place a product perceptually in the minds of consumers. Positioning typically requires creating differences between your products or services and your competitors' offerings, but can be extended to your own products if they are marketed under different brands. Successful product positioning strategies help gain market dominance and increase sales and profits for your company.

First-Mover Strategy

Position your product by being first to market. This first-mover strategy allows you to quickly gain market share. Typically, customers view the first product on the market as the leader. Once you have positioned yourself as the market leader, you must deliver a quality product that supports your market-leading status. If you are first to market, but your product obtains a reputation for bad quality, you risk tarnishing your brand image, which can have a long-term negative impact on sales for all products you offer.

Consider the first-mover positioning strategy if it helps build a positive company image or allows access to limited resources or distribution channels. For example, if you need a raw material that is in short supply to manufacture your new product, you can contract the materials before your competitors know they need the material. You can also consider a first-movers strategy if customers are loyal or stick to their first purchase, and there are built-in change barriers like contracts or installation requirements.

Multi-brand Strategy

A multi-branding strategy can help you create the market positioning of similar products. For a multi-branding strategy, you create multiple products you market under different brand names. In effect, you are creating your own competition with your own products and disallowing space for competitors to easily enter the market. You can differentiate the products by price, features or quality differences. This positioning strategy can allow you to dominate the market by offering options for customers at all price points and feature requirements, while obtaining economies of scale for your business.

Consider using a multi-brand strategy if there are low barriers for entering your market, or if customers like to experiment with different products or features. This strategy works best for a product that is purchased on a frequent basis. For example, a multi-brand strategy could be used for a new line of hair care products based on natural earth minerals. You could introduce the high-end, heavily marketed product under a luxury brand name and introduce a low-cost option under a brand name that is barely marketed. The marketing effort you exert for the high-end product will translate into purchases for both products. By offering a high-end and a low-cost product, you leave little room for competitors to find a market niche to introduce a third product.

Demographics Strategy

Position your products by targeting your products to different demographic groups than your competitors. You can differentiate based on age, income, education, gender, home ownership status or other demographic distinction. For example, if your competitor offers a generic deodorant product, consider positioning your deodorant as a deodorant for women. Support your positioning strategy through advertising and packaging. Consider using a demographic positioning strategy if you are introducing your product after market leadership has been established, or if a niche market could command a premium price.

Tags: your products, positioning strategy, your product, your competitors, brand name

Write A Persuasive Essay For The 8th Grade

Write a Persuasive Essay for the 8th Grade

Writing a persuasive essay means convincing someone to hold a point of view, to buy a product or to do something. A well thought-out topic, good content, structure, grammar and spelling are all things that lead to a good grade. Following a set of steps can help writers accomplish this process.

Instructions

1. Pick a topic that is both interesting and controversial. A controversial topic is good for persuasive writing because many people most likely have an opinion and will want to read a different point of view. Know your audience and don't pick a topic no one knows anything about. Stay away from anything that might get you into trouble. Write about what you know and avoid topics that will take a lot of research and make the writing process difficult.

2. Develop the idea with an outline so the argument is well-constructed. Work through the entire argument in this form to help flush out ideas and write down support each point. Writing from an outline helps you to see the idea on paper. Write the entire outline and make clear points.

3. Support the argument by gathering research from newspapers, magazines, books and Internet sources. Use in-text citations in the paper so the reader does not need to look for a source of information. Government sources work well because they are highly credible. Even the most brilliant television hosts and politicians support their arguments with facts and figures.

4. Begin writing with a solid introduction that states the major thesis (or topic) of the argument. Use separate paragraphs to develop each idea and use transitions between different ideas to move from point to point. Write and revise as many drafts as needed until the topic is developed and the essay is cohesive and makes sense.

5. Incorporate good storytelling into the essay. Think of how the topic relates to a personal experience and think how that story might make a more compelling argument. If writing a persuasive essay about making smoking illegal in public places, write about a personal experience with asthma. A good persuasive newspaper editorial or letter to the editor often appeals to emotion to help the writer make a point.

Tags: Essay Grade, good persuasive, personal experience, Persuasive Essay Grade, point view, point Write

The Top Accounting And Business Schools

U.S. News and World Report and Bloomberg BusinessWeek rank business schools and accounting programs.

While accounting is a popular field of study within business programs, just because a business school is top-ranked doesn't necessarily mean that the accounting program is top-ranked as well. And just because a school has a top-flight business program does not automatically mean that the accounting program is highly-rated. Students, faculty and deans also have varying opinions on what makes a good accounting program or business school, which influences publications' rankings depending upon what rating criteria they use.

Accounting

While deans and faculty rated the accounting program at Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business as No. 8 in the country, students surveyed by Bloomberg BusinessWeek rated the program (which requires 18 credits of accounting courses) tops in the nation. College deans and faculty gave the program at the University of Texas at Austin the highest rating on U.S. News and World Report's ranking of Best Accounting Programs, but students in Bloomberg surveys disagreed, rating the program at No. 16. According to their website, UT Austin's McCombs School of Business Accountancy program also ranked No. 2 in the nation on a Public Accounting Report survey of accounting professors.

Mendoza College of Business

Department of Accountancy

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN 46556-5646

574-631-7324

business.nd.edu/Undergraduate_Studies/Academics/Accountancy_Major/

University of Texas at Austin

Department of Accounting

McCombs School of Business

The University of Texas at Austin

1 University Station B6400

Austin, TX 78712-0211

512-471-5215

mccombs.utexas.edu/dept/accounting/contact.asp

Business

Bloomberg's student surveys ranked Notre Dame's Mendoza School of Business as the best overall business school in the country, while the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School takes the top spot in U.S. News and World Report's faculty and dean survey. Mendoza offers six undergraduate business majors and four graduate degrees, while the Wharton School offers more than 20 undergraduate concentrations, 18 MBA options and 9 doctoral programs.

Mendoza College of Business

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN 46556-5646

574-631-7505

business.nd.edu

Wharton School of Business

3730 Walnut Street 


University of Pennsylvania 


Philadelphia, PA 19104-6340

215-898-7608

wharton.upenn.edu

Other Top Accounting and Business Schools

Students, deans and faculty come close to agreeing on the prestige of Brigham Young University's BS degree in Accountancy, with faculty and deans ranking the program third according to U.S. News and students ranking the program second in the nation according to Bloomberg.

Students in the Brigham Young program take what is known as the "Junior Core": they enroll in six core accounting courses during their junior year and usually take no other classes during that time.

The University of California at Berkeley has a top overall business program according to deans, faculty and students, with students ranking the program sixth and deans and faculty giving Berkeley at No. 2 ranking on the U.S. News list (tied with MIT). Berkeley's Haas School of Business offers undergraduate degrees, three different MBA programs, a Master's degree in Financial Engineering and a Ph.D.

Marriott School

730 TNRB

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT 84602-3113

801-422-4285

marriottschool.byu.edu/bsacc/

Haas School of Business


2220 Piedmont Avenue

University of California at Berkeley


Berkeley, CA 94720-1900

510-642-7989

haas.berkeley.edu

Tags: Notre Dame, School Business, deans faculty, accounting program, Brigham Young, business school, College Business

Tactical Sales Promotion Ideas

Creativity and strategic thinking are keys to effective sales promotion.

There are hundreds if not thousands of ways to promote your product. Some, such as word of mouth, cost you nothing, while others, such as television commercials and metropolitan billboards, can cost you millions. Effective sales promotions make you more in sales than they cost you in time and money. Small and medium sized businesses can develop effective sales promotions by thinking creatively and acting strategically.

Organize a promotional event

An easy way to promote your product or service to your target audience is to organize an event that draws them together. If your product or service appeals to people with homes or families, organize and sponsor a community barbecue, street party or competition. If what you're selling targets business professionals organize a charity golf tournament or a luncheon with a keynote speaker. Whatever event you run, be sure that your product or service is featured and have a plan to get names, phone numbers and email addresses; for example, you might organize a raffle or giveaways that require eligible people to submit basic information.

Attend a trade show

Hundreds of trade shows take place in most major cities each year and there are likely five or six that directly relate to your product or service. Do your research and see if it is cost effective to purchase a booth at one of these shows based on the number of potential clients expected to attend. If you do attend, be sure to get names, phone numbers and email addresses and follow up with customers two days after the show while your product or service is still fresh in their minds.

Cold calling

Direct sales over the phone or in person is the oldest method of selling and it is cost effective; you are usually only sacrificing your time. If you are going door to door be sure to have effective marketing material and talking points prepared, and keep good tracking records.

Distribute branded items

Today many companies mass produce calendars, pens, note pads, magnets and other household items, and give them away to potential customers. The key to this promotional tactic is to give away something the client won't throw away; hence the tendency to produce useful items that people will refer to frequently.

Join or start an association

Joining a small business association can help you expand your selling network as associations are often structured to encourage members to promote each others businesses. If no relevant association currently exists for you or your product, think about starting your own. For example, if you are selling solar water heaters you could start a green energy association, invite people in your area to attend weekly seminars on green energy options, and promote your own product in the process.

Purchase advertising space

Perhaps the easiest if not the cheapest way to promote what you're selling is to purchase advertising space in a newspaper or magazine, or on a billboard, vehicle or building. If you decide to go this route be sure to shop around for the best rates, do the math on the exposure your advertisement will get, and think about the types of people that will see it.

Tags: your product, product service, your product service, promote your, promote your product, advertising space, cost effective

Day In The Life Of A Hospital Administrator

A hospital administrator divides time between planning and engaging with ongoing developments

Hospital administrators are in charge of managing hospitals, or in the case of large hospitals, specific departments. They run the day-to-day affairs of their area of responsibility and ensure that the operation is working efficiently and that the hospital's patients receive the care they need The work requires advance planning and the implementing of policies.

Hours

Since hospitals are open all day long, every day in a week, the hospital administrator may have to work at any time. In the same way as doctors, they are essentially on emergency call since problems can develop at any time. A decision may need making which cannot wait until the morning and so the administrator may have to turn up and resolve matters.

Communications

A constant activity for any hospital administrator is to deal with the ongoing stream of e-mails and other communications which need attending to. Every day, a hospital administrator receives some 150 to 200 e-mails which they will have to sort through, according to the blog of hospital administrator Todd C. Linden.

Incident Management

The hospital administrator has to keep an eye on the hospital as a whole, dealing quickly with anything that goes wrong. This could mean making sure that a faulty fire alarm system is fixed by engineers, or devising an action plan to control the correct allocation of hospital beds. As a result, on a day-to-day basis the administrator often makes tours of the hospital in order to respond to any developing issues, says Todd C.Linden in his blog.

Planning

An administrator's duties extend to assigning resources to each department, should she be in charge of a hospital as a whole, and implementing the policies different departments are set by the hospital's board of trustees. In practical terms, this requires the administrator to attend numerous meetings, at which he will discuss with other medical staff and departmental heads in order to construct effective plans to direct the hospital's performance. Areas in which an administrator may be involved include budgeting, patient services and quality assurance, according to the Princeton Review.

Networking

In addition to meeting with other staff at the hospital, an administrator's time may also be taken up while performing networking duties. These might include greeting visiting medical professionals or even attending charity functions and community health projects.

Unusual Occurrences

Though much of his day might be taken up by meetings and planning, the administrator is not limited to the boardroom. As part of his day, he might find himself becoming actively involved in developments, as administrator Todd C. Linden notes in his blog. For example, a large-scale emergency might cause a stream of incident victims to arrive in the accident ward and the administrator will help out medical staff in treating these patients.

Tags: hospital administrator, Todd Linden, administrator have, administrator Todd, administrator Todd Linden, hospital whole

Fda Regulations On Dietary Supplements

Before the Dietray Supplement Health and Education Act was passed in 1994, dietary supplements were subjected to same regulations as other foods.

The FDA defines a dietary supplement as a product which is taken by mouth and contains a "dietary ingredient." The dietary ingredient may include any of the following: vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, organ tissues, glandules and metabolites. The purpose of these products is to supplement what is missing from the normal diet. Dietary supplements, however, are not regulated the same way as prescription drugs or over-the-counter medication. Consumers need to understand how these products are regulated so that they do not become victim of false claims.

Supplment Safety

According to the Dietary Supplement Health Act of 1994, dietary supplement manufacturers are responsible for ensuring that a dietary supplement is safe before it's marketed. FDA steps into the picture if it is discovered that a product is unsafe. This is generally determined after the supplement has been on the market and consumers have raised complaints. FDA does not require testing of supplements, so if you purchase an unfamiliar product, there's no guarantee that the product is safe or effective.

Marketing

The manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that the claims about its products are true. The Federal Trade Commission regulates the advertising of supplements while the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) monitors for products with false or misleading claims.

New Ingredients

New dietary ingredients are an exception as far as requiring the manufacturer to report the ingredient to the FDA and demonstrate that the ingredient is safe. There is a catch to this requirement. Since no authoritative list of ingredients exists prior to October 15, 1994, it is the sole responsibility of the manufacturer to determine whether an ingredient is "new."

Health Claims

The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLCEA) of 1990, the Dietary Supplement Act of 1992, and the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 define a health claim as anything that describes the relationship between a food, a food component or dietary supplement and the risk of a disease. An example of a health claim is the following: "Saturated fat increases cholesterol levels." The FDA approves of health claims as long as there is scientific literature and research which supports the claim. Whenever a manufacturer makes a claim about the function of the supplement, the product must carry a disclaimer which states that the FDA has not evaluated the claim.

Labeling

The FDA requires that the label of a dietary supplement lists the following: descriptive name, name and place of business, complete list of ingredients and net content of product. The product must be labeled as a supplement. Supplements cannot be marketed as treatments or cures.

Adverse Reaction

By law, producers or distributors of supplements must contact the FDA if they receive reports of adverse effects. Should you or somone you know experience an adverse reaction due to dietary supplements, contact your doctor immediately. File a complaint by calling the MedWatch hotline at 800-FDA-1088.

Tags: Supplement Health, 1994 dietary, dietary ingredient, dietary supplement, dietary supplement, Dietary Supplement Health, ensuring that

Banks That Have Good Gift Ideas For Little Kids

Banks offer a variety of gift incentives kids will love.

The competitive nature of the banking industry is directly related to the value of today's free gift offers from banks. In the past, opening a checking or savings account at the neighborhood savings and loan would get you a toaster or a t-shirt. During your weekly visit to the branch, your child would receive a colorful lollipop or a pretzel stick. Today, banks are fighting for our money and many are using gifts to make their company more attractive than the competition. Many of these gift offers target children. Others target adults, but still appeal to children and can be passed along by parents who open accounts.

Tech Gifts

Banks understand what appeals to kids these days, and many have foregone traditional gifts for high-tech options. The Bank of the West recently offered iPod Touches to all customers who open certain checking accounts by a certain date. HSBC recently gave out E-Readers to those who open a checking account and keep it operational for more than 180 days. Other banks have offered high-definition televisions as rewards. While most of these offers have expiration dates, those planning to open an account should shop around for current offers. Tech gifts are a great reward for children who start accounts or for parents who want to save on gifts for their kids.

Gift Cards and Cash

Throughout the year, a number of banks run money-back and gift-card promotions. When checking and savings accounts are opened or upgraded, customers receive money deposited into their accounts or gift cards. Typically, the gift cards are issued by Visa, MasterCard or Discover, so they are not for specific products or companies. The cards can be used anywhere these credit cards are accepted, so they are like debit cards with a set spending amount. In the past, Chase Bank has offered a $100 cash-back bonus for opening an account and PerkStreet online bank has offered a percentage of cash back. These offers are great for kids because they get immediate rewards for banking. While their banking experiences may not always be this rewarding, it is a good start.

Loyal Customer Rewards

Many banks offer gifts to customers who stick with them over the long haul. Banking has become a competitive business, so if a bank is able to gain a young customer and hold on to him through his adulthood, they have achieved success. Banks offer higher interest rates for accounts with higher long-term investment. While a child may not get too excited about a gift like this, by the time he reaches adulthood, it could equate to a major profit. Banks are also more likely to grant loans to long-term customers. When your child reaches 16 years of age and wants to purchase a car, a bank is more likely to lend the money if the child has been a customer since his early childhood.

Cash vs. Merchandise

While many of the larger banks are turning to cash and gift cards for their customers, it is important for banks to realize the benefits of using merchandise instead, especially when targeting kids. Gifts that lack value in the eyes of an adult may offer a thrill for younger children. Simple items like pens, notebooks, book covers, pencil cases, piggy banks and hats are more exciting than gift cards and money in the eyes of a child. Savvy banks will give away gifts featuring their logos, furthering their marketing goals and making their institution attractive to little savers.

Tags: gift cards, Banks offer, checking savings, gift offers, more likely, your child

Advertising Sales Tips

Various sales techniques are effective at different types of advertising outlets, including the Internet, magazines and radio. The key is knowing which sale techniques work best in certain situations. For example, you may need to use aggressive closing techniques when offering advertising specials over the phone. You may be dealing with a high volume of advertisers and need to close quickly. Knowing various sales techniques can increase your chances of making the sale.

Research the Customer

Research your customer before approaching him about a specific ad. You stand a much better chance of making a sale if you understand the business owner's situation. For example, you may read that a new automobile dealership is trying to build brand awareness in the area. Part of your discussion could include asking the dealership owner how far customers typically drive to make a purchase. As a Yellow Pages publisher, you could suggest that the dealership owner advertise in several of your neighborhood directories for greater reach. Assume the role of consultant with the owner instead of trying to make a quick sale.

Qualify Your Leads

Qualifying leads is an important step in increasing sales effectiveness, Entrepreneur Magazine states. Always qualify your leads when making cold calls. Whether you primarily make inside or outside sales calls, spend some time on the phone with each prospect. Make sure each prospect's address and business name is correct. Separate the true advertising buyers from curiosity seekers. Find out if the advertiser can afford to place an ad in your magazine. Say something like, "If I can get you a quarter-page ad on the first page this month, could you afford the $1,000 special for that ad?" The reason you want to qualify leads is so you don't waste your time with someone who doesn't intend to advertise.

Use Flexible Pricing

Use a flexible pricing structure when selling advertising, especially if you own the business. Have a high, mid-range and low price in mind when approaching each advertiser. Start with the higher price when attempting your first close. That way you can determine whether the customer's major objection is price. At that point, you can attempt to close your prospect at a slightly lower price. Another option is to offer a free classified with a display ad purchase at the regular rate. The free classified listing also represents a discount. Never allow the customer to decline an ad for price alone. Nevertheless, if you offer the discount, make it appear that discounts are a rarity. Tell the business owner that you'll allow him to test the effectiveness of your advertising at the one-time reduced rate.

Tags: business owner, dealership owner, each prospect, free classified, making sale

Advertise Your Business Cheaply

You Can Advertise Inexpensively.

In the business world, the income must be greater than the outgo. The price of advertising can be astronomical but there are some ways to advertise inexpensively. Here’s how.

Instructions

1. Get a website for your business. If you don’t know design one, purchase the domain name and leave it saying it is under construction.

2. Design your website, or have it designed for you, and direct potential customers to your website. List services you offer on your website.

3. Attend networking events and pass out business cards to people you meet during networking. Make sure the cards look professional. Business cards do not have to be expensive in order to look professional or be efficient. Some companies offer free business cards, only charging you for the shipping and handling. Carry business cards everywhere you go. If you hear someone talking about something they need that your business could provide, introduce yourself and offer him a card.

4. Visit sites such as Vista Print and take advantage of free offers. You may to pay for the shipping and if you want to upload your logo.

5. Have your companies name and/or logo printed on a t-shirt and wear it to parades, shopping, sporting events and anywhere that it is appropriate. The whole purpose of advertising is getting your name out there and by wearing a t-shirt with your company's name and logo you are doing just that.

6. Make calendars and give them to customers. Calendars can really help get your name out there and are something most people use and look at often.

Tags: business cards, your website, look professional, name logo, name there

Direct Mail Laws

Direct mail is unsolicited advertising messages delivered by a business to a desired demographic in attempt to sell goods or services. Government agencies, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), protect consumers from false advertising claims and advise stop unsolicited mail.

Delivery

The FTC regulates the law, anyone wanting to stop receiving unsolicited commercial direct mail must register with the Direct Mail Association (DMA) and pay a $1. Afterward, applicants can expect a reduction in unsolicited direct mail for up to five years. However, only DMA members are required to honor the delete list.

False Claims

Should a direct mail piece contain a health or safety claim such as "XYZ product can cure cancer or has a washing machine that cut energy costs by 50 percent," the FTC wants to know. It falls under their agency to enforce the laws about false advertising through the Deceptive Mail Prevention and Enforcement Act

USPS

The United States Postal Service (USPS) are allowed by law to supply mailers, including direct credit card companies and marketing firms, new addresses that are retrieved from change of address cards. One way to combat this information exchange is to privately contact all those companies needing to know your address change.

Tags: direct mail, false advertising

Analysis For A Marketing Plan

You marketing plan should be a part of your overall business plan. Therefore, keep the focus of your marketing plan on your company's goals and objectives. Your marketing plan will include your product, pricing, advertising and distribution strategies. However, you will need to conduct an analysis for your marketing plan so you can create the most effective marketing strategies. The analysis for a marketing plan should include four key sections.

Company Analysis

The first part of a marketing plan analysis is your company analysis. Determine your overall goals and objectives for your company's marketing department. Corporate executives often ask their marketing departments to project sales and profits based on their advertising strategies. Analyze your marketing plans for the year. Determine how much you have available to spend on advertising, marketing research and merchandising. Develop a sales and profit forecast based on your promotional expenditures. You also should analyze the culture of your company. You will need to hire skilled and ambitious marketing employees to accomplish your company's goals.

Target Audience Analysis

Determine who your target audience will be in your marketing plan analysis. Your target audience includes people who are most likely to buy your products. For example, your discount store may primarily appeal to families earning less than $35,000 per year. Keep your target audience limited to a manageable group of people according to the Small Business Administration. In other words, avoid marketing to mass audiences. The people who respond to your advertising will likely other distinguishing characteristics. Your vitamins may appeal to bodybuilders and exercise buffs. People who read your magazine may primarily have graduate and doctorate degrees. Conduct market research surveys to get more details on your customers' needs and wants. Find out which demographic groups (i.e. age, income) are the heaviest users of your products or services.

Competitive Analysis

Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors versus those of your own company. One way to analyze your competition is by conducting a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis. Write down key strengths of your competitors. For example, your primary competitor may have high-quality products and an extensive distribution network. Another competitor may offer lower prices because of its size. Think of ways you can counter the strengths of your competitors. For example, you may provide better customer service than other companies. You may also have a large influx of capital to grow your business. Find ways to counter the strengths of your competitors and exploit their weaknesses. Find your own niche in the marketplace.

Industry Analysis

An industry analysis includes political, legal socioeconomic and technological changes that can affect your business. For example, new consumer labeling laws may increase packaging costs for your vegetable products. An embargo aimed against a foreign country may hinder your exports to that country. Also, new technologies may be on the horizon, especially if you sell computer software, cell phones or other high-tech products. Stay in touch with the happenings in your industry. Order secondary marketing research reports about your industry. Companies like Nielsen, Simba Information and the NPD Group sell secondary research data.

Tags: marketing plan, your company, your competitors, your marketing, strengths your, strengths your competitors, your marketing plan

Store Videos Online

Store Videos Online

Anyone who uploads a large amount of videos to their computer knows how much hard drive space they can eat up. Luckily, there are online video storage websites that let safely upload all of your videos online. The upload process is both easy and secure. The steps below will provide you with information on store videos online.

Instructions

1. Getting Started

To start it is important for you to decide on how many videos and how much file storage space you need. When it comes to video file storage you will want to get as much space as possible, this is due to the fact that a single video file can be several Gigabytes big.

2. Free Online Video Storage Websites

To start, log on to your web browser and find a few websites that offer free online video storage. An example of such a site includes 4shared.com (see resources section). Such sites offer free uploading and storage of your video files. You can kind find more video storage sites though a simple Google search.

Note: Be sure to compare 3-4 different file storage websites to find the one that offers the most space.

3. Once you are logged on to such a site you will need to register. Upon completion of registration follow the simple instructions to get started in uploading and storing your videos.

4. Video Sharing Websites

Consider uploading and saving your videos to video sharing websites such as Youtube.com. Storing your videos on such websites gives you a safe and secure place to keep them. If you don't want others to view your videos, consider making your videos private.

Tags: your videos, file storage, offer free, Store Videos, Store Videos Online, such site, video file

Get A Christian Children'S Book Published

Everyone thinks that he can write a children's book; unfortunately, few people actually can. But for those who are able to pull it off, there is plenty of opportunity, especially in the Christian children's book market.

Last year alone the children's book market exceeded $4 billion in sales. The key to breaking into this lucrative market is to learn what kids are interested in reading and to convince an editor that you're the best and only writer who can give it to them.

Instructions

Tips for Getting Published

1. Know Your Audience

Lots of things compete for kids' attention these days: video games, TV, computers and cell phones, to name a few. Unless you know kids --- really know kids --- the odds are you won't be able to write a single thing that they will be interested in reading. It doesn't matter whether you are writing for the Christian or secular book market; you have to be able to connect with your readers in a way that makes them believe what you have to say and want to turn the page.

2. Know the Needs

Christian publishers have a hard sell: they want to offer good quality and morally sound books that kids aren't just forced to read, but want to read. Just because you have a great BIble story in mind doesn't mean a publisher will rush to buy it. Know what today's Christian publishers are looking for: fiction, nonfiction, historical, Bible-based curriculum, home schooling materials, and so on. Take the time to study the publisher's catalogue and compare what they've been publishing with what you are able to write.

Sure, they're always on the lookout for something new, but the more different you are, the more risk they must assume. To be honest, most publishers simply can't afford to take much of a risk these days --- especially on someone who is a newcomer to the publishing scene.

3. Choose an Age Range and Genre

Not every writer can --- or should --- write for every age group or every area of interest. Some writers specialize in fiction, others in nonfiction. While one writer may be able to weave a wonderfully exciting story for a nine-year-old, he may simply have no idea craft a story for a two-year-old. Before setting pen to paper, figure out what type of writing you do best and for whom you want to write. Choosing to write what you believe will sell is a good way to fail. Instead, choose what age group and genre you're most interested in, and let your passion for your reader and the subject matter shine through your words. That's what sells books.

4. Write a Compelling Book Proposal

Professional writers know the No. 1 rule of publishing: don't write any book without first submitting a full book proposal for review. The reason is simple: writing a book takes a lot of time and energy. If no one is interested in this project, why waste your time, when you could move on to a more profitable one?

Running anywhere from a few pages for a picture book to a hundred or so pages for a full-length young-adult novel, a good book proposal must contain the following to be taken seriously by any acquisitions editor:

* A professional format that meets all of the publisher's guidelines. These can be found on most publisher websites.

* An overview, or sales pitch, that is designed to show the publisher the need for your book, any unique or interesting experiences you can offer, the book's slant or angle, its target audience, and its marketability factors.

* A short biography describing who you are, what experience you bring to the project, and why you are the best writer to handle the book.

* A chapter-by-chapter outline designed to show the editor how you will handle the project from beginning to end.

* Sample chapters to show off your writing. These can be any chapters in the book, but it's usually a good idea to include the first and last chapters, to show how you intend to start and finish the story, plus one or two others.

5. Play the Waiting Game

While it's okay to submit your book proposal to more than one editor at a time, most ask that you refrain from doing so. After all, if it's a great story, no one wants to be outbid by a competing publishing house. For best results, submit your proposal to one publishing house at a time. If you do not hear from them in four to six weeks, feel free to send a followup note to check on the status of your book. After another two weeks or so, if you have not heard back, send it on to the next publisher on your list.

Tags: book market, your book, able write, book proposal, chapters show

What Is Involuntary Smoking

Second hand smoke is dangerous.

Involuntary smoking is also known as passive smoking. According to the Green Facts website, involuntary smoking means exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke, known as "environmental" tobacco smoke.

Significance

Someone exposed to secondhand smoke breathes in tobacco's toxic chemicals. Secondary smoke contains 4,000 chemicals, 69 of which can cause cancer, the British National Health Services (NHS) website notes.

Risks

Secondhand smoke is more toxic than smoke inhaled directly because it comes from the lit ends of cigarettes and cigars and is unfiltered. Children are particularly at risk from passive smoking, as their bodies are still developing. They are more likely to develop breathing problems and inner ear infections.

Effects

The Green Facts website says that studies have shown a link between passive smoking and the risk of developing lung cancer. The risk rises with increasing exposure. "This evidence is sufficient to conclude that involuntary smoking is a cause of lung cancer in never-smokers," the website says.

Tags: passive smoking, Facts website, Green Facts, Green Facts website, involuntary smoking, lung cancer

Communication Tools For Planning

A communication plan helps to organize planning efforts.

Communication tools are any instrument used to enhance messages sent or received through oral, nonverbal or symbolic communication. Planning is an extensive event that requires coordination, evaluation and logistical skills. Use communication tools to make your planning more effective, less stressful and more productive, according to the University of California. Tools during the planning process include a communication plan, brainstorming, organizational plan and feedback.

Communication Plan

Hieran Publishing states that a communication plan will help organize and execute an event effectively. A communication plan defines your objectives, what you are looking to accomplish through the planning process. The plan addresses the processes and ways the objective will be accomplished. It includes who needs to be communicated with and the approach needed to reach each person. The plan also addresses the different audiences, their needs and the approach that will be used. The plan provides a timetable that addresses each task and item that needs to be accomplished. The communication plan ends with a definition of how the results will be measured for future planning.

Brainstorming Sessions

Brainstorming sessions are a tool used to provoke creativity, free-thinking and problem-solving solutions. For example, if you’re planning a corporate employee appreciation party, you may develop a focus group to brainstorm different locations for the event, activities during the event and ways to show appreciation throughout the event. Brainstorming sessions can also help to discover ways to stay within budget and utilize resources.

Organizational Plan

An organizational plan differs from a communication plan because it specifically focuses on the organizational needs of the event. This includes pre-planning, event execution and post-production activities. The organizational plan details a step-by-step process for each task and assigns the task to a specific team of people or individual. An organizational plan ensures that every detail is defined and assigned so nothing is overlooked.

Feedback Sessions

Feedback sessions look at past planned events from different perspectives with the purpose of improving future planning. Feedback sessions are the most effective when held directly after the event. Issues, concerns and things that worked will be easiest to remember when the feedback is provided as soon as possible. Feedback sessions should be created for management, the planning committee and attendees to get a comprehensive overview of the event from different perspectives. The information gleaned should be used to create an action plan to implement change and strengthen aspects of previous processes.

Tags: communication plan, Brainstorming sessions, communication plan, different perspectives, each task

Harvard Business School Information

Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard Business School is a part of the Ivy League Harvard University. Harvard has received a number of accolades, including the top ranking on U.S. News and World Report's Best Colleges in 2009 list.

History

With its founding in 1908, Harvard Business School was the first university in the world to grant a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree. Harvard completed the Business School's campus in 1924.

Degrees and Programs

Harvard Business School offers 60 different business-related programs to graduate students. It confers an intensive two-year MBA degree as well as nine PhD and DBA degrees.

Size

Harvard reports that its 2010 MBA graduating class consisted of 900 students, while its incoming 2009 doctoral program class consisted of 24 students.

Campus

Harvard Business School consists of 33 buildings laid out over 40 acres of ground. The campus is home to Baker Library, the world's largest business library, as well as Aldrich Hall, where the majority of classroom instruction at the school is held.

Cost

The 2011 MBA class at Harvard Business School paid an annual tuition of $46,150. With health care, program fees, and room and board, the total yearly expense for single students was $76,600, although Harvard reports that 66 percent of its students receive financial aid.

Famous Ties

Famous graduates of Harvard Business School include George W. Bush, Michael Bloomberg, Stephen Covey, Gerald Tremblay and Mitt Romney.

Tags: Business School, Harvard Business, Harvard Business School, class consisted, class consisted students, consisted students

Nursery School Projects For 3yearolds

Even playing games can teach skills such as communication and reasoning to 3-year-olds.

Learning is a lifelong process. Nursery school is not just a form of daycare for children too young to attend kindergarten, it's an opportunity for the students to get a head start on their education. Nursery school activities can include both entertainment and education with the introduction of early learning skills. Making learning fun at an early age can help to set a positive attitude towards learning.

Crafts

Inspire the artistic side of children in their developmental years in nursery school. Three-year-olds can do basic artistic projects such as pasting together art objects. They can also learn draw using crayons and paints. Introduce concepts to 3-year-olds such as seasonal holidays by having them make crafts designed specifically for those holidays. They can then give their creations to parents and other family members as gifts.

Athletics

It's never too early to teach the basics of physical fitness to a child. Get the 3-year-olds outside and introduce them to sports and other physical activities to promote good health. Games, such as "Duck, Duck, Goose" in which they chase each, introduce them to organized sporting activities and the concept of rules.

Take the 3-year-olds on a nature walk around the preschool, introducing them to plants, birds and other animals around the school.

Music

Music provides many different forms of entertainment for nursery school students. Have them sing along to CDs that you play in class and introduce them to basic instruments such as shakers to help keep the beat with the music. Three-year-olds can also express themselves in nursery school by dancing to music.

Jobs

Introduce the 3-year-olds to the concept of chores by assigning them jobs in the classroom. Some examples of jobs in your nursery school could be holding the door open for other students, helping to hand out snacks during the day and cleaning up after lunch. Rotate the chores between the students on a daily basis so they are exposed to different jobs in the nursery school classroom.

Tags: nursery school, introduce them, Nursery school

Direct Vs Indirect Cost Rules

To correctly record the costs of production, cost accountants must be able to delineate direct and indirect costs and provide the proper accounting treatment for each one. In general, direct costs are costs that can be traced to products, and indirect costs are those that cannot be traced to products. However, the general rule is best applied separately for materials and labor.

Direct Materials

Direct materials are those used in production that can be directly traced to the product being produced. In many companies, direct materials also are precisely quantifiable during production. Direct materials costs make up a sizable portion of product costs for many products. Accountants record direct materials costs by debiting the work in process account and crediting the direct materials inventory account for the value of the materials when placed into production.

Direct Labor

Employees who directly handle or supervise those who handle products being produced are considered to be direct labor. It is important to note that the dividing line between direct and indirect labor may be different in similar companies based upon the production process, employee roles and job descriptions and even union requirements. Direct labor is assigned to products with a debit to work in process and a credit to salaries payable in the amount of the time an employee worked on the product multiplied by the employee's pay rate. Often employee fringe benefits are assigned to products in this manner as well.

Indirect Materials

Indirect materials costs represent materials used in production but are not tracked directly in production. Grease for movable parts, glue in furniture production and paint for end products are examples of costs that may be accounted for indirectly. These costs are assigned to products via an allocation of manufacturing overhead. When the costs are incurred, the company debits manufacturing overhead and credits indirect materials. When overhead is applied to products, the company debits work in process and credits manufacturing overhead.

Indirect Labor

General factory supervision, support and maintenance labor make up indirect labor. Because these employees cannot be traced directly to products, the cost related to their work is assigned to products through manufacturing overhead. Payments to these employees are recorded with a debit to manufacturing overhead and a credit to salaries payable. When overhead is assigned to products, a debit to work in process and a credit to manufacturing overhead is booked. Fringe benefits for these employees are accounted for in the same manner.

Tags: manufacturing overhead, assigned products, work process, materials costs, these employees, being produced, cannot traced

Open A Small Business Dairy Company

Dairies are complex operations.

Dairy farming can be a rewarding and lucrative business for a patient self-starter who enjoys the outdoors, the company of animals, and producing something tangible and valuable. But, as old Vermont farmers often say, if it's not one thing -- it's an udder. Dairy farming carries extra responsibilities, long working hours, and few vacations. The market for milk and other dairy products can fluctuate wildly, and once started, it's economically and emotionally difficult to simply walk away from the job.

Instructions

Producing Milk

1. Be an apprentice. Setting up a dairy, even a small one, requires an enormous amount of knowledge -- about livestock, about dairy products, about feed, and about a thousand other details. Find a nearby dairy farmer and ask if you can help. Dairy farmers love free help, and it's the quickest path to learning whether or not your interest in starting a dairy is a passing infatuation or something you really want to do with your life.

2. Find the right land. Cows will need plenty of pasture, and a substantial field for hay will cut your feed costs tremendously. On the other hand, sheep need plenty of grass and goats can subsist on rockier scrub land. It helps if your land has a year-round supply of fresh water and can be easily fenced into sections. Find out about local predators, and consider getting guard animals, such as a Great Pyrenees, border collie, or llama.

3. Look for a farm that's already designed for dairy and has appropriate buildings. You'll need a barn with a sanitary place to milk your livestock, as well as plenty of separate stalls. A dairy barn should also have electricity, and hot and cold running water. You'll also need a place in the barn to store lots of hay and grain. Check with your local county agent if you have any questions about the suitability of a barn for a dairy operation.

4. Figure out what you want to produce. For example, is it important to you to produce smaller quantities of organic, antibiotic-free milk, or do you want cows that are bred to produce more milk? Do you want a niche product like sheep's cheese, or maybe goat's milk yogurt? Ask neighboring farmers about different breeds of livestock. Spend as much time as you can learning about your animals -- each one will have its own personality.

5. Buy the equipment you need, and nothing more. A new bulk milk tank may look shiny, but you can find used ones for a fraction of the price. Likewise, brand-new tractors, hay balers, pickup trucks and cattle trailers look impressive but will remove money from your bottom line for many years. Have your county agent check out your equipment to be sure it complies with state and federal dairy regulations.

6. Consider adding value to your product. Milk is a valuable commodity, but its price can fluctuate. Value-added products, such as cheese, butter and yogurt, command a premium at farmer's markets and other places where local-food advocates shop. The cost of establishing a value-added business is only a small fraction of the overall cost of establishing a dairy.

Tags: cost establishing, county agent, Dairy farming, dairy products, milk want, need plenty, with your

Put Ads On The Side Of Your Tumblr

Tumblr has been growing as a medium for entertaining and high-traffic content; therefore, it is only natural that many blog owners wish to monetize this content with the addition of advertising. Google AdSense is a quick, easy way to make money from a Tumblr blog, and Tumblr's robust theming options make it possible to insert AdSense ads painlessly. While Tumblr does not support an official feature for adding advertising content to its blogs, it has intentionally allowed the use of JavaScript for inserting Google's AdSense code.

Instructions

1. Log in to your approved Google AdSense account and click on the "My Ads" tab. A list of previously created ad units displays, showing when they were last edited and whether they are active.

2. Click on the "New Ad Unit" button. All of the options for your new ad will be displayed.

3. Fill out each of the required fields. Name your ad and choose the size that best fits your Tumblr blog. The most common size for a sidebar banner is the sidescraper option.

4. Create a new custom channel on the options screen. This makes your Tumblr ad campaign easy to track, helping to monitor the performance of your AdSense ads across multiple websites.

5. Click "Save and get code." A small screen pops up with JavaScript code specific to the ad you have just created.

6. Copy the JavaScript within the window by highlighting all of the text and clicking "Ctrl-C."

7. Log in to your Tumblr account and click on the appropriate blog name within the drop-down menu on your dashboard. More options will display, including the ability to edit your theme.

8. Click on "Customize" to bring up the settings for your particular Tumblr, then click on "Theme" within the header and "Enable custom HTML". The editable HTML for your Tumblr theme now displays within the window.

9. Place the Tumblr code in the appropriate place within your theme's HTML by clicking on the location you wish to paste it to and typing "Ctrl-V" If your theme has a sidebar, cross-reference with a live version of your Tumblr so that you can identify where to place your ads. A common location is after the "About" section within your sidebar. Use "Ctrl-F" to find specific locations within the HTML.

Tags: Google AdSense, your theme, your Tumblr, account click, Tumblr blog, within window

The Best Direct Mail Advertising

The best direct mail advertising is narrowly targeted toward specific buyers.

The best direct mail advertising is highly contingent upon the type of business you own and your objectives. For example, coupon magazines may be your best direct mail option if you are trying to increase retail traffic and sales. Similarly, a company trying to generate sales leads may feel postcards are its best alternative. Companies take both costs and effectiveness into consideration when choosing their best direct mail options. However, there are certain characteristics common to all effective direct mail advertising campaigns.

Highly Targeted

The best direct mail advertising is highly targeted. In other words, you should target your direct mail campaigns toward specific buying groups. For example, send offers about your diet products to people who actually buy diet products. Companies can buy mailing lists of people who have purchased their types of products. The Direct Marketing Association is one of the largest mailing list suppliers. Additionally, companies can order names of customers with specific demographic characteristics. For example, a hearing aid manufacturer may want to send direct mail pieces to people 55 and over.

Convincing Ad Copy

The best direct mail advertising includes convincing ad copy. You cannot have a successful direct mailing unless your writing motivates consumers or businesses to buy your products or services. Direct mail pieces, like sales letters, should follow the AIDA (attention, interest, desire, action) concept of advertising. Write a headline that attracts the attention of your buying audience. Include a key benefit of your product within the heading to pull your readers into the ad. Build the readers' interest by describing what your products can do for her. Say something like, "Picture yourself basking on the white beaches of our resort." Add additional benefits in your sales letter to increase the readers' desire to buy your product. Offer the reader an incentive to act now. For example, say something such as, "Order within 10 days and get a second pillow absolutely free."

Advertise Consistently

No successful advertising campaign is limited to one or two mailings. You must advertise your products and services consistently to reap the most benefits. Some people may not see your ad the first time. Others may want to make sure you are not some "fly-by-night" company that will not be around tomorrow. Some customers may even wait to see if you offer your products at a lower price, a common practice with mail order companies. Continue to purchase mailing lists and reach new customers. However, you should also mail new offers to your current customers. Therefore, maintain a database of existing customers.

Tracking and Testing

The best direct mail advertising is tracked and tested. Direct mail allows you to test your products in the market relatively quickly, according to Entrepreneur website writer Jack Ferrari. Consider doing smaller mailings from a variety of mailing lists. Test those mailing lists to determine if they are profitable. You can then increase the quantities of your mailing. The best way to track your direct mail campaigns is by inserting codes inside the coupons or on the order form. For example, insert a "110" on the coupon you are using for a coupon magazine promotion. The "110" would indicate a mailing that went out on January 10. Keep records of all the direct mailings you do. Drop mailing lists that are unproductive or unprofitable.

Tags: direct mail, mail advertising, best direct, best direct mail, mailing lists, your products

Reasons For Starting Your Own Business

It takes a lot of work to start a new business.

Although starting a business can present a number of seemingly impossible challenges and frightening risks, there are many very important benefits to being a business owner. Owning your own business provides you with many freedoms that would likely never be possible when working for someone else, but it is not something to be entered into lightly.

Unlimited Earning Potential

When working for an employer, your earning potential is typically limited to some sort of a salary structure. However, as a business owner, you theoretically have unlimited earning potential. Your income becomes proportionally linked to the amount of work and creativity you're willing and able to put into promoting and developing your new product, service, or idea. Not every small business will end up being profitable--this is a risk all entrepreneurs must take--but if you're able to make your business work, never again will you be limited to a salary set by an employer.

Job Security

In times of economic downturn, when unemployment rates tend to rise, having your own business can be a tremendous comfort. Although business owners do have to worry about and deal with economic ups and downs just like anybody else, you don't ever have to worry about getting fired or laid off.

Scheduling Freedom

As a business owner, you can enjoy a much higher degree of scheduling freedom than is possible if you work for someone else. You can spend time taking care of personal responsibilities and duties during the day, if need be. You can work late into the night from the comfort of your own home, if necessary, and can sleep in a little later in the mornings. Essentially, your schedule becomes your own, and you are able to work--for the most part--on your own time.

Career Control

As a business owner, you're immune from the stresses of office politics. Because you're at the top of the company, you don't have to worry about trying to outperform your peers or schmooze your superiors. Without these concerns, you're free to devote your attention more solidly toward growing your business and improving your product or service.

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How Is Eukanuba Dog Food Made

Dry dog food is the choice for many owners.

Eukanuba was introduced in 1969 by Iams as a premium dog food containing chicken. According to the company, the name came out of the jazz culture of the day, and meant something that was "the tops" or "supreme." The product is manufactured using an extrusion process similar to that used for snacks and cereals.

Looking Back

In the 1890s, James Spratt developed a biscuit made of wheat, vegetables, beetroot and beef blood, which was the first real dry dog meal available. Spratt’s became part of General Mills in the 1950s, and was bought by Purina in 1960, just three years after the company began marketing its first extruded dog "chow." This extrusion process is the basis for the majority of dry dog foods bought today, including Eukanuba.

Extrusion

Dried meat meal is blended with cereals and other dry ingredients in a mixer. Water is added to make a dough. This is steam heated and fed through an extruder screw at high pressure and temperature. At the end of the process, the cooked dough passes through dies before being cut to size. At normal air pressure, the small pieces expand rapidly to give the final kibble size. Once cooled, the food is sprayed with fat or flavor to make it more flavorsome.

Recipes

Ingredients vary throughout the product range. Puppy foods contain more protein and fat, while senior foods are lower in energy. Dry dog food contains a source of protein (usually meat), cereals, fats or oils and added vitamins and minerals.

The main ingredients of Eukanuba Adult Maintenance food are chicken, chicken byproduct meal, corn meal, ground whole grain sorghum, ground whole grain barley, brewers rice, chicken fat, chicken flavor, dried beet pulp, dried egg product, fish meal, potassium chloride, brewers dried yeast, salt, fish and flax meal, together with added vitamins and minerals.

Product Range

There are dry foods available for dogs of all ages.

The extrusion process allows for product size to be adapted for small or large dogs, and is adaptable enough to accommodate a range of recipes using different ingredients. As a result, Eukanuba, along with other manufacturers, now makes a range of extruded products to suit all age ranges, lifestyles and many different breeds. These companies also work with veterinarians to produce prescription-only foods for a range of health problems.

Regulation

In the United States, pet food is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission. Most regulations are based on the extensive work of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), who have developed ingredient definitions, labeling and nutritional requirements. These regulations are in place to ensure that products are free of harmful substances, correctly labeled and wholesome.

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Competitive Marketing Positioning Strategy

The main objective of developing competitive marketing strategies consists of building and maintaining a sustainable competitive advantage for an organization over others within the same industry. The main purpose is to make the business stand out among the competition. By creating a sustainable competitive advantage, a business can ensure it outlasts the competition long term, no matter what the economic conditions.

Strategic Planning

Strategic management initiatives generally begin at the executive level of the organization as abstract concepts and goals before being distributed through managers and supervisors for implementation at the functional level. Successful competitive marketing positioning strategy begins with a well-considered strategic plan. This plan should include defining the specific market for your product and setting sales goals. Managers also will determine the appropriate marketing tactics and set time lines for implementing and completing the strategic initiative.

Product Differentiation

Successful product differentiation is essential to any competitive marketing positioning strategy. Product differentiation involves determining what it is about your product or organization that makes it better than any other within the industry and implementing marketing strategies that will properly inform consumers of such. This product differentiation establishes a higher value, whether perceived or actual, for your product than for that of competitors' products.

Branding

According to the Brand Identity Guru website, "Branding is the marketing process of applying a personality or identity to a particular product or company." Building a strong brand or corporate identity is essential to the competitive marketing positioning strategy. Effective branding often leads consumers to pay a higher price for a specific brand than they would normally pay for a similar product without the high status brand. For example, a consumer may be willing to pay much more for a pair of toning sneakers from a trusted brand, such as Skechers, than for a similar pair of toning sneakers from a "lesser" brand.

Pricing

Pricing is another essential element of forming a competitive marketing positioning strategy. Products must be priced appropriately to balance the business need to turn a profit with the consumer need to pay a reasonable price for the product. In successful competitive marketing positioning strategy, effective product differentiation and branding will greatly increase the amount of money customers are willing to pay for the particular product.

Tags: competitive marketing positioning, positioning strategy, competitive marketing, marketing positioning strategy, marketing positioning, your product

Affordable Small Business Marketing Ideas

Major corporations stay in the public eye and make millions year after year largely because they can afford to pay for large-scale marketing campaigns including public relations, billboards, television and high-profile web advertisements. As a small business owner you unfortunately don't have that luxury, but it is not necessary to spend a fortune on marketing your business. Explore some affordable small business marketing ideas instead.

Preparation

Before you start to implement any new marketing ideas for your small business, it is important that you first develop a marketing budget. Know exactly how much you have available to spend and then you can divide that budget up on various marketing initiatives. You must also take time to both define and do research on your target customer so that you know craft your message and where to place advertisements. Finally, when you do try out marketing ideas, test them on a small scale first, then put more money toward the initiatives that work.

Street Promotions

One way to get attention for a small business on a tight budget is to pay for street promotions. Your main expense for promotions include people (you can pay a small hourly wage for workers) and fliers, which you can buy in bulk for a relatively small amount of money compared to other types of print advertisements. You can also offer free samples of your product.

Online Ezines

Another affordable method for advertising a small business is to set up an online ezine. An ezine is like a magazine only it is hosted online, which helps minimize your costs. You can write on issues that affect your type of business as well as specific products or services that you sell. Since the magazine is published online, you can get the attention of potential customers all over the world for little more than the cost of setting up a web hosting account and template for the ezine.

Social Media Campaigns

Another affordable small business marketing idea is to embark on a full-scale social media marketing campaign. Using social media is free and some websites offer special tools made for business users, like business fan pages. You can manage your own campaign or hire a social media savvy high school or college student at minimum wage to do contracting work on behalf of your company.

Tags: small business, marketing ideas, social media, affordable small business, Another affordable, business marketing

Make Your Designs Pixelate

Use pixel effects to create stunning patterns, hide elements or add texture to an image.

Pixel effects have a wide range of uses, from hiding someone's face to creating a canvas for a piece of pixel art. Pixelation occurs when an image is either resized or zoomed to a resolution which exposes its structure, has its color depth reduced or a filter is applied which creates pixel-like squares of color by sampling the image. How you choose to pixelate an image depends on the effect you want to achieve, the software you have available and if you want to pixelate all or part of the image. Most graphic editing programs include a pixelate filter, but many free online editors exist too.

Instructions

Pixelate Using a Filter Pixelate

Corel Paint Shop Pro: Effects > Distortion Effects > Pixelate

GIMP: Filters > Blur > PIxelise

Pixlr: Filter > PIxelate

FotoFlexer: Effects > Super PIxelate

Splashup: Filters > PIxelate

3. Adjust the controls, if prompted, to produce the desired effect. To pixelate only part of an image, use the "Marquee" or "Selection" tool to left-click and drag a selection around the desired area before choosing the filter. If using a filter does not produce the appropriate effect and you want to zoom in on your design to view the pixels, try using the resize method.

Pixelate With Resize

4. Open your image in an image or graphic editing program. Use the "Resize" option to resize your image by 200 percent to 500 percent. You can choose a higher percentage depending on how small your original image is. The resulting file size may be extremely large. The maximum size image you can produce is limited by your computer's graphics card and memory, so be careful not to exceed 500 percent or the software may take too long to process the request.

5. Choose the resize option again, but set it to use pixels instead of percentage and set the dimensions to the original size of the image. For example, in Microsoft Paint, you would choose "Resize" and select either the "Pixels" or "Percentage" radio button before entering a height and width.

6. Repeat this process to zoom in your image, then reset the original dimensions. Continue to resize and reset until you achieve the desired pixelation. This method can take a long time and may not produce the best results on image with large areas of solid color. An alternative is to use the "Zoom" control to zoom in on the image until you reach the desired pixel level, then take a screenshot by hitting your "Print Screen" or "Prt Scr" key. Paste the screenshot into the image editor and use the "Crop" tool to isolate the part you want.

Tags: your image, effect want, graphic editing, part image, size image

Start A Property Management Business

If you like being your own boss and have a passion for real estate but not enough money to purchase lots of it, then consider starting a property management business. There are a few things to keep in mind. Just follow these steps to start your very own property management business.

Instructions

1. Apply for a business license. There are many types of business licenses to apply for, so getting the proper one is very important. This can be done by contacting your local government agency. They can instruct you on the type of license you will need to start the property management business in your state.

2. Advertise that the property management business is now open for business. This can be accomplished by purchasing ads in local newspapers, telephone books, billboards and even the radio.

3. Recruit local property owners as clients. Show them that you are ready to manage their property and be the middle man between them and prospective tenants. Discuss all pros and cons with a prospective client. Be professional and kind. A prospective client is not looking for a person who appears inconsistent or flaky.

4. Create a fair contract with your clients that details what is expected of them and yourself. If a good contract is in place then there is little room for turmoil and miscommunication.

5. Complete entire background checks to insure proper financial responsibility on prospective tenants. Being detail oriented will increase your odds of having great tenants.

6. Rent or lease to tenants that meet all requirements established between you and the client. Set reasonable rent or lease agreements. Having a good relationship with tenants may increase the odds of renewing their lease or rental agreement.

Tags: management business, property management, property management business, property management business, prospective client

Job Description It Development Manager

IT development encompasses many technology areas.

Information technology (IT) development managers organize, develop and manage computer systems development within an organization. They usually work in a team environment and lead and direct the operations and achievements of an application development team. An IT development manager’s role can span from team member to technical team leader. The development manager ensures achievement of strategic information technology goals in a cost-efficient and timely manner.

Scope of Work

Because IT development spans everything from software engineering to eCommerce, to new media advertising and social networking, the responsibilities of IT managers vary by project, technology, industry and organization. In general, IT development managers coordinate the resources and processes to deliver technology-enabled products, programs and services. They work closely with organizational thought leaders, and help define the vision, definition and strategy for IT developments.

Technology Leadership

The responsibilities of IT development managers require strong interpersonal, communication and leadership skills. They coordinate the efforts of technical teams to create technical specifications. IT managers also provide realistic estimates for the completion of development work to management stakeholders. They may partner with IT project managers to manage the project timeline and ensure that development efforts remain on target. As development progresses, IT managers coordinate schedule releases, such as fixlets, enhancements and version upgrades, with system administrators, IT developers and IT support staff.

Technical Consulting

IT development managers are technologists with advanced knowledge of IT development planning. They guide their colleagues on software development life-cycle methodologies and help create development plans to address technical aspects and industry demands. Because development managers are often responsible for leading technology teams, they possess the necessary skills to resolve both technical and human resources issues. IT managers provide technical leadership and enable the delivery of technologically enabled solutions.

Education

The educational requirements of IT development managers vary widely by industry, employer and technology type. For software development jobs, most employers prefer applicants with at least a bachelor's degree and extensive knowledge of different computer systems and technologies. Common majors for IT development managers include software engineering, computer science, computer information systems and mathematics. Some employers prefer applicants with graduate degrees, particularly for senior-level management positions and jobs dealing with complex technology applications.

Earnings Potential

PayScale.com reported that the annual wages of software development managers ranged from $93,417 to $134,586 in July 2010. IBM Corp., Cisco Systems Inc. and Oracle Corp. are popular employers of IT development managers. Although these employers are all computer systems design companies, IT managers can also enjoy successful careers in other sectors of the economy, such as hospitality, retail and insurance. In general, development managers working in the computer hardware and software industry enjoy the highest earnings; their annual wages ranged from $101,649 to $120,296 in July 2010.

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