Open A Retail Cosmetics Store

cosmetics store

Do you dream owning your own cosmetics and makeup store? Or is it skincare and makeovers? You can do it, with some time, effort, committment and planning. You don't have to be a makeup artist or a savvy professional, it justs takes a lot of hard work.

Instructions

1. First thing you need is a plan, a business plan. You can find templates online to borrow from and in that plan make sure you have a budget. If you are applying for a loan you will need this to show that bank that you are worth the risk and how you plan to make your cosmetics store go. This is actually true with any new retail store.

You will also need a city and/or state license, but you will need to check with your state and make sure the name you choose for your business is not taken.

You can set up as a sole proprietership, partnership, or a coporation, but the best thing is talk to your accountant to help you decide what will work best. They can also assist you with a tax id number.

2. Brands - You will want to decide want brands you will carry. Remember many of the major brands have either very large minimum orders or exclusive agreements that may limit you, so check it out first. For instance MAC cosmetics only sells from their stores or counters they own in major department stores, so you can't carry their products, unless you buy them from surplus dealers and then you can't advertise them since you are not an authorized distributer.

3. Location - As the saying goes location, location, location. Make sure you choose a high traffic area that is easy to get too. People don't like to cross in busy intersection, seriously! You may think it is ideal, but be sure that it easy to get to and has parking for your customers. Also look at the rental cost versus buying the property and whether or not the rent has be increasing to quickly. You may also want to make sure to get a 1 year lease versus a longer term, so that you can evaluate the success of your makeup store.

4. Finally, advertising. No one is going to know you are ready to do makeovers or sell them some sizzling eyeliner, if you don't advertise. Be creative! Advertise in local college papers, write a press release for the paper and local publications, donate products to women's charity events. Try as much free advertising as you can and then work small amounts into your budget to bring up the awarness. TV and radio can be expensive, because frequency is needed to catch the viewers. Network at local events and make your business know for the lastest cosmetics. Try to get local cosmeticians to refer their clients and offer them big discounts.

5. Grand opening. Don't forget to plan a big opening to get that first rush of customers. Do free makeovers, coupons, samples. This is the first time to get them hooked.

Tags: cosmetics store, location location, make sure, make your, makeup store, plan make

Start A Tattoo Shop

A tattoo is applied in a tattoo shop.

As the art of tattooing has become more popular, more tattoo artists have branched out to start their own businesses. Opening a tattoo shop requires skill, research, supplies and an education in disease prevention.

Instructions

1. Tattoo in a reputable shop for at least five years. Discuss your idea with other shop owners to get advice and insight. Prepare a portfolio of your best work to showcase in your new business.

2. Research the building and zoning codes in the area you are planning to open your tattoo shop. Obtain a tax identification number and register your business. Call the health board to schedule an inspection that will lead to your operating license.

3. Find a location with plumbing that will meet the needs of your shop. In each work station a sink is required for hand washing. You will also need a biohazard sink for tool cleaning and a public restroom with a sink.

4. Take a blood-borne pathogens class on protect yourself, your employees and your clients from diseases such as hepatitis and HIV.

5. Purchase an autoclave and ultrasonic. These two instruments are required by law to clean and sterilize your biohazard materials.

6. Make a list of the supplies you will need and order them wholesale. Tubes, needles, gloves, sterilization supplies and inks are the most crucial supplies. You will also need a copier, reference books, tracing paper and an adequate power supply for your tattoo machines.

7. Conduct interviews with established tattoo artists. Look at their portfolios closely, making sure their artwork and ethics meet your standards.

8. Design a card or use an image of some of your best tattoo work to promote your business. Have cards or fliers printed with your new shop's name, address, business hours and website.

Tags: your business, also need, supplies will, tattoo artists, tattoo shop, that will

Install A Scanner Into Photoshop Cs3

Import to see if your scanner is already installed." data-modal-content="Look under File > Import to see if your scanner is already installed."> Look under File > Import to see if your scanner is already installed.

Properly speaking, scanners are not installed in Photoshop CS3; they are instead installed on your computer. You can then designate Photoshop CS3 as the external editor or viewer for your scanner, or, from Photoshop, you can import images through that scanner. For either of these options to work, the scanner must be properly installed on your computer.

Instructions Import." A menu should pop up to the right. If your scanner is listed, either preceded or followed by "TWAIN" or "WIA," proceed to Step 4. If not, check to see that the scanner is properly connected; then restart Photoshop. If it's still not listed in under the "File > Import" menu, go to Step 2.

2. Check if your scanner is properly installed. (If your scanner doesn't show up in Photoshop, it may not be properly installed.) If you are using a PC, go to the "Control Panel > Hardware > Scanners and Cameras." If you do not see your scanner there, use the installation software that came with your scanner to install the scanner. You will need to restart Photoshop CS3 for the program to recognize the new scanner.

3. Make sure your scanner's driver software is up to date (if your scanner is listed under "Scanners and Cameras"). Go to "Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Device Manager" and click on "Imaging Devices." Right-click on your scanner and select "Update Driver Software." Search online for the updated driver software. A restart may be required.

Your scanner should now be properly installed with current drivers and ready for use to acquire images for Photoshop.

4. Import an image using TWAIN, which is a standard software protocol that connects software applications and imaging devices (such as Photoshop and your scanner), by simply going to "File > Import" and click on the "TWAIN" option. Follow the instructions on that screen to scan your image.

Import an image using WIA (Windows Image Acquisition), according to Adobe Photoshop help, by choosing "File > Import > WIA Support." Select a destination on your computer for saving your image files. Click "Start." Select your scanner. Choose the kind of image you want to scan. Click "Preview" to view the scan. Crop if necessary. Click "Scan." The scanned image is saved in BMP format.

Tags: your scanner, File Import, your scanner, properly installed, already installed, Import your, Import your scanner

Job Description For The Chief Marketing Officer

Chief marketing officers generate ideas to promote their company.

A chief marketing officer develops promotional strategies for a company. Chief marketing officers hold vital positions, as they are responsible for creating public interest in their company’s products and services. They do this through the use of graphics, commercials, advertisements, press releases and other forms of communication. Chief marketing officers work in practically every industry, for large corporations and small businesses alike.

Basics

Chief marketing officers work with leaders of the advertising and sales departments to coordinate their efforts. They oversee graphic designers, webmasters and hire, train and organize others who work in the marketing department. They must understand their company’s overall mission and find creative ways to make it appealing to potential customers. They keep an eye on what is considered "trendy" and attempt to create "trends" of their own. And, of course, chief marketing officers also pay close attention to what the competition is doing.

Skills

Chief marketing officers must be highly innovative and able to come up with eye-catching advertisements or even commercial jingles to promote their products. They must have a strong eye for design and know what appeals to the buying public. They also need strong organizational and leadership skills, directing their employees when putting a marketing strategy in place. On top of those things, chief marketing officers should be skilled communicators, as well as resilient, analytical, professional, confident and highly motivated.

Background

Most chief marketing officers have spent a great deal of time in their field before heading an entire department. They also typically need to possess at least a bachelor’s degree in marketing, or perhaps even a master’s. Others area of study for aspiring marketing managers including advertising, business administration, communications and management. Some also receive various forms of certification for the purpose of advancement.

Prospects

Since almost every company needs someone to handle promotions, opportunities for chief marketing officers should always be plentiful. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of marketing managers will grow by 12 percent through 2018 alone. That is about the same as the increase for all other occupations during the same decade. That said, becoming a chief marketing officer is far from easy and occasionally takes years of proving yourself as an employee in the marketing, advertising or sales departments.

Earnings

Chief marketing officers are among the highest earners in the country, mainly because their positions are so crucial to a company’s success. According to the BLS, marketing managers earned a median salary of more than $108,000 per year in May 2008--with some earning in excess of $127,000 per year.

Tags: marketing officers, Chief marketing officers, Chief marketing, marketing managers, advertising sales, advertising sales departments

Download Music From Itunes To Your Music Player

Convert iTunes to MP3 format to use on your music player.

Many people switch from using an Apple iPod to a different music player, which places them in a bind with iTunes. However, there are ways to get your iTunes to your new, different format music player. Doing so requires you to convert your iTunes music to MP3 format using special downloaded software. Once you have done this, you can add all your music to your music player.

Instructions

1. Go on the Internet and do a search for music format conversion software. There are quite a few, and some may even be free. However, certain companies require you to pay for the full version after you use a trial version for a period of time.

2. Download an appropriate conversion software and open it on your computer. At the same time, decide what music you would like to convert to add to your music player and create folders for them so that you can save the new formats of songs to them. Some software creates folders to a default folder that it creates when you use it.

3. Add individual songs or full albums from your iTunes to the conversion software. Make sure the format you want to convert the music to is set to MP3. Follow the instructions on your software and begin.

4. Connect your music player to your computer after the conversion is done. Go to your Start-Up and click "Computer" to view your devices with removable storage. Your music player will be one of the options. Click on that to open and go to the folder where you add music files.

5. Bring up your folder with the newly converted MP3 files. Click and drag the files over to your music player's window. You should be able to select all and drag all at once.

Tags: music player, your music, your music player, conversion software, your iTunes

Fundraising Ideas For Public Radio Stations

Radios are becoming outdated, but there are still ways to keep revenue coming in.

Public radio stations are free for listeners and only make money with advertising revenue and fundraising events. However, with more cars equipped with MP3 player hookups and with satellite radio gaining popularity, public radio stations have to rely more on fundraising than on advertisers. With creative and entertaining fundraising activities, though, public radio stations need not worry. Listeners will stay tuned when there are events or prizes worthwhile ahead.

Membership Plans

Although public radio stations are free for anyone to listen to, you can still set up a "membership plan" for listeners who want to receive insider information on local concerts or free items, like key chains and T-shirts. Simply promote the membership on the radio and on the radio station's website and have listeners sign up with a donation. Have different memberships available. For example, for a donation of $25 annually, listeners could receive a T-shirt and an entry into a raffle to get a chance for a DJ to interview them on the morning show. For a donation of $200, listeners will get a T-shirt, an entry to the raffle and advanced access to tickets for concerts throughout the year. This will entice regular listeners to join, not only to support the station but to also get something else in return.

Adopt-a-DJ

Radio morning shows are often referred to as "morning zoos," so you should treat the morning deejays like zoo animals and have them available for adoption, much like city zoos have animals available for adoption. This doesn't actually mean that someone will adopt the deejay, but listeners will simply give money in support of the deejay. An example would be to have a $25 adoption fee, which would include a certificate of adoption and a photo information card with information about your "zoo" animal deejay.

Promotional Concert

Many radio stations, such as Los Angeles-based KROQ (106.7) and Houston-based BUZZ (94.5), host a variety of concert events throughout the year. KROQ, for example, hosts the KROQ Weenie Roast in the summer and the KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas. The station promotes these events on air and online to generate excitement from listeners. These concerts work similarly to benefit concerts, only the concerts are benefiting the radio stations and not a major charity. These types of events are usually more festivals than regular concerts, meaning there are multiple bands performing and often, multiple stages throughout an area so that guests can see many different bands for one low price. While the radio station might not promote the event as a "fundraising event," the concerts definitely generate income for the radio station.

Party or Club Event

Most radio stations aim at a specific demographic. Alternative rock stations, for example, aim toward teens and young adults. Classic rock stations, however, aim toward middle-aged adults who are mostly male. The radio station can host an event or party to fit the demographic. A giant singles party hosted by a radio station at a local club would generate funds for an alternative rock or pop radio station. A "backyard barbecue" party may appeal to a country radio station's audience. Think of a type of party or club event that your radio station demographic would most likely be interested in, and host it. Tickets don't have to be expensive because patrons will likely spend money on drinks and food, which will help generate more revenue.

Tags: radio station, radio stations, public radio, available adoption, public radio stations

The Pros & Cons Of Marketing Communication Tools

Neon storefront signs are marketing communication tools.

Marketing is the arm of business concerned with communicating with customers, and marketers have a range of communication tools at their disposal to spread marketing messages. Each marketing communication tool features its own strengths and weaknesses, and each is best suited for specific situations, target markets and industries. Understanding the pros and cons of marketing communication tools can help you to craft the ideal marketing strategy for your business and brands.

Advertising

The advantages of advertising have allowed it to remain the dominant form of marketing communication for decades. Advertising messages can utilize a range of media, including television, radio, magazines and the Internet. Advertisements can be custom-tailored to a niche audience or designed to appeal to a wide audience.

The cons of advertising continue to grow with each passing year, however. Advertising's saturation of visible space and sound waves has caused a large number of people to mentally tune out advertising messages or even become offended by the bombardment. Advertising has become so undesirable in consumers' lives that new technological tools have been created to avoid them.

Public Relations

Public relations tools are a form of one-way marketing communication that informs the public about a company's philanthropic or socially responsible activities. This can help to garner a positive image in the marketplace and turn consumers into brand champions.

Not all social causes are politically neutral, however, and the wrong public relations move can send a hostile message to specific audiences. For example, consider a company that donates a large sum of money and volunteer labor time to an environmental initiative, then publishes a press release about the activity. Avid human-rights activists may become irate about the fact that the firm chose environmental issues over human rights issues and may boycott the brand because of it.

Sales

Sales often involves face-to-face communication between customers and company representatives. Personal sales processes can create positive impressions in people's minds and can help customers to find the ideal product to serve their needs.

Sales works as a two-edged sword, however, as negative experiences with salespeople can go just as far to turn a customer away and spread negative word-of-mouth advertising.

Two-Way Communication

The Internet has opened up new and powerful marketing communication tools that make dynamic, two-way communication possible across vast distances. Social media outlets, blogs and other online communication media can allow companies to communicate directly with customers and solicit valuable feedback on new products and unmet customer needs.

The downside to open, two-way communication is that people can just as easily spread negative messages about specific brands online as they can positive or constructive messages. Reading too many negative comments on a company blog, online community or social media outlet can tarnish the company's reputation and discourage first-time customers.

Tags: marketing communication, communication tools, communication that, marketing communication tools, spread negative, two-way communication

Role Of Advertisement In Business

Good advertising can promote a continual, healthy growth of your business. Advertisement can be expensive, but without it, you cannot "brand" your business image in the minds of potential clients.

Build Familiarity

If a small ad in a weekly newspaper works for you, continue to advertise in the same publication. By exposing your business to a regular audience, you build familiarity.

Good Image

Advertisement will brand your business in the hearts and minds of customers. Your message, images and attitude all come into play, so craft ads that you are proud of. Many business owners put themselves in their advertising to build a closer relationship with clients.

Good Returns

Money invested in specific types of advertising must yield a specific financial return. You don't want to waste dollars by purchasing ads in print or public media that fail to attract enough customers. Ask clients or customers where they heard about you and keep track of what works.

Stand Out in the Crowd

Your advertisement should spell out why your business helps with a very specific need. Perhaps you give personalized service for very small plumbing jobs, or maybe you plan weddings with hundreds of guests. Your ads must tell why you fit well with specific clients' needs.

Don't Look Too New

Design advertising that spells out your expertise and the years behind it. If you just opened a pastry business, emphasize that your family recipes were perfected over the past 75 years.

Memorable Words

If people can't remember something, they won't seek out your business. Advertisement should provide good one-liners that people can repeat to others. For example, "Our deli is open 24 hours" or "Our software programs serve colleges coast to coast."

Tags: your business, brand your, brand your business, business Advertisement, your business Advertisement

Create Marketing Strategies For Concert Tickets

Concert ticket sales can be enhanced by using marketing strategies.

Profitable concert promoters understand the balance between successful promotion, price and overall sales. Creating successful marketing strategies for concert tickets requires a strong knowledge of the local market and the overall demand for the band, lineup or festival. Maximizing price, sales and location and minimizing marketing costs will result in higher profits and a successful concert. Marketing strategies should be created to fit each concert's profile that will ensure a high level of ticket sales and a low number of vacant seats.

Instructions

1. Analyze the concert potential for each location. Assess the popularity of the event and estimate the potential concert attendance for various ticket prices. Based on your initial assessment, review the available concert venues for logical ticket price distinctions and capacity. Match the concert venue with anticipated demand at the mid- to highest-price ticket level for profit maximization.

2. Select a concert date that enhances marketability. Concerts on weekends and at night have a different potential audience than concerts scheduled during the day or on weekdays. Match the type and target market of the concert with available dates at your preferred venue. Schedule multi-location concerts based on population in each city. Cities with greater concert attendance potential should be scheduled for dates and times that are most optimal for attendance.

3. Set ticket prices based on anticipated demand at a level that should allow a capacity crowd. Setting prices too high will limit profits due to low attendance, and prices set too low will limit potential revenue. Assess price levels for tickets based on the venue layout and seat-quality distinctions. Consider offering volume sales discounts and and other promotional tactics to ensure a high level of sales, preferably soon after tickets first go on sale.

4. Determine the media mix for advertising. Use the concert's target market to determine the types of media that are most likely to reach your intended audience. For top-40 popular groups, primarily advertising through a mixture of Internet-based and radio advertising may be the most cost-effective method, while a symphony concert may require a mixture of targeted direct mail, public radio and television advertisements. Select the mode of advertising media that minimizes cost and increases exposure to likely concert-goers.

5. Review the success of ticket sales. Monitor ticket sales and adjust advertising methods and penetration based on the success of ticket sales. Increase penetration through additional advertisements or promotional activities if ticket sales are sluggish, and decrease spending as ticket availability diminishes.

6. Consider alternative sources of revenue as part of your marketing mix. Advertisements listed on concert tickets, event signage and even concert promotions can be a positive source of concert revenue that should be included in your marketing strategy.

Tags: ticket sales, anticipated demand, concert attendance, ensure high, ensure high level

What Does A Commercial Account Executive Position Get Paid

Account executives are paid to market advertising to businesses.

Commercial account executives are advertising sales representatives who sell advertisements to businesses on behalf of television and radio stations, newspapers, magazines and other places business advertise, such as websites. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were over 145,000 advertising account executives employed throughout the United States in 2010. Salaries for these account executives depends upon various factors such as the account executive's employer, location and the type of advertising sold.

Pay Scale

Advertising account executives earned an average salary of $55,020 per year, as of May 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bureau indicates that account executives typically earned salaries ranging from $22,780 to $96,040 per year. Those in the lower 10 percent of the pay scale made less than the former figure, while those in the upper 10 percent of the pay scale made more than $96,040. Those in the middle 50 percent of the pay scale earned salaries ranging from $31,350 to $68,040, with a reported median salary of $45,350.

Employers

The type of advertising the account executive does plays a role in determining how much he is paid. For instance, the BLS indicates that those working in the newspaper industry made an average salary of $46,660 per year in 2010. Those working specifically for advertising agencies made $61,690, while those working in the radio and television advertising field made $53,970. The highest-paid commercial account executives made $68,640, working in the broad field of "other information services."

Location

Where the advertising account executive works also plays a role in determining how much he is paid. For instance, the Bureau of Labor Statistics points out that the highest-paid account executives worked in Connecticut, Arizona, New York, Illinois and Maryland, making average salaries in excess of $64,500 per year. Those employed in California made $61,800, while those working in Florida brought home an average salary of $46,680.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for account executives appears to be positive, based on the projections made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bureau indicates slow but steady job growth in this field. The number of jobs is expected to grow by 7 percent during this time frame. Many of the opportunities will be found in website advertising, cable and other forms of media besides print advertising. Print advertising is expected to decline significantly and offset some of the new job growth in other industries within this field.

Tags: account executives, Bureau Labor, Bureau Labor Statistics, Labor Statistics, advertising account

Daycare Business Tax Deductions

When you provide daycare services to parents as a business, tax deductions are available for your daycare service. Salaries and supplies, as well as vehicles are just a few of the expenses the tax laws allow you to deduct. In addition, if you run your daycare from your home, you can deduct many household expenses that you pay already, increasing your after-tax profit even more.

Salaries

If you hire teachers and assistants for your daycare center, the salary that you pay them is a legitimate business expense that can be deducted on your IRS Schedule C. If you are a sole proprietorship, your own salary is not considered deductible, because the business income is your income; a tax return is not filed seperately. Family member's salaries that you pay should be deductible as long as you are paying market value for their services, and they are legitimately working at the daycare.

Furniture, Equipment and Supplies

Any specific furniture that you use in the daycare business may be deductible. This would include infant cribs, beds, tables and chairs. Computers may also be deductible expenses. This would apply to a computer you use for operating the business and performing bookkeeping tasks, as well as any computers used for education or entertainment of the children that you care for. You may also deduct the price of office supplies used in daycare operation, or craft supplies and books for the children. Some equipment may need to be depreciated over several years.

Vehicle Expenses

If you provide pickup or drop-off services for the children, or provide transportation to other activities, you can deduct expenses related to your vehicle. If you have a vehicle that you use exclusively for business, then all of the expenses relating to those vehicles are a deductible daycare expense. If you use a personal vehicle partially for business, you can deduct the business portion of your vehicle expenses. Keep careful records of your business and personal use by the mile, as well as your actual vehicle expenses. You can choose to deduct the business percentage of the actual expenses or a fixed amount per mile.

Home Daycare Expenses

Many people operate a daycare business out of their home. If you do this, you can deduct certain expenses for business use of the home. With a daycare, you do not have to meet the IRS exclusive use rules. Calculate how many hours per year you use a portion of your home for daycare, and calculate that as a percentage of the number of hours in a year. Next, figure out what percentage of the square footage of your home is used for your daycare business. Multiply the two percentages together to calculate the allowable percentage of your deductible home expenses. Home expenses include mortgage interest and maintenance, as well as utilities and taxes. You claim these expenses on form 8829, business use of the home.

Tags: your daycare, your home, business home, daycare business, deduct business

Create Cj Redirects

Creating redirects for your CJ affiliate links is a user-friendly operation.

Commission Junction, also referred to as CJ, is a platform where Internet marketers can find various digital products they can promote online as affiliates to earn commissions. When you choose a product you want to promote on your website, Commission Junction assigns you a unique URL known as an affiliate link. This link has an ID that enables CJ to track sales you've made and commissions you've earned. Some marketers create redirects with their CJ affiliate links to make them look cleaner and to conceal their affiliate ID. This can swiftly be accomplished by using an HTML code.

Instructions

1. Launch the HTML editor or the administrator tool you operate to program the website where you promote affiliate products available at CJ.com.

2. Click the "New Page" button to create a new page for your site. For example, if the domain name of your site is "www.mypersonalaffiliatesite.com," you can name the new page after the product your are promoting. This will be displayed like this: "www.mypersonalaffiliatesite.com/nameproductyoupromote."

3. Use your mouse to highlight the HTLM code below. Right-click on the code once it's highlighted and click "Copy."

4. Paste the HTML code in the "Code" region of the new page you created for your site. The code can be pasted by pressing "Ctrl" and "V" at the same time, or by right-clicking on the "Code" region and clicking the "Paste" option.

5. Add the affiliate link from Commission Junction that you want to create a redirect for in the part of the HTML code that says "http://www.yourdomain.com/index.html." Click "Save" to save the changes.

6. Use the URL address of the new page to redirect and mask the desired CJ affiliate link. When wanting to direct people to the site selling the product you are promoting, use the URL of the new page you created (www.mypersonalaffiliatesite.com/nameproductyoupromote). People will now be redirected to the site corresponding to the CJ affiliate link without being able to see your Commission Junction affiliate link; they will see the name of the new page you created instead.

Tags: affiliate link, Commission Junction, HTML code, page created, your site

Place Successful Free Classified Ads

The Internet has made it possible to place classified ads online for free. Anyone with a computer and Internet connection can go to one of many high-traffic free classified sites and post an ad for just about anything. Many of the sites offer listing posts by demographics and specific categories. Some of the biggest classified ad sites are free but may charge a nominal fee for extra features added to your posting. Placing successful free classified ads involves going to one of the more popular free classified websites and following the simple instructions.

Instructions

1. Open your web browser and navigate to Craigslist.org.

2. Click on "post to classifieds" link at the top left of craigslist web page.

3. Click on the category you want to place the ad under.

4. Fill in the necessary information for the ad, including title, location and the ad's description.

5. Check and preview your ad and then submit to post. You will receive an email to confirm it in your inbox. Click to confirm it and the ad is posted.

Tags: free classified, classified sites

8th Grade Graduation Field Trip Ideas

Take your students to the beach for a day of fun and sun.

To reward your students for graduating from middle school into high school, you should create a memorable field trip experience. Obviously, a limited budget for your school or students can limit the potential destinations, but even a small excursion can be extremely enjoyable. Once you have determined a fair budget that incorporates what the school can part with and what the child's parents can spare, then you will have a much better idea of what trips you can go on. Try to set aside a few extra spots on the trip to allow students who are financially disadvantaged to go.

Nearby City

While it can be difficult to keep track of a large group when traveling to a large urban area, students will have a hard time forgetting their experience. Traveling to a nearby city requires setting up several tourist destinations like an aquarium, a history museum or a national landmark. Also, as each city has its own unique architecture, you can use the trip to follow up on your eighth-grade architecture, city planning, and technology education lessons. You will need to rent out a bus, which can be a school bus or an air-conditioned coach bus if you can afford the additional cost. It is a good idea to keep the students together in a certain area, giving them very little leeway to go off walking on their own.

State Capital

Touring the state capital with your students can give them a better sense of how the government functions. This will tie in directly with your eighth grade units on government, social studies and politics. Call ahead to the offices of your state governor and senators to see what kinds of tours they offer. Often, you will be able to find an inexpensive or free tour for your students. Tour as many government buildings as you can, and gain access to any archived pictures or video presentations as well. If you live in a state with historical significance like one with a civil war battlefield or the site of an important moment in history, you can plan to stop there on the way to the state capital.

Festivals

Depending on the time of year of your trip and the location within the country, there are often many different festivals you can visit. You could visit a cultural festival like a German, Polish or Irish celebration and sample the food and the festivities to tie in to your 8th grade lessons on world history. There may be a literary or artistic festival in your area replete with various types of art, literature, dancing and music for your children to experience. These festivals will expose your students to forms of art they've never seen and can pursue further in high school. One entertaining type of festival is a Renaissance Fair, which allows your children to eat the food of the middle ages while watching jousting and human chess. Students will appreciate the ability to walk around at the festival and experience what it has to offer.

Beach

If you live in a warm part of the country and are within several hours of the ocean, a day beach trip works well for a graduation field trip. Lead students around the boardwalk to look for food and souvenirs, or they can go into the water to swim and play water sports. Also, as many eighth grade curriculum include units on oceanography, the tide and the environment, there are many science tie-ins you can make during your trip. Depending on how far away you are from the ocean, it may be the first time that some children have seen it at that age, which will truly be memorable. Make sure your kids wear plenty of sunscreen and that they reapply after going into the water.

Tags: your students, eighth grade, field trip, high school, into water, state capital, will have

Radio Broadcasting Laws

Broadcasters first started making use of the "people's" airwaves in the 1920s, and it quickly became apparent that some rules needed to be established. For example, radio stations needed to reserve frequencies to prevent others from making use of them. As more people bought radios and different kinds of programming were developed, the Federal Communications Commission and other bodies paved the way for certain laws to be passed by Congress. Even though radio is no longer the most popular media around, there are still laws to govern use of the airwaves.

Licensing

In order to legally broadcast, radio stations must be licensed by the FCC. This involves purchasing a frequency or a station that already possesses it. When someone broadcasts without a license, even at low power, they are operating a "pirate" radio station."

Public Interest

AM (amplitude modulation) and FM (frequency modulation) radio operates in a small sliver of the electromagnetic spectrum. Much like the air or sunlight, there is a finite number of radio frequencies, and the U.S. government has maintained that they must be maintained in "the public interest." The FCC requires all stations to be licensed and that all stations maintain a file that documents what the station has done to operate in the public interest to help justify the station's possession of a license. According to the FCC, this file must be accessible to the public during the station's operating hours.

Emergency Information

In order to give the public the information they need to stay safe, radio stations are bound by law to broadcast emergency notices. For example, if there is a tornado watch in the area, all broadcast stations must report about it. In terms of radio, this means at least a verbal interruption of programming.

Payola

Many radio stations play music, and this exposure can mean a lot of money for the record companies who benefit from sales of the records. In hopes of getting records repeated airplay on a station, record companies would pay influential DJs to play certain records. In the 1950s, this was ruled illegal and was called payola. The law now states that a station must disclose if they receive money in exchange for presenting programming. That's why all infomercials on radio are preceded by such a notice.

Power Reduction

FM radio signals travel in a straight line, which means their range is restricted by the curvature of the earth. AM signals, however, can bounce off of the ionosphere, allowing a station to be heard up to hundreds of miles away from its broadcasting tower. The FCC mandates that most AM stations reduce their output at night, so as not to interfere with other AM stations.

Tags: radio stations, public interest, record companies, stations must

Information On Sec Filings

New York Stock Exchange.

A security is a financial investment, such as a stock or a bond. There are many other types of securities, such as derivatives and treasury notes. These securities are bought and sold on financial markets, and the markets need regulation to protect the investor. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is the federal agency that regulates the securities market in the United States. It regulates the exchange of American or foreign stocks on U.S. markets.

Securities And Exchange Commission

The SEC was created during The Great Depression to restore investors’ confidence in the financial markets. Its chief concern is to oversee the disclosure of financial information, to maintain fairness and to protect investors against fraud. It also supervises professionals and organizations in the financial markets.

Laws

There are several laws governing financial disclosure. The most important are the following:

The Securities Act of 1933 was the first law to require the disclosure of financial information to investors. It requires that securities register with the SEC and describe the security, the issuing company and its management, and to file financial statements.

The Securities Act of 1933 established the SEC and required registered companies to report regularly to that agency.

The Sarbanes-Okley Acy of 2002 was a law reforming financial regulation and enhancing corporate responsibility and enhancing financial disclosure.

The Filings

There are many dozens of filings required by the SEC. In general, the most important are these:

Annual reports (10-K’s) include the company’s financial statements: balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.

Quarterly reports (10-Q’s) must be filed every three months. They summarize the business’s activities for the last quarter.

Proxy statements solicit the votes of investors. They must include all important information on the issues involved.

Prospectuses describe a security that’s being offered for sale.

Current reports (8-K’s) describe significant corporate events, such as acquisitions and changes in corporate governance.

Delivery

Most important filings filed can be accessed directly from the SEC on its website. The database is called Edgar. If you type in the name of a business, it will return all that company’s filings since 1996. You can filter results by form type. For more complex searches, there are various other search screens on Edgar.

Forms that haven’t been filed electronically can be ordered with an online form or by mail. In addition, there are a number of companies that will deliver the forms to you.

Use

SEC filings are indispensable for the investor. They are the chief tools he has in making decisions about which securities to buy or sell. Financial professionals rely heavily on the SEC for the same reason.

Corporate management needs this information to make decisions about the company's activities and to monitor its industry and competitors.

Tags: financial markets, decisions about, describe security, disclosure financial, disclosure financial information

Media Placement Careers

Media placement specialists may place ads on billboards.

Media placement specialists, often known as media buyers or media planners, work in the field of advertising to find the best placement for advertising in the media. Media includes radio, television, newspapers, magazines and any other place where the advertising may be seen or heard by potential customers. Media placement specialists may work in advertising agencies, for media planning agencies or independently.

Media Buyer

Media buyers work for advertising or media placement agencies to buy advertising space for customers. They negotiate the pricing of the advertising, find out the specifications necessary for the ads to provide information to the creative team and monitor that the advertising is happening as planned. Media buyers may work in many types of media, such as television, radio, newspapers and magazines, or they may focus on one particular type of media. A day in the life of a media buyer includes meetings with advertising clients, negotiation meetings with media representatives, meetings with media planners and many phone calls and emails to sort out details.

Media Planner

Media planners work to find the best places for ads for advertising clients for the least amount of money. This includes evaluating the demographic information of media locations, looking at editorial content to find out who is reading what and researching alternative media outlets such as billboards, the Internet, buses, airports and many more. Media planners understand which advertising outlets would provide the most information to a targeted population. A day in the life of a media planner would include meetings with clients, meetings with media representatives, research, phone calls with clients and media representatives and many emails.

Salary, Job Outlook, and Other Information

Media placement is a competitive field where individuals work long hours to achieve the goals of their clients. Many of the jobs are located in larger cities such as Los Angeles and New York, but other opportunities are offered in some smaller cities as well. Travel may be involved to meet with clients and negotiate media buying and planning. A four-year bachelor's degree is often required, but in some cases work experience may be substituted. Master's degrees in advertising are desired for certain managerial positions. The field is not expected to have significant growth of jobs, but positions will need to be filled for those retiring or changing careers. The average salary for an advertising professional is $747 per week, but this may vary considerably depending on experience and success in the field.

Tags: meetings with, Media placement specialists, media representatives, meetings with media, placement specialists

Create A Benefit Concert Series

There is no better way to gain attention to a cause than to use a benefit concert. These events are a perfect way for fans of a particular artist or genre of music to see their favorites at a live show, all while supporting a good cause. You'll feel good spending money for a concert that will go to a good cause.

Instructions

Decide on the Purpose

1. Pick a cause for the event. The name of the event should integrate the cause you're promoting.

2. Pick a genre that should appeal to the audience from whom you're expecting support.

3. Select dates that you would like to book for the series.

4. Propose venues that you would like to hold the series.

5. Determine the initial cost of promoting and organizing the series.

Organizing The Series

6. Divide your tasks among other people you are working with to promote the concerts.

7. Begin calling area businesses, radio and television stations to ask for their support in sponsoring this series.

8. Contact area charities and other agencies with similar interests to ask them if they would like to attach their name to the cause.

9. Sign agreements with all interested parties. These agreements can range from financial to banner space at the venue or in the promotion of the event.

Booking The Venue

10. Apply for any or all licenses needed to promote or hold a public event at your local city hall or county courthouse.

11. Call area venues and tell them your intent for the date you specified in the first section's Step 3, and see if the date is available.

12. Provide adequate copies of any licenses you got from your municipality.

13. Sign any contracts and pay the owners of the venue for the time you want to hold the event. The amount varies by venue.

14. Hire a reputable security firm to maintain order for concert patrons before, during and after the concert.

Booking The Artists

15. Decide on the artists you would like to perform at the concert.

16. Contact the representatives for that artist and tell them about the concert and its cause.

17.Sign an agreement with the artist to perform at the event. Pay the fee that the artist or record label asks promoters to pay in order for the artist to perform. If the cause is something the artist believes in, the artist may work for free.

Tags: would like, artist perform, cause Sign, good cause, tell them

What Are Some Of The Consequences Of Using Alcohol Tobacco & Drugs

Knowing the negative impact associated with substance use can help discourage it.

Drugs, tobacco and alcohol can have permanent and deadly consequences. Casual drug, tobacco and alcohol use can quickly develop into an addiction severely impacting your life. These substances can drain your finances, alienate you from family and friends, and lead to a host of medical issues. Knowing the consequences of these substances helps users realize how harmful they actually are.

Family Consequences

According to Linda Mooney in "Understanding Social Problems," children living in homes where at least one parent has drug or alcohol problems are at higher risk for neglect, abuse, behavioral disorders and absenteeism from school. The chances of developing a substance abuse problem is four times higher for children of alcoholics than children of non-alcoholics. Men with heavy drinking habits are also more likely to hit their partner than men who are not heavy drinkers. Smoking habits can interfere with family relationships because smoking can sicken or annoy people around you, making them less likely to want to be around you because of the exposure to secondhand smoke.

Legal Consequences

Drug and alcohol use often leads to major legal problems. According to the Bureau of Justice, 26 percent of violent crime victims reported the offender was using drugs or alcohol at the time of the offense. In 2004, 32 percent of state prisoners and 26 percent of federal prisoners said they were under the influence of drugs when they committed their crimes. Juveniles with substance abuse problems are more likely to become involved in serious fights at school or engage in other acts of delinquency.

Economic and Employment Consequences

The use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs impacts the economy and workforce in many ways. According to Mooney, Americans spent $36 billion on cocaine, $11 billion on marijuana and $10 billion on heroin in 2003. In 2007, youth alcohol-related traffic accidents cost taxpayers $13 billion dollars. Drug users are reported to have a less stable job history than non-drug users, and alcoholics are said to earn less money than moderate drinkers or people who don't drink. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Americans shelled out $83 billion for cigarettes in 2006.

Medical Consequences

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, abusing almost any drug harms organs and tissues in the body. Drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine can increase heart rate and restrict blood flow, which can lead to heart attacks in some people. Heavy drinking increases the risk for developing liver disease, malnutrition, heart disease and certain cancers. According to the American Cancer Association, tobacco use is responsible for one in five deaths in the U.S. and it accounts for 30 percent of all cancer deaths. Smoking tobacco is also known to cause other health problems such as heart disease, aneurysms, bronchitis, emphysema and stroke.

Tags: Consequences According, heart disease, more likely, substance abuse, tobacco alcohol, with substance

About Customer Appreciation Letters

In a hectic world where people often barely acknowledge you (let alone show you their appreciation), customer appreciation letters are a way for companies to connect with consumers. As a business owner, realizing the tremendous potential of demonstrating your appreciation for customers through a quick, hassle-free letter presents your company with a strong competitive edge.

The Facts

Everyone loves to feel appreciated. In fact, a study, by Hallmark Business Expressions revealed that 73 percent of consumers, when asked about their receptiveness to business communication via a greeting card or letter, indicated a positive response. These responses included appreciating the gesture, feeling like the company genuinely cares about them and being more likely to do business with the company again.

In any industry, customer appreciation, even a seemingly minor gesture like an appreciation letter, is rarely utilized to its utmost potential. Professionally written, a customer appreciation letter should remain short and express the reason for showing appreciation. Traditionally, most companies also include a coupon, sample or similar item with the letter to enhance the overall effect. When written immediately following an event that warrants a written response, a customer appreciation letter can be a valuable asset to your company's marketing campaign.

Function

A customer appreciation letter is written by a company to express its thanks to a customer for patronage. Although it is a professional letter, the letter should still convey warmth and sincerity. A letter lacking a reason for writing and genuine gratitude will not fulfill the purpose of expressing appreciation.

Effects

When well written, a customer appreciation letter typically will reward the company with a loyal customer base that encourages others to become patrons of the company because the customer feels important and valued. A few letters of appreciation may serve as a company's best marketing campaign, because word-of-mouth advertising is the most compelling method of advertising.

Misconceptions

Unhappy customers do not advocate your business, so make sure your letter bridges the gap between satisfaction and loyalty. Don't allow your letter to come off as a cheap marketing ploy to increase your bottom line.

Benefits

Aside from retaining existing customers and expanding market share, customer appreciation letters are relatively inexpensive. They only cost a few cents per letter, take only moments to write and, most important, they establish a personal connection with a customer. Furthermore, when applied consistently and strategically, customer appreciation letters can result in exponential growth and profitability.

Significance

Customer appreciation letters strengthen a company's relationship with its customer base. Such a small token of gratitude can make your company memorable.

A customer appreciation letter can be a surefire way of convincing customers to perceive a product or service as being of higher quality, simply because of the personal connection established. This type of perception results in increased market share and an expanded bottom line for the company.

Tags: appreciation letter, customer appreciation letter, customer appreciation, customer appreciation, customer appreciation letters, your company

Promote Online Ads To Businesses That Don'T Understand Online Media

Show companies the benefit of online advertising.

Advertisers spent nearly $23 billion in online advertising in 2009, according to a report from the Interactive Advertising Bureau, and those numbers keep going up. Most companies have jumped on the online advertising bandwagon, but not everybody is on board. Companies that are used to traditional media, such as print and television advertising, might not see the value in taking on a new advertising approach. Finding ways to persuade these companies to advertise online takes time and promotional efforts.

Instructions

1. Explain the different forms of online advertising, such as email newsletters, banner ads, email blasts, online contests, social media and sponsorships.

2. Demonstrate the ease of targeting the right consumers and online users. Geo-targeting is simple to reach consumers in specific target markets. Contextual advertising helps target consumers who are viewing topics similar to the business that is paying for ads. Behavioral targeting takes online purchases, searches and other factors into consideration.

3. Use empirical data to show the business how cost effective online advertising can be if used correctly. Online ads will reach very targeted customers to increase conversion rates. Online advertising also costs less on a cost-per-thousand basis, when compared to other forms of traditional media.

4. Introduce the business to free forms of online advertising, such as social media and directory listings. Nobody can pass up free advertising.

5. Show the business decision-makers case studies on the effectiveness of online advertising. Use empirical data to demonstrate sales, reach, frequency and targeting messaging benefits of online advertising.

Tags: online advertising, advertising such, empirical data, forms online, forms online advertising, online advertising such

Fundamentals Of Corporate Credit Analysis

Corporate credit is the qualification a company has to obtain a loan through a bank or lender. Companies borrow money for various reasons, although the majority of financing is for long-term assets or capital improvements. Before entering into a debt agreement with a business, banks and lenders will conduct a corporate credit analysis to assess the company's ability to repay borrowed funds. Most lenders conduct the same review process for all companies, while taking into consideration the size of the business.

Business Risk

Business risk is the potential for a company to have significant financial losses resulting from business operations. The risks can come from high levels of competition, poor economic conditions and financial risks from debt or equity financing. While all companies face business risk, an owner's and manager's ability to respond to these situations can affect the credit analysis. Business risk can be somewhat subject because a company may look fine today but face tough times in future years.

Financial Statements

Financial statements are detailed reports of a company's financial health. Banks and lenders use this information during the credit analysis to discover trends or review the company's history of financial performance. Using several sequential financial statements also allows banks and lenders to determine if the company properly records transactions in the correct time period or if it attempts to shift items from one month to the next for a better presentation.

Financial Ratios

Financial ratios are mathematical formulas applied to financial statements. These ratios provide economic indicators which allow for a comparative analysis between the company and the industry standard. Banks and lenders will measure a company's ability to meet current short-term debt, use of assets to generate revenues, profit margin on consumer goods and services or the long-term viability of a company's business operations.

Cash Flows

Cash flows represent the money coming in or out of the business from operations, investing or financing activities. Banks and lenders review cash flows because these are quite different than reporting net income. Cash flows are important because companies must be able to generate sufficient capital to repay the bank loan. Most banks and lenders require the payments regardless of the company's financial performance.

Tags: credit analysis, Banks lenders, banks lenders, business operations, Cash flows

Advertise A Scrapbook Business

Scrapbooking is a popular hobby for many women, and a scrapbook business has a chance to thrive among those interested in the hobby if enough people know about the business. To advertise a scrapbook business, advertising should be done in the local area as well as online. This means more customers because the advertising doesn't limit itself to the local area and doesn't neglect the potential customers from areas where scrapbooking supplies and services may be scarce.

Instructions

1. Create your own website that advertises your scrapbook supplies or the services that you provide. Include plenty of pictures to get people interested in the shapes and colors that you can provide for them. Scrapbookers love detail, so take plenty of close-up pictures of the shapes you punch or of the punches themselves if you sell them. You can create a free website through Webs or Squidoo.

2. Print fliers in your local print shop or with your computer to advertise your business. Include contact information such as your website address or your store address if you have one. If you offer scrapbooking services such as custom-made pages, include an email address and a photo of a page you have made. Put up the fliers in places where your demographic is likely to gather. The most likely demographic is women who are in their late teens to middle age. Try health clubs, local schools, grocery stores and family restaurants.

3. Submit a press release about your business to the local media. Contact the local media about profiling you for a news story if an offer is not extended to you. The smaller the town you are in, the easier it will be to get your business featured in the local paper and perhaps on the local newscast.

4. Get business cards printed with your website address, email address and the nature of your scrapbooking business. Hand them out to everyone that you meet.

5. Rent a booth at local and regional craft shows to show people in person what you can do or what you sell. These booths are usually inexpensive and are well trafficked by people with craft hobbies. Bring along business cards and order forms to make it easier for people to buy from you or to look up your website later.

Tags: your website, your business, business cards, email address, local area, local media

Promote Online Content Articles

Promote Online Content Articles

Those who write content articles for extra money or as a living, may want to know how they can promote their work. Some websites offer extra incentives for clicks that lead to their articles. With some basic email marketing, online networking, and joining other article sharing sites, it can be easy to get your name noticed on the internet. The steps below can easily help content writers promote their articles.

Instructions

1. Join different message boards that are related to the topics that you write about. If members have questions about any of the topics that you write, you can lead them to links to your articles. Always include a link to your articles in your signature line for your message board accounts.

2. Design a website that features a mini biography about you, and also links to some of your recent articles. Find widgets that you can put on your website that will automatically update articles that you write. For example, writers from the Associated Content website can design a widget and place it on their websites or blogs. It stays updated on all of the recent articles that have been published.

3. Create a blog and share it with your friends, family, and co-workers. Join blogging communities where you can let members know about recent posts to your blogs. Copy parts of your articles on your blogs, and then include a link where readers can click to read the article in its entirety.

4. Start an email newsletter. Put a link on your website or blog where members can subscribe to your newsletter. Write about your current article topics, and include links to recent content that you have written. Ask friends, family, coworkers, or other members of websites that you belong to, if they would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

5. Open an account at content sharing websites such as EzineArticles.com, ArticleCity, and Articlesemporium.com. You won't get paid for your article submissions, but you will get free exposure for all of your content. Some of the websites even allow signatures where you can include links of your choice, and also links within your articles as well.

6. SIgn up for a free account with myspace or facebook. Share links to your articles with friends and family through these very popular networking website communities.

Tags: your articles, friends family, links your, that write, also links, articles that

What Jobs Are Available In The Field Of Marketing

A sales agent is one job position among many within the field of marketing.

Marketing involves anything related to the development, production, sale, promotion or distribution of products, services or events. Marketing positions are plentiful and employment can be found with media groups, design agencies, marketing companies and the marketing department of many businesses, hospitals, organizations and corporations. Some workers may perform the tasks of multiple job positions. Although job openings may be easy to find, competition for these jobs is stiff.

Media/Print Material

Television, print publications, radio, the Internet, billboards, brochures and signage are a few ways to advertise a business, product, service or event. Ad text is written by copywriters; computer layouts are designed by graphic designers; printers create multiple copies of packaging, ads and promotional material; and web designers maintain an Internet presence with the upkeep of a company's website. Creative or art directors head design departments within media firms and design agencies. Managing editors oversee those who produce content for newspapers and magazines and earn an average of $82,619 per year, according to MySalary.com in January 2011.

Advertising/Promotions

Organizations and businesses must regularly promote their events, products or services to the public. Public relations managers or specialists mold public perception and recognition of companies by issuing press releases, arranging for media coverage and publicly addressing problems with reputation. Media planners determine which advertising methods will reach large target audiences while staying within budget. Advertising managers or marketing directors supervise a company's entire advertising or marketing department. MySalary.com reported median yearly salaries for media planners of $48,667, while a May 2008 Bureau of Labor Statistics report said that public relations managers earned an average $89,430 a year and advertising managers $80,220 annually.

Product Development

The concept and physical development of products and their packaging and how they look on store shelves are key marketing elements. All aspects of product design and the manufacturing of new or redesigned products are observed by the product development director. Package design managers take the helm in the design and printing of packaging. Average annual salaries were $90,386 for package design managers and $150,874 for product development directors, according to MySalary.com.

Sales

Retail salespeople, cashiers, stockers and store clerks are marketing personnel. The way items are placed on shelves, where they are located in stores and the helpfulness of sales clerks all affect product sales. Sales representatives, sales agents and account executives must land new clients and accounts and nurture ongoing client relationships. Telemarketers, or call center representatives, make sales over the phone. MySalary.com claims yearly wages of entry-level telemarketers averaged $27,055. Sales managers--who direct sales teams--earned an average of $97,260 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Research

Information must be gathered to make sound decisions for successful marketing campaigns and product launches. Market researchers initiate surveys, public polls, product reviews and focus groups to determine what consumers want. The results are studied by marketing analysts who play a role in designing or reconfiguring a marketing strategy. Sales analysts focus on sales projections, while product marketing analysts focus on product effectiveness. Yearly entry-level pay averages $58,165 for product marketing analysts and $47,239 for sales analysts, reveals MySalary.com.

Tags: average year, marketing analysts, according MySalary, analysts focus, average year according

Early 1900s House Paint Colors

Whether you're painting your circa-1904 home or would just like to give your new home a vintage look, choosing a paint color for an early 1900s home is key to giving your home the finishing touch to make it period-perfect. Does this Spark an idea?

The Perfect Paint for Your House

All houses built in the early 1900s were not the same. Many different architectural styles flourished during this era. Knowing your home's architectural style will help you to choose the paint that's right for your home. Likewise, if your home was not built in the early 1900s, but is built in the style of homes from that period, knowing just what style your home is will determine your color scheme.

Here are some of the most popular architectural home styles of the early 1900s:

Late Victorian Style

The late Victorian era of architecture spilled over from the 1800s into the early 1900s and is characterized by high roofs, horizontal wood siding, long, somewhat shallow porches, "gingerbread" cut-out and molding details on the porches and eaves, tall, narrow windows, and turrets.

Most houses built in this late Victorian style were originally painted in pastel colors, such as yellows, pinks, sky blues and white. Oftentimes, the gingerbread trim is painted in one or two contrasting colors.

Arts and Crafts/Bungalow Style

In the early 1900s, the highly-detailed Victorian style gave way to the simpler, more modern Arts and Crafts style, typified by the bungalow home. Less about the fussy details that were the hallmark of the Victorian style and more about a strong, well-crafted look, these homes--usually one or one and a half stories--are typified by their low-pitched roofs and deep porches and are often built of a combination of wood and stone siding.

Just as the materials and design of the Arts and Crafts/bungalow home were a departure from the Victorian style, so were the color choices. The paint colors used on these homes are more organic, usually in shades of brown, green, orange and tan, with white trim on eaves and other details.

Cotswold Cottage

The Edwardian era of the early 1900s was typified by another popular home design of the time--Cotswold cottage.

Built to resemble the cottage homes of Great Britain, Cotswold cottage homes feature high, deep roofs, often shingled to mimic thatching, a chimney at the front of the house, mullioned windows and an arched door.

The Cotswold cottage is often clad in brick or stone siding accented with stucco painted in traditional colors such as green, white or red. Conversely, some Cotswold cottages are stucco accented with stone or brick. In this case, the stucco is often a more muted color, such as tan or white.

What Color Was Your House?

If you are repainting a vintage home from the early 1900s, you may be interested in determining your home's original color. While not always possible, many times you can find your home's original paint scheme underneath the layers of paints that have come and gone.

One way to determine a home's original paint color is to use the bull's eye method. Find an area of the home that is both protected from the elements and difficult for painters to reach, then sand in concentric circles until you have reached the earliest layer of paint.

Another way to find a home's original paint color is to chip away paint from a protected area until you reach the bottom layer of paint.

Tags: your home, early 1900s, home original, Victorian style, Arts Crafts

Sponsorship To Work In Australia

Australia is a country that welcomes skilled overseas workers to its shores.

U.S. migration to Australia increased by more than 50 percent between 2000 and 2006, according to Migration Policy Institute data. With the right qualifications and experience, U.S. workers can live and work in Australia through employer sponsorship.

The Facts

A Temporary Business (Long Stay) - Standard Business Sponsorship (Subclass 457), known as a 457 visa, entitles you to work in Australia for four years for your sponsoring employer. If you change jobs, you need a new visa sponsored by your new employer.

Eligibility

Eligibility for the 457 visa requires an offer of employment in Australia for an occupation on the Employer Nominated Scheme Occupations List, a government list of all occupations eligible for Australian sponsorship. You also must have appropriate qualifications and experience for the job, and demonstrated English proficiency.

Dependents

Sponsored workers may bring immediate family--spouse/partner and dependent children--with them on a 457 visa.

Applying

The application process involves submitting an application form and required documents and application fee to the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship. As at July 2010, it costs $260 for a visa application; $70 for nomination; and $340 for sponsorship.

Considerations

Most reputable employers have a preferred immigration agent and will pay agent fees. The Australian government requires immigration agents to have a license.

Tags: qualifications experience, work Australia

Get A Hilton Promotional Code

Get a Hilton Promotional Code

Hilton, like other major hotel conglomerates, issues promotional codes and coupons that apply at Hilton Hotels and its affiliates, which include Doubletree, Embassy Suites and Hampton Inns. Whichever of the Hilton hotels you choose for your stay, you may be able to find a number of potential coupons to reduce your costs.

Instructions

1. Visit Hilton's website to find out what promotions or discounts they are offering directly. Search their section under specials and packages to see if any of the packages like the fall getaway or free breakfasts fit your needs.

2. Enroll in Hilton's HHonors reward program because members receive certain offers that are not available to others. Sign up to receive emails that contain special offers. Check your rewards account or email regularly to keep aware of deals that will help you plan in advance.

3. Book early. With all hotels there's a discounted rate for advance bookings. Hilton offers a 30 percent discount off the best available rate when you make a reservation three months in advance with a 30 percent deposit. There are seasonal specials, romance packages and by location specials available as well. Visit the Hilton website regularly to see which seasonal options are on special.

4. Check coupon "warehouse" websites like Couponheaven.com, Retailmenot.com and Dealtaker.com, which offer available promotions by merchant. Search for Hilton and look through the posted offers. Couponheaven.com states that online Hilton coupons are rare, but they update the offers as often as possible. Retailmenot.com offers user success rates for the coupons or codes they post, even distinguishing between "reliable" and "unreliable" codes. The unreliable codes may have location-specific limitations or be time limited.

5. Read the fine print on any online coupon to determine what potential blackout dates or extra fees could be tied into the discounts. Time limits are the most common boundaries on a promotional code. Some discounts require a certain number of days advance booking.

Tags: Hilton Promotional, Hilton Promotional Code, Hilton website, Promotional Code, unreliable codes

Marketing Strategies For Law Firms

While the primary job of a law firm is to defend clients or prosecute those who have done clients wrong, to find success, law firms often also need to engage in effective marketing. Without a strong marketing strategy, or a combination of effective strategies, law firms will not succeed in luring in paying clients and will not be financially solvent for long.

Community Event Sponsorship

Law firms can draw attention to themselves by playing an active role in the communities they serve. One effective way to do this is to sponsor community events. By supporting street fairs, cultural festivals or sport teams financially, firms can keep themselves visible and potentially increase the likelihood that those in the community will turn to them for their legal needs.

Ad Repetition

Instead of simply playing an ad once, law firms should use ad repetition as a means of attracting customers, suggests AttourneysOnlineInc. By showing the same ad repeatedly, law firms can increase the likelihood that the message presented in the ad sticks with potential clients.

Publicly Placed Print Ads

Print advertisements placed in conspicuous public places can attract attention from community members. Law firms can place ads on bus stop benches or shelter houses, display building-side posters or take out billboards featuring their company name, as well as the type of law they practice. By doing so, they can improve the chances that their name is the one that pops into potential clients' minds.

Website Advertising

When individuals need to find an attorney, they often take their search online. Law firms can improve the chances that they are ultimately selected as representation by making their web presence a strong one. All law firms should establish and maintain a website that displays pertinent information about their law firm to ensure that potential customers can find information rapidly if need be.

Referral Programs

Often one happy customer can translate into many. Instead of investing all of their money in advertisements, law firms can encourage previous customers to bring in friends and family in need of legal services by creating a referral program. For example, the firm can tell current customers that if they refer a friend or family member they will receive a discount on services rendered.

Tags: chances that, firms should, improve chances, improve chances that, increase likelihood, increase likelihood that

What Does A Music Promoter Do

What Does a Music Promoter Do?

Music promoters produce live concerts, be they local events or national acts. A promoter can be an individual or a whole company, but the end result is always the same: produce an exciting live music experience. While music promotion can be rewarding, it will be stressful and time consuming as well. Promoters are responsible for the attendees, bands and venue staff; letting down any one of these can lead to a ruined reputation and career.

Music Promotion as a Business

Promoters will work with the venue on contract; sometimes the promoter will pay to rent the property, while other times the venue operator will provide compensation as a percentage of door sales and/or money made at the bar---a solid track record is needed for the former.

There are many different ways a promoter can bring folks through the door: national acts bring a large draw, and "pay to play" is popular when promoting local acts. Through pay to play, a band literally buys tickets from the promoter to sell for their show; it's not popular among bands but it guarantees profit for the promoter.

Contracts

Music promotion is often a cash business and, as such, may lead to a number of discrepancies. Issues concerning door prices, maximum occupancy, when the venue must close (and when its allowed to start live music), how much to pay bands and what percentage promoters take home are all considered in lengthy and detailed contracts.

Promoters are often the first people attacked after an unsuccessful show. Contracts protect the promoter and the venue from unfair law suits.

Promotions

Getting people to an event is the primary goal of any promoter. There are a number of ways to accomplish this including fliers to post outside, at venues or on car windshields; email lists which grow after each event; social networking sites and event listings.

By branding the promoter or promotion company itself---rather than the bands---a loyal fan base grows that will follow the promoter to shows and events no matter who's playing.

A Well Known Promoter

Chet Helms is among the better known music promoters. He saw a market for 1960s music and embraced it, rather than exploiting it.

Helms' events became all the rage for the hippie generation living in San Fransisco with reasonable admission rates and good times. Jefferson Airplane and Grateful Dead are two bands who regularly performed for Helms.

Start Promoting

The best way to start promoting is by working with an experiences and established company or individual. Look up promotion companies in your area and give them a call asking if they need interns or part timers---you will gain valuable experience without risking your own finances or reputation.

Tags: Does Music, Does Music Promoter, live music, Music Promoter, national acts, What Does

Advertise A Homebased Travel Business On The Internet

Take your travel business beyond print advertising.

Internet advertising can be an equalizer for small businesses up against larger competition. There are several inexpensive advertising mediums entrepreneurs can employ to project their names and brands to a target audience. Programs such as search engine advertising, social media advertising and affiliate marketing can provide positive results for a relatively minimal cash outlay. The key to any advertising program is to have a specific marketing plan in mind before putting scarce financial resources toward any specific advertising medium.

Instructions

Develop and Advertising Plan

1. Establish the target market you want the advertising to reach. Research the potential customers most likely to use your services, then find out what advertising mediums will best fit your chosen audience. Local chambers of commerce can provide a starting point for demographic data to use in your research.

2. Review your current budget to see how much can be devoted to advertising. Some businesses spend up to 10 percent of their gross income on advertising. This may not be reasonable for you at first, but as your business grows, you may find your return on investment warrants an increased advertising budget. Even large, established companies seek out ways to increase their budgets. Only you can decide how much your business can afford for advertising.

3. Research available advertising mediums to decide which will be best in helping you reach your target market. If you find your readers subscribe to online travel journals, try to establish relationships with the journals in order to purchase banner advertising. Search engine marketing programs such as Google AdWords or Yahoo! Search Marketing offer pay-per-click advertising that only charge for the number of hits your business receives.

4. Review your chosen advertising medium over a few months to gauge its effectiveness. Keep track of the number of monthly website visits and sales made for an established period of time to see if the advertising has had an effect on your traffic. Ask your paying customers how they found your service to see if your chosen advertising led to a sale.

5. Expand usage of your current advertising medium, or try another approach based on your initial review. If website traffic increases but sales still lag behind, take a look at how you can possibly change your approach. For example, in banner advertising in online travel journals, try changing your banner style or information in your call to action.

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Research & Develop A Paper

A good paper starts with lots of research.

A paper is an opportunity to artfully express an argument. A well-crafted paper can provide rationale for a business decision, demonstrate what a student has learned in a class, or present important research findings. Clear papers require thorough research and authors who think through their thesis statements before they begin writing. Fleshing out a complete argument in a detailed outline is the best way to develop a paper that earns a good grade from instructors or managers.

Instructions

1. Select a topic that fits within the guidelines provided by your instructor. If yours is a business setting, choose to write about something relevant and which will reduce expenses, increase profits or improve services offered.

2. Narrow your focus to ensure that your topic is not too broad. For example, a paper about "Economics" is too broad; refine your focus to something you can address in the amount of space you are given, such as "American Economic Approaches in the 1960s."

3. Research potential topics before you begin writing. Find at least a dozen different sources that talk about your topic. For academic papers you may need 25 or more sources. Initially, it is just important to make sure your topic has been written about by many other people so that your paper is not solely your opinion. Look online and at your local, or school, library for references. Look in the "References" sections of academic papers that address your topic and research those references to see how many you can use in your paper. Newspapers, academic journals and business publications are all useful sources for researching paper topics.

4. Write a thesis statement that crystallizes the argument of your paper. It should be about five sentences long and should express the point or purpose of your paper. Develop details like what is being addressed, how it is being proved and on whose work it is based. Read thesis statements from other research papers and use them as models for developing your own. Ask your instructor to review your thesis statement and reference list before you begin writing to ensure it's viable.

5. Create a detailed outline of your paper. Start with an introduction, then move through the body copy and conclusion. Follow the guidelines of the style manual you have been instructed to use in your class, like the American Psychological Association (APA) style manual, or the Modern Language Association (MLA) manual. If you are writing a business paper, follow Associated Press (AP) style guidelines. Follow the sections that your style guide lists as the way to organize the content of your paper. Within each section, break your argument into main points and identify which research you will use to support those points.

6. Create a thorough list of resources. Verify the credibility of all sources and obtain full copies of the research you intend to cite. Organize your sources in order of how you plan to discuss them in your paper.

7. Write a rough draft of your paper. Wait a few days (if time allows) and then read it through, rewriting, editing, and checking to make sure you followed all of your outline points and thoroughly explained your thesis statement. Look for areas that you need to expand and others that need to be cut.

8. Write a second draft of your paper. Check for grammatical and spelling errors. Ask a classmate or co-worker to read your paper for clarity. Wait a few more days and re-read again, making necessary edits before turning in your paper.

9. Properly format and compile your reference list according to the specifications detailed in your style guide.

Tags: your paper, your topic, begin writing, that your, thesis statement, academic papers

Event Sales Manager Job Description

Event sales managers are the point-of-contact for all event details.

Event sales managers market, sell and coordinate event space on behalf of a hotel, restaurant, or other venue provider. They handle customer inquiries and are the point-of-contact for all event details. Event sales managers oversee the collective coordination of all event information and resources, and are responsible for account management, sales prospecting and business development.

General Responsibilities

Key activities performed by event sales managers include account management, business development, market research, sales prospecting, public relations, customer relationship management, event planning and coordination, logistics oversight, revenue management, and communications. They also prepare proposals for clients and maintain well-organized event records. Event sales managers build and maintain working relationships with internal and external partners, and leverage these relationships to deliver innovative and memorable events.

Communications and Customer Relationship Management

Event sales managers have excellent customer relationship management and communication skills. They are polished and articulate, and use these skills to manage client relationships. Event sales managers are active members of the hospitality and event planning industries, and pursue new market opportunities to increase event sales. They meet with clients regularly, and often conduct tours of the event facility. Event sales managers provide accurate and timely information to clients, vendors, and meeting planners. They continuously focus on improving customer satisfaction to create customer loyalty and deliver a positive event experience.

Event Planning

Event sales managers are responsible for all elements of event planning, including identifying event logistics and negotiating contracts. They coordinate event logistics, proactively communicate event information, and set clear expectations for event delivery. Event sales managers work well under pressure, are able to manage multiple activities simultaneously, and re-prioritize efforts when plans change or the need arises.

Event sales managers prepare detailed event reports, including sales data worksheets, cost projections and other financial metrics. They analyze and reconcile disparate event details, and consolidate the information into actionable event plans.

Qualifications

Event sales managers must have excellent interpersonal and organizational skills. High-energy and creative individuals, who possess excellent customer service and sales skills, are especially effective in this position.

Individuals interested in pursuing the position of event sales manager should have a high school diploma or GED equivalent; a bachelor's degree and/or Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) certification are preferred. In addition, employers typically require three to five years of experience in organizing and managing events, including corporate meetings, trainings, luncheons, weddings, and other special occasions.

Salary

According to national income trends from Indeed.com, the average salaries for event sales managers are 16 percent lower than average salaries for all job postings nationwide, as of 2010. The median expected salary for an event sales manager in the United States is $54,000, as of 2010, while the average salary of jobs with similar or related titles, including sales manager, sales representative and market ambassador, ranges from $32,000 to $75,000.

Tags: sales managers, Event sales managers, Event sales, event details, Event sales

Client Account Manager Job Description

A client account manager oversees a company's client base and works to increase sales.

A client account manager is a sales professional who supervises customer accounts for a business. Client account managers work diligently to increase sales for a company by maintaining existing accounts and gaining new accounts. These professionals also find opportunities to raise sales using innovative concepts for the company's current client base.

Qualifications

Client account managers are often referred to as sales managers or account managers. In order to gain this position, most companies require candidates with a bachelor's degree in either business or marketing. Depending on the nature of the business, a company may prefer an account manager to have a degree in accounting or engineering.

Clients

One major role in the description of a client account manager's job is maintaining all current clients. In order to do this, the manager keeps a good relationship with clients by doing all he can to provide the best possible service or product for them. The manager also looks for innovative ways to increase sales with current clients. In addition, a client account manager works hard finding new clients for the business. Most professionals in this line of work must meet sales quotas in order to keep their job and to receive bonuses. Increasing sales is the client account manager's No. 1 goal.

Customer Satisfaction

In order to increase sales, a good working relationship must exist between the account manager and the clients. Clients enjoy doing business with people who are easy to talk to and seem to have the client's best interest in mind. Account manager's consistently search for new services and products to keep up with future demands.

Duties

Client account managers do much more than make deals with clients. These managers work to develop better sales methods and more efficient ways of handling transactions with customers. They also analyze sales by comparing individual client sales to prior year's sales and determine ways to increase sales--especially in accounts where sales have dropped. Client managers are readily available to customers to assist in any questions or problems that may arise.

Salary

Most businesses require at least one or more years experience in a sales-related field. According to Payscale, the average salary for client account managers is between $48,137 and $91,255.

Tags: account managers, client account manager, account manager, increase sales, client account, account manager, Client account managers