Archive for November, 2007

Collaborative Marketing - More Results with Less Work

Friday, November 16th, 2007

By E.R. Rigsbee Strategic Alliances are the key for your Cross-Promotion success. A popular reason for companies to come together is to reciprocally promote one another. Ideas are as simple as a local pharmacy and dry cleaner promoting each other with specials or coupons, to regional promotions, to national promotions. Cross-promotions can be developed with competitors or between organizations from different industries. The key is simply thisdo you have similar customers? Almost everywhere you look, you can see one organization cross promoting with another. Recently, a cross-promotion advertisement in a San Francisco newspaper for Pacific Bell also involved Round Table Pizza, Hollywood Video, Nokia and the Special Olympics. In your effort to make cross-promotion alliances work, develop your process by keeping the below listed steps in mind: 1. Be clear on what you want to create for yourself or your company. 2. Discover the; Whats in it for me (WIIFM) for your partner(s). 3. Develop a list of who does what for physical and financial contributions. 4. Plan for the unexpected. 5. Explain to your partner(s) the value they will receive. 6. Help your partner(s) to have an emotional ownership in the alliance. 7. Do the above step for yourself also. 8. Execute the promotion. 9. Debrief with partner(s) the value received from the investment. 10. Plan the next promotion. Got Milk? The California Milk Processors Board, as reported in The Wall Street Journal in the late 1990s stated that this national promotion has been running since 1993. They also put Got Milk on Girl Scout Cookies. They have even gotten their milk advertisements on cereal, cookies and chocolate mix packaging. Jeff Manning, executive director of the California Milk Processors Board, says, We need those people to promote for us. In return, we affectionately call them co-dependent foods. Manning doesnt stop there. He convinced Dole Food Co. in Westlake Village, California to add another sticker on to their clusters of bananas for the retail market. You got it, Got Milk stickers. In the late 1990s Dole started putting Got Milk stickers on bunches of bananas–millions. Milk is getting more interruptions in the minds of consumers. The more Partnering milk can do with products in other parts of the grocery stores, the more sales potential they enjoy. Dole even got an ah ha from the cross-promotion, they have been Partnering with Hollywood to promote new release movies such as Anastasia and Babe in the City. Researching for a presentation for the National Home Furnishings Association, I discovered an interesting alliance in Northern California. They call themselves the Sonoma County Fine Furniture Association (SCFFA). What did they do? Eight fine furniture retailers, competitors, banded together to survive the recession of the early 1990s through cross-promotion and buying strength. They bought advertising together on the local radio and in the local newspaper. They even dictated to the newspaper on which pages their advertising would be located. They developed combined events where customers would visit several of the stores to be eligible to win prizes. They promoted each other to their customers within the store, especially if the specific retailer did not have exactly what the customer was seeking. They even printed a combined brochure, including the address and map locations of each member. The front of the brochure said, People you can trust. Wow, what impact! On a United Airlines flight from Washington, D.C. to Atlanta, the cabin attendant handed me my usual bag of peanuts. But, what was unusual was the size of the bag and its weight. After closer examination, I noticed that an America Online (AOL) diskette was included with the peanuts. It made sense, a business route shuttlewhat a great way to get the AOL software into the hands of business people. But do not get caught sleeping. Now, things have changed for AOL and they have been forced to offer for free what they once charged. Forest City, Iowa, recreational vehicle (RV) manufacturer, Winnebago Industries, Inc. and Nebraska-based sportsmans outfitter, Cabelas have found synergies through reciprocal promotion activities. Cabalas has provided an ideal venue in which Winnebago dealers have displayed their RVs in quite a number of outdoor events. Most events were run by Cabelas promotional arm, Sportsmans Quest. Winnebago products were also displayed in Cabelas catalogs. Winnebago, in turn displayed Cabelas products at their events. Strategic Alliances for Co-Branding Bringing together more than one trusted and established brand name develop a marketing synergism that cannot be beat. The advertisement headline read, Bring The Magic of Mattel Home for the Holidays. Just under the headline were several foods producing toys offered. The hook was that it showed Golden Arches type food. Mattel had a relationship with McDonalds. And, what quality parent would deny their child the opportunity to make their own McDonalds hamburgers, fries, shakes and cookies at home? Nestl/Road Gold Flipz (chocolate covered pretzels), the synergy that can be developed by co-branding is awesome. Co-branded products have, at a minimum; twice the marketing impact and customer pull as traditional branding. Consumers believe that with two trusted names, the product must be exceptional. There was one problem with the Flip though. When they were first introduced, the consumers acceptance was so great that the distributors had trouble keeping their stores in stock. What a problem to have . . . In recent years the automotive industry has found value in Partnering with highly recognizable prestigious brands of clothing and accessories. Ford Motor Company partners with the successful catalog retailer, Eddie Bauer to offer luxurious editions of their popular sport utility vehicle models, Explorer and Expedition. As customers perception of quality and value can be influenced through these offerings, they are also willing to pay more for the perceived value. Ford Motor Company has enjoyed its relationship with Eddie Bauer for over 20 years. In 1999, the two brands reached a milestone in their collaboration as Ford and Eddie Bauer celebrated production of the one millionth Eddie Bauer edition Ford vehicle at the St. Louis Assembly Plant, home of the Ford Explorer sport utility. At the time, stated Its almost uncanny how well-matched Ford and Eddie Bauer are, says Ford Division Marketing Communications Manager Jan Klug. Both companies have reputations built on an uncompromising commitment to quality, durability and customer satisfaction. For our customers, this means the irresistible combination of Fords go anywhere capability and Eddie Bauers rugged style. For both companies, it means enhancing each others brand. Its no secret why Ford is setting industry records for SUV sales in a U.S. market that currently has 41 SUV nameplates, says Explorer Brand Manager Doug Scott. We are creating products that really excite the customer. And in partnering with Eddie Bauer, we are expanding the opportunities for the Explorer and Expedition to be a meaningful part of our customers active lifestyles. Because of Fords success in co-brand Partnering with Eddie Bauer, they are trying to duplicate their success with Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin in their limited edition Harley-Davidson F-150 pickup truck. The customized version is restyled, all-black, with distinctive Harley-Davidson orange pinstriping and chrome accessories. A strategic alliance between the Ford Motor Company and Harley-Davidson makes mutual historical and business sense, noted Gurminder Bedi, vice president, Ford Truck Vehicle Center in a January 6, 2000 Ford news release. Our common heritage as American motor vehicle manufacturers and our common centennials of 2003 were just too good to pass up as a natural business opportunity. The partnership makes good business sense, Bedi added. The world recognizes both companies as original American innovators known for exciting, quality products. This alliance brings together two of the most well-known and admired companies in the world, said Jeff Bleustein in the same release, Harley-Davidson chairman and chief executive officer. Ford and Harley-Davidson customers alike want a distinctive vehicle that makes a statement about themselves as individuals. Even in the recreational vehicle (RV) industry, a manufacturer sees marketing value in co-branding. Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. in Riverside, California is in alliance with Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World. Fleetwood has enjoyed good sales volume in its private-label RV partnership with Missouri-based Tracker Marine LP and its Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World stores. Fleetwood built and branded with the Tracker and Trailstar name are sold in six Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World stores and 56 Tracker marine dealerships. RVs promoted at the Outdoor World stores sell for a single, non-negotiable price (unique to the RV industry) and can be purchased over the Internet. Models range from a Trailstar 8 folding trailer to the 29-foot Class C Trailstar RV. Cross promotion and co-branding are important strategies for business growth that you will want to consider very soon. Why wait until your competitors gobble up the best partnering relationships? To access helpful additional information from Ed Rigsbee at no charge, please visit www.rigsbee.com/downloadaccess.htm. Adapted from PartnerShift-How to Profit from the Partnering Trend by Ed Rigsbee, CSP, published by John Wiley & Sons, New York. Rigsbee is also the author of Developing Strategic Alliances and The Art of Partnering. Rigsbee has over 1,000 published articles to his credit and is a regular keynote presenter at corporate and trade association conferences across North America. He can be reached through http://www.Rigsbee.com or http://www.EdRigsbee.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=E.R._Rigsbee http://EzineArticles.com/?Collaborative-Marketing—More-Results-with-Less-Work&id=321207 phentermine prescription cheap phentermine pills generic phentermine without prescription phentermine & no prescription

Schwab Says US Is Committed In Reviving WTO Talks To Improve Global Trade

Thursday, November 15th, 2007

By Vasily A. Klimko United States Trade Representative, Susan Schwab said that the US is determined to press ahead with attempts of restarting the World Trade Organization talks that has been completely prostrated last July 24. The meeting held in Geneva, collapsed on Monday suspending five years of worldwide effort to alleviate poverty in developing nations through free global trade. Since 2001, WTO members have argued on how to achieve the goals set at a conference in Doha, Qatar. The main aim of the Doha meeting is to bring the advantages of greater global trade to the world’s poorest countries. Schwab did not give an exact date when the Doha meeting will commence again. She simply stated that the meeting is not yet dead, instead it is just suffering under serious dilemma. She also added that she’ll do anything she can to have the meeting achieve a desired conclusion or outcome for the free global trade issue. The US and the European Union have given more market access to the world’s impoverished countries, and there was a bright future that the framework for the final deal could possibly be reached by the end of April this year. However, hopes were bogged down especially in key global trade areas like agriculture. Major agricultural exporters wanted the EU, US, and Japan to open their markets fully through cutting on their farm subsidiaries and tariffs. EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandela accused the US for inflexibility and for not offering sufficient cuts on its agricultural subsidies. On the other hand, US blamed (EU) that it has failed to equalize concessions about the agricultural subsidies. On the other side of the talks, both union and other developing countries wanted nations such as Brazil and India with growing trade powers, to become more open in accepting imported industrial services and goods. Business experts said the collapse of the talks will only make the global trade more cumbersome and costly for poor and underdeveloped countries. With companies and governments struggling with separate rules for different countries, the Doha agenda would not have much progress, unless these countries come back and agree on moving forward. Developing nations who are eager to sell their goods overseas missed a good opportunity to intensify economic growth due to the failed meeting. The gap between the EU and the US, according to Schwab, was bitter, and it would likely take a significant amount of time to rouse the meeting. To salvage the Doha Agenda, Schwab is committed to get a deal done. Also, she’s planning to look for ways to revive the said meeting in future conferences of global trade leaders and at the convention that Bush will be attending with Asia Pacific countries. Schwab also announced that she will travel to Brazil and other countries as the first exploratory step towards reviving the WTO’s stalled Doha Round trade conference. She also disclosed that she’ll be speaking with Mandela in the near future despite the latter’s complaints and comments against the US agricultural subsidies. She added that the arguments in the global trade negotiation is not personal. For more valuable information on Global trade, please visit http://www.toboc.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vasily_A._Klimko http://EzineArticles.com/?Schwab-Says-US-Is-Committed-In-Reviving-WTO-Talks-To-Improve-Global-Trade&id=259723 phentermine 37.5 no prescription mastercard phentermine online physicians and pharmacy purchase phentermine without a prescription get phentermine without a prescription

Do You Want Cheese With That?

Thursday, November 15th, 2007

By Donovan Baldwin Back in my retail days, we called it “the upsell”. In direct sales and internet marketing, it falls under the heading of “follow-up”, although in many guises it can be very similar to the retail “upsell”. It’s really an effective technique for increasing your income from almost any marketing effort. Most of us run into it in very common questions such as:Do you want cheese on that?Would you like to supersize your order?Would you like an apple pie with that?The last one has the extra appeal of having another upsell built in. If you agree to order an apple pie, they’ll then let you know that you can get two for only a dollar. How many people across the world buy two apple pies when they originally had no intention of even buying one? Now, this seems a little sneaky to some people. If you are simply trying to rake in some dough by shoving a bunch of garbage on top of an order, I agree! However, while you are making money, you can also be improving the customer’s buying experience, enhancing their product, and improving your relationship with your customer. Let’s take a quick look at your benefits from the upsell or follow-up. Huge chunks of any businesses’ advertising dollars goes towards getting the customer to make that first purchase. Overhead, such as electricity, wages, rent, and so on are also part of the costs necessary to make that first sale. Usually, the actual net profit on the sale in terms of a percentage of the price of the product or service, can be extremely low. Additionally, many buyers, particularly in a direct or internet marketing context, can be very leery at first of making more than the smallest of expenditures with this new, unknown distributor. However, once they are, if you will, in the door and reaching for their wallets, anything you add to the order can be almost pure profit. When they upsize your drink at the fast food place for 39 cents, for example, the main costs they really incur for that upsize is the cost of syrup and carbonated water…which is next to nothing! Okay, that sounds a little greedy, doesn’t it? Well, not if we are genuinely enhancing the customer’s buying experience or product by our upsell. We may have expended a lot of time, effort, and expense to get that customer to buy our internet marketing product, for example. Suppose we also know that they will eventually need or want another product (web design or web hosting services, for example), and offer that to them as well? If we offer it as part of the original sale, it may scare them off, leaving us with no sale at all. Or, trying to include it with the descriptions and specifications of the first product may prove confusing to the customer and cause us to lose the sale simply because they don’t understand what each is and does. Or, they may simply WANT the one item! Offering the two together may cause us to lose the sale, because they feel they are being sold something they don’t want. How about this? They make a purchase of the first item, and, as we take them through the check out process, before they have completed their purchase, we offer them the opportunity to add the second item (which we know they will eventually need) at a reduced price. We can probably offer the reduced price, because we now have an active sale, and there are really not as many additional costs associated with the sale of the second item. The value of doing the upsell at this time, rather than earlier is that they now have a trust in you and your product. If they have reached the point where they are actually willing to make a purchase, they have crossed a line or barrier which exists until a certain amount of trust has been created. From a strictly technical point of view, the upsell often works here for the same reason that “Do you want cheese with that?” works at the fast food counter. The customer has the cash or credit card in his or her hand and is in a buying mood. At this point, they are more likely to “add something on” to the purchase they have already decided to make. Additionally, most successful internet marketers (and direct marketers as well) find that regular follow up with customers often produces additional sales. Also, since the customer has learned to trust your product and services, the purchases sometimes are larger. Once a condition of trust has been created between you and a customer, you will find it possible to make future sales to that customer with very little additional cost in terms of advertising or overhead. That concept is easy. Just look at successful Avon ladies, and the Book-of-the-Month Club! The author is retired from the Army after 21 years of service. He has worked as an accountant, purchasing agent, optical lab manager, restaurant manager, instructor and long-haul, over-the-road truck driver. He has been a member of Mensa for several years, and has written and published poetry, essays, and articles on various subjects for the last 40 years. He has been an active internet marketer since 2000, and now makes his living online. To learn more about improving your marketing performance, please visit http://marketingsecrets.xtramoney4me.net To read more articles by the author, please visit his blog at http://donovanbaldwin.blogspot.com/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donovan_Baldwin http://EzineArticles.com/?Do-You-Want-Cheese-With-That?&id=101745 cheap online pharmacies xanax cod best place to buy xanax canadian online pharmacy xanax buy cheap domain onlineatspacecom xanax

Choosing the Best Wedding Gown

Wednesday, November 14th, 2007

By Todd Lavergne It is important to have that perfect wedding gown, in order to have a perfect wedding. The wedding gown is the showpiece of every wedding event. The wedding gown is more than just a simple dress that is displayed by the bride. It is the considerable emblem of love, purity, and happiness that is awaiting the bride in her future with her groom. Preparing the wedding celebration is as important as finding the perfect wedding gown. Here are pointers that could help people who may find choosing the perfect wedding gown difficult. 1. There are many resources available for choosing and designing your wedding gown. Wedding magazines were the best resources where the bride-to-be could get some great ideas for choosing her wedding gown. Now with the internet, she can browse for more concepts and ideas of wedding gowns online. Many web sites will provide you with full details on most wedding gowns. You can be provided with prices,a variety styles, and fashion sense. 2.You must conform strictly to a budget. Budget can not be absent in planning your wedding. Sticking to a budget is a common problem. Be sure to budget for your wedding gown. Do not be enticed with any special promotions offered by the person designing your gown. If you do not stick with your budget you will fall short on the other aspects of your wedding plans. 3. Every angle of your wedding gown should look great. The back of the wedding gown is the most neglected part. Make sure you look good from behind When ordering your wedding gown. You must look good from behind because often the guests will have a look at your back. 4. The design you choose must be practical. Large skirts and long gowns, although traditional,have become typical styles of the past. If the venue is small, wedding gowns like these are not at all practical, especially in todays modern world. It can become stress and a real burden for the bride to carry a heavy dress throughout the wedding celebration. Having the bride comfortable in what she is wearing in whats most important. 5.Environmental condition of the venue of the wedding should be accounted for. Consider the weather and the venue when choosing a wedding gown. This will have a great effect on the kind of fabric that should be worn by the bride. If the wedding takes place during the summer, it is best to choose the fabric for the wedding gown that will not make the bride uncomfortable and perspire throughout her special event. It is important to provide much time preparing, designing, and ordering the wedding gown. Deliberating on the details of the wedding gown can be a stressful task. When planned correctly there will be plenty of time for any changes and modifications without being rushed. It is very important for the bride to consider her comfort when choosing a wedding gown. if the bride is not comfortable wearing it,looks and designs will only be put to waste. You are what you wear, as the old clich goes. Wear a wedding gown that will reflect the love and happiness that is within the bride. The wedding gown will then appear before the audience as the most beautiful centerpiece of the wedding. To find more great wedding tips please visit: http://www.myweddingplans.net Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Lavergne http://EzineArticles.com/?Choosing-the-Best-Wedding-Gown&id=261680 where can i buy anax or valium online free online valium soma diazepam online canadian online pharmacy valium

Balancing Act

Monday, November 12th, 2007

By Nick Gendler One of the most obvious implications of the end of the “job for life” society is that if we wish to hold on to our job we need to demonstrate our utility to the employer. For many, this is interpreted as working long hard hours, and the “stay at work” culture is often the result. But is this necessary? Did anyone actually lose his or her job by going home at a normal time? People lose their jobs either because they are no good at it (known as being fired) or because the company is not performing well or is restructuring in some way (known as being made redundant). Indeed, for many employers, working late is not a sign of loyalty; it is a sign of incompetence. If you can’t get the work done within a normal working day you are either badly organised or haven’t learned to say “no” to an over-demanding employer. And if you need to work long hours on a regular basis you are likely to be less and less productive over time because you are going to burn out and your morale is going to decline. If this is the case, why do we feel that the employers are trying to deny us balance in our work and life arrangements? First of all let’s examine the term itself. I’ve never liked the phrase “work-life balance”. It suggests that work is one activity and life is a separate, conflicting activity. The truth is that work is one part of our life and it competes for our time against the other activities in our life that we wish to attend to. I prefer to use the simpler term “life balance” or “life mix”. The key factor in life balance is “time” and, critically, work is perhaps the only use of our time that we do not have control over. If we chose when, and for how long we work, the number of hours we allocate to it would not present a conflict. The recent dispute between BA employees and the airline at Heathrow was not some Luddite reaction to new technology, it was born out of the fact that this particular technology is a mechanism to allow BA to manage to a fine degree when it’s employees come in to work in accordance with passenger volumes. Of course BA has the right to choose which particular hours it employ people for, but the fact remains that the mechanism shifts time sovereignty from the employee to the employer. For executives the situation is slightly different. While there are always going to be times when we just need to be in the office in order to complete a task like preparing for a meeting (’though I’d wager that the majority of these case could easily be extinguished with better organisation and planning), employees do have more autonomy than manual workers in terms of the hours spent at work. Contracts, written and verbal, tend to operate on the basis that we do the work expected of us, but that how and when (within an agreed timeframe) is up to us. If you’re good and you can do it in a six-hour day I doubt you’re going to be fired for not being there the other one (although it is more likely that you’ll be given more work). My contention therefore, is that, people who sign up to the “stay at work” culture choose to do so. That’s fine by me. It seems that in our enlightened society late working is a “bad thing”. As a rich nation we should be spending less time at work and more time doing mind expanding, fulfilling things with our time, spending it with our friends and family, or exercising. Yet for many people, work is the most fulfilling and stimulating activity in their life. Why should it be the case that there is anything wrong with workaholism? Is it wrong that these people should work 80 hours or more each week? The problem is that the time sovereignty of employees is gradually being eroded, largely through the introduction of family friendly policies. Far from giving workers flexibility, these policies shackle the staff to the organisation, by creating such an infrastructure of support that to leave would require not just the hard enough task of adjusting to the new employer, but also the need to put back into place all the other arrangements that were previously taken care of. A recent initiative I heard about comes from Asda. IVF treatment allowance for women (5 days per annum) and their partners (11/2 days) is their latest big idea. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m all for IVF for those that want it, and welcome the idea that employers should allow their staff to take time off for it, just as with any other medical matter. My point is that such initiatives do not constitute a meaningful step towards improving the life balance of employees because improved life balance requires a fundamental review of how we spend our lives, not whether we can get a few hours off every few weeks for medical treatment. The truth is that initiatives such as this and flexible working, crches and duvet days are a response to the difficulties in attracting and retaining staff. Staff retention is much more a problem with larger companies, which is why they are ahead of the game. By upping the ante these employers will achieve short to medium term advantages which will be lost when the rest of industry finally works out what they need to do to attract and retain staff. What’s more, the advantage is rarely, if ever, with the staff. Instead the expectations to perform and show commitment is increased, usually with such strings attached as “golden handcuffs”, long notice periods, and the provision of equipment for home-working which at once allows flexibility to the employee and ties them for even longer hours to the company - they can never escape work. When the playing field has been levelled it will simply be that employers will have removed any argument or reason for us not to devote our lives to them. We are moving away from, not towards, greater control of our working lives, and the reason is that we are allowing employers to take away our time sovereignty. If I don’t have an issue about picking up the children from nursery because the nursery is down on the first floor, then the company gets that time from me and I don’t get to choose how to organise my life, or that of my children. So let’s stop looking to our employers to provide us with life balance - they are only concerned with our work lives. It’s up to us to take control of our time and our job satisfaction. We are not exhausted and de-motivated by running around trying to balance our busy lives; we are exhausted and de-motivated because we do not derive fulfilment from our lives. Work should excite, engage, stimulate and give meaning. It’s up to us to decide the extent to which we should pursue it in order to achieve those objectives. The specific balance between work, family, hobbies, health, relaxation and whatever else might be on your own personal menu of time use is entirely up to you. Only you know how much of each you need in any given time period. It’s my belief that over recent years the pressure to “succeed” (a term that has now taken an almost exclusive reference to professional status or wealth) has encouraged us to spend more time at work than our natural balance would recommend. Yet these are simply excuses. We can change our lifestyles if we want to, it is within our control as long as we are prepared to reduce our material desires and to take a good long look at what we do for employment. I contend that the vast majority of people have not chosen their current career but have fallen into it more or less by serendipity. When asked if they really “love” their jobs and why they chose their careers most will be stumped, while many professionals (lawyers, doctors, accountants, etc) will refer to family pressure to secure their future in a sensible occupation. The employee who does not know how to balance his life in an optimally fulfilling way, or else is scared to address the fact that the “balance” he wants does not necessarily match the balance his wife wants for him (I have deliberately alluded to men in this scenario as I believe we are the ones who would rather immerse ourselves in work than attend to our emotions and relationships) is the one with a real problem to address. Moving on, sadly, is a scary alternative. “Better the devil you know” is the usual response. “I may not be happy but I’m paid well” doesn’t sound like a good trade off to me. Of course we’re all for more life, as long as it doesn’t mean a salary trade-off. It’s a pity that so many people either feel they cannot afford to buy themselves any time away from work, or else engage in the “stay at work” culture that keeps them in the office until only a taxi can get them home because they feel that somehow the pole becomes less slippery after 5.30 pm. With that attitude regret is sure to follow at some time or other. The argument I’m presenting is not that flexible working and similar initiatives are wrong. I’m arguing that individuals, that’s you and me, not our employers, need to identify what we really want for our work and how to increase fulfilment from it and the rest of our lives. By maximising our fulfilment we reduce stress and that’s the key to what we seek when we strive for better life balance. How we manage to get the kids to the dentist or find time to mow the lawn at the weekend follow on as easy decisions when our priorities are in place. (c) Nick Gendler, 2003 Nick Gendler runs Workjoy Ltd. Workjoy helps people to get the job they want at the salary they deserve. http://www.workjoy.co.uk Feel free to use my articles, un-edited, for any on or off-line purpose as long as you include the author’s name in full, and a link or reference to my website at http://www.workjoy.co.uk Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Gendler http://EzineArticles.com/?Balancing-Act&id=70214 buy from online texas tramadol cheap order prescription tramadol tramadol cheap fast no prescription buy link online199mbcom tramadol

“Directional” (Not Direct) Marketing

Sunday, November 11th, 2007

By Michel Fortin Those who believe the web is not a direct response medium should think again. A recent study conducted by AdKnowledge and published in their recent “Online Advertising Report” suggests that 60 percent of total website conversions occurs in the first half-hour. In other words, based on the study the bulk of your visitors will likely buy within the first 30 minutes. While that’s pretty much conventional wisdom, an interesting conclusion one can make is this: You only have thirty minutes to compel visitors to take some kind of action. And similarly, if people do not buy within those precious 30 minutes, the likelihood that they will leave your site, never to return again (even if they bookmarked it), is miniscule at best. On the other hand however, a previous report also found that “post-impression” conversions (i.e., conversions following multiple impressions of an ad) are slightly higher than those that came as a direct result of clickthroughs. This supports the view that the Internet is also a branding tool. Therefore, if the Internet is a direct marketing medium then how can this be so? The answer can be found in other findings. The latest report mentioned that post-clickthrough conversion rates were on the rise. Of total conversions, the study also found that 44 percent were repeat conversions. And finally, keyword placements, while they cost more, were found to yield the highest clickthrough rates. (”Keyword placements” signify keyword-based banner impressions — i.e., banners that appear on portals after specific keywords are searched. For example, if you searched for “music” on Yahoo, a banner for a music- related website will appear on the subsequent results page.) From these findings, several conclusions emerge: Websites are becoming better at direct marketing;Advertising is more effective when targeted;And people who buy based on brand preference alone do so If they bought in the past and are likely to buy again,Or if the ads were not targeted in the first place. Essentially, the final conclusion one can make is that direct marketing, coupled with targeted marketing, seem to yield the greatest response. But a site that does not compel visitors to take some kind of action within the first few minutes, or one that does not target its prospects from the onset, will then have to seriously invest in, and rely on, branding efforts in order to encourage an adequate level of sales. For larger corporations, branding alone is plausible since it requires a significant investment — and risk. But for smaller businesses however, branding is costly and should never be the primary focus. In fact, while branding is important it should only be the byproduct of an effectively implemented, targeted direct marketing strategy. The more qualified your visitors are, and the more compelling your message is, the higher the percentage of website visitors that will buy within those crucial 30 minutes will be. That’s “directional” marketing. About the Author Michel Fortin is a direct response copywriter, author, speaker and consultant. His specialty are long copy sales letters and websites. Watch him rewrite copy on video each month, and get tips and tested conversion strategies proven to boost response in his membership site at http://TheCopyDoctor.com/ today. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michel_Fortin http://EzineArticles.com/?Directional-(Not-Direct)-Marketing&id=8543 discounted ambien online order ambien boards shop qoclick ambien canadian pharmacy zolpidem sleeping pill buy ambien

3 Steps to Marrying the Right Person

Saturday, November 10th, 2007

By Tiffany Green Marrying for love, financial security and/or companionship does not guarantee long lasting happiness. While legitimate reasons for entering into a marriage, they can blind a person to the signs of a doomed relationship. Currently, more than 40 million people aged 20-49 are divorced or separated according to the U.S. Census Bureaus Annual Social and Economic Supplement. Luckily, there are 41 million people who still have time to reduce their odds of becoming a statistic. Here are three steps to help you eliminate incompatible dates and bring yourself closer to marriage. 1. First, write down 20 things that you strongly believe. For example, do you strongly believe that: One person should remain in the home with the childrenHousehold bills should be evenly split or men should carry the major financial burdenA family should practice the same religion 2. Next, write down 10 of your biggest pet peeves. For example, does it bother you when: Teeth are picked in publicToothpaste is left in the sinkUnclean dishes are left in the sink overnight3. Finally, cross out the items on your lists for which you will compromise. For example, if cleanliness is an issue for you, would you compromise with the hiring of a maid? Marriage is supposed to be forever. Very few people enter into a marriage with the intentions of it ending in divorce. But too many people learn late in a relationship that their beliefs and traits are incompatible with the person to whom they have committed. By acting now to write down things that can potentially sabotage a relationship 1, 5 or even 10 years down the line, you put yourself on the path to sustain your relationship or enter into one that is better for your sanity. Copyright 2005 by Tiffany Green. Tiffany is the author of Grading on a Curve: The Marriageability Factor 99 Traits, Beliefs and Actions to look for in a Mate (ISBN 1-4116-3996-0). She has recently released a Web site http://www.MarriageabilityFactor.com with tips, articles and resources to help women make wiser decisions in relationships. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tiffany_Green http://EzineArticles.com/?3-Steps-to-Marrying-the-Right-Person&id=62806 dragon pharmacy phentermine phentermine no prescription usa want to buy phentermine phenteramine diet pills

Corporate Jet Catering Essentials

Thursday, November 8th, 2007

By Matthew Keegan Information about corporate jet catering can be hard to come by. A web search will certainly turn up some important details, but how can you know for certain that a particular caterer can provide the type of service you must have? Lets explore some options that can help you navigate through the maze of corporate jet catering. Many caterers insist that they can provide the type of catering private flight attendants are accustomed to ordering. In reality, most caterers fall short, some woefully so. Besides food quality that is characterized as sub-par, some of the complaints voiced by flight attendants has been that the order was not packaged correctly, the portion sizes were too small, the food was overcooked/undercooked, and a myriad number of other shortcomings. For the sake of brevity, this article will only cover sources to equip you in your quest to finding a corporate jet caterer. NBAA Catering Subcommittee The National Business Aviation Association has several standing committees in place that handle different aspects of corporate aviation. The Flight Attendants Committee is one of these committees and the NBAA Catering Subcommittee reports to the Flight Attendants Committee. For the flight attendant desiring information about specific caterers, menu planning, plate presentation and garnishing, ordering, packaging, and more, the subcommittee offers a Caterer Mentoring Program whereby participants can visit the caterers kitchen for a one-on-one or small group meeting with the caterer. Participants have found the program to be highly engaging, clearing some of the mystery behind corporate jet catering. For more information, please visit: www.corporateflyer.net/CatererMentoring.htm Corporate Jet Catering This is a website created with the express purpose of helping corporate flight attendants share catering experiences can be found at www.corporatejetcatering.com This site allows visitors to post information about catering experiences from all over the globe as well as to read information shared by visitors. The site allows visitors to post anonymously without fear of retribution. Flight attendants share the good, the bad, and the ugly of corporate jet catering. Corporate Flight Attendant Community Private flight attendants have an independent resource for catering and other information. A convenient forum, Inflight Services, has proven to be a great place for professional flight attendants to share their experiences, tips, and related information about food ordering, preparation, service, wine, and more: Please visit www.cabinmanagers.com for more information. Of course, when you are far from familiar territory, finding a corporate jet caterer may be impossible. Working with a five star restaurant is often the next best choice for you; your skills in working with the chef will go far in determining whether your passengers receive the level of service they are accustomed to receiving. Pulling this off is a key attribute of any successful corporate flight attendant. Copyright 2005 — Matthew Keegan is the owner of a successful article writing, web design, and marketing business based in North Carolina, USA. He manages several sites including the Corporate Flight Attendant Community and the Aviation Employment Board. Please visit The Article Writer to review selections from his portfolio. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Keegan http://EzineArticles.com/?Corporate-Jet-Catering-Essentials&id=85216 buy cheap levitra xanax xenical best place to buy xanax where can i buy generic xanax buy cheap xanax

Choosing The Best Cell Phone Rental Companies In Great Britain

Wednesday, November 7th, 2007

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tomaz_Mencinger]Tomaz Mencinger Cell phones have come a long way since the first, massive boxes with huge antennas came on the market. Now, it seems like everyone has a cellular phone or wants to have one. These devices come in all shapes, sizes, and models, with a wide variety of interesting features. Most cell phones are more than just a handy device to call people when you’re out - they come with games, Internet access, email, and much more. Unfortunately, these features come with a tendency for the newest cell phones to be expensive and trendy. People who want to keep up with the latest cell phone trends may find that they are priced beyond their ability to afford them. Fortunately, in Great Britain, you can rent a cell phone. These cell phone rental companies offer great deals almost all the time, because they want to attract new customers. There are many different companies out there, which can make it hard to choose between them. Carphone Warehouse, Dialaphone, and Cellhire are considered the three best cell phone rental companies in great Britain. These companies offer free minutes and text messages as well as low rental prices for the newest and most exciting mobile phones. Carphone Warehouse is particularly popular in the UK, to the point where they sponsor many top television programs, including Big Brother. Dialaphone offers some great line rental deals. They can be found through an Internet search, and will have the phone that you’ve been looking for. Cellhire represents a reasonably new type of cell phone rental company. They allow you to rent for whatever period you choose, from as little as a week or as long as you want. They’ll give you free incoming calls in the UK as well as some other great benefits. If you’re visiting the UK or live there and want to get a great cell phone for a reduced cost, consider looking into a cell phone rental company. They’ll help you get the cell phone you want at a great deal, and some free calls and text messages in the bargain. Internet searches and advertised deals can help you save a lot of money on the cell phone you want. The latest features are available for a very small cost with UK cell phone rental. These three top cell phone rental companies are among the most popular available, and are always interested in finding new customers. Check them out today, for the best deals on your cellular phone service. Tomaz loves and researches modern technology information and gadgets. For more information about [http://techno-whiz.blogspot.com/2007/04/3-best-great-britain-cell-phone-rental.html]great britain cell phone rental solutions visit his [http://techno-whiz.blogspot.com]Techno Whiz blog. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tomaz_Mencinger http://EzineArticles.com/?Choosing-The-Best-Cell-Phone-Rental-Companies-In-Great-Britain&id=536591 buy dreampharmaceuticals from online tramadol tramadol thai pharmacy purchase tramadol tramadol without a prescription next day fedex

Herbs For Better Health: Goldenseal

Tuesday, November 6th, 2007

By Michelle Newport Common name(s): Golden Seal, Eye Balm, Ground Raspberry, Jaundice Root, Orange Root, Turmeric Root, Wild Curcuma, Yellow Puccoon, Yellow Root Botanical name: Hydrastis canadensis Plant part used: The rhizome and root AHPA Class: 2b Not to be used during pregnancy Indications: Allergies, Asthma, Bladder, Bowels, Bronchitis, Burns, Chcken Pox, Circulation, Colds, Colitis, Colon, Constipation, Coughs, Diarrhea, Earaches, Eczema, Eye Infections, Fever, Flu, Gallbladder, Gastritis, Glands, Gonorrhea, Gum Diseases, Hay Fever, Heart Trouble, Hemorrhage, Hemorrhoids, Herpes, Infections, Inflammation, Insulin, Intestines, Kidneys, Liver Disorders, Menstruation, Mouth Sores, Mucous Membranes, Nausea, Nervous Disorders, Nosebleeds, Ringworm, Rhinitis, Skin Disorders, Sore Throat, Spleen, Stomach Problems, Tonsillitis Actions: Alterative, Amoebicidal, Antacid, Antibiotic, Antiparasitic, Antipyretic, Antisecretory, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Antiviral, Chologogue, Detergent, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Hemostatic, Hepatic, Laxative, Nephritic, Nervine, Purgative (mild), Stimulant, Stomachic Constituents: Alkaloids, including berberine, hydrastine, canadine and canadaline. Also contains chlorogenic acid, lipids, meconin, resin, starch, sugar and a small amount of volatile oil.. Other constituents include calcium, copper, iron, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, vitamins A, B-complex, C, E and F, zinc Traditional: Native Americans used Goldenseal as a tonic for sore throats, eye infections, ulcers and wounds. It was also used as an insect repellent and a pesticide for crops. It has been used traditionally for female problems such as hormone imbalances and menstrual problems, infections, bowel disorders as well as being used as an antiseptic and to boost the immune system. Goldenseal is an amoebicidal and has been found to kill toxic bacteria, such as giardiasis, in the intestinal tract and has also been used historically to fight cold and flu viruses. Goldenseal is also considered to be a “wonder remedy” for digestive problems by many herbalists. Daily dose: 1,500 3,000 mg. Contraindications: Should not be used during pregnancy. Not recommended for using persons with digestive weakness, high blood pressure or who are emaciated. May cause malabsorption of vitamin B when used for long periods Side effects: May cause increased or decreased blood pressure, Not recommended for hypoglycemics as goldenseal lowers blood sugar levels. Drug interactions: Possible interaction with Doxycycline and Tetracycline References: Botanical Safety Handbook. by McGuffin, Hobbs, Upton and Goldberg, 1997 Mastering Modern Herbal Medicine, by LaMar Wiscombe, 2001 Today’s Herbal Health, by Louise Tenney, 2000 Basic Herbalism, by Horne & Robinson, 2000 The Encyclopedia of Natural Remedies, by Louise Tenney, 1995 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Newport http://EzineArticles.com/?Herbs-For-Better-Health:-Goldenseal&id=394885 buy mexican valium internet prescription valium buy-valium-1 diazepam fedex online