What Is The Meaning Of Viral Video

Sites like YouTube have fuelled the rise of viral videos.

A viral video is an Internet video clip that becomes popular not through centralized publicity (like a blockbuster movie) but through sharing between users. Viral videos may be created completely unintentionally or may be deliberately created in the hopes of garnering publicity for an endeavour, cause or product. It is the viral spread rather than the makers' intent that makes a video viral.

The Meaning of "Viral."

The term "viral" in the context of Internet videos refers to the spread of the video through contact between users. It does not have anything to do with computer viruses. A viral video is spread when users pass the link on to each other. Viral video links can be emailed between users or shared via social networking sites and Internet message boards. Dedicated video sharing services such as YouTube can also spread videos virally.

History

Viral videos predate video sharing sites. They go back to the mid-1990s. An early viral video was the Dancing Baby animation. Appearing in 1996, this was a computer animation of a diapered infant to which users added music. Another example was the All Your Base Are Belong To Us animated .gif; this was based on a Sega game that featured badly translated English and spawned an Internet craze around the year 2000. YouTube launched in 2005, enabling users to share videos more easily.

Reasons for Popularity

Videos may "go viral" -- become widespread through sharing -- because people find them amusing; examples include the "Star Wars Kid" video and some animations. Videos of surprising or unusual events and activities such as stunts or accidents may also go viral; examples include footage of Allan McNish's Le Mans 2011 crash. Videos with appealing subjects such as children or animals may go viral, especially if the subject is behaving in an unexpected way; examples include 2011's "barking cat."

Celebrity and Cyberbullying

Viral videos have made celebrities of some, such as the UK's Geriatric1927. The negative side of Internet celebrity is the potential for severe harassment of those seen as figures of fun. The so-called "Star Wars Kid" suffered severe bullying and ostracism after bullies found a video of him playing at being a Jedi and uploaded it onto the Internet. Bullies have been known to video themselves harming others and upload the footage, which may then become viral.

Education and Awareness

Viral videos can be educational. Examples include 2007's "Battle at Kruger," an eyewitness wildlife video; and Oxfam's "pregnant breakdancing" video where a flash mob of women, dressed to appear pregnant, breakdanced to highlight the dangers of giving birth in developing nations. A dedicated YouTube-style website for educational videos, "TeacherTube," was set up in 2007.

Publicity

Commercial enterprises may create viral video campaigns to advertise products or services. Examples include Harcos Laboratires' "10 Second Zombie" videos, created to advertise novelty snacks and beverages. Political campaigns may use viral video, for example 2007's "I Got a Crush on Obama" video. Viral video can also be used to spread negative publicity, as when a disgruntled Comcast customer uploaded footage of a technician who'd fallen asleep on his couch.

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Start A Business Marketing Coop

Partnering with regional competitors can put larger corporations on the defensive.

A growing number of small businesses have discovered the power of banding together to find new customers. Instead of relying on the same tired marketing and outreach programs, business marketing co-ops allow companies to pool their resources to save money on advertising, events, and promotions. At the same time, a marketing co-op can improve customer acquisition rates by acting as a source of regular referrals. Marketing experts suggest five steps to launching a successful co-op.

Instructions

Business Marketing Co-Ops: Step by Step

1. Choose to market by industry or by neighborhood. The idea of partnering with businesses that serve the same customers might sound counterintuitive. However, companies that form a regional network of trusted partnerships can have the same kind of impact as a chain of corporate stores. While this strategy might not work for similar stores across the street from each other, "vertical" co-ops of auto body shops, caterers, florists and other service businesses have flourished by extending membership across larger geographic areas.On the other hand, a group of different businesses that serve the same geographic area can form a tight knit group that emphasizes community. A bakery, an auto dealer and a small bank might not have the same target customers, but they can all benefit by creating community awareness and passing referrals to each other.

2. Set a budget and baseline expectations. To form a successful business marketing co-op, members should contribute a fixed amount of time and resources. Some co-ops form out of members' desires to help stage special events or to respond to business opportunities. However, the most successful marketing co-ops use marketing models to set expectations for a return on investment.

3. Choose a marketing coordinator. Successful business marketing co-ops designate a specific person to lead marketing campaigns on behalf of the entire membership. In some cases, a single member of the co-op can take on this task, even rotating the role among members evenly. In the most successful co-ops, members budget for a marketing coordinator position or for a marketing consultant to handle day to day tasks. A dedicated marketing coordinator can look at the co-op's plans from a neutral perspective, while allowing members to stay focused on their own businesses.

4. Execute your first campaign. First time members of marketing co-ops tend to meet frequently, without taking much direct action. Marketing experts advise co-op leaders to work quickly instead. Even small, experimental moves can build confidence among a co-op's membership. Campaigns that leverage the strength of "vertical" co-ops include TV and radio direct response ads that refer to a common phone number or website. Community based co-ops often find success through direct mail and event sponsorships.

5. Measure success and try again. Measuring success after each campaign can assure co-op members about the effectiveness of using their marketing resources to support the group. A lack of results can allow members to bow out gracefully, preventing embarrassment or resentment in the future. In many cases, however, members enjoy the benefits of growing their own businesses while deepening their connections to their communities.

Tags: marketing co-ops, marketing coordinator, business marketing, business marketing co-ops, businesses have, businesses that, businesses that serve

The Influence Of Advertising On Business

Effective advertising drives business success.

Advertising has the potential to influence every aspect of a business. As a communications tool, ads are used to reach a diverse mix of people affected by the products or services. These audiences can include not only customers, but also employees and investors. From employee management to customer relations, companies rely on effective advertisements to influence the success of business.

Definition of Advertising

Advertising is a communications tool used to market a product, value or service. A common misconception is that advertising and marketing are the same elements. To clarify, marketing is the overall strategy that organizations develop to enhance perceived value and persuade consumers toward a purchase decision. Advertising is one of many marketing tools used to communicate and persuade. It can be a stand-alone element or combined with a larger marketing mix. The general purpose is to influence behavior toward supporting a business as an employee, investor or customer. Here are some examples of where advertisements can be placed: traditional media---newspapers, magazines and television; new media---online, mobile applications; high traffic areas---billboards, sign twirlers; office space---internal posters.

Advertising Objectives: Consumer Focused

Advertisements are consumer focused to influence frequent shopping, enhance corporate reputation and increase sales. In addition to these benefits, the results of a good advertising program will also increase the demand for a product or service, gain more control of the market and bring in new customers. If businesses fail to gain new customers and obtain repeat business, there is a risk of losing money due to a decrease in sales revenue. Moreover, the success of a business is heavily influenced by an effective advertising platform.

Advertising Influences on Employees

Companies rely on their ability to recruit qualified personnel. Advertising programs help establish a reputation that attracts employees who would be a right fit for the company. Every progressive business with an internal advertising campaign reflects the image, beliefs and culture of the company.

If the advertising is ineffective, candidates and new employees may not know determine if their skills and experience fit the needs of the company. As a result, a business can spend more time and money on the development of their employees or face a financial loss due to employee terminations. Advertising programs can provide candidates with insight to company expectations, as well as give the business leverage on attracting the best talent.

Advertising Effects on Investor Relations

Advertising to enhance investor relations is relevant for businesses whose shares are traded on a public stock exchange. If advertising has effectively increased sales, investors' interests are fueled and the enterprise value has increased. Business benefits include a boost to stock value, a reduction in capital costs and stability in financial projections. When advertising does not influence business growth, the strength of the company may be questioned. Investors base their decisions to support a business based on financial expectations.

Benefits of Nonprofit Advertisement

A good corporate reputation influences community support through influential advertising campaigns. Public and community relations are examples of cause-marketing initiatives that can influence community support and are enhanced by commercial advertising. If a business has not promoted a positive image through commercial advertising, nonprofit agencies may not benefit from the partnership and choose not to publicly endorse the business. However, an effective advertising campaign can attract and gain the support of nonprofit agencies, leading to community awareness and support of the business.

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How Tv Advertising Works

How TV Advertising Works

The Basics

Television advertising is a very important aspect of the television industry. These advertisements typically pay for the cost of the programming you are watching, as in situations with major networks the television programs are being provided to you for free, rather than by a monthly subscription charge (cable, satellite). Time slots for advertisements are sold by television networks for the highest possible price. In an ideal situation, the price advertisers pay for commercials will cover the cost to produce the show and still make enough money for the network to profit off of it.

Ratings

Ratings play a big part in television advertising. Statistics collected by the Nielsen Company show exactly what types of people are watching what shows. The higher the ratings (the more people watching) for a particular show, the higher the price a network will be able to charge for advertisement space during commercials.

Demographics

A demographic is a general description of the type of person who watches a particular show. This includes age, gender and race. For example, it is understood that a person who watches "Monday Night Football" may not be the same type of person who watches "60 Minutes." The Nielsen Company's ratings track the demographics of each show's viewers, so advertisers know exactly what shows reach the market that will purchase their particular products.

Sweeps

The price for advertisement space is typically set six months before an advertisement ever airs. These two time periods are in May and November. Networks want to get the highest possible ratings for their shows during these two months so that they can charge advertisers the highest possible prices for the ad space. These two time periods are called "Sweeps" months, as they are typically the times when shows pull out all the stops with their plotlines to draw the biggest ratings.

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Be Successful At Affiliate Marketing

Be Successful at Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is probably the most common ways that people make money online. Affiliate marketers make money by promoting goods and/or services for certain companies, for commission. Here are a few ways to help you become a successful affiliate marketer.

Instructions

1. Decide which methods you want to use as an affiliate marketer. Some choices are creating a website, using PPC advertising to promote products or services (without building a website), and creating a niche blog.

2. Register for affiliate networks. (There's a link to a directory of affiliate networks below, in the "Resources" section.) Registering for affiliate networks will put you in contact with merchants who want you to promote their products, services, or sites.

3. Once you're approved by an affiliate network, take some time to familiarize yourself with the site, their terms of service, and the campaigns (companies) they represent.

4. Decide which campaigns are best suited to the method of affiliate marketing you chose. For example, if you chose a niche blog, find campaigns that are relevant to your niche's topic.

5. If you're using a website or niche blog, choose banner ads and text links to place on your site and in your pages and posts.

Tags: affiliate networks, niche blog, affiliate marketer, Decide which, make money, products services, Successful Affiliate

Promote Your Invention

Perhaps you have an idea for a product that you know would be a winner. And, you really want to know unleash your invention onto the world. You probably see some of these products on some TV shows and know yours is maybe even better. Having an idea of a great product is fine. However, your invention will remain unknown to the masses if you don't get it off the ground. You need to reach out to potential buyers. You need to come up with a solid marketing strategy to attract the attention of prospective customers and investors. You need to create a marketing plan to market your invention and make money.

Instructions

1. Protect your invention so no one else can copy your ideas and start profiting from your hard work. To do this, file a patent application. Never start marketing an invention without obtaining a patent. Consider hiring an experienced patent attorney to handle this task for you.

2. Create a prototype. Your invention must have a prototype, which you can use to show manufacturers what the finished product is supposed to be. That way, they can have something to work with which can really speed up the process of production. Also, displaying the prototype to financiers, or even the manufacturers themselves, can get you financial backing if you need it.

3. Research your target market. Do some preliminary market research before you spend a lot of time and money on your invention. Determine who your potential buyers are - the type of buyer that would want to purchase your product.

4. Manufacture your invention. You can manufacture it yourself and determine the methods you will need to reach your audience. These methods you will use will vary according to the type of buyer you are trying to reach. Think about your audience or target market in terms of their gender, their job, age group, or hobbies. Consider also their health and fitness. You can then use various advertising methods such as television, newspaper, magazine, radio, and digital media to reach them.

5. Educate and attract attention. When you are promoting an invention, you're presumably trying to market a completely new product. Because of this, people may not even be aware they need it and they may not have a clue use it. So it is important that, in your promotion methods, you create demand for the invention by educating your audience.

6. Partner with others who will provide the necessary resources in order to promote your product. There are individuals, organizations, or businesses that are interested to join in the creation, marketing and distribution of your product. This type of arrangement is known as a joint venture. This will be a great choice if you're not interested in starting a business or you are not able to do so.

Tags: your invention, your audience, your product, attract attention, methods will, need reach

Preschool Graduation Program Theme Ideas

Preschool Graduation Program Theme Ideas

A preschool graduation is a significant time in a child's life. It marks the end of a child's first experience with school and shows that she is ready for elementary school. During preschool, she has learned and discovered so much about herself and the world. A preschool graduation gives students the opportunity to show what they have learned throughout the school year and how much they have grown. For teachers of preschool, selecting a theme for graduation will help the class put their best foot forward as they delight their parents with all of the knowledge they have gained.

A Patriotic Theme

A patriotic theme for a preschool graduation can include different songs, poems and finger plays the children have learned about their country throughout the school year. This theme also ties in nicely with the end of the year as holiday's like Memorial Day and Independence Day are approaching. Some ideas for such a theme may include having children wear red, white and blue and march in to their graduation singing "You're a Grand Old Flag" while waving small American flags. Children can recite the Pledge of Allegiance, and then offer parents a patriotic craft that they have made, such as an American flag wind sock. Visit dltk-kids.com/USA/m-sam-windsock.htm for a windsock template. To close the graduation, children can sing "This Land Is Your Land."

How Much We've Grown

From the beginning to the end of preschool, children grow so much. Have them showcase how much they have grown during graduation. Activities for this preschool graduation theme can include displays of physical and intellectual growth. For physical growth, you can have the children show what types of physical activities they have learned during the school year. Perhaps they have learned hop on one foot, skip, leap and so forth. You can create a clever poem or speech that goes along with this display of physical growth, and children can recite it as they perform.

For intellectual growth, children can display their knowledge of the ABCs, 1,2,3s and the months of the year. You probably have taught your students about these things using various songs and finger plays, which is a common approach to teaching in preschool. Incorporate these things into graduation to show how much the students have grown. Children can sing "I Wonder if I'm Growing," by Raffi, to close the ceremony.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

"Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" is a children's book written by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault that is very popular among preschool-aged children. Perhaps you used this book to teach your children about the alphabet during the school year. If you have, you can consider using this book as a theme for your graduation. Children can recite the story while using props that they have made to illustrate it. For example, you can make a coconut tree that one student holds. The tree has letters and the other students tell stories using the letters. In keeping with the alphabet theme of this book, you can have children recite each letter of the alphabet followed by a word that starts with that letter.

Hawaiian Theme

A fun theme idea for a preschool graduation is a Hawaiian theme. Children can be dressed in grass skirts, Hawaiian shirts and sunglasses. To start their ceremony, they can perform a hula dance. Children can give their parents leis to welcome them to the graduation. Potted flowers and pictures of coconut trees can be used for decoration.

Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss books are commonly used in preschool classrooms. You can have a Dr. Seuss-themed graduation by incorporating some of his stories in the ceremony. Children can wear hats that resemble "The Cat in the Hat" and wear T-shirts that say "Thing One" or "Thing Two." They can use colorful fish to re-enact the book "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish." Dr. Seuss books can be placed around the room for decoration. To conclude the ceremony, "Oh The Places You'll Go" can be read by the teacher to the audience.

Tags: they have, preschool graduation, have learned, school year, have grown, they have learned

Write A Rationale For Your Dissertation

Completing a dissertation requires research, investigation, and a logical rationale for your project.

Students completing a masters or Ph.D. degree must complete a research dissertation. These theses are expected to contribute new information to the body of knowledge in the studied field. The student's dissertation is expected to include a clear statement of the research problem, and the student's reasons for choosing this particular topic. The dissertation should include a concise description of how the student expects to find a solution, and a review of existing literature on the subject. Finally, before discussing the research data, the dissertation should include a rationale, or formal description, of why the student is studying a particular problem, and why the problem is important.

Instructions

1. Write a complete outline for the dissertation. Compose a concise thesis statement which reviews and identifies the problem studied by the research. Students completing an 80 to 100 page formal research dissertation should build a comprehensive outline of the project as their first step.

2. Describe the problem the dissertation will investigate. After writing a complete outline, refine the research objectives by describing the study problem in detail. This description can be in rough draft form. The final language will be worked into the final draft of the dissertation at a later time.

3. Compose a rationale, or justification for pursuing the particular research. The rationale section of the dissertation describes why a particular problem is important to the profession, and explains in detail how the research will be conducted. A well constructed rationale demonstrates to the student's advisers that he thoroughly understands his own field of study, problems facing his profession, and that as a professional in the field, the student can make a positive contribution which will improve the entire profession.

4. Review the dissertation's thesis statement, the project outline, the rationale, and the proposed research. These topics should build successively upon one another. The ideas contained in these individual pieces should all point in the same direction. A cohesive outline, the thesis statement, rationale, and proposed research indicates the student's preparedness and professionalism to a dissertation committee.

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Print Logos On Mugs

You can print your own logo on a coffee mug.

Whether you are a business owner who is looking for a new business promotion or someone who wishes to create a gift for a friend who owns a business, you may want to consider having a business logo printed on a mug. Logo mugs are an effective way of advertising your business because they are visible and useful, and mugs are not as easily lost as a magnet or pen. Printing a logo on a mug is easy when using an on-line printing service.

Instructions

1. Locate an advertising or printing service. There are a variety of printing services on the Internet that provide mugs as promotional items, such as Vistaprint, Staples Promotional Products and Cafe Press. Check each company's website to see if there is a required minimum purchase or if there is a set-up fee for printing, particularly if you are interested in buying only one or a few mugs, as some companies require that you purchase 50 or more mugs at one time. Also check shipping and handling charges as well as the times when selecting the printing company to be sure that you can get your mugs when you need them.

2. Select a mug style. Choose the mug style that you prefer. Generally you can choose from a 12 oz., 11 oz., 15 oz. or travel mug. This choice is a matter of your personal preference and budget. The larger mugs and travel mugs are more expensive than the smaller standard mugs.

3. Design a logo or gather a usable file of the company's logo. Depending on the printing service that you use, you may be able to use a template; however, most companies allow you to upload your own image. Design your logo using an image creation program, such as Photoshop, Illustrator or Pixelmator. Save your image as a standard image file, such as a .jpg or .bmp, because these are the commonly used image types. When designing your logo, remember that it will be placed on a mug, so design the logo to look aesthetically pleasing on your choice of mug. Upload your image on the printing service's web page, and place it on the mug where you would like it.

4. Complete your purchase. If this is the first time you have ordered a product from this particular printing company, you may have to create a personal account. Once you have selected your desired amount of mugs, enter your personal and billing information to complete your purchase.

Tags: printing service, your image, your logo, printing company, your personal, your purchase

Promotional Gifts For A Business

The best promotional gifts for business are funtional and communicate your message.

Getting the name and image of your business in front of potential clients represents one of the most effective techniques for keeping clients and acquiring new business. Promotional items like coffee mugs, high-end writing pens, leather notebooks, clothing and other products provide one of the best ways to accomplish this. Promotional gifts for a business provide something of value, present a certain company image and tell clients and customers about you and your business.

Effective Advertising

Many methods exist for promoting your business. Promotional gifts may provide a low-cost, effective means to communicate your advertising message for your business. Choosing the right promotional gift that meets the advertising objectives of your company involves a bit of thought. For example, high-end beer mugs with your logo will not work as a promotional gift for a religious book publisher. Communicate your company image on a promotional gift that fits in a particular environment.

Low-Cost Promotional Gifts

You won't want your promotional gifts to appear as cheap. Each time clients or potential clients look at a promotional gift, they should experience positive impressions. Take care in choosing business promotional gifts that cost less but still look classy. A cheaply produced promotional product that appears substandard carries that same impression to your clients and customers about your business.

Green Promotional Products

Basically, a "green" promotional product involves some level of social and environmental responsibility. Green products send the message to your clients and customers that your company respects the people and places that provide these products and does not abuse the planet's resources to acquire or make them. Green promotional products tell people that using your product or service will actively help create a greener, cleaner and healthier environment for future generations. Associating your company name with anything "green" provides a distinct advantage.

Top Promotional Gifts

Making a decision on the right promotional gift for a business may prove challenging. Fortunately, promotional business gifts have existed for some time and some folks keep track of the more popular items. Stationery items have lived at the top of this list from the beginning. Imprinted pens are also popular, with imprinted erasers, rulers and staplers following closely behind. Business card holders, clocks, paperweights and coasters are also popular promotional gifts for a business.

Tags: promotional gift, your business, your company, business Promotional, clients customers, gifts business, Promotional Gifts

Promotional Objectives

Exhibiting at trade shows is a common way for companies to promote themselves.

The overall goal of promotion is to create awareness for the business and its products or services. Promotional objectives are specific goals to be achieved through a range of marketing activities, including promotional items, sales events, advertising, membership programs, press releases, media events, coupons, community involvement, on-line marketing and trade shows.

Establish Corporate Image in Community

Communities support businesses. Therefore, it is a good idea for businesses to support communities. Community can mean geographic location, but it also refers to specific target markets. Drug companies who sell cancer drugs are involved in cancer awareness and fund-raising events. The company wins by gaining valuable contacts in the markets they serve. The communities gain resources and support from the company.

Build Brand Awareness

No company can survey without building awareness for itself and its brands. More marketing dollars are spent on this promotional category than in any other area. Companies may use all forms of advertising (television, print, radio, direct marketing and on-line) to build awareness. The specific promotional objective may be to gain additional market share or to make inroads into a specific market segment. Another objective may be to replace the market leader in "top-of-mind" awareness.

Build Customer Loyalty

Some promotional objectives are aimed at increasing customer loyalty and/or purchase frequency. Membership programs are designed to achieve that goal. Companies may also send out "frequent purchaser" discount cards or offer a free gift with a purchase on a designated sale weekend. High-usage customers are sent surveys to find out what it is that makes them frequent purchasers.

Capitalize on New Market Opportunities

In an age where innovation is occurring at an increasing rate, companies have learned to look for opportunities to exploit. When the BP gulf oil spill occurred, many companies with the requisite technology or expertise were quick to offer assistance. Offering support brought their names to the forefront and gained them new customers. A whole industry of green technology has sprung up to capitalize on demand by consumers and the government for cleaner, cheaper energy. A company may choose to get involved through trade shows or conferences, add information in their annual report on on their website or hold a press conference.

Dispel Negative Press

The best way to deal with negative press is to use the method that organizations are least likely to use, according to Jeff Crilley, former TV news anchor and author of the book, "free publicity." Company spokespeople should just be honest, he adds. Research has shown repeatedly that companies that opt for honesty gain tremendously in public opinion polls and can actually strengthen their corporate image if they are perceived as handling a delicate situation well.

Announce Changes

Much of promotion has to do with explaining and capitalizing on change in the organization. Large corporations have entire corporate communications departments whose staff is devoted to churning out press releases and speeches about management realignments, plant closures, new locations, new partners, mergers and acquisitions, corporate awards, corporate giving programs and even results of consumer surveys. The objective is to keep the company's name in the spotlight.

Tags: trade shows, press releases

What Is The Full Form Of Erp & Crm

ERP and CRM programs both rely heavily on software applications.

The full form of ERP is enterprise resource planning. Functionally, ERP is closely connected to a widely utilized business marketing system called CRM, which is an abbreviation for customer relationship management.

ERP Basics

ERP is a software-based business solution that relies on data collection and analysis for effective and efficient resource management. "Product planning, parts purchasing, inventories, interacting with suppliers, providing customer service, and tracking orders" are main functions of ERP, according to Tech Target.

CRM Basics

CRM is business strategy built around the goal of building and maintaining stronger relationships with key customer groups. It is also built on a technology infrastructure, and involves collection and analysis of customer data for more targeted marketing and an improved customer experience.

ERP and CRM Integration

ERP is often directly integrated into CRM because of their similarities with regard to data collection and analysis. Broad software applications can cover both programs' needs. ERP uses data for improved operational efficiencies, while CRM works to increase revenue.

Tags: collection analysis, data collection, data collection analysis, software applications

Grocery Store Display Ideas

If you want to move the products in your grocery store, an attractive display is an effective way to do it. Whether you are running a sale and want to draw attention to it or are looking to move more of an item that hasn't sold many units, the basic principles remain the same. Keep your displays prominent, keep them well-stocked and make sure to have the prices clearly marked.

Fresh Seafood and Meat

Fresh seafood and meat must be kept cold. All displays containing fresh meat and seafood must conform to this basic standard. Seafood displays should be reminiscent of the sea. Using blue on the outside of a refrigerated bin is a good start. Fish nets draped around the side of the bin or refrigeration unit make customers think of fresh catches. A lifesaver mounted to a large display case along with the net will get customers even more in the nautical mindset. For fresh meats, line the case with green mesh. Since green is the opposite of red, it will make the meat appear more vibrant in its packaging, thus making it seem more fresh.

Produce

There are many ways of displaying fruits and vegetables to make them seem more attractive. Apples look great in bushels, as do gourds and squash. Don't fill the entire bushel. Instead, place a box in the bushel, cover it with light straw and place the produce in a convex and shallow layer on the straw. Lay a few on their sides on waist-high tables, and make different types of produce seem to be cascading out onto the table. Keep greens under a light that is white or has a blue tint. A yellow light will make the greens seem less fresh. Display produce on slanted tables to give the impression of abundance.

Canned and Boxed Goods

Canned and boxed goods will be the majority of your displays. Creativity goes a long way in these displays. Use the cans or boxes as building blocks and create structures out of them. Pyramids and cubes are easy to build. If the packages that you are putting on display have generally monochromatic color schemes for different varieties, build a structure and spell out a word or phrase with a second color of box. For example, if you are using canned soda boxes, build the majority of the structure with one flavor, such as cola, and use another flavor of a contrasting colored box to spell out a word within the structure, such as the word, "cold."

Themed Displays

Themed displays are convenient for consumers. They generally group together many different products that are necessary for a specific seasonal occasion, such as a summer cookout, Halloween, a New Year's party or a Super Bowl party. Such displays correspond well with seasonal or themed sales that your store may be running. A good idea for a themed display is to include items to define the theme. A backyard barbecue display might include a half-moon-shaped or three-sided wall of 12-pack beer can boxes stacked to chest height, a display of hanging grill equipment and a few racks of potato chips--all for sale at the store. It also could include a grill that isn't for sale as the centerpiece for the display.

Clearance Section

Clearance sections in stores sometimes tend to look cluttered. This is because the clearance section is a grouping of all types of products sold in the store, from bottles to boxes to packets, all in varying sizes. To avoid this cluttered look, use shelves to group similar-sized item together. Don't be afraid to have one rack one week and five the next. Remove shelves, racks and tables when they begin to look sparse and consolidate your products.

Tags: seem more, spell word, will make, your displays

Produce A Tv Commercial

Produce a TV Commercial

Learning produce a TV commercial is something that can greatly enhance your career and earn you lots of money. It's also an exciting way to break into television production. There are some things you have to know before you get started, and some things you need to learn in order to produce a successful TV commercial. After that you can start producing TV commercials and build a great business for yourself.

Instructions

1. Write your shooting script. Consider your budget while writing, so that you can determine what to add or take out of your shooting script.

2. Plan the budget for your TV commercial. This is the most important thing you can do before you begin shooting your commercial. Decide whether you plan to shoot your commercial in a studio or on location, and also consider the costs for hiring a director if you don't plan on shooting your commercial yourself. Finish with the costs for editing your commercial or if you plan to use a celebrity endorsement or not.

3. Shoot your TV commercial as quickly as you can. Try to avoid doing a lot of retakes since this makes the cost of your commercial go up.

4. Edit your commercial and add any voice-overs or graphics to finish it. Then after you have finished your commercial, add up all of your invoices to see whether you've come in on budget with your commercial or not.

Tags: your commercial, Produce Commercial, shooting script, shooting your, shooting your commercial, some things

Advertise Locally For Free On The Internet

You have a service to advertise that is really not global. How do you utilize the Internet locally? Follow these steps to start with the freebies before you pay to play.

Instructions

1. Yahoo! Locals is one of the best programs for local businesses. They have millions of users, but are able to pinpoint a person's location for appropriate ads.1. Go to Yahoo! Locals2. Click the Basic Plan3. Fill in the Information4. Update as needed

2. Put an ad on Craigslist.com. If you plan on using this as a primary source, consider establishing an account.1. Click on the appropriate city2. Find the correct Category3. Write out your ad and add a picture if possible. 4. Choose where to have responses sent to5. Click submit6. Confirm the ad that Craigslist will send to your email 7. Make note of the ad number in case you need to extend or correct the ad

3. Merchant Circle has free tools for business owners to use that will place their websites further up the ranking on Yahoo! and Google. There are places to get tips from other business owners, and you can even market your business in their forum. Many of the services are free, but they do offer some paid services when a business wants to expand its audience.1. Go to MerchantCircle.com2. Input your phone number3. Fill in the basic information to set up an account4. Customize your account with hours, logos, colors, description5. You can even create a coupon, newsletter, blog and MerchantCircle ad.

4. Local.com is a great site that is very specific. No matter where you are in the United States, it automatically brings up that area. The listings are free, and some are even featured on the front page. 1. Go to http://advertise.local.com/2. Fill in information on Find Your Business (name of business, city) 3. Update or write your listing4. Follow the directions for a free listing.

5. Google Maps is a great way to advertise a brick and-mortar business.1. Go to http://www.google.com/local2. Click "Put your business on Google Maps"3. Open a Google account, if you do you have one. 4. Input the name, address, and phone of the business5. Google allows you to put a coupon with your listing

6. Go to http://www.google.com/products.1. Click on Information for Sellers. 2. Follow the directions for setting up your products. You will need to use the TSV or XML file here. 3. When asked about where you want to advertise, check local. 4. You will have to update every 28 days or so.

7. An ad with yellowpages.com can usually run into the hundreds of dollars, but with this basic listing, it is free.1. Go to Yellowpages.com. 2. Click Advertise with us. 3. Click "Set up your free listing", 4. Fill in information. You will need to register to list your business.

8. Kudzu is primarily focused on local businesses. The homepage gives viewers the option of clicking on a City. They have multiple plans ranging from free to $2,000 per year. 1. Go to Kudzu.com, 2. Fill in the basic information 3. Confirm your email

Tags: basic information, business owners, Click your, Fill basic, Fill basic information

The Role Of Business Communication In Marketing

Companies use business communication and marketing in tandem when interacting with consumers. Companies spend copious amounts of time producing products and refining business processes, and failing to communicate or market the company to consumers can greatly decrease the company's chance at success. Larger organizations may have an internal marketing department. A smaller company that does not have internal resources for this process might hire an outside marketing firm.

Facts

Communication is the way a company conveys a message from one individual or group to another. This process usually involves a few steps. Companies will create the message, select a medium for delivery and send the message. Individuals receiving the message will interpret the communication, act on it and provide feedback if necessary. These basic steps dominate the communication process.

Features

Companies typically have a few standard mediums in which they deliver marketing messages. Radio spots, television advertisements, billboards, print advertisements and Internet-based messages are the most common communication forms. Companies use each medium to reach as many customers as possible with their company's marketing message. Business owners and managers can also tailor their communication to specific groups using a variety of communication mediums.

Types

Business communication in marketing often takes on one of two forms: direct or indirect. Direct messages come straight from the company in the form of fliers, promotions and in-store signage. Indirect messages come through traditional mediums, such as television, radio and newspapers. While indirect communication methods reach more consumers, they do allow a company's marketing message to become mixed with other marketing messages. Direct marketing is a targeted approach meant to build customer relationships.

Potential

Internet technology transforms the way a company uses business communication in marketing. Companies can use websites, social media networks, emails, text messages and other electronic forms to reach consumers in new and different ways. Many consumers carry smart phones or other devices that allow them to receive electronic communication throughout the day. This allows companies to deliver marketing messages using electronic methods and increase their visibility.

Considerations

Owners and managers should carefully consider the methods and types of business communications and marketing they use. Consumers can quickly become turned off by excessive marketing, which will weaken a company's business communications. This can also become quite expensive and result in higher operating costs the company must pay for regardless of sales generated by the marketing messages.

Tags: marketing messages, business communication, business communications, communication marketing, company marketing, company marketing message

The Average Salary For A Pr Or Events Managing Job

Public relations and events specialists earn varying wages based on industry.

While employment is predicted to increase significantly faster than the national average, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts "keen competition" for those seeking jobs in public relations (PR) and events managing. PR specialists work as advocates for organizations, building a positive reputation on their behalf in the community and helping brand their image. The average salary for a PR or events managing job depends on the type of industry the specialist or planner works in.

PR Average Salary

The average salary for public relations specialists in the United States is $59,370 annually. The median salary is $51,960 with those in the 10th percentile earning $30,520 and those in the 90th percentile earning $96,630. These jobs involve promoting groups and organizations with publicity material such as press releases and working closely with various media outlets.

Events Managing Average Salary

The average salary for events planners in the United States is $48,060 annually. The median salary is $44,780, with those in the 10th percentile earning $27,550 and those in the 90th percentile earning $75,160. These jobs involve planning and coordinating events such as meetings and conventions, making arrangements with facilities, caterers, media and other outlets.

Industry

Most public relations specialists work in the industry of advertising, public relations and related services for an average annual salary of $69,630. Those in the industry of business, professional, labor, political and similar organizations earn less at $62,040, while the highest wages for PR specialists are found in the industry of petroleum and coal products manufacturing at $120,420. For events managing planners, the travel accommodation industry is that with the highest number of employees, closely followed by the industry of business, professional, labor, political and similar organizations, with $44,420 as the average salary for the former and $51,270 for the latter. The highest wages for events managing jobs are in working with software publishers at an average annual salary of $65,530.

Location

The cost of living in an area and local demand for PR and events managing specialists will affect salaries. For all jobs in this area, the highest wages can be found in Washington, D.C., where PR specialists earn $97,550 and events planners earn $55,170. New York is the second highest-paying state for PR specialists at $66,820, and third for event planners at $54,760. Event planners also earn higher than average wages in Connecticut at $55,020 annually, while PR specialists do well in both Virginia and California, earning over $66,000 in both states.

Tags: percentile earning, average salary, events managing, highest wages, public relations, 10th percentile

Advertising Guidelines For Effectiveness Intangible

Selling an intangible item such as a service contract or life insurance requires a different sort of advertising campaign. If you focus on the product, then you are going to remind the customer that they are paying for something that they cannot get their hands on. But if you follow the advertising guidelines for effective intangible advertising, then you can create a demand for your offering.

Benefits

One of the guidelines to follow when advertising an intangible product is to focus on the benefits of the offering. Help the customer to see what she will gain by investing in your product. For example, when advertising life insurance, point out the help it will offer loved ones when the policy holder has passed on. Point out the costs involved in a funeral, and that the next of kin are responsible for any debts left behind. Show how the product addresses those issues, and you have created a need with your audience.

Return

Customers purchasing an intangible product can often be won over by showing the customer the financial return in purchasing your product. For example, if you sell repair services for stereo equipment, then you can run advertising that compares the cost of replacing that equipment versus the cost savings of repairing it using your service. If you can get the customer to understand the immediate financial benefits of buying your intangible product or service, then the customer can justify the expense.

Tangible Associations

If a client understands the value of an intangible product, then offering a tangible return on buying the intangible product can make the advertising more effective, according to Dee Davey, writing on the SalesVantage website. It is the same concept that motivates banks to offer free toasters to people who open new savings account. It does not matter if the tangible offering has anything to do with the intangible product. A toaster has nothing to do with a bank savings account. But the customer benefits by receiving something tangible for his intangible purchase, and the bank benefits from the ongoing intangible business that client will offer.

Sell the Company

To many customers, the difference between intangible products is the company offering the product. Life insurance appears to be the same to consumers, but those same consumers would be more apt to purchase life insurance from a company that they were familiar with and trusted rather than a new company they had not heard of. In your intangible advertising, mention the history of the company, its standing as an industry leader and the company's financial success. These elements help the consumer to gain confidence in the company and create a desire to purchase the company's intangible products.

Tags: intangible product, life insurance, that they, intangible advertising, intangible products

Get Paid For Having Ads On Your Website

Get Paid for Having Ads on Your Website

If you have a website that you put a lot of time and effort in to, you may want to look into getting paid for it. Putting paid ads on your website is an easy way to make money off of your website. A number of opportunities exist for webmasters looking to make a little extra money off of their time and effort. Options include pay per click ads, banner ads, and text link ads. The process of putting these ads on your site involves little more than signing up and copying and pasting the code into your page.

Instructions

1. Insert pay per click ads. Pay per click (PPC) ads are ads where you get paid for the number of times that your users click ads. Google AdSense, the Yahoo! Publisher Network, and Bidvertiser are three popular services that provide pay per click revenue. Sign up for one or more of these sites, which allow you to target what types of ads you will have on your site to your user (for example, pet stores for a blog about pets), insert the code into your site and you will have ads generating revenue on your site.

2. Join a cost per mille network. Cost per mille (CPM) networks are like PPC networks, except they frequently use banner ads instead of text ads. You also get paid a certain rate for every thousand page views, rather than getting paid for every time a person clicks on your ad. CPM networks include Casale Media, Burst Media, and Value Click. Again, CPM revenue is as simple as signing up, entering in information about your website for targeting, and inserting the relevant code into your website.

3. Shop your website around for direct banner revenue. Directly selling banner space on your website works just like selling advertising in a print magazine. Go around to local businesses or other, larger websites which have similar content. Tell them why they should advertise on your website. Then quote them a price and a duration for the ad to run.

Tags: your website, your site, code into, code into your, into your, getting paid

Ideas For Salon Contests

Use salon contests to improve customer service.

Salons provide clients with a wide range of services, including hair styling, manicures, pedicures, body waxing and makeup artistry. As a salon owner, you can spark competition between your employees and motivate them by hosting occasional salon contests. Keep the contests friendly and fun, and use them to encourage your salon employees to always do their best work when serving the salon's clientele.

Best Customer Service

Providing salon clientele with top-notch customer service is a must, if you want to ensure that you get repeat appointments and referrals. Make customer service a priority among your staff by hosting a contest for the best customer service.

Create a small survey, printed on postcard-sized paper, with several questions clients can answer about their overall salon experiences. Questions may include the following: Did your service provider greet you with hello and a smile? Did your service provider listen to your concerns and needs? How helpful was your service provider in helping you select your services for the day?Rrate your service provider on a scale of 1-10. Would you return to the salon for future appointments?

You can also ask clients to leave additional comments about their experiences in a blank section on the card. At the end of the week or month, review the feedback and determine which of your employees provided the best customer service.

Increase in Clientele

The number of clients coming into a salon for a given service provider depends on how much experience the provider has, how long she has been with the company, her marketing efforts, the services she offers and her customer service. Encourage your employees to increase their clientele by hosting a contest that measures the percentage increase in clientele that employees have on a monthly basis. Before you start the competition, take a look at how many clients each served the month before, so that you have an accurate starting point.

Highest Retail Sales

Beyond getting services at a salon, clients have an opportunity to purchase retail products such as shampoo, conditioner, nail polish, makeup, and hair accessories. Encourage your salon workers to suggest retail products to clients based on their hair, skin or nail care needs. Keep track of each employees' retail sales and award a prize for highest sales and most improved sales, depending on which services they provide.

Most Upsells

A client who enters your salon for a wash and trim, can leave with a wash, trim and color treatment, if your team is skilled at providing thorough client consultations and upsells. Upselling helps salon employees increase their dollars per transaction. A waxing specialist can upsell a client getting an eyebrow wax to getting a lip and eyebrow wax, and a manicurist can upsell a client from a simple manicure to a deluxe one that features nail conditioning and growth services. Hold a contest and award salon staff members who achieve the highest percentage of upsells in a week or month.

Best Customer Makeover

Partner with a local non-profit whose aim is to prepare underprivileged men and woman with the resources they need to go from job seekers to employees. Challenge your salon employees to get into teams with at least one hair stylist, one makeup artist and one nail technician. Designate each team to help one of the nonprofit's job seekers achieve a new look that's appropriate for job interviews. Work with a nearby clothing boutique for clothing.

Select a day and time for each individual to arrive for their services and give each team the same amount of time to work with their clients. When clients arrive, take several before pictures of each one. After their makeovers, take additional pictures. Use poster board to hold the clients' before pictures. Have the executive staff from the nonprofit select which makeover is the best. Award members of the team that does the best transformation.

Tags: service provider, customer service, your salon, your service, your service provider, salon employees, your employees

Build A Communication Plan

A communication plan aims to build understanding inside and outside the organization.

A communication plan sets out your communication objectives in the context of your marketing strategy. The plan specifies who you need to communicate with, what you will communicate and the media you will use to reach your audience. It also sets out the timing of your communications and the methods you will use to measure the effectiveness of your communication program.

Instructions

1. Set precise objectives for your communication program. According to communications consultancy Insignia, clear communication planning provides an invaluable framework for all communication activity. Objectives could include: raising awareness of a product or company; persuading prospects to try or buy a product; changing employee attitudes; or building positive relationships with regulators. Make the objectives specific and measurable -- increase customer awareness of the new product range by 15 percent, for example.

2. Specify the target audience for the communication program. Use market research to identify the people within a customer or prospect organization who make or influence purchasing decisions. Include job titles and identify named individuals, where possible. Ask the sales force to assess the relative importance and influence of each member of the target audience.

3. Identify other groups that can influence the success of your business. Target groups could include: employees; members of the local community; suppliers and business partners; members of the media and bloggers; local, regional and national politicians; regulators; investors; and market analysts. Develop a communication plan to build positive perceptions of your company.

4. Carry out market research to identify the issues that concern your target audience. List the messages that will create a positive attitude within the target audience or persuade them to take action.

5. Select the media that will reach your target audience cost effectively. Establish a budget for each communication task based on the cost of the medium and the number of times you will use it. As an example, reaching purchasing directors in engineering companies might require a series of advertisements in engineering journals, direct mail to named purchasing directors or the production of a special report on engineering industry issues.

6. Plan the timing of the communication program. Use a key date, such as a product launch or the opening of a new factory, to develop a schedule for communications. Check publication dates of any newspapers or magazines that you plan to use. Ask printers or other suppliers for lead times to produce material such as mailings or brochures that form part of the program. Work back from those dates to establish when you need to write copy, obtain photographs or arrange design work for any communication material.

7. Specify how you will measure the effectiveness of your communication plan. Nominate a research firm to conduct a survey to measure changes in attitude or perception. Choose metrics such as increase in revenue or numbers of new customers to measure the direct impact of marketing communication.

Tags: target audience, communication program, your communication, communication plan, your target audience

Internal Factors Affecting A Company

Internal Factors Affecting a Company

Companies must endure economic recessions, competing businesses stealing their market share and dips in their stock price. However, these external factors are not the only problems businesses face. Companies must deal with internal factors as well. Internal issues can create just as many problems as external ones. Sometimes, the two types of factors are linked.

Employees

The caliber, attitude and work ethic of a company's employees are internal issues. Finding people qualified for the job and training them appropriately are other employment-related issues. The quality of employees affects the company's ability to innovate, customer satisfaction, productivity and efficiency. Employees also are significant cost considerations. Companies spend considerable resources to hire, train and replace staff members.

Capital

A small pizza restaurant would love to install the most expensive, cutting-edge wood oven to create quality pies. Like all businesses, though, the restaurant must temper its wants with its available resources. A significant internal factor businesses must consider is the quality of their capital with respect to their available money. A company's capital, such as equipment, land and factories, can either limit or enhance its ability to compete with other businesses. For instance, Wal-Mart's large amounts of capital enable it to offer lower prices on its merchandise than the prices offered by small, local shops.

Cash Flow

How well a company allocates its cash is an internal business issue. Cash flow refers to a company's ability to generate income and pay its bills as they come due. Businesses can jeopardize their cash flow by investing too much money in operations. A company also can mismanage its cash by accumulating too much of it and not investing it back into the business. Maintaining a steady cash flow is a balancing act.

Considerations

External factors influence the company's well-being internally. For example, a steep recession could lower the company's profits and compel the business to issue layoffs. Similarly, the external threat of a competitor could cause the business to grow concerned about an impending hostile takeover. In this case, the business must take internal precautions and address its shareholders' concerns.

Tags: Affecting Company, business issue, Companies must, company ability, Factors Affecting, Factors Affecting Company

Techniques On Ask For Sponsorships

Be armed with as much information as possible when meeting potential sponsors.

Whether you're a sports person looking to get a business to sponsor you, an arts organization looking for funding for an upcoming event or an entrepreneur looking for a strategic partner to drive your idea forward, it's important to have a strategy for approaching prospective sources of sponsorship. There's little point in wasting your time and the time of prospective sponsors if your project isn't the right fit.

Identify Potential Sponsors

Draw up a list of potential sponsors in your area or nationwide. If you're looking for funding for a music festival, then concentrate on companies that actively target the demographic of the type of music being headlined. If you're an athlete looking for sponsorship, then look to sports manufacturers and health food companies. If you're a filmmaker working on a short about homelessness and drug abuse, then consider approaching charities that work in these areas. Look at others who work in your sector or industry, and see what types of companies are sponsoring them.

Research

Before you even consider approaching a potential sponsor, thoroughly research the nature of the sponsor's business or activity, and identify how your project is going to add value to the sponsor's operation. Brainstorm specific ideas about how your work can tie in with the activities of the companies you're planning to approach. If you're looking to form a strategic partnership, then look for cross-promotional opportunities, so you both benefit.

Letter of Introduction

Put together a detailed letter of introduction, and outline why you need sponsorship and the benefits that an association with your project will bring to your potential sponsor's organization. If relevant, then explain how the money you're asking for will help your project grow and supply financial projections to back these claims up. It's important to nail down exactly how any sponsorship monies will be spent. Asking for a figure that you've effectively plucked from thin air without a solid idea of how it's going to be spent will not impress. Most important, base your knowledge on the information you found while researching. Sending a generic letter is unlikely to get the results you want.

Follow-Up and Meeting

If you don't receive an immediate response, then follow up with a phone call, and ask if you can meet with a representative of the company. If you manage to secure a meeting, then it's important that you go armed with as much information as you can gather. Have a solid grasp of the finer details about the company you're approaching. Read up on the company's history, and look for its annual reports on the Internet. Most important, you'll need to come across as knowledgeable, in control, enthusiastic and professional.

Tags: your project, armed with, armed with much, consider approaching, looking funding, Most important, much information

Become An Alcohol Promoter

To become an alcohol promoter, you need to connect with local distributors in the area. Once you have made your presence known, promoting different types of alcohol will be the easy part. You can promote at festivals, picnics, races and even in local taverns. If you have ever seen the Budweiser Girls, they are promoting the beer. It is always nice to have different promotions going on throughout the year. Once you are established with distributors, you can get promotional tools to help your business. Read on to learn more about become an alcohol promoter.

Instructions

1. Meet with different distributors in the area to discuss promoting their beer or alcohol. The distributors to meet with are Miller or Budwiser for beer and General Beverage or Badger Liquor for alcoholic beverages. Explain that you want to do promotions in taverns, at picnic and festivals locally. The distributors will give you information pertaining to what they can offer you for advertisements and discounts on their products.

2. Contact taverns, festival organizers and picnic planners to discuss your service. Many times, you will need to explain in detail what type of product you will promote and how you will promote it at the given time and place.

3. Line up volunteers or employees to distribute the promotional products. These people will need to be licensed if selling any alcoholic beverages. A bartender's license is all they should need. If they will give out buttons, hats, blinking lights or any none drinking goods to promote the alcohol, they will not need a license.

4. Plan the day in hour time slots. You will want to have enough products to last through the entire day. Depending on the amount of people that will be in attendance will determine how much of the product you need.

5. Gather everything together at least three days in advance and set up deliveries with distributors so everything is ready the day of the promotion. If you need to pay anything in advance, this will be done three days before the event as well.

Tags: will need, alcoholic beverages, become alcohol promoter, distributors area, they will, three days, will give

Measure Response Rate Radio In Advertising

Use these tips to measure response from your radio ad.

Diversifying your advertising channels when announcing a new promotion, product or service is key to netting the largest audience possible. Radio advertising, in particular, targets a captive audience--one that is stuck in rush hour traffic, using tunes as a background while cleaning the house or looking for a relief from the silence during a lull in their day. Because it's easy for listeners to change the station during a commercial break, pull your audience in with a punchy ad. Always include a means of measuring response in your ad as well, like a special phone number or promotion with a deadline.

Instructions

1. Announce a timely offer. Get your customers to act fast by advertising an expiration date on a promotion. Use your radio ad to describe the offer, like $100 off their first order of $500 or more, and the deadline, such as saying the offer is only good until Friday.

2. Give a phone number. Use your radio ad as a teaser for your current promotion. Give details as to success rates and briefly tell about the product or service itself, then give a phone number for the consumer to call to get more information.

3. Make the phone number easy to remember. If your current promotion deals with cheap computers, try 1-800-9-COMPUTER. A dog walking or care service may benefit from a number like 1-800-DOG-WALK. A vanity number like these, especially if paired with a musical jingle, sticks in the consumer's head. Even if he doesn't need the service right away, it will be easy to remember when the customer is considering it a couple months down the road. Talk to your local phone service provider about securing such a number.

4. Repeat. Say the phone number or the special deal at least three times in the ad. Make sure its clear to a listener who tunes in at the last moment of the commercial what it is you're advertising. Always close the radio ad with the phone number and a quick recap of the promotion.

5. Try a few different registered phone numbers on different radio ads to see which receives the most calls. Advertise a different promotion for each and see which gets the most attention from your clientele.

6. Always ask the customer where he learned of your company or of the current promotion. Note his response and put more money into the radio commercial which seems to get the best response.

7. Ask the radio station for its Radio Joint Audience Research Limited (RAJAR) data. This information, provided quarterly, keeps the station tuned into its listeners by dividing them into groups by gender, age and annual salary. Stick with radio stations which reach the audience to which your business is most applicable.

Tags: phone number, current promotion, your radio, easy remember, from your

Apply Marketing Mix To A Job Search

Marketing executives around the world turn to the marketing mix as they work to promote products and services for their companies. The marketing mix typically includes product, place, price and promotion, but packaging, positioning and people are also important factors. Just as marketing executives apply the marketing mix to products and services, job seekers can apply the each of these elements as they put together their job search. In order to incorporate the marketing mix, follow the steps below:

Instructions

1. Identify your product. In this instance you, your skills, knowledge and abilities are the product you're trying to sell to potential employers.

2. Think about the types of jobs you'd like to have and places you think you'd like to work. For example, are you in search of an office job where you're behind the desk or a position in sales where interact directly with potential customers.

3. Decide the price you want to charge for your knowledge, skills and ability. Simply put, come up with your ideal salary range based on what you have to offer and the average rates in your area. Set a minimum and maximum salary requirement.

4. Position yourself to be seen. Sign up for social networking sites like LinkedIn, Brazen Careerist, and Twitter. You may also consider blogging since many employers show interest in potential hires ideas and thought processes. Share your ideas and position yourself as an authority to get a following on these social sites. Engage with people who are a part of the industry you'd like to work.

5. Create a resume and cover letter that position you as a professional ready to tackle your next challenge. Be sure that your resume and cover letter are free of errors, concise and tailored to the industry of your interest.

6. Promote your resume and cover letter on your social networking pages, blog and website. Upload it to job search sites and distribute it to potential employers. You may also want to email it along with a note to past mentors, professors and colleagues.

7. Network as much as you can online and offline. The more people you connect with, the better your chances are of finding a job in a reasonable time frame. If people know you, your skills and career objectives, they are likely to pass your name and/or information along to their friends and colleagues who are hiring for positions that may interest you.

Tags: cover letter, resume cover, resume cover letter, like work, potential employers

Digital Advertising Careers

Creative individuals interested in digital advertising careers can choose from a variety of job paths.

Jobs in digital advertising continue to increase as social media and other directed online marketing tools continue to develop. If you're considering a career in social media, you'll find a wide range of opportunities, depending on your specific interests, years of experience and level of education.

Digital Ad Sales

A career in digital advertising sales puts you on the front line of the online media market and can be a good entry point into digital advertising. Working directly with clients to sell online advertising space, you'll be expected to flourish in a results-driven environment. New graduates can slide into such roles, as well as those migrating from more conventional publishing firms. Earnings potential can vary wildly depending on success, with top earners bringing in double a typical base salary.

Online Marketing

Online marketing positions with well-known brands can be tough to land because there are so many applicants for each position. Such positions seek to define strategic and creative material around online marketing campaigns with the possible help of outside agencies. If you are a student, talk to your career services department about internships with established companies to accrue some valuable experience prior to graduating. If you're already in the workforce, consider taking a position with a smaller organization and focus on skills such as search engine marketing to make your resume more attractive. One year of experience in the right area can make you an sought-after candidate.

Education

If you are having a hard getting your foot in the digital advertising door, consider some specialized continuing education. Many prestigious universities are offering coursework with a focus in online marketing that can give you tangible skills for future career moves. Rutgers, for example, offers graduate-level courses in social media marketing that teach students to analyze social media opportunities and discover and deploy new social media technologies. Such formal training can prepare you for managerial positions in the digital workforce.

Salaries

While salaries in digital media and advertising can vary depending on experience and education, recent studies have shown that salaries have increased from 2009 to 2011 despite a sluggish economy. In a survey conducted by leading talent recruitment agency 24 Seven, digital and interactive marketers saw an average annual income gain of 14 percent, rising from $81,930 in 2009 to $93,147 in 2011. The same survey found that, on the whole, job satisfaction in advertising has increased over the same time period.

Tags: social media, digital advertising, 2009 2011, from 2009, from 2009 2011

Deduct Business Gifts

If you give gifts as a part of your business, you may be able to deduct part or all of the cost. The IRS, however, has very specific rules for what constitutes a gift and what does not.

Instructions

1. Keep receipts for all gifts you give for business purposes. These receipts will help you to prove your deductions if you are ever audited.

2. Track your business gifts throughout the year so you don't have to go through all of your receipts individually at tax time. You should record who the gift was given to, what that person's relationship is to your business and how much the gift cost.

3. Deduct up to $25 in business gifts for each person you give to. The $25 rule means that if you give a gift that exceeds $25, you can only deduct $25 total. If you give multiple gifts that add up to under $25, you can deduct the total cost.

4. Determine whether your gift meets the entertainment exception. Tickets to concerts or sporting events, for example, can be considered either a gift or an entertainment expense. Entertainment expenses are not restricted by the $25 rule, but only 50 percent of the total cost is deductible.

5. Separate gifts to employees from incentives. If you regularly offer employees incentives in the form of merchandise, you may be able to make a claim that these gifts are ordinary and necessary to your business. In these cases, such gifts are fully deductible, but you'll need to back up your claim with documentation if audited.

6. Use Part V "Other Expenses" of the Schedule C tax form from the IRS to list your gift deductions (see Resources below).

Tags: your business, deduct total, total cost, your gift

Write A Funny Campaign Speech

Write a Funny Campaign Speech

Whether you are running for president of your school or president of the United States, you will likely have to make a speech at some point in time on your way into office. A well written speech can mean the difference between campaign success or failure. Many political hopefuls elect to inject humor into their campaign speeches. By incorporating humor, you capture the audience's attention and allow them to see that you are a real person who really cares about their wants and needs. When time comes to compose your all-important campaign speech, make it a humorous one. Your listening audience will likely appreciate it.

Instructions

1. Know your audience. The type of humor you want to use depends greatly upon your audience. You would not attempt to use the same humor at a high school assembly as you would at a retirement village. Before you even consider composing your speech, take some time to consider what type of people will likely fill the audience when you present your speech.

2. Tailor your speech to your audience's sense of humor. When composing your speech, make reference to pop culture topics with which your audience will be familiar. If you don't know what your audience may like, consult someone who is either that age or has worked closely with people similar to those to whom you will be speaking.

3. Keep it appropriate. Many people enjoy off-color humor; however, as an individual running for office you need to take extreme care to avoid offending anyone. Remember, things you say in your speech will likely be recorded, so don't say anything that you wouldn't want as a part of the permanent record, regardless of how funny it may be.

4. Speak relatively informally. Your speech will seem disjointed and awkward if you try to be both funny and serious. To create continuity in your humorous speech, you must keep the whole address relatively informal. Use simple, everyday language, and speak in a conversational tone.

5. Use clever anecdotes. Give your audience an inside look at your campaign by telling them about funny things that have happened on the trail. Or allow them to feel as if they are part of your family by sharing funny stories of your life with them as a way of illustrating your points.

6. Pepper your speech with jokes. While jokes are a great way to insert humor, you do not want to rely too heavily upon them. Use jokes sparingly, and take care when selecting them. Do not select jokes that some might find offensive. Also, be sure to stick with jokes that are relevant to your campaign or your platform.

7. Include a humorous quotation. Borrow a line from a politician who expressed your sentiments in a humorous way. For example, you could quote California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger who said, "to those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy, I say: Don't be economic girlie men!" If you do this, be sure to cite your quote and give the original speaker his due credit.

8. Laugh at yourself. If you want the audience to laugh at you, you have to be willing to laugh at yourself. If, when giving your speech, you make a joke that flops, acknowledge the joke's lack of success and join in the crowd in laughing at your attempt. The audience will likely develop a kinship with you as you laugh right along with them.

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The Definition Of Product Marketing Mix

The product marketing mix defines all the elements necessary to market the item.

Products are the goods a business offers to consumers. The product marketing mix defines all the elements necessary to sell these goods in the marketplace. As part of the overall marketing mix (which also includes price, place and promotion), product plays the most important role in marketing strategy development. Businesses determine their target market, branding and positioning by examining their product benefits and features.

Defining Product

Products represent the heart of a business; if they fail to sell, the business fails. They also help business owners make decisions about all the other parts of the marketing mix (cost, distribution and advertising). The goods they sell must offer a timely solution to a particular problem. Define the product by noting its benefits and features and considering how the product differs from its competition. The definition must also consider the life cycle of the product in the marketplace (Is it new or existing?).

Product Strategies

According to the Small Business Administration, product strategies include selling one specialty product, offering a narrowly defined product line or developing a broad range of goods. Many businesses start with a small number of products and then expand their product line. Product mix, the number and depth of goods, will affect overall branding and positioning of the business. It especially affects price, which must include the cost of manufacturing, distribution and promotion.

Identifying Target Market

The target market of a product is the group of people most likely to purchase it. These people have the problem that the product solves. Branding and positioning depend on knowing who will buy the product, where they will buy it (distribution), what they like aesthetically (branding) and where they will learn about the product (promotion). Demographic information (such as age, sex and income) can be found through industry associations and market research companies.

Product Branding

Branding describes the look and "personality" of product packaging and marketing. When considering the product marketing mix, business owners should decide whether to brand the whole product line with the business name or develop a separate brand name for each product. According to Consumer Psychologist, consumers will accept extended branding using the business name if the business is credible as a producer of the item, the product is compatible with others in the line and the branding does not associate a high-quality name with a low-quality product.

Positioning

The positioning portion of the product marketing mix defines how consumers view the product features and how the consumers relate to these attributes. When determining positioning, business owners look at the ideal points, or key attributes, that a consumer looks for in a product. Positioning uses adjectives to describe the product attributes. For example, a product could be described as luxury vs. budget-conscious or safety vs. aesthetics. The business owner uses these points to develop their promotional strategies and materials.

Tags: product marketing, business owners, marketing defines, product line, product marketing defines, benefits features

Fix Windows Xp Internet

Resolving Internet connection issues in XP can get you back online.

The simple act of going online isn't really appreciated until you can't do it. If you've clicked the normal connection and nothing happens, it can mean that something has changed. Settings can get changed accidentally by uninstalling a program or for any number of other reasons. The problem can be on your end or on the Internet provider's end. Start with a few basics and hopefully the issue will be resolved.

Instructions

1. Right-click on the Internet connection--a small computer screen on the bottom right-hand side of the screen--and open the Internet Connection Repair (ICR) utility by clicking "Repair." A "Repair Local Area Connection" box will appear indicating a repair is in process. Successful repair of your Internet connection doesn't require anything else from you. If repairing wasn't successful, a box will appear indicating that the repair wasn't possible. Click "OK."

2. Click "Turn Off Computer" and keep the computer off to the count of 10. Resetting the system often resolves phone line issues. Turn the computer back on and try to connect to the Internet in your usual manner. Enter this website into the address box: http://www.microsoft.com.

3. Download the Network Diagnostics for Windows XP tool from Microsoft and double-click on it to install. Open Internet Explorer (IE) and go to the "Tools" tab and then to "Diagnose Connection Problems." After completing the program's diagnosis, the Network Diagnostics tool will report one of the following results: It was unable to find a problem or a problem was detected. Follow the steps to finish trouble shooting the problem. Restart IE.

4. Reset the router by pressing the reset button and holding it for 30 to 60 seconds. Remove the power cord to the cable essentially turning the router off. For a modem, unplug any phone wires going into the modem if applicable. Go to "Start" and then "Turn Off Computer." Reboot the computer. Reconnect any cables or phone lines that you just disconnected. Turn the router back on and allow it to fully boot. This can take a minute or two.

5. Resolve connections made using a modem and a network adapter by going to "Network Connections" in "Control Panel" (usually "Start" to "Control Panel" to "Network Connections"). Right-click on your Internet connection. Click "Properties" and then the "Networking" tab. Click "Internet Protocol Adapter" and then "Properties" and then "Advanced." Click "Use default gateway" on the remote network checkbox and then "OK."

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Brace Floors

Eventually, any floor can start to sag.

A sagging and bouncing floor can happen in any home that does not run cross bracing between the joists. A home places a lot of weight on the floor joists, and over time the joists can start to sag. Installing sister joists and cross bracing between the joists will help you brace your floors and eliminate floor sag and bouncing when you walk across a room. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Measure the length and width of your joists with a tape measure. Cut 2 boards that match the length with a miter saw for each joist that you want to brace. Use 1-inch thick boards at a minimum and make sure the boards are the same width as your joists.

2. Cut a 4-by-6-inch beam to length with the miter saw. Make it long enough to span across the joists that are sagging. Nail the beam to the bottom of the joists to hold it in place.

3. Place a hydraulic jack on the ground under each end of the beam you secured to the joists and measure the distance between the bottom of the joists and the top of the beams. Cut additional 4-by-6-inch beams to match those lengths.

4. Place the beams between the joists and the hydraulic jacks. Slowly jack up the joists with the hydraulic jack. Do not lift the joists more than ¼-inch per day. Lifting more could cause the drywall or plaster in your walls to crack.

5. Slide the boards you cut in step two beside the joists. You will have one on each side of the joist. Secure the sister joists to the joist with 3-inch nails. Position evenly spaced rows approximately 1-inch apart.

6. Lower the hydraulic jacks and remove the 4-by-6-boards. You must pry the board you nailed to the bottom of the joists loose with a pry bar.

7. Measure the distance between joists with a tape measure and cut pieces of wood to match those distances. Use the same wood that you used for the sister joists. Cut one board for every 36-inches of joist.

8. Wedge the boards between the joists every 36-inches and tap them upward with a hammer so they rest against the bottom of the floorboards. Secure the braces to the joists by driving nails through the sides of the boards at an angle. This is called a "toe nail."

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Topics For A Business Law Term Paper

Countless topics in business law.

Students find themselves in a panic when they hear the words term paper. The most difficult part to a term paper is finding a topic to write on that will fill the required page count. Fortunately, business law is filled with countless topics to write about, from contract law to intellectual property law. Business entails the formation of a company, insurance regulations, commerce and employee relations. Once you narrow your topic down to a certain subheading under business, you will find that there is plenty of information to keep your paper flowing.

Contract Law

One area of business law that can be broken down into further categories is contract law. You can write on the effects of a breach of contract in business and some of the defenses one might have to breaching a contract such as an adhesion contract, misrepresentation, fraud and duress. One famous case you could include in your paper is Sondra Locke v. Warner Brothers, a case where Locke sued Warner Brothers for breach of contract and failure to act in good faith. Another case you could include is the case brought against ABC and the Extreme Makeover Home Edition television show where five orphans claimed ABC had them sign an unconscionable contract allowing their host family to evict them from the home that was built by Extreme Makeover.

Tort Law

Another area of business law that can involve many subcategories is tort law. The area of tort law can include slips and falls at work, accidents involving work vehicles, nuisances such as businesses emitting pollution or noise, and manufacturers failing to provide a duty of care to consumers. Some famous cases involving tort law in the business realm are: Grimshaw v. Ford Motor Company, where Grimshaw sued Ford under product liability because the Ford Pinto was prone to catching on fire when hit from the rear due to its design; and the case made famous by the movie Erin Brockovich, Aguayo v. PG&E, where residents of a town were exposed to toxins in the air, water and soil.

Intellectual Property Law

Another one of the numerous areas under business law is intellectual property law. This area of the law was virtually non-existent just a couple of decades ago. You could write a paper on trademark infringement, copyright laws and trade secrets. There have been a great deal of cases in the news over the past several years. There was a criminal prosecution involving a former Coca Cola employee who along with two others tried to sell the secret formula of Coke to PepsiCo. There were also the numerous lawsuits that erupted against Napster in 2000 by many artists for "stealing" songs and allowing computer users to download music without paying the artists or producers.

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Characteristics Of Sales Management

Effective sales management is the most important aspect of many businesses.

Descriptions of sales management include planning and implementing sales programs within an organization, as well as managing sales teams. A sales manager's primary responsibility is to administer successful marketing plans that effectively contribute to achieving organizational goals. Similar job descriptions and responsibilities apply to careers such as marketing executives, district managers and product line administrators.

General Management

Sales management includes understanding the importance of sales and monitoring and explaining market trends to sales personnel. Sales managers provide direct supervision to salespeople and are responsible for salespeople learning and implementing any and all company sales methodologies and initiatives. Sales managers must understand and clearly communicate sales budgets, their significance and what they mean to each salesperson.

Structure

Sales managers create sales team structures. Common sales team structures include sales managers, assistant sales managers, team leaders and sales personnel. All employees must clearly understand their responsibilities and what's expected of them in terms of performance as well as accomplish their assigned duties. Sales managers help sales personnel understand their place in sales departments as well as organizations as a whole.

Strategy

Sales managers develop and implement sales strategies. Sales managers identify and assign sales territories, plan product promotions and design or obtain sales tools such as posters and printed literature. Moreover, sales managers create sales campaigns, which include direct mailers and telephone solicitation. Sales managers set organizational standards for customer service and building customer loyalty.

Recruiting

Effectively hiring salespeople is among the most critical characteristics of sales management. Recruiting top sales performers, as well as those with star potential, is an ongoing, constant process -- every organization has room for more successful salespeople. Sales managers must work at maximizing their hiring skills, including conducting quality interviews and identifying potentially successful salespeople.

Training

Sales managers must effectively train their sales team. implement sales techniques, such as qualifying prospects; build product value; and close deals are all key components of effective sales training. Sales personnel must learn effective time management, because top-performing salespeople consistently invest their time actively engaged in activities that directly produce income.

Motivation

Sales managers must identify what motivates sales team members and design selling strategies accordingly. Interpersonal communication and relationship building skills are required, as sales managers must help salespeople create energy and gain momentum during times when they're struggling. Motivational techniques include group recognition, financial rewards and valuable prizes for outstanding sales performance.

Tags: managers must, Sales managers, Sales managers, sales team, sales management