Archive for February, 2008

Marketing Value of Branding, Identity, and Trust

Friday, February 29th, 2008

By Kevin Adam Who will your potential customers call when they want what you sell? Are you the only one they can call, or do you have competition? Do they go to your website, or someone else’s? What can you do to encourage these potential customers to choose you instead of your competition? All of those are important questions. And, unless yours is the only business in the world doing what you do, you’ve got competition. I’d be willing to bet that at least some of your competitors are reaching out, trying to convince your customers to do business with them. Whether your customers do or not will be the result of many factors, but there’s a lot you can do to keep them coming to you. First - what are identity, branding, and trust? And why did I put them together? Identity is what separates your business from its competitors. It’s your uniqueness; what allows you to continue in business even though you may be faced with numerous competitors. Identity is how your customer recognizes your business, and tells them who you are. Branding is how the customer knows the focus of your business. It’s how they understand the benefit of bringing you their business, instead of to your competitor. It’s the correlation — for customers and non-customers alike — between the product or service you offer and the benefit your business provides. I believe you already know the meaning of trust. So why are these together? It’s because identity, branding, and trust weave together in the public’s eye, and generally differentiate your customers and potential customers from the general public. A business can have an identity without trust, but the group that generally comes from is non-customers or former customers. This is not how you want the majority of your target audience to view your business. It’s OK for your non-customers to have heard about your business, and for it to have an identity. If it’s former customers, they’re either no longer in the market for your services, or you’ve disappointed them in the past. Branding happens when people can see some benefit to doing business with you,rather than a competitor. This goes beyond identity, and is closer to your target market. Once customers understand your branding, they’re more likely to understand the benefits of doing business with you and not go elsewhere. You don’t want your customers going elsewhere if you want your business to thrive. Fortunately, you can build your brand with trust. How do you engender trust? And what does that have to do with marketing? Trust really is the goal of marketing. Sure, you may be able to fool some people with hype, but that isn’t a sustainable business plan. You need to do what you say you’re going to do by providing the products or service you agreed to. Anything less violates the trust your customer places with you when they do business with you. Once you violate their trust, their business disappears and takes at least some referral business with it. Plus, regaining their trust makes your efforts at acquiring new customers look like a simple enterprise. You’ll find it takes far less effort to win a new customer than to restore trust. And, it’s easier and much better business to keep your promises in the first place. So, your marketing must accurately reflect the performance your customer can expect. Anything less will hurt your business. Keep in mind that, in most cases, an honest error made during the course of business won’t shake the loyalty of your customers - provided you correct the error and at least attempt to be sure it won’t happen again. Most valuable customers realize that mistakes will happen, so occasional corrected errors won’t undermine your marketing — provided you keep their trust. Kevin Adam is a freelance copywriter, and he’s ready to help you market your business to build your brand and grow your business. Here’s my web address: http://www.copywriter.kevinadam.com Let me know what I can do to help your business. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Adam http://EzineArticles.com/?Marketing-Value-of-Branding,-Identity,-and-Trust&id=509758 new england journal of medicine and ambien lorazepam withdrawal what is ambien ambien online cheap

Payday Loan Companies - Are Their Rates Too High?

Friday, February 29th, 2008

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Carrie_Reeder]Carrie Reeder Payday loan companies do provide cash at higher rates than other types of credit programs. But these rates are for short periods, so fees are often small. While payday loans are not for every credit situation, they can help during a financial emergency. Are Rates Too High? Payday loan rates are higher than other forms of credit for a couple of reasons. First of all, payday loans are for a small amount for a short period. Lenders have to cover the cost of processing such transactions. Unlike mortgage companies, payday companies dont add up interest charges for 30 years. Secondly, payday loans are at a higher risk of defaulting. Since there are no credit checks, people are more likely to fail to pay back these types of loans. That cost is passed onto everyone else. Understanding The Numbers Rates Most people get excited about APRs, annual percentage rate. If you compared the APRs of payday loans and mortgages, you will find the payday loan will have the larger number. But, that is misleading. For one, payday loans are held for days, not a year. So you never pay that percent. With mortgages and other types of loans, you take years to pay the interest and principal. So with a payday loan, on average you would pay 15% of the loan in fees. With a mortgage, more than likely you will pay over 100% in interest charges. Rates Lower Than Late Fees Taking a look at late fees on some bills or credit cards, they can be significantly higher than the fee for a cash advance. Fees can also really add up with bank and merchant charges for bounced checks. On average, a cash advance of $100 will have a $15 finance fee. Often bank fees average around $25 for each NSF check. Merchant fees are often higher. So while it will cost you for a payday loan, they are cheaper than paying late charges. You should also consider the impact on your credit report. In the end, you have to decide if a payday loan is in your best interest. With instant service and fast cash, payday loan fees can be insignificant compared to other costs. See our recommended sources for payday loan companies online, by visiting: [http://www.abcloanguide.com/paydayloans.shtml]Recommended Cash Advance Companies Online. Carrie Reeder is the owner of [http://www.abcloanguide.com/]ABC Loan Guide, an informational website about various types of loans. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carrie_Reeder http://EzineArticles.com/?Payday-Loan-Companies—Are-Their-Rates-Too-High?&id=83296 generic ambien prescription online zolpidem 40 keyword ambien side affect boards comments ambien erection problems

How to Become Skilled at Flirting

Thursday, February 28th, 2008

By Ron Zvagelsky The topic of flirting has been the subject of a number of scientific studies. In fact research has shown that flirting is done in every culture around the world, regardless of race or language. It is first important to realize that flirting is a basic form of behavior. By flirting, humans show that they are interested in specific partners, and if they did not do this, there would not be a way for humans to reproduce. Consequently, the human species would soon cease to exist. To flirt properly, it is first important to know the best places to flirt. In our society of today, flirting at the wrong time or place can be inappropriate. It is important to know when flirting is a good idea. Perhaps one of the best places for flirting is parties. In addition to parties, any type of social event of celebration is generally acceptable when it comes to flirting. More often than not, flirting is not only acceptable at these events, but it will often be expected. These events are excellent places to find potential dates. While many people realize this, few understand why. The reason why parties are great places to flirt is because of a process called “cultural remission.” Cultural remission can be defined as an environment where rules and restrictions that would normally be placed on members of society are relaxed for a certain period of time. However, this does not mean there are no rules. Unfortunately, many people find this out the hard way at celebration at Mardi Gras, where getting to wild can get you arrested and thrown in jail. However, flirting in ways that would normally be restricted in everyday life would be allowed at parties or other celebrations. It should not be surprising to note that alcohol and flirting are intimately connected. The reason for this is because alcohol is the substance of choice at places where flirting is commonly allowed. Some of these places are parties, pubs, clubs, bars, and even restaurants. A number of studies have shown that not only is alcohol connected to flirting, but it actually makes you more effective at flirting when you are using it. However, you must not go overboard when you are using alcohol, or you could end up in serious trouble. Another great place for flirting are colleges and universities. Ron Zvagelsky has a degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in May 2006. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of PlanJam an interactive website offering dating advice and helping you plan a date. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Zvagelsky http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Become-Skilled-at-Flirting&id=325278 buy ambien generic zolpidem on sale efectos secundarios de zolpidem buy prescription ambien halcion lowest price ambien

Latest Samsung Phones- Be a Wing Rider

Wednesday, February 27th, 2008

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Wills]Elizabeth Wills In the last decade we have seen a phenomenal growth in the world of mobile technology. We have got some spectacular handsets clad in advanced technologies-technologies that have the power to impress anyone and everyone. Many mobile manufacturing companies have jumped into the thriving mobile market-while some have got average response, some have risen to the zenith of popularity and continuing to show their dominance in far flung areas across the globe. Samsung, the South Korean electronics giant is one such company that’s reaping tremendous success world over by bringing the best in technology in its handsets. In the last couple of years, Samsung has launched some high-end mobile phones with awe-inspiring features. Available in different form factors like clamshells, candybars, sliders-these handsets are establishing newer heights of popularity each passing day. Be it business features or entertainment segment, connectivity part or memory expansion-Samsung handsets score the maximum in every aspect. High resolution cameras, high resolution display screens, lifelike games, web access, dedicated music players are some of the many standard features of the latest Samsung mobile phones. Let’s us take the example of the recently launched Samsung I600 and Samsung F300. Both the handsets are high on performance as well as in looks. The Samsung I600 is a 3G phone with superb functionalities like 2.3 65k colour TFT screen (320 x 240 pixels), 1.3 megapixel camera with flash and 2 x digital zoom, VGA camera for video calling, music player, voice recognition, handsfree speaker, QWERTY keyboard, document viewer, image viewer, 3G HSDPA, Bluetooth, EDGE, Wi-Fi, Quad Band, WAP 2.0, XHTML, 64MB RAM, 128 MB ROM plus MicroSD memory card etc. The Samsung F300 is also a power performer with features like 2 megapixel camera with flash and digital zoom, music player, FM radio, Bluetooth, A2DP, USB, EDGE, WAP 2.0, XHTML, GPRS, 100MB internal memory, MicroSD memory support and so on. So, Samsung has got much to offer you. You just need to fix your requirements and choose a Samsung handset accordingly. The rest will fall in place. To get some of the best deals on latest [http://www.bestphoneshop.co.uk/]mobile phones like [http://www.bestphoneshop.co.uk/samsung_f300.shtml]Samsung F300 and [http://www.bestphoneshop.co.uk/samsung_i600.shtml]Samsung I600 on 3 mobile, t mobile, orange, O2, Vodafone network, please visit the site. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Wills http://EzineArticles.com/?Latest-Samsung-Phones–Be-a-Wing-Rider&id=572967 ambien vs low testostrrone how to abuse ativan zolpidem for coma patients zolpidem to ambien

Let Her Be Covered Part Two

Tuesday, February 26th, 2008

By B. White The framework for the message this morning will consist of a series of questions revolving around this command: Let her be covered. The first of these questions is: To whom is this command addressed? Now thats a very simple question. In your opinion, perhaps, its too elementary to even raise. Your answer might be, Why, its addressed, of course, to the Corinthians! and thats right. They were the initial recipients of it. Does that mean, then, that it was exclusively for them? Does that mean that what was enjoined upon them is not binding upon us? Have the teachings of the epistles been generally understood in that way? Among Christian people, is the Bible usually viewed as out of date? No! The Bible has been studied and applied because it is believed to be relevant for today. If 1 Corinthians was intended only for the Corinthians, then we might as well close our doors and go out of business. A very few would take so radical a stand as that. The continued observance of the communion ordinance is evidence of the widespread conviction that not the Corinthians only, but we, too, are being addressed in this epistle. But, as was pointed out earlier, its unfortunate that, in that larger group, there are those who, at certain points, draw back from that position in order to escape the reproach of Christ. And so you have this practice of teaching one part of the chapter, but not the part of the chapter that might make you unpopular. In answer to this question, there are yet other lines of evidence that ought to be looked at. The book of Revelation, in chapters 2 and 3, records individual messages sent by the ascended Christ to seven churches. At the conclusion of each of those letters, this familiar refrain is repeated: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit sayeth unto the churches plural. Each of those letters, in addition to being for one particular church, was to be heeded also by all the churches. Let him hear what the Spirit sayeth unto the churches. And so it is, too, with the Corinthian epistle. Its for us, too, even though it was for them initially. To further reinforce this fact, lets go to the very beginning of this epistle, 1 Corinthians chapter 1, and listen to verses 1 and 2 for a possible clue to this answer, for a possible answer to the question: (1) Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, (2) unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. There you have it again. The writer, Gods chosen servant, declares himself that hes addressing not only the Corinthians, but also ALL that in EVERY place call upon the Lord. There is, however, still more that ought to be added to this answer. Remember the question is: To whom is this command addressed? Was this portion of the letter for sisters only? They very much are in focus here. It surely relates to them. But, are they being addressed directly, or indirectly? Well, back again in chapter 11, I find in verses 2 and 3 a clue to that answer. Now I praise you, BRETHREN, that YE remember me in all things and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to YOU. But I would have YOU know that the head of every man is Christ and so on. Lets not overlook this! Obviously, brethren are to be in charge both in the church and in the home. Its their responsibility to teach Gods headship order, and to see that that order is maintained. Even though it may have been the Corinthian women who were pushing at the fence, God viewed it as a problem that rested on the shoulders of the brethren — fathers, husbands, church leaders. I, myself, very much need to face up to this fact. And so do you, brethren. When wrong trends appear in covering styles or covering sizes, brethren, lets not blame one another. Lets work TOGETHER at correcting the problem, for this is addressed to US. Lets be willing to admit that an irregularity in relation to the headcovering is seldom a sisters problem only. It usually involves more than just the sister. I think were ready now to move to another question. That question, number 2, is this: With what is this practice associated? Some persons make much of the fact that, among the women of that day, this was the then-existing practice. And they immediately jump to the conclusion that on that basis its not obligatory today. But that line of reasoning ignores completely verse 3 and the obvious link between verse 3 and all that follows, for I am of the opinion that verse 3 is the KEY to the whole passage. Notice now again how verse 3 brings into focus something far more authoritative than a local practice: I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. God wants it to be known that there is a divinely established arrangement for working relations within the divine human economy. This is otherwise known as Gods headship order. Better than anyone else, God knows that in every sphere of life there needs to be leadership and respect for leadership. God wants this fact known. He wants it known that on the human level God has assigned that leadership to the man. I would have you know that the head of the woman is the man. God wants that fact KNOWN. Wherever a church or a family departs from this arrangement, it steps outside of the will of God, and it exchanges the best arrangement for an inferior arrangement. which will inevitably lead to confusion. We have now our answer to question number 2: With what is this practice associated? Its associated with Gods permanently existing headship order. Those verses that I read, verses 4-6, follow immediately upon the disclosure of this headship arrangement. Those verses 4-6 outline the God-prescribed way of preserving an awareness of this God-established headship order. The fact that the women of that day and place veiled their heads is to their credit, but its simply an incidental factor. Its by no means the foundation on which this teaching is built. Incidentally, for the Jewish men of that day, the embracing of Christianity did require breaking their custom. It may not have required a breaking of their custom on the part of the women, but on the part of the Jewish men they had to discontinue what they had been doing. So, please dont allow anyone to ever convince you that this passage is merely a call to fit in with their culture. Im moving now to question number 3: But doesnt this practice destroy the womans equality with man in Christ? Doesnt it do that? It is true that, more than anything else, Christianity elevated the status of womanhood. In Christ, the Christian woman stands before God on a footing equal to that of man. That is the input of a verse like Galatians 3:28, in which it is declared that there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. In relation to salvation, man and woman are equal. It may be, however, that in Corinth especially, this newfound liberty may have been interpreted too broadly. So broadly as to obliterate the headship order. Perhaps its in order to correct any such thinking that Paul is led to include in this passage evidence of the fact that the headship arrangement dates back, not only to the fall, but beyond the fall. It dates back to the time of the creation. That shows that it was meant to be a permanently existing thing in the earthly order. Verses 8 and 9 speak to that point. Lets listen now to verse 8: For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. That speaks of mans priority in the sequence of creation. The fact that man was created first was not simply incidental, that was by divine design. Now verse 9: Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. This brings into focus the Creators purpose. Eve was created for the purpose of being Adams helper. Now, the evident purpose for the inclusion of these facts is to emphasize that redemption does not cancel out headship. Headship remains intact in the reckoning of God. And so, the answer to our question is NO, this practice does NOT destroy womans equality with man in Christ. In the reckoning of God, mans continuing to function as the administrative head of the race is altogether compatible with womans spiritual equality with the man in matters pertaining to Christian experience. Both concepts need to be promoted. There is no conflict between them. The man and the woman are equal in spiritual privilege, but they are not equal in authority. Shall we come before the Lord in prayer? Or having now read further on you say this is boring or doesn’t apply to me, may I suggest you visit www.successmagnet.org In part three I will try and answer your questions, that you serious readers are asking. For more info on this or other topics, please write:Living Waters For Thirsty Souls,25853 Pinney Road,Cambridge Springs, PA, USA16403-9801 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=B._White http://EzineArticles.com/?Let-Her-Be-Covered-Part-Two&id=19693 ambien on line-no script keyword ambien side affect boards comments zolpidem receptory zolpidem tartrate a controlled drug

Rekindle Your Dreams with Bad Credit Business Loans

Monday, February 25th, 2008

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tim_Kelly]Tim Kelly Bad credit history is a situation, which in the past may have ruined your chances of getting a loan. Nevertheless, now the situation is different and so are the chances that you may get a loan with your bad credit history. Bad credit history is a situation that a person finds himself in, when he has failed to pay his dues in regard to his previous loans. This brings about bad credit history. People with bad credit history usually find difficulty in getting the loans of any kind. However, nowadays the situation is different. Any person, who if he wants to, can get a loan. Also, the people with bad credit can apply for bad credit business loans. With the presence of so many creditors, the request for a loan can be made to any one of the creditors. The borrower will eventually end up getting the loan that would suit him to the core. A person with bad credit history can apply for bad credit business loans and have basically two options available to them in choosing the bad credit business loans. The two options are that of a secured bad credit business loan or an unsecured bad credit personal loan. The basic difference between these two loans is that of a security as with the secured bad credit loan it is essential to provide a security to the lender. These loans serve the same purpose and are equally good. A person can choose the loan option after going through the details of the loan terms. Going for business improvement or starting a new business- a person can easily get a loan for such purposes. In addition, there are other benefits of going in for bad credit business loans. The advantage to the people with bad credit history is that if they can follow the loan terms correctly they can get their credit score improved and get better loan terms in the future. To apply for a bad credit business loan, the borrower must fulfill the basic criteria; like he should be a UK citizen with at least 18 years of age and should have some income on his part as well. Once these details are sorted out, a borrower can apply to any lender for the bad credit business loans. Always use an online lender to get your loan. The benefits of going through an online lender are many, so it is advisable to choose online lenders for your loan needs. Tim Kelly is an expert in finance having completed his LLM in Finance (Master of Laws in Finance) from Institute for Law and Finance at Frankfurt University.He is currently working with Business Loans as a financial advisor.To Find Cheap Business loans,Business Start up loans,Business loans UK visit http://www.businessloans.uk.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Kelly http://EzineArticles.com/?Rekindle-Your-Dreams-with-Bad-Credit-Business-Loans&id=201832 order drug zolpidem ambien and alprazolam ambien and amesia ambien cr photo

Aloe Vera, an Alternative That Will Improve Your Looks and Your Outlook

Sunday, February 24th, 2008

By Arthur Comer Do you remember your teen years? Remember that schoolmate that had a less than perfect complexion and always seemed to be the object of cruel comments? Sure, you can relate to what Im saying! Perhaps it was even you at the receiving end of those comments. Unfortunate as it may be, as a teenager, our outward appearance plays a vital role in issues of self-esteem. Our peers often exasperate the tiniest of imperfections that we may have, making them a Goliath in our life. Many of us needlessly suffered the humiliation of being called toad-face, wart hog or other disparaging names. Mother Nature provides a simple effective treatment for most diseases of the skin, especially those that frequently occur with most young adults. In use for thousands of years, Aloe Vera, a natural and safe remedy, effectively treats skin diseases like acne, eczema, herpes, psoriasis and many others. When prescribed medications failed, many frustrated patients tried Aloe Vera and achieved outstanding results. Why more dermatologists do not recommend all-natural Aloe Vera as a first-step treatment, rather than subjecting their patients to less effective and more costly drugs, is a mystery. Aloe Vera is time-tested and proven by many clinical studies to be safe and effective, and unlike most prescribed drugs, allergic reactions and other side effects are virtually nonexistent. Lets rid our young adults of this robber (skin diseases) of self-esteem. Arthur Comer is the owner and general manager of ALCJR Enterprises, a Midlothian, Virginia-based mail order Company that grows and retails Aloe Vera, Tillandsia and Anthurium plants. His informative articles appear in numerous online and hard copy publications. He is also an independent distributor of Forever Living Products, Inc., a multi-billion dollar international company that manufactures Aloe Vera-based Skincare, Health and Beauty products. Visit his website for more information and for links to articles about the remarkable medicinal benefits of the Aloe Vera plant. http://www.alcjr.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arthur_Comer http://EzineArticles.com/?Aloe-Vera,-an-Alternative-That-Will-Improve-Your-Looks-and-Your-Outlook&id=44937 ambien pregnant ambien and low-ogestrel snorted lorazepam ativan abuse

Winning the Battle of the Bulge: Successful Strategies

Thursday, February 21st, 2008

By Michael Callen Let’s take a look at how your attitudes and perceptions affect the results you acheive and how slight modifications can achieve mighty results. When attacking any problem, it is always best to break it into small sections that can be approached individually. Every war is made up of many battles. Stringing together a series of battles helps to win the war. If you are dealing with personal debt, credit counselors will tell you to pay off one card or account at a time; building momentum with each little victory. In many ways, our battle of the bulge is very similar. If you have ten, or twenty, or thirty, or one hundred pounds to lose, it is self-defeating to try to lose that amount in any given time. However, anyone can lose one pound or two. Once done, you simply repeat the steps you took to win that small (but significant) battle, and you’re on your way to winning the war! According to the Wellness Letter (published by UC Berkeley), the average American gains about two pounds each year. Well, someone at the American Dietetic Association (ADA) crunched the numbers and look what they came up with. Each pound of body weight is equivalent to 3500 calories. Dividing those 3500 calories by 365 days, each pound of body weight gain comes from an extra 19 calories per day. Now this is generalized, so don’t write me letters…. just hear me out. If you can see what 19 calories a day can do over the course of a year, imagine what decreasing your diet by 100 calories per day can do. This would equate to a five-pound weight loss (roughly) over the course of a year. How difficult would it be to leave out 100 calories each day? Well, the folks at the ADA came up with a few — amazingly easy — suggestions. — eat water packed tuna instead of oil packed tuna — have one cup of cereal in the morning instead of two cups — put tomato slices, lettuce and pepper strips on a sandwich instead of mayo — substitute skim milk for whole milk (two cups is all it takes…) — snack on a cup of low fat yogurt and fruit instead of doughnuts or cookies — drink a big glass of water with green tea extract, instead of a soda Once you see how easy it is to trim some calories away, you need only diligence and will-power to stick to it. The old saying goes “if you fail to plan, it’s like planning to fail.” To win the battle of the bulge, you’ve got to have a battle plan. That plan will involve (your number one ingredient) CHANGE. When you undertake a challenge such as this, you need to take an assessment of your attitude. The good folks at the ADA came up with a few questions to ask yourself: Are you willing to make regular physical activity a part of your routine? Are you committed to making small gradual changes in your eating plan? Do you have a realistic weight-loss goal in mind? Can you control your food choices and meal preparation methods? Are you losing weight to improve your health and feel better? If you go into this with the right plan, the right attitude, and have the ability to persevere, you can’t help but achieve your goals. If you haven’t started off with a plan and the right attitude, do so now! Don’t go through all of the effort it takes to ATTEMPT to lose weight and fail. Instead, make the effort and LOSE weight! References: http://www.eatright.org American Dietetic Association, http://www.berkeleywellness.com/index.php The Wellness Letter Michael Callen is the author of the Weekly Weightloss Tips Newsletter (ccwebgroup.com/tips) and the Chief Technology Officer for WellnessPartners.com, an online retailer of dozens of health and wellness products such as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), r+ alpha lipoic acid (R+ ALA), and Green Tea Extract. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Callen http://EzineArticles.com/?Winning-the-Battle-of-the-Bulge:-Successful-Strategies&id=42002 phentermine without doctor prescription online pharmacy selling phentermine buy phentermine diet pills buy cheap phentermine 37.5

Your Wedding Day Countdown

Sunday, February 17th, 2008

By Patrick Clemmond After the proposal Unless youre a confirmed stressaholic, the old clich about the early bird catching the worm does apply here, believe me. Planning your wedding should feel like savoring a piece of Swiss chocolate sitting on the stoop at six oclock in the evening watching the sun go down combined with the feeling of going down a vertical drop in a rollercoaster cart. Remember, youre preparing the most romantic day of your life, it must be fun! To be fun youll need to be organized, so heres a list of priorities I would like you to consider for the trip. Whilst your head’s still reeling in the clouds after the proposal, the next logical step is to let the proverbial cat out of the bag, in style. Ring the local church bells at midnight, streak through town, whatever it takes. And, if you live in a small town, you aught to know small town folk read the classifieds for fun. Early Planning You will need a budget before you can start planning How much are you and your families prepared to spend on this precious event? Of course it goes without saying your budget will determine the style, site and number of guests who attend. Set a wedding date This can be complicated if youve decided to get married at a wedding venue. Generally speaking it works like this, you decide which venue, the venue decides which date. If their date is not suitable, you move on to the next best venue and repeat the procedure until you find a date that makes everyone happy. Set the time If you consider beautiful photos of your wedding to be imperative, then you better first speak to your photographer before you decide on a time. Photographers make it there business to know lighting conditions and time of day during winter, spring, summer or fall. Draw up a guest list Traditionally this process involves couple and their parents. Bridal party appointments Approach and appoint those you would like to be bridesmaids, flower girls, ushers, attendants, a master of ceremonies and a best man. Planning your wedding day Once you have a date, a budget, and a guest-list. Its time to search, visit, negotiate and appoint service providers. If youre a busy girl it may be time to bring in a wedding planner. The Service Provider Search The internet This is the first place I would start looking. There are literally thousands of web sites hosting wedding service providers who will provide you with contact detail, pictures of product, and text profiles on service providers. Finding providers in your area could be a problem though, especially if you live in the country. Word of Mouth Known as the most reliable source, ask your friends who have recently been married. Bridal Magazines Are a great source of wedding providers, if you can find one that covers your local area. Service Provider Negotiations Wedding VenuesIncluded in their fee, wedding venues usually include in-house planners and event managers who oversee caterers and bar services, and sometimes even an in house disco. Most venues also have dressing facilities that double up as a honeymoon suite for couple’s first night, but you’ll have to organize the rest. Personal Venue Planning If youve decided to use a marquee tent or your local church or school hall to host your reception you’ll need to consider the following. Caterers Someone to prepare food, this could be a small catering company or can be family driven Drinks This could be run by family member or you could bring in a mobile bar owner to run a cash bar Function hire This could include stuff like chairs, tables, covers, cutlery, crockery and even a marquee tent if need be. Service Provider Specialists Marriage Officer Appoint a legaly qualified person to facilitate the ceremony, one who will satisfy the religious and cultural needs of both families Find a Photographer Visit as many photographers as possible until you find someone you like and can afford. A Videographer Decide on how much you can afford and see as many productions possible before you make your final decision on who to use. Appoint a baker Someone who will design and bake your wedding cake Make-up artist and Hair stylist. Find people who’s work you like and book them. Decor Find a florist and or decor company to dress up the reception hall and Chapel. Table gifts These are becoming very popular lately Entertainment Book a mobile disco and or musicians to perform at your ceremony Establish a honeymoon destination Book in advance especialy if you’re getting married during peak season. Wedding Stationery Have invitations, table layout sheet and thank you cards designed and printed. Wedding Rings Visit a Jeweler or Goldsmith to design and have your rings made or buy ready made. Wedding day Transport If youre going to arrive in style you may want to book a limousine or a classic car that can double up as a cool photo prop. And then there are the bridesmaids and vip family member transport needs. Wedding attire Find or have your dream dress designed and made. Have bridesmaids and flower girl dresses made. Tuxudos Suits and Mens Outfits Find a mens outfitter or tuxudo rental supplier to acquire or rent outfits for the brides father, groom and best man and groomsmen. Note If you are having anything made, remember this can be a timely process with fittings and other delays could take anything up to six months to finalize. Three months before the wedding Post invitations and keep track of replies. You should have a completed list at least around six weeks before the big day. Prepare a wedding gift list for yourselves, or set up a gift register at one of the local home goody supply stores. Organize wedding party transport to and from the wedding and reception. Decide on music to be played whilst guests are waiting for your arrival, hymns to be sung by the congregation, readings, and the order of events during the ceremony. Create a schedule of events for the day. But, first consult with your photographer in terms of time of day and available light. Always allow time for the unexpected because there will be, build a 15 to 20 minute fat layer between events, and things will even out into a stress free day. Decide on your walk in song and opening dance number, check with your dj if ye or she has copies of what you want. Splash out on going-away and honeymoon outfits. Choose and buy thank you gifts for your brides maids, attendants and best man.Now is the time to make those names and address changes at your bank, the tax man, your doctor and your dentist etc. You may also need to visit a lawyer if youre thinking of getting married out of community of property. One Month before the wedding Its time to have that make-up and hairdo trial. Re-arrange reception seating. Confirm details with officiating officer, florist, photographer, videographer, reception venue, entertainers, cake, transport, and honeymoon arrangements etc. One week before the wedding Give the final guest count to your caterers. Make final checks on your dress as well as your attendants outfits. Its time to have a wedding rehearsal, to make sure everyone involved including parents and the wedding party knows what to expect. Pack your honeymoon bag. One day before the wedding Arrange for a family member or friend to tie up loose ends after the wedding. Present gifts to your attendants, ushers and groomsmen. On the day Sit back as your plans roll out, and above all, have the ball of your life! *Copyright” This Article may be freely distributed however all links and references to the author must be kept intact. The author maintains copyright on this articles and by giving free distribution rights does not revoke or nullify such copyright privileges. I entered the wedding industry professionaly in 1995 operating as a photographer/videographer/dj/planner. Throughout this time I have recorded and been involved with countless weddings. I also head up a wedding designer company “Yes I do Events”. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patrick_Clemmond http://EzineArticles.com/?Your-Wedding-Day-Countdown&id=271501 cheap phentermine online prescription buy phentermine com phentermine online no prior prescription phentermine 37.5 tablets no prescription

Your Plan For Marketing Success

Saturday, February 16th, 2008

By Joe Love The most important, yet overlooked aspect of marketing is an actual written marketing plan A business simply cannot succeed without marketing. Whether you are a one person business or have 50 employees, you simply must have a marketing plan to succeed. Just as a business plan is a blue print for the overall success of your business, your marketing plan is the blueprint for your marketing success. Marketing without having a clear and user-friendly marketing strategy is like stringing beads without tying a knot at the end of the string. Your strategy should guide your efforts for a minimum of three years; a good plan should really last ten or more years. The marketing plan is a plan within your business plan. In the marketing plan you must quantify the benefits your customer gets from buying your product or service. You must establish the size of your market. Also, your competition must be evaluated and assessed. In other words, you must be customer-oriented or market driven. Your plan should explain the benefits your product or service has to your customer, how your customer will profit or gain from product or service. Explain why your customers will buy your product over those of your competitors. A good marketing plan should contain six sections: 1. Description of the market. Who are the customers and why will they buy your product or service? Explain what perceived need you fill in your target market. What is your market niche? How will you position your product or service? Your positioning strategy must be elaborated in detail. Your marketing plan must show a deep knowledge and understanding of your market. Do you know all the factors that will effect your sales? Describe in detail the background of your industry, including its size, chief characteristics, trends, and major customers. Project any changes inside or outside your industry that will affect your business. Dont forget to describe your prospective customers in detail, including their demographics and psychographics. Remember, businesses dont buy products or services, people do. You must understand all about those decision makers. 2. Customer benefits. What are the benefits of your product or service to the customer? In talking about benefits, you must relate them to the customer and to the competitors products or services. Here are some of the ways to do that. Your product or service is better than the competitions because it is: (1) cheaper, (2) better quality, (3) more efficient, (4) convenient to use, (5) has fewer rejects or breakdowns, (6) reduces the customers labor costs, (7) lowers the customers inventory costs, (8) improves the customers productivity, (9) improves the customers performance, (10) saves the customer money or time or both, (11) entertains the customer, (12) improves the customers appearance or health, (13) solves problems, and (14) generates profits. 3. Market Share. What are your assumptions about your market share? When explaining market share, instead of just stating what percentage of the market you intent to capture, employ a bottom-up approach. Based on sales projections, using specific customers. A common mistake made by most people discussing market share is assuming they can predict sales by gathering some general numbers on the size of the market, then projecting share from there. The old statement we only want 1% of the market does not cut it anymore. You must explain in detail just how you will arrive at your market share. Document your assumptions with marketing research. 4. Competition. Who is your competition? Compare their products and services to yours, and outline your strategies to sell more than they do. Explain how difficult it is to compare with you. Dont underestimate, ignore, or downplay the competition. Everybody has competition, and if you think you dont, then you obviously dont comprehend the weaknesses of what youre trying to accomplish, and you probably wont be in business for very long. 5. The sales strategy. This is one of the most critical parts of the marketing plan. You can have the greatest technology in the world but if you cant figure out how to get it into the customers hands, youve got nothing! The world will not beat a path to your door just because you have a better product or service! You have to sell the world on buying your product or service. If you think of marketing as strategy and selling as tactics, you have a good idea of what you should put into your plan. How are you going to get your prospects to buy your product or service? You must describe the nuts and bolts of your selling process. What is your distribution process? How will your service and support your product? Explain the selling process step by step, from distribution to sales to servicing of sales. What is your sales strategy? How is your company going to approach its prospects and capitalize on its potential? Go into detail about how your product or service will be sold and/or distributed. How will you advertise and promote your product or service? If possible get and add the actual reaction of some prospects to your product or service? List in detail all your plans for distribution, geographical penetration, roll-out schedule, and future locations. Discuss in detail the pricing strategy youve developed to make your product or service competitive yet still generate ample profits. Identify your prospects, your selling strategy, the size of and the compensation for your sales force, your selling cycle, and both your short and long-term goals you want to achieve. 6. Proprietary protection and uniqueness. Explain what makes your company stand out from the rest. The degree of uniqueness is a major strength in your entire marketing strategy. Explain the range of protection against competition, including patent and copyright protection. What is your strategy to create barriers for others in your market beyond patent and copyright protection? Describe any available technology that is superior or equal to yours. What creative technology or research are you going to do to provide future sales? Armed with a detailed marketing plan, you can develop your creative and media strategies. With a marketing plan in place, the other two strategies virtually write themselves. With them, your marketing materials virtually write themselves, too. And your media decisions are much easier to make. It is very important that every person in your company know each word of your marketing plan, so that they can help carry the banner forward with you. You should invite everyone in your organization to participate in the creation of the marketing plan. With everyones involvement, before and after, you have the assurance, that everyone in your organization is completely clear about the goals and essence of the business. You should review your marketing plan every quarter or at the minimum every six months. Make adjustments in your plan only to account for changing market conditions. The fewer changes you make, the more likely you got it right the first time. Take the time to put your marketing plan together carefully so you get it right the first time. By doing this you will assure your marketing success for years to come. Copyright 2005 by Joe Love and JLM & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Joe Love draws on his 25 years of experience helping both individuals and companies build their businesses, increase profits, and achieve total success. He is the founder and CEO of JLM & Associates, a consulting and training organization, specializing in personal and business development. Through his seminars and lectures, Joe Love addresses thousands of men and women each year, including the executives and staffs of many of Americas largest corporations, on the subjects of leadership, self-esteem, goals, achievement, and success psychology. Reach Joe at: joe@jlmandassociates.com Read more articles and newsletters at: http://www.jlmandassociates.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Love http://EzineArticles.com/?Your-Plan-For-Marketing-Success&id=48168 cheapest phentermine online without a prescription buy phentermine no prior prescription buy real phentermine how to buy phentermine