The Use Of Quantitative Methods

Quantitative methods are empirical investigations based upon the objective observation of phenomena. They can be employed in a variety of different disciplines, ranging from the physical sciences to sociology. Additionally, measurements and mathematical representations are also considered quantitative, since they express the relationships between observable facts.

Collection of Data

Quantitative methods can be used to collect data, which can then be quantified using mathematical and statistical analysis in order to discern relationships between phenomena. Data collection is especially important to the social sciences and psychology, because it allows researchers to come to general conclusions about experimentation results.

Building Models

Building a model to describe a phenomenon can allow researchers to draw conclusions about that phenomenon, discern how it functions and develop laws about it. These models can also be used to attempt to anticipate future behavior, such as in the field of economics.

Developing Theories

Theories can be developed from empirical observation and quantitative methods. Science, for instance, relies upon quantitative research to discern facts about the world. Scientists then develop theories to try and explain how these facts relate to other known facts about a phenomenon to better understand how nature and the physical world function.

Developing Hypothesis

Once a theory has been developed, a hypothesis or prediction can be made about the further behavior of a phenomenon. Hypotheses allow researchers to design further experiments in order to test their predictions. Depending upon the outcomes of such experiments, the hypothesis can either be confirmed, which in turn confirms the theory, or rejected, wherein the theory is revised.

As Supporting Evidence

In the context of qualitative or interpretation-based investigations, quantitative methods can be employed to provide evidence for an argument or theory. Usually, this takes the form of statistically organized data. However, it can also be a first- or third-person account of an event. Such evidence is used often by historians.

Tags: allow researchers, conclusions about, facts about, Quantitative methods, quantitative methods

What Are Ideas To Raffle At A Benefit

Selling raffle tickets is an effective way to raise money for charity.

Holding a raffle in conjunction with a benefit can raise additional funds for charity and increase awareness of your event. Before seeking donations from local business for items to raffle, create a list of potential raffle ideas. The perfect ideas for items to raffle at your benefit must work well with the theme of the benefit. If your benefit event does not have a theme, you should focus on seeking donations for items your target audience will enjoy.

Ideas for Women

If your target audience is women, soliciting donations from companies that provide pampering services can lead to a successful raffle. Consider raffle items that provide the perfect spa day, such as a facial, a half-hour or full-hour massage, a half-day at the spa, a pedicure-manicure combo or an afternoon of beauty at a top hair salon. Other popular raffle ideas for women include a gift certificate for a popular local boutique, personal shopping services, interior design services and lunch or dinner for two at a popular restaurant.

Ideas for Men

While some men may enjoy a full-hour massage or even a pedicure-manicure combo, to really garner male attention consider soliciting donations that have to do with technology or sporting activities. Raffles with prizes like a flat-screen television, tickets to a coveted sporting event or the latest version of some popular technology will generally excited and encourage men to purchase tickets.

Ideas for the Family

If your benefit targets families, you have a range of possibilities for raffle donations. Tickets to local family entertainment venues like mini-golf, bowling or arcade centers are always good ideas for raffles. Other family appropriate ideas include grocery store gift cards, gas gift cards, certificates for a family dinner at a local restaurant or even a certificate for a family portrait from a local photographer. If you can get someone to pay a family's utility bills for the month, it would be a popular raffle item.

General Interest

If you're not sure who is in your target audience, you can always raffle items that are interesting to almost anyone. Cars and big screen televisions are always fail-safe raffle ideas. Other options of interest to most people include tickets to local attractions like popular museums, concert tickets, computer equipment or high-value credit card gift cards that can be used anywhere.

Tags: your target audience, gift cards, raffle ideas, target audience, your benefit, your target, donations from

Create A Direct Marketing Campaign

Direct marketing campaigns generally try to create communication directly between your business and an audience such as the consumer of your product, without having to go through intermediaries, such as you would if you bought advertising in a newspaper or on a television station.

Instructions

1. Decide what response you want from recipients of your marketing materials. You need to convey a call to action--a request for recipients to complete a specific action. It can be simply visiting a website or it can be purchasing a product or service from your company.

2. Determine your target demographic and either generate a contact list or purchase a mailing list. Good sources of contacts for your list include your past clients and members of your business network.

3. Choose a method of direct marketing, such as sending out a mailer or emailing a newsletter, and create marketing materials for that medium. Printing and mailing out your materials is typically the most expensive option, but it is the only method that will get a response from some categories of recipients.

4. Follow through on your planned campaign. Mail or email your marketing materials and track the responses you receive. You may receive notification that an email account is closed or a potential recipient is no longer at the mailing address you have listed. Update your contact list where possible.

5. Analyze responses to your marketing campaign. This information can help you to improve your future campaigns as well as determine the effectiveness of your current campaign.

Tags: marketing materials, your marketing, contact list, your business, your marketing materials

Build Social Media Campaigns

Starting a social media campaign for your business is a great way to reach your customers in a new way. People spend a great deal of time on social media sites for entertainment, to keep up with the latest news and to stay in touch with friends and family. Since your customers are already on these sites, it is important for you to be there, too. If properly executed, a social media campaign can help a business to gain exposure, thus expanding its client base.

Instructions

1. Set goals for your campaign. These do not all have to be measurable, but choose at least one that is. It will be easier to understand what you are trying to achieve if know gauge success. This can be anything from having a certain number of Twitter followers by a specific date, to vowing to post new content each day.

2. Determine the best social media types to meet your audience. Some companies have a lot of customers on Twitter, but few on Facebook, so it is only beneficial to them to have a Twitter account. Recognize that you do not need to be on all forms of social media, just the ones where you will be heard by the right people.

3. Prepare a social media strategy for your brand before your social media campaign starts. Decide if comments from customers will need to be reviewed before they are posted or if you will let everyone post as they wish. Devise a few responses to be used when you receive angry customer comments, because you likely will.

4. Respond to customers when they comment on your posts. You want to engage in a conversation with your audience, not simply talk at them. Your customers will feel slighted if you do not respond when they mention you. Not only do you need to reply to their comments, you need to do it quickly, as the longer you wait the less significance it has.

5. Schedule how often you will post content on your social media sites. The content you publish needs to be relevant to your brand, in order to spread your message. Social media moves quickly, so your updates need to be frequent in order to hold customer interest.

6. Post content that is fun and engaging. People like to look at pictures, watch videos and do interactive polls, not read a block of boring content. In order to keep customers interested, you must post content that will keep them talking and wanting to come back for more.

Tags: social media, media campaign, social media campaign, content that, customers will

Identify Domain Names

Stay connected through the Internet.

The Internet may seem overwhelming if you are new to the interconnected world. Between learning the difference between and URL, a .com or .org and secure sites, the Internet almost feels like a foreign language. One term encountered during the use of the Internet is domain name. A domain name is a registered name applied to a proprietary Internet URL. Identifying a domain name requires only you read the line on the Internet browser address bar.

Instructions

1. Open up your Internet browser and look up to the URL and address bar. This is found along the top of the program box.

2. Read, going from left to right, a series of letters and punctuation marks.

3. Read the words beginning directly after the www and before the last three letters and period; these can be com, org, gov or other indicators of country and area. In this example, the domain name is the domain name for the website. For example, if a website's domain name was "bob" it would be the center portion of the website address in the browser address bar.

4. Identify a domain name through a product affiliation as well. Often times, a product's name will be registered as its domain name. Examples may include computer brands, universities or soft drinks.

Tags: domain name, browser address, domain name domain, Internet browser, name domain, name domain name

Remodelers Trade Shows In Minnesota

Remodeling trade shows introduce businesses and consumers to new building and decorating ideas.

Trade shows showcase innovative new products, companies and techniques within a particular industry. Minnesota has several large trade shows open to local remodeling businesses and the general public. These shows offer designers and builders the latest choices in wholesale products. Consumers can obtain ideas on the best way to remodel or landscape their homes by attending a public home improvement trade show. Does this Spark an idea?

Minneapolis Home Building and Remodeling Expo

Minneapolis Home Building and Remodeling Expo highlights the latest remodeling and home design trends. Homeowners can visit exhibitors showcasing everything you need to remodel your home. See the latest in sunroofs, cabinets, lighting fixtures, flooring and "green" windows. Homeowners curious about do-it-yourself projects can see demonstrations of home waterproofing, deck building and other procedures. Professional designers can assist homeowners in fleshing out their home improvement plans. Produced by L and L Exhibition Management, a company that puts together remodeling and building show across the country, the Remodeling Expo takes place yearly at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Minneapolis Home Building and Remodeling Expo

Minneapolis Convention Center

Exhibit Hall B

1301 2nd Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55403

952-881-5030

homeshowcenter.com

Southern Minnesota Home and Builders Show

Southern Minnesota homeowners looking for the latest remodeling ideas can find a number of products and home improvement tips at the Home and Builders show in Mankato. Scheduled exhibitors include All Pro Door Company, Green Energy Products LLC, Town and Country Interiors and Dakota Kitchens & Bath. Homeowners can find information on home design and room remodeling, and learn about energy-efficient doors, windows and appliances. The show features home remodeling seminars led by professionals.

Southern Minnesota Home and Builders Show

Verizon Wireless Center

1 Civic Center Plaza

Mankato, MN 56001

515-537-2094

jacksonexpogroup.com

Minneapolis Home and Landscape Expo

Home improvement companies and design firms looking for new ideas, as well as the general public, can attend the Minneapolis Home and Landscape Expo at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. Hundreds of companies exhibit the latest home remodeling products, landscaping ideas and do-it-yourself trends. Experts are able to answer the public's questions about everything from the right kind of tile to use on the bathroom floor to local laws regarding home additions. Exhibitors include home security companies, flooring and cabinet manufacturers and landscape design firms. L and L Exhibition Management, the same company responsible for the Minneapolis Home Building and Remodeling Expo, organizes the Minneapolis Home and Landscape Expo.

Minneapolis Home and Landscape Expo

Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

900 South 5th St., Minneapolis, MN 55415

952-881-5030

homeshowcenter.com

Tags: Minneapolis Home, Remodeling Expo, Building Remodeling, Building Remodeling Expo, Home Building, Home Building Remodeling

The Average Salary Of Assistant Account Executives

The Average Salary of Assistant Account Executives

Assistant account executives create, handle and maintain account information for a business or organization. They assist senior or mid-level account executives in recruitment of customers. Assistant account executives work in fields such as banking, brokerage firms (financial and non-financial), real estate investment firms, technology and sales and marketing corporations.

The Position

Assistant account executives traditionally work under the supervision of an account manager or senior account executive. The assistant account executive's responsibility is to engage customers concerning new, existing or overdue accounts. Many assistant account executives market financial products or services to individual or corporate clients. Many assistant account executives make up to 10 percent residual income on sales that lead to long-term accounts.

Outlook and Growth Percentage

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for assistant account administrators is expected to grow 12 percent annually until the year 2016. The Internet provides a way for assistant account executives to handle accounts by telecommuting or working from home, which means there is more opportunity for employment. Internet assistant account executives are usually paid by the hour.

Salary Levels

Salary levels depend on various factors. According to the 2009 Department of Labor occupational handbook, salary levels vary for assistant account executives. Traditionally, positions in a large metropolitan statistical area (MSA) tend to pay more than positions in rural areas. Factors also taken into consideration are length of service, education, certification and size of the firm or businesses.

Salary and Commissions

The 2008 Occupational and Wages report states the median average hourly wage of an assistant account executive is $22.64 and the annual salary wage is between $36,000 to 45,000. The report also shows the larger corporations hire assistant account executives at a higher salaried rate than smaller companies or businesses; however, small companies provide larger bonuses and commissions for assistant account executives.

Geographical Information Concerning Salaries

Assistant account executive job positions are found all over America, but statistics from the Department of Labor show that most metropolitan cities on the East Coast offer higher salaries to assistant account executives. For example, New York is a major financial hub of the United States, and because the cost of living index is higher than the national average, assistant account executives can obtain a starting salary of $52,000.

The same position in the southern part of the United States, in a city like Charlotte, North Carolina, starts off at $38,000.

Career Considerations

Even though assistant account executives are a broad career field, an individual seeking employment as an assistant account executive should ensure they have the right motivation to handle the work. Many positions in the career field come with pressure to manage accounts and portfolios while constantly communicating with customers and management.

Tags: account executives, assistant account executives, account executive, account executives, assistant account, assistant account, assistant account

Information On Living A Healthy Lifestyle For Kids

Keeping your little ones in good health is of the utmost importance

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, keeping your children in good health is the best way to fight type 2 diabetes, heart disease and many other problems associated with childhood obesity.

Limit Inactivity

Limiting the amount of TV and video game time your child has on a daily basis can help encourage other more physical activities. Encourage your children to turn off the games and play outside whenever possible.

Healthy Eating Habits

The biggest key to a healthy lifestyle for children is healthy eating habits. Providing balanced meals and lots of fruit and vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins will help keep kids healthy. Stay away from fast food and heavily processed meals.

Make Exercise Fun

Making exercise activities fun will help keep your children interested. For instance, going on family bike rides or hikes is an ideal way of experiencing the outdoors and exercising at the same time.

Limit Sweets

While children love sweets such as candy, ice cream and chips, they can be very unhealthy in large amounts. While they don't need to be totally deprived of sweets, the amount of junk food they eat should always be closely monitored and regulated.

Set an Example

Children look up to their parents and it may be easier for them to follow a healthy lifestyle if they're raised around parents also enjoying a healthy lifestyle that involves healthy meals and exercise.

Tags: healthy lifestyle, your children, good health, help keep, will help, will help keep

Start A Free Church Website

Churches today can interact with their community through a free church website.

Free webhosting services give churches the opportunity to explore the possibilities that running a website can offer. Free webhosting services allow a church to create a website that includes graphics, text and hyperlinks. Such a site can allow the church to maintain contact with members and supporters, promote its message and services and encourage people to view it as a community leader. If church members find that the free website moves the church in a positive direction, they may continue to develop their free website into a more sophisticated site for which the church will pay webhosting fees.

Instructions

1. Find a webhost that offers free website hosting services. Several webhosting companies offer free webhosting services. Free webhosts provide information that allows a church to quickly summarize the benefits of some of the web's most popular free websites. Information on free websites includes reviews of the data and sites about available space on each webhost, the webhost's scripting and whether the site places their ads on the free websites of clients. Churches may want to consider the possibility that advertisements---which may clash with the church's values---may come up on their free website.

2. Select a webhost that provides the options that the church needs on their website, and then sign up. Submit the church's contact information and complete the security clearance. Sign the user agreement and choose an owner username and password for the free church website.

3. Select a domain name for the church's free website. Since many churches have similar names, you may wish to include the church's name and the city or neighborhood in which it exists or the denomination that it represents.

4. Select a template for the free website from the webhost's template options. Some free webhosts have templates that offer specific colors or themes that a church may appreciate, such as a background with specific colors or graphics. If the church specializes in serving a specific population, such as young families or a rural community, choose a template that reflects the population the church serves.

5. Create the church website's files/pages. Map out the site so that the webpages will complete and complement each other. Create a different webpage for each aspect of the church, including the clergy; lay staff; schedules of services, adult classes and Sunday school classes for children; projects, etc. Insert the desired text on each page. Insert pictures whenever possible to illustrate the church's activities. Insert hyperlinks into the website's pages to create crosslinks between the website's pages, as well as hyperlinks to other similar sites such as other area churches, projects, programs that the church supports and community resources.

Tags: free website, free websites, that church, their free, webhosting services, allow church

Write A Position Description To Get A Promotion

Writing a position description can lead to a promotion.

Promotions can mean higher pay, more respect from your co-workers, more time off and other perks. Sometimes in order to get a promotion, a different position will have to be created. First, you'll write the position description of the job you would like, then you'll write a letter explaining to the supervisor of the position why you deserve the promotion, highlighting your accomplishments and professional behavior in your current position.

Instructions

1. Start by giving the position description a title. The position title should denote what kind of position it is and the responsibilities. The date of the letter needs to be noted on the top of the page.

2. Write an executive summary for your first paragraph. It should be a short description of the position's basic responsibilities and how it will affect the company.

3. For the next paragraph, explain the position's background. Why did you create it? Write these points down to ease into the broader explanation of the duties and responsibilities of the position you have created.

4. Begin another paragraph explaining the challenges and/or setbacks this position may face. This will help the supervisor determine whether the position will be worth the risk.

5. Write your next paragraph about the qualifications a person should have to be productive in this position.

6. Conclude your position description with the rest of the relevant information for the position, such as compensation, application deadlines and interview deadlines.

Tags: position description, have created, next paragraph, position will, this position

Are Fsa Funds Tax Deductible

Use your FSA funds for health-care expenses.

If you anticipate large health-care expenses for the coming year, you can save money by contributing pre-tax income to a flexible spending account and using that money to pay your health-care providers. The money you contribute to a flexible spending account helps lower your taxable income and your tax liability as well.

Payroll Deductions

When you sign up for a flexible spending account, you can contribute to that plan through payroll deductions, much the same way you put money into your 401k plan. Those payroll deductions provide you with a relatively painless way to put money toward your health-care expenses, since the money comes straight out of your paycheck before you get a chance to spend it.

Lower Taxes

Since the money you put into a flexible spending account goes in on a pre-tax basis, the end result is a lower tax bill for you. The amount you contribute to the FSA is deducted from your federal taxable wages, which in turn lowers your taxable income and your tax liability. Depending on your situation, participating in a flexible spending account can reduce the amount you owe, or boost the size of your tax refund.

2013 Limits

As of 2011, you can contribute as much to a flexible spending account as your employer allows, but that law is changing. As part of the health-care bill passed and signed by President Obama, flexible spending accounts will be limited to $2,500 per year as of Jan. 1, 2013. If you anticipate any large health-care expenses, you might want to schedule those treatments before 2013, since you can put as much into your FSA as you want until then.

Advance Tax Planning

If you plan to participate in a flexible spending account at your office, do some advance tax planning to see how much those contributions can save you on your taxes. You can use a tax preparation software package to run the numbers on your taxes both with and without that FSA contribution. This allows you to see at a glance exactly how much you can save by putting money aside for your medical expenses ahead of time.

Tags: flexible spending, flexible spending account, spending account, health-care expenses, account your, anticipate large, anticipate large health-care

College Promotional Ideas

Promote your school with products or ask for help from the community.

With the large number of colleges and universities scattered across the country, you want yours to stand out from the pack. Colleges use promotional materials as a way of keeping current students satisfied. More importantly, those promotional materials and ideas are used to attract new students to the school. Keeping enrollment up and keeping current students happy is the best way to ensure the survival of the school.

Local Contests

Hold a contest with help from local businesses. Offer a specific prize, such as a free spring break trip for one lucky student and four friends. Get other businesses to offer smaller donations in the form of free food, gift certificates and other prizes. Draw raffle tickets, with the first winners getting the smaller prizes and the last winner getting the grand prize. Use the contest to draw attention to the college. Make up posters to advertise the event and include details on when you'll draw the winning name(s) for the contest. Give a raffle ticket to each person who attends the event and ask that they fill out all their information completely to be eligible. If you're hosting an event for new students, consider offering smaller prizes in the form of gift certificates for the campus bookstore.

Demonstrations

Host demonstrations to draw attention to the college, including product demonstrations from local businesses and exhibits from students enrolled in the school. Turn the event into a fair, with booths lining the quad. This draws attention to some of the lesser known clubs and organizations at your school, as well as the campus itself. Local businesses may want to show some support for the school in the hopes of attracting new customers. Let students mingle around the booths, watching and listening to demonstrations that they find interesting.

Free Gifts

Give students, both prospective and current, something to tangible to remember about their school. Look for products that college kids actually need and use. Promotional product companies make a large number of office supplies that can be branded with your school name, logo and address, including rulers, pens, pencils and notepads or notebooks. Look for larger products, including backpacks or t-shirts, that your students can take home. If you're holding an outdoor event or offering free promotional products at college sporting events, give out plastic cups with the school logo on the front. Offer free refills on soda or water when the student uses his cup.

Tags: your school, attention college, current students, draw attention, draw attention college

Short Sale Marketing Materials

There are many ways to market a short sale of a property.

A short sale is a type of real estate transaction where the value of the sale is less than the mortgage on the property. This occurs when the borrower is delinquent on his payments and the bank decides that it is more profitable to sell the real estate now than to wait until it falls into foreclosure or the property value dips more. There are many ways to market these properties because they are sold for less than market value.

Traditional Real Estate Marketing

Real estate agents tasked with marketing a short sale property would be wise to first start with the traditional methods of marketing. These include newspaper advertisements, open houses and listing on the multiple listing service (MLS). Agents in wide networks such as REMAX or the National Association of Realtors (NAR) can use their own associations to further spread word of the sale. The ads should stress that it is a short sale and the price is likely below market value.

New Marketing Ideas

Along with the rest of the world, real estate has entered the Internet age. Sites like redfin.com allow users to list their own properties with minimal help from the company's agents. If you would like to short-sell your own home, this might be a good venue. Craigslist is a good resource to gauge investor interest, as it is an widely viewed site. You may also create a dedicated website for short sales and optimize it for search engine hits. This way, you can post all your short sales in one location and maximize exposure.

Investor Groups or Firms

Short sales are especially enticing to investor groups or firms. These experienced investors know that a property sold below market value can quickly be turned into a profit. Use the white pages in your town to find real estate investment firms. Call or write these firms and propose meetings with their acquisition managers. Prepare the terms and pricing structure that you will be able to provide on your short sales and propose those to the acquisition managers. The more interested groups the better, as it will drive up the price.

Marketing to Potential Short Sale Clients

If you are a real estate consultant, you may also want to initiate a short sale by finding and marketing to potential clients. You can find lists of delinquent mortgages published by municipalities. Whereas the actual short sale is a little easier because the house value is below market, convincing the current owner is more challenging because she is abandoning her home and relinquishing all potential for profit. Therefore, marketing to these individuals is more complex. It requires a phone call, brochures, flyers and even face-to-face meetings. In this case, the most successful marketers are those with personal charisma.

Tags: below market, market value, real estate, short sale, short sales

Advertising & Product Placement

Product placement is a form of advertising used in television and movies.

If you've ever noticed an actor drinking a particular brand of beer in a movie or heard her mention a particular brand name in a television show, you have seen product placement at work. Product placement is a form of advertising where companies pay to have their products used or seen in an indirect way. Product placement differs from regular advertising in that it is more subtle because the product remains in the background.

Significance

According to "Promo" magazine, the amount of money spent on product placement in television, movies and other media such as video games was expected to increase from $3.1 billion to $7.6 billion worldwide between 2006 and 2010. In the United States alone, companies paid $1.5 billion in 2006 to place their products in the same forms of media.

Benefits

Companies can benefit from product placement by being able to promote their products in front of millions of people without having to develop a full-blown advertising campaign. When a celebrity is seen using a product in a movie or television show, some viewers may interpret it as a form of indirect endorsement by the celebrity.

Need for Advertisers

"Promo" also indicates that the increase in the use of product promotion is due in large part to the proliferation of ad-skipping technology. Innovations such as TiVo allow viewers to watch their favorite programs without having to watch the commercials. As a result, advertisers could waste millions of dollars creating commercials that may not be seen by enough viewers.

Other Types

Smaller companies may not have the resources to pay for product placement, so they may resort to other methods. Some companies may barter for their product placement by exchanging it for providing the production crew of a show with free use or supplies of the product. Product placement agencies look for the best opportunities to place your product for a fee.

Expert Insight

According to some experts, the ubiquitous nature of product placement is not well-received by consumers who feel inundated with the amount of advertising to which they're already exposed. According to Max Kalehoff of the marketing research firm Nielsen BuzzMetrics, consumers are using the Internet to wage campaigns against intrusive product placement. Rance Crain of "Advertising Age" magazine has stated that consumers have become desensitized to advertising due its volume.

Tags: product placement, their products, companies have, form advertising, particular brand, placement form

Price Catering Services

Every catered course increases the company's food and labor-hour costs.

You can price catering services to cover all your costs and stay competitive in the local market. You can arrive at price that is fair to you and the customer through detailed cost analysis. The location, number of guests and volume of food all play a part in calculating the price for a catered event. Help a host customize the catering services for his gathering to meet the needs of his guests and budget.

Instructions

1. Meet with the host of the party to discuss the details of the event. Find out where it will be held, how many guests will be in attendance, and the start and end times. Ask for information about the space the caterers will be given to prepare or cook the food.

2. Discuss every item on the menu with the host. Explain the ingredients and techniques you plan to use. Ask if she has any special dietary requests or suggestions.

3. Tell the event host you will get back to him within 24 hours with a price. Get current contact information for the host so you can reach him when you are ready.

4. Calculate the costs of catering the event. Include the price of gas or transportation, total employee wages and food costs. Insurance, advertising and licensing costs are not commonly figured into individual job costs and tend to get covered in the profit margin.

5. Increase the total cost figure by 40 to 50 percent to reach the initial quote amount. For example, if cost figures came in at around $1,000, set the quote somewhere in the $1,450 range. This markup gives you as the caterer some room for negotiation with the customer.

6. Divide the pricing quote by the number of guests expected to attend to reach a per-person figure. For example, the cost per person is $14.50 if the total quote is $1,450 for 100 guests.

7. Contact the event host to deliver the pricing figures. Negotiate with the host if she is not satisfied with the prices you offer. Reduce your figure by 10 percent at the most to protect the profit margin.

8. Draft a basic contract listing all the catering services and details of the event along with the agreed-upon price. Get the host to sign the contract before the start of the event.

Tags: with host, catering services, details event, event host, example cost

Start A Marketing Firm

A marketing firm is responsible for making sure that businesses and service providers receive the exposure they need to attract clients, among other things. If you want to start a marketing firm, you'll need plenty of quality contacts, an outgoing personality, and a flair for evaluating business needs.

Instructions

Decide on a Niche

1. Decide on a niche for your marketing firm. What type of marketing will you specialize in? Who is your target market? Often, marketing professionals who specialize are more successful than those who generalize, and it will give you an opportunity to become an expert in a particular industry.

2. Apply for a business license and an EIN (Employer Identification Number) for tax purposes. This will allow you to operate your marketing firm legally in your state, and will prepare you for opening your doors.

3. Contact people with whom you have worked in the past and let them know that you are starting a marketing firm. One of the biggest aspects of this business is networking, which means getting the word out that you are offering your services.

4. Establish an organization and accounting system that allows you to keep track of your financials: invoices, receipts, expenses and so on. You can do this on paper or electronically, but make sure your system is one that you will use consistently.

5. Determine whether or not to hire employees. In most cases, a marketing firm needs at least three or four people at start-up, with more added as the company grows. Since much of your business will be consultative, you'll need to have sufficient time to meet with clients, brainstorm and implement new ideas. Support staff, such as administrative assistants, are invaluable.

6. Develop tools to help brand your marketing firm. Letterhead, business cards, brochures, flyers, postcards and other implements can help spread the word and present a professional image.

7. Learn as much as you can about the niche market you've chosen before starting a marketing firm. For example, will you be focusing on business-to-business or business-to-consumer marketing? Do you know the lingo for the industries in this market? And can you offer effective marketing services to efficiently improve your clients' efforts?

Tags: marketing firm, your marketing, your marketing firm, starting marketing, starting marketing firm, system that

Sell Cookies

One way to earn a little extra money in your spare time is to sell cookies. It's an easy business to start right away. Everyone loves cookies. So follow these steps and you can be earning extra money soon.

Instructions

1. Find a good cookie at a good price in your local area. You must find a winner. The cookie must be so good it sells itself. It also must be priced so low, you can double the price and still sell it.

2. Talk to your local Small Business Development Center about rules and regulations and policies. Prepare to obtain any necessary local licensing or permits for reselling baked goods.

3. Buy your cookies. Decide on a price for two cookies, three, a half dozen and a dozen or more. Buy a large industrial size plastic wrap. On a clean sanitized area of your kitchen or dining room, wrap up the cookies and place them by twos and threes in a basket, and by half dozens and dozens in paper bags.

4. Decide on prices to sell cookies. Label in pencil, as a reminder to yourself, the prices and quantity or type of cookies in each paper bag.

5. Prepare a fanny pack to make proper change to sell your cookies. Put $10 of quarters, 10 ones, 3 fives and a couple of tens in the fanny pack. Secure the fanny pack around your waist.

6. Go to local businesses and talk to supervisors, managers and owners and offer to deliver a couple of dozen cookies once or twice a week that they can put out for their customers. Also, ask if you can show your basket of cookies to workers and employees in case they want to buy a snack.

7. Invoice regular customers once a month for bigger orders. Collect phone numbers and addresses and contact businesses ahead of time.

Tags: fanny pack, extra money, your cookies, your local

Use Fish Bowls For Drink Promos In Your Restaurant Or Tavern

Fish bowls provide a versatile and inexpensive way to spice up drink promotions in a bar or tavern. Available in a variety of sizes, styles and materials, fish bowls can be tailored to fit different themes, drink recipes and holiday celebrations. Print your restaurant or tavern name and logo on the fish bowls and offer the bowls as a promotional piece to further market your establishment.

Instructions

1. Select a variety of different sized fish bowls ranging from 64 oz. to 2 1/2 gallons. Plastic fish bowls are inexpensive and won't shatter if broken, but glass fish bowls are more durable, won't scratch and can be cleaned and used indefinitely. Your promotions can revolve around individual fish bowl cocktails or extra-large group drinks. The latter may be popular with group parties, ladies' nights or bachelor/bachelorette parties.

2. Develop themed drinks suitable for individual as well as group consumption. Margaritas, mai tais, pina coladas and other sweet, fruity tropical concoctions look festive in glass fish bowls and can be promoted in line with a tropical or luau theme.

3. Develop a selection of garnishes. Elaborate fruit skewers of melon, pineapple, mango and strawberries interspersed with gummy fish or gummy octopi make good visuals for promotional posters and menu photos, as do paper umbrellas and extra large curly neon straws. Change out the garnishes for different holiday promotions, such as blueberries, strawberries and coconut for the Fourth of July, chocolate-dipped strawberries for Valentine's Day and candy canes at Christmas.

4. Change up the fish bowl contents by filling the bottom with clear or colored crushed ice and nestling tall shot glasses with tropical liquors in the center. As with fish bowl cocktails, fish bowl shots can be served individually or in group quantities. Consider using waterproof shot glasses with flashing LED lights encased in the bottom for an extra touch of flair. Photograph or video tape the flashing bowls for promotional uses.

5. Fill fish bowls with vodka-laced gelatin mix and gummy worms to create group Jell-O shots. Serve with a fish-shaped ice cream scooper.

6. Create nonalcoholic kiddie cocktails to be served in fish bowls. Use frozen lemonade, virgin strawberry daiquiri mix or fill with a Shirley Temple. As a promo, offer discounted adult fish bowl cocktails with the purchase of every kiddie fish bowl drink.

7. Carry the fish bowl theme promotion through other parts of the bar or tavern. Fill a large fish bowl with metallic basket filling paper and encourage patrons to drop in a business card for the chance to win free tropical fish bowl drinks.

Tags: fish bowl, fish bowls, bowl cocktails, fish bowl cocktails, bowls promotional, fish bowls

Understand Environmental Analysis In Marketing

Environmental analysis in marketing gathers external data of a company to analyze it with the products or services of the company in order to seek trends, growth opportunities and areas of weakness among broad demographics. Environmental analysis considers a vast array of environmental conditions including political, demographic, economic, legal and cultural parameters. Essentially anything that can affect sales from a national or international perspective will be considered.

Instructions

1. Review "market factors" to understand the demand of the product, otherwise termed as the "need." For example: if only 5 percent of households have HD televisions, the market has not been penetrated.

2. Review technology factors to see if trends in technological advances will create a new demand. For example: when all television broadcasting is sent strictly on HD modes, technology has created a demand of the majority of households to convert to a new technology.

3. Review economic conditions to see place products in the market. For example: in recession conditions where technology is creating a demand for consumers to convert to HD televisions but they cannot afford it, there is a need for a cost-effective solution to satisfy consumer need.

4. Understand the competition and find a niche that creates differentiation between companies. For example: while many companies produce HD televisions, there is a specific market for high-end, mid-range and low-end products. The differentiation may be in cost, consumer target or a proprietary technology that sets one company above the others in marketing.

5. Review environmental conditions to understand if the product or service will be accepted by the demographic at large. For example: expanding HD television sales to a rural region may run into problems if the people in the region are resistant to the change and don't perceive any need on their part.

Tags: environmental conditions

Invest In Concert Tickets

If you end up with extra tickets, you can go to the concert.

The law of supply and demand can apply to anything that one person wants, and another person owns. The scarcity of the item in question -- combined with how much the party who wants the item is willing to pay for it -- is what determines the price. This is the basic principle behind the stock market, the business of collectibles, and even concert tickets. You can invest in concert tickets by purchasing them for a lower amount of money, then selling them for a profit.

Instructions

1. Determine the band or concert in which you want to invest your money. You need to find a band or show that is going to sell out, or find a way to get the most desirable seats in the house. Floor seats, luxury boxes, and seats in lower levels, with a clear view of the stage, are preferable to seats located far away, or with an obstructed view. Research the bands that sell-out quickly.

2. Find out if there are any special pre-sales. Pre-sale tickets are often reserved for special groups, such as fan clubs, or people with exclusive credit cards. If the concert you wish to invest in has a pre-sale option, figure out how you can buy those tickets. You may have to join a fan club or sign-up for a credit card, but if you get desirable tickets, it will be worth it.

3. Collect enough money to buy the maximum number of tickets allowed per transaction. If you are investing in a hot show, then it may sell-out in minutes. Therefore you want to have enough cash or credit to buy as many tickets as you can, in your desired location, because it may be your only opportunity.

4. Purchase the concert tickets. Once the tickets officially go on pre-sale -- if that option is open to you -- or sale, be logged-in to the ticketing website and purchase the tickets. You do have the option of going to the actual box office, however, for a hot ticket, that might entail standing in line for a long time -- or even sleeping overnight. With the way the Internet moves, unless you are in the first several spots in line, the tickets will be snapped up by buyers over the Internet.

5. List your tickets on a ticket re-sale website. There are many ticket resale or auction sites, where you can list the concert tickets. See what other people are selling similar tickets for, and price yours accordingly. If you want them to move fast, you might post the price a little lower. If you think the demand will only increase, price them a little higher.

6. Sell the tickets and re-invest the profits. Many concert tickets are now sent in email format. Therefore the cost to ship to the buyer is almost nothing. If you are using a ticket re-sale or auction website, you will have to pay a percentage fee to them for the privilege of listing the tickets. Pricing varies, based on the amount for which you sold the tickets. Once you have made your profit, look to invest again in the next hot concert.

Tags: concert tickets, ticket re-sale, tickets have, tickets Once, tickets will

Ford Minority Engineering Scholarships

Ford scholarships are available on an annual basis.

The Ford Motor Company awards educational scholarships through the Blue Oval Scholars program. The program awards 13 scholarships funding fields as disparate as journalism and math. Two of these awards provide financial assistance to engineering students -- one to a specific group of minority engineering students and the other to students attending a specific university irrespective of race or ethnicity. Some Ford scholarships fund education in any field, including engineering.

Minority Engineering Scholarship

The Ford Motor Company Tribal Scholars award is available to American Indian students studying math, science, engineering, business, teacher training or environmental science at a tribal college, or accounting, computer science, engineering, finance, business, marketing and/or operations management at a mainstream college or university. The scholarship requires students to maintain a 3.0 GPA and provide proof of American Indian or Native Alaskan heritage. The scholarship requires applicants to demonstrate academic excellence and financial need.

Engineering Scholarship

Students of engineering at Michigan State University may apply for the College of Engineering Ford Scholarship. Three students receive this $2,000 scholarship each year. Applicants must be incoming juniors with leadership skills, an interest in the automotive industry and a GPA of 3.2 or higher. Students receive half the grant, or $1,000, for their junior year, and half the grant for their senior year. Scholarship eligibility requirements stipulate that applicants be United States citizens or permanent residents enrolled full-time in the engineering program. The scholarship is awarded irrespective of race or ethnicity.

Scholarship Application Process

Ford funds scholarships for engineering students and minority engineers but leaves the meting of these awards to other institutions. The American Indian College Fund awards Ford Motor Company Tribal Scholars scholarships each year. Students apply for this scholarship directly through the Fund.

The College of Engineering Ford Scholarship constitutes one of the many corporate scholarships available through the Michigan State University College of Engineering. Students apply for the scholarship by filing an electronic application with the college. College employees choose recipients in the spring of each year and award scholarships the following fall.

Other Ford Scholarships

A handful of other Ford scholarships opportunities are open to a broad spectrum of students. Arab-American students studying any academic discipline may apply for Arab-American scholarships through the Lebanese American Heritage. These $1,000 awards offer financial aid to graduating high school seniors, undergraduates and graduate students of Arab descent. Ford also funds scholarships through Future Farmers of America for students who plan to pursue a career in farming and agriculture. Students who intend to apply engineering to agricultural ends may apply for this award.

Tags: American Indian, College Engineering, each year, engineering students, Ford Motor, Ford Motor Company

Improve The Sales In My Boutique

Increase boutique sales through surveys, tracking profits and market strategy planning.

Having growing profits is the backbone of any company, but especially for boutiques. These small business ventures specialize in items such as perfumes, bath products, wines, special occasion gifts and other specific items. Improving business sales can allow a boutique to expand operations, but only if the business owner knows what to do in generating more sales while keeping the established customers you already have. A solid marketing strategy will allow you to focus the necessary resources on the operational areas that will help your boutique succeed.

Instructions

1. Analyze your business operations. Develop a marketing strategy plan that outlines all your sources of income, your competition and your market area. Track business sales to understand your best customer base.

2. Pass out boutique surveys to understand customers' opinions concerning pricing, availability of products and service. Improve business operations, such as late vendors not delivering products on time, slow production procedures or poor customer service handling. Streamline business operations to promote efficiency by consolidating or removing repetitive or unnecessary business functions. By updating your boutique's internal productions, you will be able to offer more quality products to customers at a faster rate, which will increase sales.

3. Expand your boutique's operations into other selling avenues. Create a website to improve sales on the Internet and offer a wide variety of payment options. Contact other local retailers and forge business agreements and relations to sell products on their shelves to draw customers to your boutique. Book concession and event stands at local conventions or outdoor public events to offer a sampling of products while passing out promotional flyers.

4. Offer reasonable sales to move stock on the shelves that might not be selling well. Give away door prizes to establish customer relations and good word-of-mouth advertising. Review your competition's selling tactics and pricing so that you can adjust your pricing strategy to stay competitive and draw in more sales.

Tags: your boutique, business operations, business sales, marketing strategy, more sales, your competition

Design Notepads

Notepads are a good, reasonably cheap promotional material for businesses.

Notepads are simple print materials that can be very handy to have around the house and to promote a business. More than providing paper to write on, notepads typically contain a company's logo and contact information. Even though notepads are quite simple, there are a few key elements that must be included on a notepad in order to be considered an effective business promotional tool.

Instructions

1. Discuss with the printer the size of the notepad. The easiest size for printers to produce is a 4.25-inch-by-8.5-inch pad or a 4.25-inch-by-5.5-inch pad, although any size can be made. This would also be a good time to discuss the color and weight of paper, ink colors, binding material and price of the print job.

2. Open your design software program and create the appropriate-size document. Most printers want designers to place however many copies of the notepad will fit on a letter-size sheet. For example, a horizontal 8.5-inch-by-11-inch document can fit two copies of a 4.25-inch-by-8.5-inch notepad. This is called "2-up." A 4.25-inch-by-5.5-inch notepad can be made into a "4-up" on a vertical letter-size sheet. This allows the printer to print multiple sheets at once without wasting paper.

3. Include guidelines to split the document into multiple notepads of the same size. These guidelines indicate where the printer will cut the paper to create separate sheets. Include additional guidelines to create a 1/4-inch margin around each side of each notepad sheet. This is the "image area" in which to design (unless there is a bleed).

4. Design one sheet first. Place the company logo on the notepad to increase brand recognition. It is typically placed at the top of the notepad. Personal notepads can contain any graphic element that pertains to the individual or that the individual enjoys.

5. Type the company name, address, phone number, fax number, website and email contact information in an appropriate, legible font. A company Twitter or Facebook site can also be included. This information can be located at the top or bottom within the 1/4-inch margins. Most personal notepads simply contain a person's first name and sometimes "From the desk of."

6. Include company slogans printed on other promotional material. Some business notepads also contain an employee's or employer's name and job title.

7. Place lines on which to write (if desired). Most notepads leave the writing area open. Avoid borders, because they take up valuable writing space.

8. Copy the finished notepad design and place it within any allotted space for additional sheets within the document. Make sure all copies are within the drawn guidelines so each sheet looks proper when cut.

9. Save the design on a disk or email it to the printer in an acceptable format.

Tags: 25-inch-by-5 5-inch, 25-inch-by-8 5-inch, 5-inch notepad, company logo, contact information, letter-size sheet, promotional material

Word Graduation Certificates

Graduation is a ceremony built on tradition and a diploma should reflect the importance of the occasion.

Graduation, also known as commencement, is a time of transition. Whether it be graduation from a preschool, kindergarten, high school, technical school or college, graduation requires a mortarboard, a tassel, and, of course, the graduation certificate. Certificate wording may vary by graduation ceremony, but should be formal and appropriately explain who is approving the graduation, or conferring the degree, and the type of program completed. Additionally, the individual should be named on the certificate. Following a few basic steps can result in a certificate that can be printed for multiple individuals within a class.

Instructions

1. Open the word processing program on the computer. Most programs have a "page setup" selection under the "file" menu. If you would like to orient the diploma horizontally, select "page setup" and choose landscape orientation. Close the window to return to the document.

2. Insert a header including the school, or program, name and logo, or seal. This is generally in a larger font than the rest of the certificate. All lines are centered, including the header.

3. Enter a statement about who the certificate is given to, for example, "This diploma witnesses that" with the full, legal name of the individual entered underneath.

4. Insert a statement of what has been accomplished. "has fulfilled the prescribed requirements and is recommended by the faculty of the " is often used. For home school diplomas, the site of the requirements may be listed as "has fulfilled the prescribed requirements as identified in ." This may span two lines. Both should be centered, and the school name may comprise the second line.

5. Identify the degree. For example, "for the degree of ." Generally, the type is Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Associates of Fine Arts, etc. Any honors such as magna cum laude, summa cum laude, or cum laude, should immediately follow the degree type with a comma separating the type from the honor. Again, this may take two lines, and both should be centered.

6. Enter text regarding what the diploma means. Generally, this is stated as, "which is conferred with all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto." This is the only statement that ends in a period, as it completed the decree.

7. Enter who is giving the degree, as an institution. For example, "Given under the seal of at . No punctuation should follow this statement. Center the date underneath.

8. Create a line, or multiple if appropriate, to be signed by the individual representing the organization or university. Type the title of the individual who will sign under the line in small print. This may include the president, dean, chancellor, director or chairman.

9. Print the certificates on the selected paper.

10. Sign, or obtain the appropriate individual, to sign the certificate. Generally, those in authority at the institution sign the diploma.

Tags: degree type, fulfilled prescribed, fulfilled prescribed requirements, page setup, prescribed requirements, should centered

Make Bubble Tea

Bubble tea originated in the 1980s in Taiwan where it's now as popular as soda in the U.S. A basic cold tea recipe was jazzed up with fruit flavorings, and one tea maker got creative and began adding chewy tapioca pearls, which would float to the bottom of the tea, giving a "bubbling" appearance. If you want to learn to make bubble tea, you have several recipes from which to choose. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Make a pot of regular black tea. While still hot, sweeten the tea with sugar or honey. Chill in the refrigerator.

2. Add one cup of tapioca pearls to a couple of cups of boiling water. The pearls should float, so keep them stirred up and don't let them stick to the bottom of the pan. The final consistency of the pearls will be similar to chewing gum.

3. Boil the tapioca for about 25 minutes and turn off the heat. Let the pearls sit covered in warm water for another 25 minutes.

4. Drain the tapioca and rinse with warm water. Add the pearls to the bottom of the tea cups you'll be using. Pour one part tea, one part milk and a tablespoon or two of ice into the shaker and shake until well mixed.

5. Pour the milk, tea, and ice blend (and fresh fruit, if you'd like) over the tapioca pearls. Top the drink with a few more pearls and place a straw in each drink before serving.

Tags: tapioca pearls, warm water, water pearls

Create An Illustrators Portfolio For Publishing

Create an Illustrators Portfolio for Publishing

Having an illustrator's portfolio, sometimes called an art portfolio, is an important element for artists and illustrators to put together early on in their careers. Your illustrator's portfolio is your calling card when you present yourself and your work to potential clients or any agency you may want to consider representing you and your work. Putting together an illustrator's portfolio is an ongoing process that you will revise as your career evolves and will help ensure that you are always prepared to show your work to get the jobs and opportunities you desire in the world of art.

Instructions

1. Write a short bio that includes your personal background and upbringing, where you're from, where you currently live and some of your interests. Focus on events in your life that may have inspired you to get into illustrating as a career. Don't forget to include any education you have regarding any type of art schooling. This isn't the place to list every job you've had, but you can mention some of your most successful works. Have an 8 by 10 glossy head shot of yourself to include as part of the portfolio.

2. Include a resume. Your resume should be a complete list of any art-related jobs you've had, work you've done as a freelancer and any contests you've won. When possible, include tear sheets from magazines that may have featured your work or any articles about you and your work. The resume is ongoing and should be updated to keep it complete.

3. Select a sampling of your best illustrations. Between ten and fifteen 8 1/2 by 11 examples you consider representative of the type of illustrations you do best will be adequate. Include both illustrations you may have done for clients as well as unpublished work. The goal of your portfolio is to help further you as an illustrator. Clients who see illustrations that have been successfully sold elsewhere may be more inclined to work with you. Add variety to your portfolio by including a selection of illustrations that show your range and capabilities.

4. Organize your portfolio. You can purchase a leather portfolio case to carry everything in. Consider purchasing an illustrator-specific portfolio that has plastic sleeves for displaying your illustrations. Your bio and resume will be first in the portfolio, followed by your illustrations. Avoid stapling work together or using a three-ring binder.

Tags: your work, illustrator portfolio, that have, your portfolio, Create Illustrators, Create Illustrators Portfolio

Advertise A Credit Repair Company

A successful advertising campaign is crucial for the success of credit repair companies, which may not be able to count on heavy repeat business. The nature of the business requires a steady flow of new customers, as former customers, at least theoretically, will not have a regular need for more credit repair once their initial problems have been resolved. To be successful, credit repair companies should consider various types of advertising, including social-media and grass-roots marketing campaigns.

Instructions

1. Check the laws in your state before starting an advertising campaign. For example, in Oregon credit repair companies must be registered with the state's Department of Consumer and Business Services, and the registration number must be included in all advertising materials. Check with your state's department of commerce or similar agency for guidelines specific to your state.

2. Market your credit repair company on social-networking sites. Use the sites to create "friends" of your business as you build grass-roots advertising campaigns.

3. Market your services to real estate agents, car dealerships, bank loan officers and others involved in approving people for credit. Your goal is to have these salespeople recommend your company to people who are applying for credit but can't get approved because of their credit problems.

4. Place advertisements on free online-classifieds sites. Also place ads in small community newspapers. Increase your advertising as your business grows by purchasing advertising on radio and television.

Tags: credit repair, credit repair companies, repair companies, your state, advertising campaign, credit repair, Market your

Get Into The Gospel Music Business

Getting into any aspect of the music business requires not only musical skill, but the determination to pursue your goal until you reach it, despite rejections you may receive along the way. Building a career in the gospel music industry requires the same skill and commitment, as well as a spiritual faith that will make your music ring true in a musical genre where the way the music is performed is as important as the music itself.

Instructions

1. Write a list of ways you could get involved in the gospel music business. Do you want to write songs and let others perform them? Do you want to put together a gospel band? Or do you want to manage a gospel act? There are numerous ways you can build a career in gospel music.

2. Make contacts in the gospel music industry. The best place to start is with the church you attend. If you write songs, let the church musicians perform them. If you have a gospel band, offer to play at your church and visit other churches. You may perform free in the beginning, but you will get yourself in front of an audience.

3. Purchase a copy of the "Songwriter's Market." You may be able to find a copy in the library. If you write songs, this is an essential tool for finding ways to sell your songs. The "Songwriter's Market" has a section devoted to gospel and spiritual music you can use to submit your songs to industry professionals and performers for consideration. The book tells you how and where to submit your songs for gospel performers to record them.

4. Obtain an agent. While it isn't necessary to have an agent to pursue a gospel music career, this can be helpful for performers. An agent can often get your songs heard by professionals in the gospel industry you may have trouble accessing otherwise. Agents and managers can also set up gospel performances in front of audiences interested in buying your style of music.

5. Record a demo of your songs to submit to record companies. Five or six songs that demonstrate your songwriting or performing ability are all you need. This CD can be used to help secure a recording contract or even to get an agent.

Tags: gospel music, your songs, write songs, career gospel, career gospel music

Write A Formal Letter To Your Boss

Writing a formal letter doesn't have to be stressful.

There are many reasons why you might need to write a formal letter to your boss. For example, you might actually be writing your letter of resignation or your company might require written requests for absences like vacation time or medical leaves. No matter what your reason, there are specific rules you should follow when writing a formal letter to your boss or any superior in your company. A properly written letter will help ensure that no one gets offended and your letter is received in the spirit it was intended.

Instructions

1. Include your contact information in the upper right corner of the formal letter. Include your name, phone number and extension and email address, as well as the company address, at the top of the letter. This will let your boss know who you are and whether or not you work in the same building immediately after opening the formal letter.

2. Add your boss's contact information to the letter on the left side, one line below your where you put your address in your contact information. This ensures that the letter doesn't end up in the wrong hands.

3. Date the letter a line below your boss's contact information on the right side of the page. Adding the date lets your boss know when the letter was written and gives a good time frame for a response.

4. Write a professional, courteous salutation and use your boss's name, such as "Dear Mr. Jones," with a comma after it.

5. Start your letter by identifying yourself if your boss manages many people and might not know you by name. Include your department and what your role is in the company. In the first paragraph, explain in one or two sentences what the purpose of the formal letter is.

6. Explain in more detail the purpose of your formal letter in the body. When writing to your boss, maintain the correct tone. If you are making a suggestion about the company, for example, present it as a suggestion and not a demand. Your wording should always be in the form of a request, such as "Would it be possible to change the vacation scheduling to accommodate more people?" or "Could we arrange a time to discuss my job responsibilities and salary?" A question comes across in a way that is less likely to agitate, annoy or anger your boss.

7. Add a professional closing at the end, such as "Sincerely" or "Best Regards." Several lines under this, type your name. Sign your name between the closing and the typed name once you print the letter.

Tags: your boss, formal letter, contact information, formal letter your, Include your, your letter

What Is A Direct Mail Marketing Strategy

Direct mail marketing strategies are used by businesses of almost every kind to get their message across to a targeted audience in a well-planned and consistent manner. There are a number of strategies used in direct mail campaigns that can be implemented for general or specific business marketing and advertising.

Direct Mail Strategy

The actual direct mail strategy includes a number of key elements designed to maximize the return on the mailing investment. Basically, the strategy consists of planning, design, budgeting and execution of the campaign in a thoughtful, systematic and purposeful approach. Rather than throwing together a mailing and sending it out, using a strategic plan will usually generate better results in obtaining sales, leads, inquiries or in creating awareness of your business, products or services.

Target Marketing

The primary element of a successful direct mail strategy is the use of targeted market mailing list. Target marketing uses demographics, data research and other information to ensure that the recipients of your mailing are qualified prospects and customers most likely to patronize your business. These lists can be compiled over time from your own data and research or can be rented or purchased from mailing list companies.

Mailing Consistency

As with any type of marketing and advertising, consistency is another top direct mail strategy. Rarely does one display ad or a single mailing bring long-term results. If you look at print ads and direct mail pieces you receive, you will notice that the same companies advertise and mail on a consistent basis. This is because buyers migft not notice the ad or open the mail piece the first or even the fourth time around, and if they do, they might not be ready to buy at that moment. Your direct mail strategy must maintain a regular schedule of mailings to your list in order to achieve results.

Message and Design

The actual message and design of the mail piece is also an important element of your overall strategy. Messages must be well-written and the piece attractive. Consider direct mail pieces that cross your desk and make note of which ones you have opened, admired or responded to. Chances are, the piece was attractive and written in such a way that inspired you to act in a positive way. Successful direct mail marketers either have a talented staff writer or designer or will hire a professional to write, design and print the piece.

Tags: direct mail, direct mail strategy, mail strategy, data research, direct mail, direct mail pieces, mail piece

Graduation Theme Ideas

A movie theme or "This Is Your Life" party are good for graduates.

Graduating from any kind of school is an achievement, whether it is from high school, college or otherwise. Students spend countless hours fulfilling the requirements necessary for their diploma. When the goal is reached, they deserve a celebration that adequately reflects the momentous occasion. Rather than just putting out a few bowls of chips and turning on the stereo, consider a fun graduation theme.

"The Graduate"

The movie "The Graduate" is a classic representation of the angst experienced by young adults as they enter the real world. Structuring a party around a similar theme provides many options for guests to wear fun costumes. They can arrive dressed in retro suits from the '60s or in swimsuits with flippers from the famous movie scene for a day party. The music selection is also broad from this era and makes a great atmosphere for the celebration.

"Grease"

Treat your guests to a '50s style party by featuring elements from the movie "Grease." The classic movie, which is well-loved by many, ends with a high school graduation that guests affectionately remember. The soundtrack for this movie was popular and ignites sing-alongs when you play it in the background of your get-together. Decorate using a carnival theme similar to the final scene and encourage attendees to dress like their favorite characters.

College or Military Focus

For graduates headed on to higher education or the armed forces, a party focusing on their destination is an excellent theme choice. Decorate with multiple pennants and jerseys, according the Graduationparty.com. Ask attendees to bring gifts or refreshments with the graduate's new logo. If the graduate is going into the military, center the party on the main form of transportation represented. For example, a Navy-bound graduate party can have a nautical theme.

Career-based

College graduates typically finish school with a career goal in mind. If your student knows what he wants to do for the rest of his life, choose decorations and food to reflect his new job. For a budding computer programmer or similar desk job, set up a mock cubicle and house all your appetizers and food there for starters.

Thanks for the Memories

Graduation is a time of reflection for any student. If you have known the graduate for many years, a "This Is Your Life-So Far" party is meaningful. Gather school pictures from kindergarten to present and either display them on a poster board or computer presentation and have old friends and family members tell funny stories from the past.

Tags: high school, This Your

What Is An Advertising Lease Agreement

Each party involved in the contract will be named in the advertising lease agreement.

An advertising lease agreement is a legal contract between a company with advertising space, such as a billboard company, and the business that wants to promote its product or service. The purpose is to provide each party with a guideline for what is expected.

Parties

Each party involved in the contract will be named in the advertising lease agreement. This will include the names, address and contact information for the advertising space company, the lessor and the business requesting the lease, the lessee. Each party will sign the lease.

Terms

The advertising lease agreement will outline the terms of the contract. The terms will include the location of the advertising space and the duration of the lease. The agreement will indicate if, and how, the lessee can terminate the contract.

Cost

The contract will state the rental fee amount for the advertisement space. The lessor will note in the agreement if the payments can be made in installments and when payments are due.

Tags: lease agreement, advertising lease agreement, advertising space, contract will, advertising lease, advertising lease

Prepare Pretzels For Concession Stands

Easily prepare delicious pretzels for your concessions stand startup or fundraiser.

The world of concession stand sales can offer you and your fellow fundraisers or culinary entrepreneurs many opportunities to learn people skills, marketing skills, money-handling skills and, of course, the skill of all skills---the art of pretzel preparation. After all, that rich buttery glaze and those savory white crystals don't just grown on pretzels overnight.

Instructions

Water Bottle Method

1. Pour salt onto a paper plate.

2. Spray each frozen pretzel with water from the water bottle.

3. Place the pretzel face down into the plate of salt. Lift it up and shake gently to rid the pretzel of loose salt crystals.

4. Place the pretzel in the microwave to defrost and heat. The event staff at Saint Micheal's Church in Indianapolis recommends the highest heat setting and timing it for 1 minute.

5. Keep the pretzel in the pretzel display case warmer to keep it hot and fresh and to tempt passersby.

6. Serve on a paper plate with the option of melted cheese sauce.

Butter Brush Method

7. Melt butter in the microwave until it is in liquid form.

8. Place the frozen pretzel in the microwave and heat on high for 1 minute.

9. Use a basting brush to lightly coat the pretzel with melted butter.

10. Sprinkle the top of the pretzel with salt crystals (shaken directly from the container) or quickly lay the pretzel face down into a paper plate filled with salt and then shake the loose salt crystals from the pretzel.

11. Keep pretzel in the display case warmer until purchased.

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Marketing Associate Job Description

Marketing associates may be entry-level workers or marketing managers in training.

The basic function of a marketing associate is to assist with the planning or execution of marketing activities; however, marketing associate is a very broad title. For example a marketing associate employed at a smaller company may work with and report directly to the marketing director. At many larger firms, marketing associate positions are entry-level jobs.

Education Requirements

Requirements vary depending upon the specific duties of the position. Entry-level positions that execute rather than plan marketing actives may only require a high school diploma or an equivalent.

A bachelor's degree is required for high-functioning positions. These jobs often serve as a training ground for future marketing managers and directors. Candidates with a degree in business administration and an emphasis in marketing are preferred. Individuals with degrees in journalism, communications, graphic design and a variety of other fields may be considered as well.

Other Requirements

Successful marketing associates must be comfortable working with computers and manipulating social networking sites. Individuals that pursue careers in marketing should work well under pressure as well. Marketing is a deadline and results driven career field. Candidates without these personality traits and skill-set may find marketing associate positions overly stressful. Candidates with marketing or sells experience are highly desirable.

Specialization

Marketing associates working at large companies may specialize in marketing communications, employee communications, Internet marketing, telemarketing, market research or a variety of other specialties. Associates employed by a small business or organization may handle marketing duties across all segments. Specialized positions often require special training or relevant job experience. Generalists must be creative, willing to learn and resourceful to meet various marketing goals.

Work Environment

Most marketing associates' work is done in an office environment. At the associate level time may also be spent in the field performing and monitoring marketing activities. For example, associates working in the event industry may be required to attend the functions their employer promotes. These events may take place inside busy night clubs, at outdoor sporting events or within supermarkets. A marketing associate for a small business may canvass neighborhoods placing flyers on cars or in mailboxes.

Earnings

Earnings for marketing associates vary greatly by industry, location and job duties. According to information provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and reported by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, starting salaries for marketing majors graduating in 2009 averaged $43,325. According to Simply Hired's online salary database, positions with the words "marketing associate" included in the job description paid $66,000 annually on average in 2010.

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Why Packaging Is Important

Companies know that consumers judge a product by its package. But the image of a product is not the only consideration---the effects of packaging on the supply chain and accounting department should also be measured. Marketing departments weigh several aspects when deciding package a product.

Image

Packaging sets the tone of the product. Artists carefully consider the image used on their CD because they see it as representing their identity. Products are the same way. Packaging should convey the personality of a product. Companies use certain colors and shapes to entice their targeted demographics. Products targeted toward young girls are cased in bright colors, often pink and purple, using hearts, swirls and other designs. When consumers decide which product to purchase, the packaging of a product could influence the decision.

Preservation

Perishable products, like food, must have appropriate packaging to keep the product fresh. The company must consider keep some foods crunchy and other foods moist. These constraints require specialized packaging. In some cases, packaging affects the safety of the food. For example, the Food and Drug Administration provides an extensive guideline for companies considering recycled plastics for packaging.

Price

Choice of packaging dictates price and profit margins. For example, some iced teas are in aluminum cans, some in plastic bottles and others in glass. Each of these packaging choices affects the cost of production. The company that sells tea in glass bottles instead of plastic likely pays more per unit, but the attractiveness of the glass bottle might sway some consumers. Companies should recognize cost when analyzing packaging. Knowthis.com states that in the cosmetics industry, packaging accounts for 40 percent of the selling price per product.

Shipping

The product is shipped by truck, rail, air or ship. These distribution methods can determine how an item should be packaged. If the product is being distributed by truck, for example, the packaging should protect the product from different temperatures. Companies also must consider how much packaging should encase the item. For example, adding extra bubble wrap might allow fewer units to fit on the truck, resulting in extra shipping costs. But using less bubble wrap might mean more units are destroyed en route. The company must evaluate cost factors such as these to determined how a product should be shipped.

Environment

Some packaging is better for the environment than others. Many plastics are not biodegradable, meaning that once discarded, they cannot be decomposed by the earth. Using eco-friendly material, like recycled cardboard or BPA-free plastic, might be more expensive. But should the government legislate against the use of harmful plastics in packaging, the company's initial eco-friendly decision will save costs in the long run by avoiding legal fees and switching costs.

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Travel To Kenya & Tanzania

Travel to Kenya & Tanzania

Kenya and Tanzania are two of the most visited countries in Africa. Both countries boast a diverse array of cultures and wildlife, and both enjoy relatively stable governments that allow for safe traveling.

Geography

The equator passes through Kenya and Tanzania. The varied terrain ranges from the savannas of the Serengeti to the beaches of Mombasa and Zanzibar to the alpine tundra atop Mount Kilimanjaro.

Attractions

The Serengeti and Masai Mara national parks, in Tanzania and Kenya, respectively, are especially popular for their wildlife viewing opportunities. In northern Tanzania, hikers flock to Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. Along the coast, tourists enjoy tropical beaches and world-class scuba diving.

Time Frame

You should plan to spend at least two weeks in Kenya or Tanzania. Game parks are large and require two or more days for travel and wildlife viewing. At least a day needs to be devoted to any travel between sites within the countries.

Considerations

Tanzania and Kenya are both poor, developing nations. In many areas, electricity is sporadic or completely unavailable. Poor road conditions are common. Outside of tourist areas, especially in Tanzania, few people speak English well. A basic knowledge of Swahili is useful to travelers off the beaten path.

Warning

Malaria is endemic to all but the highland regions of Kenya and Tanzania. You should consult your doctor about malaria prophylaxis before traveling. Be sure to use mosquito netting and repellent at night, when malaria-carrying mosquitoes are active.

Tags: Kenya Tanzania, Tanzania Kenya, Mount Kilimanjaro, Travel Kenya, Travel Kenya Tanzania, wildlife viewing

Strengths & Weaknesses Of Swot

Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat (SWOT) analysis is a managerial tool companies use to evaluate and review their business operations. It can be an effective tool if properly used by educated individuals who have access to information from every department or business process. The basic premise is to identify items in each category of SWOT and use these items to determine where improvements can be made in business operations. SWOT analysis is a simple tool that provides a good overview of a company's internal and external business factors. However, the strengths of SWOT analysis can also be its own weakness.

Flexibility

SWOT is a very flexible management tool because it does not rely on detailed statistical measurements or mathematical formulas. Managers must make a list of their company's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats relating to their company and review them to determine how strong the company is compared to competitors. These lists can be updated or changed as the economic marketplace changes, giving managers the ability to create a living analysis that can reflect current business situations.

The flexibility of SWOT analysis can quickly become a weakness, since economic changes may occur frequently in the business world. This forces managers to constantly update their SWOT lists for each new situation. Otherwise the analysis will become irrelevant to the current needs of the company.

Detailed Information

Another strength of SWOT is the ability for managers to include as much information as they need or want in their analysis. While mathematical figures or calculations may be included in the SWOT analysis, such data is not required. Including detailed information allows managers to refer back on previous SWOT reports and determine how accurate their analysis was of past situations.

Gathering more information than is needed for the SWOT analysis may limit the effectiveness of this management tool. Extra information may lead to a "paralysis of analysis," causing managers to spend more time on gathering and reviewing information rather than creating the SWOT analysis.

Improper Analysis

The greatest weakness in the SWOT analysis tool is the subjective nature of the information being listed as strengths, weaknesses, opportunities or threats. A strength could also be a weakness, an opportunity a threat, and vice versa. Managers must carefully review their SWOT lists and determine whether strengths can also become weaknesses, which would change their decisions from the SWOT analysis. To avoid these subjective features of SWOT, including several managers or executives in the SWOT process should strengthen the analysis made from the SWOT management tool.

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Calculate Volume Variance

You can determine volume variance by using a calculator.

Volume variance is a business financial term that deals with the difference between the estimated amount of units sold and the actual amount of units sold. Volume variance is also sometimes referred to as sales volume variance. Dealing with volume variance is necessary when managing the budget of a business because it allows a company to examine actual profit versus projected profit.

Instructions

1. Subtract the actual units of an item that were sold from the budgeted amount of units sold. For instance, if a company expected to sell 200 units of a product, and it only sold 180 units, you would subtract 180 from 200 to get 20.

2. Determine the profit per unit of the items being sold. The profit is the cost of the item to a consumer minus the company's cost to produce the item. For instance, if a product cost $100 in the store, and it cost the company $25 for each item produced, the profit would be $75.

3. Multiply your answer from Step 1 by your answer from Step 2 to calculate volume variance. For example, 20 times 75 equals $1,500.

Tags: amount units, amount units sold, units sold, your answer from, answer from, answer from Step

Create A Vehicle Mileage And Maintenance Log Record Book

Vehicle Mileage and Maintenance Record Book

Keeping track of your vehicle's performance rate, mileage, and maintenance is just as valuable to the individual car and truck owner, as it is for business purposes.

Your vehicle mileage and maintenance record book can be your best friend to helping you know when to change the oil, rotate tires, get a tune-up and more.

This article will walk you through the steps of creating your own vehicle mileage and maintenance record book.

Instructions

1. The first step in creating a vehicle mileage & maintenance record book is to determine the size of your book. Most vehicle mileage and maintenance books are best kept in the glove compartment of your vehicle, so you want to keep is a small enough size to fit.

4" x 6" is the recommended size for placing in the glove compartment.

2. Now that you've determined the size of your vehicle mileage and maintenance record book, you need to decided what types of things you want to be able to keep track of, and set up pages for the inside of your book.

You can create tables in Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet software for keeping track of things like oil changes, tire rotation, fuel-ups, trips, and repairs.

If your not sure about do this, you can also browse the free templates through Microsoft and print for your personal use.

3. Once you have designed the inner pages of your vehicle mileage and maintenance record book, you will want to print out the pages and cut them to size.

Remember, since this is a book, you'll want to cut your pages 1/4" smaller then the size of your intended cover.

4. Using a piece of heavy-weight card stock, cut two pieces of equal size for your front and back cover.

You can design the front of your cover anyway you want to, or simply write VEHICLE MILEAGE AND MAINTENANCE RECORD BOOK on the front cover.

5. Since it's probable that you're not always going to handle your vehicle's record book in prime conditions, you'll want to laminate the cover to protect it against getting wet, greasy, or torn.

You can buy non-heated laminate sheets that stick together. Simply unpeel the back paper from the clear plastic and lay your front and back cover face down against the sticky part. Lay a second sheet down on top and seal the two pieces together.

Cut out, leaving 1/4" around the edge of the cardstock to maintain a secure seal.

6. Now it's time to put your vehicle mileage and maintenance record book together. Place all your pages in order, including front and back cover.

Using your preferred binding system, punch holes in all the pages and covers and bind as per your binder's instructions. If you don't have binding system, don't fret, you can staple your book together instead.

Tags: your vehicle, mileage maintenance, record book, size your, vehicle mileage, vehicle mileage maintenance, back cover