Workflow Efficiency: Get the Answer to 8 Big Complaints

Workflow Efficiency: Get the Answer to 8 Big Complaints
When things get busy at work and the pressure is on,
locating and controlling key documentation is of paramount
importance to ensure efficiency and productivity ' but how
often do you find yourself coming up against any of these
eight familiar complaints?

Workflow Efficiency: The Eight Familiar Complaints

If any of these complaints are familiar to you, then a
document management solution can help:

- I employ somebody just for filing and archiving

- I can't keep up with customer service enquiries

- When somebody goes on holiday, we're lost without them

- I never seem to know where anything is

- I've had to rewrite important documents because we lost
the originals

- If we were sued, we'd spend ages finding the appropriate
documentation

- We have too many paper records for compliance purposes

- Everyone in my company seems to have their own filing
system

Workflow Efficiency: The One Simple Response

Document management is a glamorous name for keeping things
organised. Perhaps the truly paperless office might never
happen, but at least all the documents you have can be
organised properly. Consider for example - what is the true
cost of a key proposal which gets lost on somebody's
computer because they've gone on holiday and no-one can
find it? Or what is the true cost in lost time of rifling
through acres of archived documents looking for one sheet
from five years ago?

Document management is the result of several useful
technologies (printing, scanning, archival and storage)
coming together in a useful and co-ordinated way. Good
document management software has the following properties
these days:

- Easy for staff to use

- Won't break the bank, and offer a genuinely money-saving
ROI

- Can be installed in-line with your existing IT
infrastructure.

Document Management Systems: Save Time

Forget filing and photocopying (and their associated
costs). With document management tools, everything is
stored electronically on computer. Everything is named too,
so finding documents is simple - helping you improve
service to your customers and your colleagues too.

Document Management Systems: Reduce Costs

Of course good document management saves staff time. But in
practice there are so many other cost savings too. Free up
your storage space and use it for business! Reduce
administration time. Manage projects more efficiently and
reduce the margin for costly errors. Improve communication
internally, response time, and customer service. Our
document management solutions can help you achieve all
these cost savings. And you'll spend less on paper, postage
and faxing too!

Typically, a good document management system installed and
configured correctly can pay for itself in six months- time
you can wisely use to push your business forward.

Document Management in Practice

Here are some key elements to workflow and communication
improvements which stem from the use of document management
systems:

Creating documents:

Whenever a document is created, it's named according to
your own conventions (even if it's scanned or copied).
Everything's organised from the start and you'll never lose
a document again.

Everyone has an In-Tray:

Documents, pictures, e-mails, whatever... they all come in
through your in-tray, where you can categorise them, label
them, and then act on them. Send them on, collaborate with
other people, and manage versions of documents
automatically- so you'll never be stuck working on
yesterday's project.

Find and retrieve:

Before document management, you had to remember filenames.
Now, search by author, client, date, project- even just a
phrase, and you'll soon have the document you need.

Out of the office?

No problem- we can give you access to your office documents
with the same find-and-retrieve functions over the web- at
home or on the other side of the world.

Scan it in...

No need for huge paper archives. Scan it in and forget
about the paper copy. You can even scribble notes in the
margin electronically.

...e-mail or fax it out

Electronic documents are so much more flexible than paper.
With your documents in electronic form, emailing and faxing
them (and making alterations and corrections) is only a
click away.

----------------------------------------------------
Jimi St. Pierre writes for several Office Equipment
suppliers in the UK, including Principal Corporation, where
you can find out more about INVU document management
software on their comprehensive office equipment website
at: => http://www.principalcorp.co.uk/

Payroll Software Reduces The Paye Administration

Payroll Software Reduces The Paye Administration
Every employer has a legal responsibility to operate a paye
scheme for its employees with regular payslips a P60 end of
year certificate and a P45 showing details of gross pay and
income tax deducted during the employment if you leave. An
employer needs a paye system that satisfies both the
payroll requirements for each employee and the additional
paye records required by the Inland Revenue.

Calculating gross pay is not difficult as the rates and
hours are usually preset or subject to known information
such as a timesheet for example. Calculating the income tax
and national insurance can present problems to employers
inexperienced in payroll matters who are not familiar with
all the paye requirements. Payroll software automates this
income tax and nation al insurance calculations reducing
both the time and knowledge required.

Each new employee joining a business must provide the
employer with a P45 which contains specific essential
information that employer needs to start the paye system
for that employee. The P45 contains details of the employee
name and address, previous earnings and the amount of
income deducted by the previous employer. The P45 also
states the employee tax code and any special conditions
that may have been in force such as being deducted tax on a
week one or month one basis.

P45 details are required by the new employer to set up the
payroll records for each employee. Rather than filing the
P45 under a pile of papers or the back of a drawer a
payroll software solution adds discipline to this process
and permits a permanent record to be kept which can prevent
serious administration issues in the future. Documents and
notes on scraps of paper can get lost while paye details
kept on a proper payroll software package rarely do and can
be backed up as required.

The P45 does not contain details of national insurance
contributions as the new employer does not need to know
what the previous national contributions were. This is
because national insurance contributions are always
calculated on a week by week or month by month basis and so
previous deductions are not relevant while previous details
of income tax deducted are relevant because income tax is
deducted on a cumulative basis.

Having established the employee records the main work of
the paye system begins. Each pay period the employer needs
to calculate the income tax and national insurance to be
deducted. This can be done manually or the employer can
laboriously enter the employee and previous pay details
into a paye calculator to obtain the information. Payroll
software is a better choice by automating these
calculations saving time and providing accuracy.

The paye system also requires the employer to keep accurate
records of the breakdown of the calculation which are
recorded on a P11 deductions working paper. This part of
the paye administration is a burden for many small
employers and payroll software can automate this task
saving hours of work during the year.

Next the payslip which is highly important to employees and
the employer has a legal responsibility to provide one.
Designing a payslip and ensuring it meets all legal
requirements is much easier if a standard legally correct
format is adopted as part of an automated payroll software
system rather than manually running the paye system.

When an employee leaves they must be given a P45 to take to
their next employer and the paye system adopted must
provide the information to complete the P45 accurately. It
is a foregone conclusion that using payroll software to
generate this information can ease the paye burden and
provide accurate information satisfying the legal
requirements of the paye system.

At the end of the financial year the administrative burden
is increased if manual records are kept as the employer
needs to produce a P14 showing the employee deductions and
provide each employee with a P60 certificate showing the
employee gross pay and deductions. Payroll software can
automatically generate the gross pay totals and the income
tax and national insurance contributions providing the
information required.

The paye records must also produce the information for the
P35 annual employer return showing the income tax and
national insurance deducted from each employee and if an
employer is operating a manual paye system then this task
is often put aside and can lead to returns being filed late
and incurring late filing penalties. With a payroll
software solution the information is available immediately
the final pay period has passed and the figures can easily
be submitted online not only saving late penalty fines but
also gaining a tax free online bonus. Using payroll
software for the paye administration can not only save time
and reduce the paye administration burden but save the
employer money too.

----------------------------------------------------
Terry Cartwright, qualified accountant and CEO at DIY
Accounting, designs Accounting Software for small top
medium sized businesses
http://www.diyaccounting.co.uk and Paye Payroll Software
packages for up to 20 employees at
http://www.diyaccounting.co.uk/payroll.htm

How to avoid the funeral after a big breakthrough.

How to avoid the funeral after a big breakthrough.
Okay, forget all this organic growth stuff. Let's say you
hit the big time, and suddenly dozens, hundreds, even
thousands of people are flooding towards your business.

Exciting, isn't it? Sure, exciting as a funeral.

If your business isn't ready, this could be The End.

It's easy to want to hit it big. But, the truth is, rapid
expansion is the most dangerous time for any business.

Am I against you succeeding? No way. I want you to flourish
and thrive and enjoy your business. But, I don't want you
to get flooded out.

Why rapid growth is so dangerous.

When you grow, everything grows. I mean EVERYTHING. Your
income grows, and so do the number of requests for help.
Your database grows, and so do the number of number of
complaints and negative feedback. The number of orders
grow, and the number of mistakes you make grows, too.

Dealing with 1000 orders is very different than dealing
with 10. Dealing with 20 clients is very different than
dealing with 5.

A true story.

Once upon a time there was someone who was excellent at
what she did. Excellent. And, naturally, the word spread.

What's more, she accelerated her growth through really
smart marketing. As has happened to many people, she even
received so much traffic to her website that her servers
were overwhelmed at one point.

Very cool, eh?

Then things started to go south.

Instead of answering emails cheerfully within a day, it was
taking her two or three weeks to get back to people, simply
because of the volume. She had more clients than she could
handle, and they started to complain about her mistakes to
each other, to people they knew, to everyone but her.

Plus, there were hundreds of requests for services,
requests she couldn't fill, because it was just her.

And people started to drift away...

Do you see where this is going?

It IS possible to turn a situation like this around. But,
it will definitely take some real effort, and a new track
record, to get the good opinion of the marketplace back
again.

What's going on here spiritually? Well, it's kind of like
the old "hand in the cookie jar" story. You put your hand
in the cookie jar, grab a bunch of cookies, but then your
fist with all the cookies is too big for the neck of the
jar. So, you have to let go of all the cookies save one, in
order to get your hand out.

It's about trusting that you'll have what you need. When
something seems too big to be true, it probably is. My
experience is that the next right step always is something
that feels real and grounded to me.

So are big jumps never permissible? When is it okay to blow
the lid off and really 'go for it'? Is there a way to grow
rapidly, without risking your business?

Sure there is. Let's take a look.

Keys to Safe and Rapid Growth

- Systems, systems, systems.

Because you care about your business so much, plus you're
probably really creative, you've most likely resisted
implementing systems in your business, wanting to make sure
that loving care is put into every detail.

For growth, you'll want to start to identify where things
are repetitive, and where the loving care can be put into a
system that handles repetitive tasks. No, don't put any
less love and care into it. Just start to think about what
details aren't hurt when they are systematized.

The best time to do this is before you really need to. It
helps to make sure that you have the time to put love into
creating a system, instead of doing it in a panic with 100
upset customers breathing down your back.

- Practice being the boss.

You can't do everything. A one-person successful business
is a myth: every successful business requires the efforts
of more than one person. And so you need to learn how to
delegate, outsource, and hire the people to help you,
without breaking the bank.

This takes practice. Start practicing in small ways, hiring
a virtual assistant for a few hours a month, just to get
used to the idea. As you gain more experience, you'll be
able to outsource more and more. And, eventually you'll be
comfortable hiring and allowing others to help you when you
start to grow.

- You need a product.

When you have thousands of people wanting help from you,
the only sensible thing you can provide is a product. If
you're a service business, or even if you are creating
things, but doing it in an old-fashioned, loving
hand-crafted way, you'll want to start to think "scalable."

What kind of a product can you experiment with creating?
Your first one probably won't be a home run, so if you
start creating your first information products now, you'll
get the hang of what your clients really want and need.

You may never want to grow to be really big. But, even if
you want to be moderately comfortable, these three steps:
systems, hiring help, and having products, are the
foundational pieces you need in order to handle rapid
growth.

Because it can happen. And instead of a prelude to your
business' funeral, it can be the joyous celebration it
should be.

----------------------------------------------------
Mark Silver is the author of Unveiling the Heart of Your
Business: How Money, Marketing and Sales can Deepen Your
Heart, Heal the World, and Still Add to Your Bottom Line.
He has helped hundreds of small business owners around the
globe succeed in business without lousing their hearts. Get
three free chapters of the book online:
http://www.heartofbusiness.com

The Marketing Power of Testimonials

The Marketing Power of Testimonials
Offer proof to your prospects. Testimonials are one of the
most powerful and cost effective selling tools you can
implement in your arsenal of marketing. Why? Because you
are offering social proof to your prospects from their
peers attesting that your services/products actually work.
If you say you are good at what you do, it's self serving.
But, if others say you are good...it's credible.

Providing testimonials from current and prior customers of
their actual problem and the specific results from your
company enhances your company's credibility. It's not
enough to say that you solve problems - you have to show
your prospects the direct results of other people.
Testimonials offer proof that you are the real deal.

People receive a lot of information and they are often
skeptical. But, they will be more inclined to buy from you
if you show examples of their peers who have achieved
positive results. An effective testimonial is filled with
specific benefits and substantiates the claims you are
making. Whenever possible, testimonials should offer
tangible, quantified results. (ex: I lost 65 pounds, I
raised my income by 42%, I saved $300, and so on.) To show
it comes from a real person, a good testimonial includes a
first and last name, a city and state, a business name,
their industry, and a website URL.

Be sure to ask people for a photograph. You can add their
picture next to their testimonial in your office or a in
brochure. It's a great strategy for your website's
testimonial section. And, you can take your website to a
higher level of interactivity by including audio and video
for an even greater impact. If you want to include audio
testimonials on your site, I recommend Audio Acrobat for an
easy-to-use recording system.

If you are offering a new product or just starting your
business, you can contact business associates and offer
them a free session or product sample to try. In exchange,
ask them for a heartfelt testimonial. Most of the people
you contact will be delighted to do a trial run of your
offering and provide a testimonial.

On your website, your brochure, and in your presentations,
provide testimonials from current and prior customers of
their actual problem and the specific results from your
company. These third-party endorsements work to sell for
you - even when you are not around. Your testimonials also
help close the sale with prospects. Depending on your type
of business, you can even cover your walls with pictures of
happy customers. Or you can create a notebook that shows
pictures of customers with your products.

Even after you've been in business for a while, don't stop
collecting testimonials. You can use an autoresponder
service like Professional Cart Services to automatically
follow up with a customer who has purchased something from
you to ask them how they are doing. Ask them to provide a
testimonial. Incorporating a testimonial into an
advertising campaign and/or direct mail marketing is also
very effective.

You'll find that incorporating the power of social proof
into your marketing arsenal will help spread word-of-mouth
advertising. It will also help you easily close sales.
Often, a person will review your testimonials and be
prepared to buy before you've even met. The reward of
collecting testimonials is always worth the effort!

----------------------------------------------------
Wendy Maynard, your friendly Marketing Maven, publishes
REMARKABLE MARKETING, a weekly marketing ezine for business
owners, freelancers, and entrepreneurs. If you're ready to
skyrocket your sales, easily attract customers, and have
more fun, subscribe at
http://www.gomarketingmaven.com/ezine_3.html

Huge Profits In Carpet Cleaning Business

Huge Profits In Carpet Cleaning Business
Starting a carpet cleaning business can be a wonderful way
to increase your income abundantly. The industry of carpet
cleaning brings in continued profit year round in good
times and bad since it is a recession proof business. There
will always be carpet that needs to be cleaned. This type
business is quite easy to start since it requires no heavy
capital, no prier experience or education.

Carpet cleaning machines can be purchased for a couple of
thousand dollars. You can start your search on the internet
which will bring up some good results. Some machines are
way to big to fit into a car so it is easier if you have a
van, pick up or truck of some sort for these type machines.
There are newer models of carpet cleaning machines on the
market today that are smaller, but just as powerful as the
bigger machines. Since some of the newer models are smaller
they easily fit into most cars. The feedback from people
who own these powerful newer models are very good. These
machines save them money since they don't have to buy a van
to carry it around, they are light weight, and they have
new technology that makes the older bigger style machines
obsolete.

When entering the carpet cleaning industry you have a
choice to either specialize in home carpet cleaning or do
businesses either it be offices, retail or restaurants.
Usually if you go the home carpet route you can clean
during the day but when cleaning carpets of businesses it
is usually done in the evening/night hours after the
business has shut down for the day. It is really up to each
person and the hours they decide they want to work. Of
course there is no rules that you can't do both home and
business carpet cleaning since the newer machines can
handle the carpets of either a home or business.

One thing to take in consideration is that home owners
usually don't have their carpets clean more then a couple
of times per year so it might take a bigger cliental of
home owners to reach the same profit as someone cleaning
only a few offices. Office/businesses usually have their
carpets clean much more frequently since there is more foot
traffic in these places and they need to keep a nice, fresh
appearance for their customers.

Some of the good things about having your own carpet
cleaning business is you are free to make your own hours,
there is no meetings to sit through, no boss over looking
your every move, no time clock to punch, and best of all
have the free time to enjoy the money you make. It is a
business where you can easily make up to $500 a day and
$1,000's per week working only part time. Thousands of
people have achieved great wealth by owning their own
carpet cleaning business and this is because people are
willing to pay good money to have fresh clean carpets in
their home/business.

Advertising for a carpet cleaning business is really not a
big deal. As long as you provide a professional service and
do a great job for each of your clients the word will
spread like a wildfire, you will have more then enough
clients seeking you out for your services. Of course when
you are just starting out you will need to do some
advertising like send out some postcards, set up some
flyers, hand out business cards and soon you will be
receiving calls for your service. Before you know it your
bank account will be filling up with a very nice income
which will continue to grow as you get new clients.

Even though some of the newer carpet machines are light
weight, powerful and easy to work with some people just
don't like any kind of labored work. If you are someone who
just can't see them selves cleaning carpet, that's okay,
this type business can still work for you. For those who
don't want to do the labor they can simply invest in the
machine(s) etc. and hire one of two reliable, good working
people to do the actual labor. It is up to each business
owner, they can pay them a nice hourly wage or split the
profit from each job. Though it is known if you pay someone
a good wage then they will take more pride in the job which
in turn will make your business look more professional.

I just shared with you some of the benefits of starting a
carpet cleaning business. I hope this article has shined
some light on the opportunities that a carpet cleaning
business can provide you. It surely has given many people
the chance to live the good life. Just look how many new
homes and business go up each year, each of these
homes/business will have carpet that needs to be cleaned
and for this reason this makes the future of carpet
cleaning a very good one.

----------------------------------------------------
Grant Callihan resides in California and is currently self
employed. To start your search on the best carpet cleaning
business/machines visit the website. Must mention code
CL5596 when contacting company with any questions or if
joining.
http://www.drytech-systems.com

Gucci Watches Take Over The Watch Industry

Gucci Watches Take Over The Watch Industry
Since the invention of the quartz watch in the 1970's,
nearly all of the watches on the market are quartz battery
powered. Over 90% of all watches manufactured today,
including Gucci watches, are quartz watches. So why has
the watch industry gone quartz and for the most part
stopped making mechanical watches?

There are several advantages to quartz watches over
mechanical watches. Although it may not seem like it,
quartz is much cheaper than mechanical watches. Aside from
it being cheaper to purchase, the parts are much cheaper
and the watch as a whole is more reliable. Therefore,
there is less maintenance required with a quartz watch than
a mechanical watch.

You will find that with a quartz watch, you will on average
lose or gain up to one second per week. Compare that to a
mechanical watch, which can potentially lose or gain up to
one minute per week. It is obvious that quartz watches are
much more accurate and reliable than a mechanical watch.
What makes quartz so accurate is its extremely high
oscillations of up to 32,768 cycles per second.

While it is more accurate, quartz watches are also very
reliable. Quartz watches have fewer moving parts than
mechanical watches, which gives it less of a chance to
break down. With all of the moving parts going on in a
mechanical watch, there is more friction and wear and tear
on the parts, causing them to break down much quicker.

As mentioned, a majority of the watch industry has gone
quartz replacing the fad of mechanical watches that
dominated the world since the 14th century. With the
invention and innovation of quartz watches, you can now
find high quality Gucci watches such as the 6105 collection
for women and the 7705 for men.

So you may wonder why there are even 10% mechanical watches
still manufactured today. Mechanical watches tend to have
a longer lifespan than quartz watches, and with the proper
care and servicing can be handed down for generations. You
will often find mechanical watches as collectibles that can
build up a hefty price tag because of its rarity.

Also, mechanical watches are not near as sensitive to cold
temperatures like quartz watches are. In cold conditions,
mechanical watches continue running while quartz watches
will shut down temporarily to save the battery life.

No matter where you look, you will almost always find
quartz watches nowadays. With the number of benefits
quartz watches have over mechanical watches, you can now
save money and have a reliable watch with less maintenance.
Every name brand, including Gucci watches, has gone quartz
taking over the watch industry in a hurry.

----------------------------------------------------
WatchesonNet has been a leader in the sale of Gucci
Watches for the past 5 years. To purchase an authentic
Gucci watch visit our Gucci Watch Section
(http://www.watchesonnet.com/gucci.html). For information
on Patrick Bedford or to browse our large watch section
visit Watches On Net (http://www.watchesonnet.com )

Practicing Your Job Interview Skills - Makes A Perfect Job Interview

Practicing Your Job Interview Skills - Makes A Perfect Job Interview
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

As after any workout you may feel overwhelmed (sore
muscles). Don't despair. It will get easier after the
groundwork is done. It is very important that you continue
to work out. Practice, practice, practice, and become
stronger, smoother, and more comfortable.

The goal is not to become over-rehearsed and stiff, but to
be prepared and natural. Can you imagine an actor going
into a performance without a rehearsal? This is your time
to prepare and rehearse.

It is important that you continue to work on your
communication skills. If you feel you need one-on-one help,
consider working with a professional, or work with a friend
or relative who will give you positive and constructive
feedback. It is also important that you practice the right
way. If you keep practicing, but are repeating mistakes,
you will not improve. Think about a tennis or golf swing -
it takes a pro to show you the right way.

Maybe you won't get a job offer every time, but preparation
will greatly improve your chances and your confidence.
Treat each interview as a new learning experience. You may
even begin to enjoy the process - some people do!

The Mock Interview

Try the mock interview you might like it. You will get
valuable feedback needed to improve.

As with every skill you've ever learned, you have to learn
the technique and then practice, practice, practice.

Julia's story:

Julia is an accomplished tennis player who has worked on
her stroke and technique for many years. She has taken
lessons from pros, and listened to their advice when they
gave Her their critiques.

Julia is now seeking a job. She feels that she knows her
subject, but doesn't feel good about how her last three
interviews have turned out – no offers. Julia begins
to think she might need some work on her interviewing
style, and decides to get help. She looks for a pro to put
her through practice where she can gain feedback and tips.
This was the way she conquered her tennis game. Why not
with her interviewing techniques?

Working with a professional and getting feedback on your
performance through a mock interview is similar to working
with a sports coach to learn how to improve your game. Both
will enable you to learn where your strengths lie and where
you may need work to improve your performance. Time spent
practicing will assist you greatly in either situation. An
added bonus to preparing and practicing is the
self-confidence you will gain. In today's competitive
world, you must be prepared, be in top shape, and most of
all, believe in yourself.

What happens in a mock interview?

An in-person session is a mock interview videotaped and
critiqued. You will view the tape with the coach and
discuss your performance body language, facial
expressions, eye contact, general enthusiasm, your answers.
(Usually, one to two hour sessions). A phone-session will
be audio-taped. You will listen to the tape played back and
critiqued by the coach. You will received feedback about
your answers, your enthusiasm, your use of language, your
tone how you are being perceived. There is tremendous
value in learning the proper techniques from a coach and
then practicing them. When you devote the same energy to
the interview process as you do to your golf or tennis game
you will find new confidence and become a winner!

----------------------------------------------------
Carole Martin is a celebrated author, trainer, and mentor.
Carole can give you interviewing tips like no one else can.
Try her practice interview and pick up a copy of her FREE
9-part "Interview Success Tips" report by visiting Carole
on the web at http://www.interviewcoach.com

At Home Businesses: Choosing the Best Home Based Business

At Home Businesses: Choosing the Best Home Based Business
So you have finally made the decision to go out on your
own? A quick internet search for 'home business' reveals
that there are thousands of start-up ideas for your new
venture. How do you make the best decision for this new
phase of your life? Will it involve a partner or will you
do this solo? What about start-up money? Do you have any
specific skills that can be expanded upon? Choosing the
ideal home based business is really more about choosing the
best fit for your personality, skills and income goals.

First of all, look at several different home businesses
before making a final decision. As you are searching,
always ask yourself whether or not the product itself
appeals to you in some way. If you identify strongly with
the product, you will find it easier to be passionate when
presenting it to others. If it is a business that requires
selling, be honest with yourself about your ability to
handle rejection and overcome buyer objections. Since you
will be working from your home, will the new business
afford you a great deal of flexibility?

Next, take some time to check out the company itself. Does
the company have a poor record with the local Better
Business Bureau? If the business opportunity is part of a
national company, you may be able to obtain various reports
from the BBB online. No company will ever have a perfect
record if they have been in business for any length of
time; however, you can quickly see if complaints and issues
were resolved in a timely manner. Also look at longevity.
A company that is less than six months old will inherently
hold more risk for you than another one with a 15-year
track record. Ask for references and take the time to
check them out thoroughly.

Once you have decided on one or two final options, consider
the training, mentoring and systems that are available.
Even if the product line is fabulous, your new business
will not thrive without access to proven marketing
solutions. If you are looking at direct sales, network
marketing or mlm, it is absolutely essential to be part of
a successful, positive team. Has the sponsor returned your
calls in a timely manner? If the communication is poor
while you are still a prospect, it may not improve once you
become an associate. If you cannot get answers to your
questions now, you certainly cannot expect better
information once you sign up.

Finally, consider carefully the amount of money required to
start your home business. Even if the amount is less than
$150, as is the case with some multi-level marketing
opportunities, more capital will be needed for equipment,
phone bills and advertising costs. If the cost is several
thousand dollars, do you have the credit lines available?
Also consider the cash needs to carry the new business for
the first several months of operation. Cash flow and
profits may not be immediate.

Choose carefully but do decide! Massive action brings
massive results.

----------------------------------------------------
Cathy Yeatts is an online entrepreneur and direct sales
marketer. She is passionate about providing new
entrepreneurs with systems and products that are effective
in building and preserving personal wealth. Learn how to
successfully increase your income:
http://www.internetmarketingincome.com
http://www.path-2-wealth.net

Get Ahead in Your Career This Holiday Season

Get Ahead in Your Career This Holiday Season
Are you the kind of person who uses the year-end holidays
as a time to relax, taking time off from work or postponing
important tasks? Or do you go into overdrive, trying to
squeeze in extra family time and personal commitments along
with end-of-year business demands?

Either way, you may be missing out on a great opportunity
to position yourself as a Rising Star.

You see, regardless how much work they have to get done,
most people get distracted at this time of year.

They allow holiday festivities or shortened deadlines to
get in the way of adding real value to their jobs and
companies. If you can avoid this common problem, you can
really stand out from the crowd.

Here's what you need to do:

1. Master Your Attention - Woody Allen once observed that
half of success seems to be showing up. That may be the
case, but in our opinion it's the less significant half.
More important is showing up with your full attention
focused on the right things.

It's particularly important at this time of year, when your
attention is easily fragmented.

For example, you may schedule extra time with your family,
yet spend much of that time thinking about the work piled
up on your desk. Then when you're at work, you regret not
having more quality time at home. What happens is, you not
only become less productive wherever you are; but you
become less satisfied as well.

It's not enough to simply follow a schedule when it comes
to your activities, you must also focus your attention on
the activity you have scheduled.

Mastering the ability to focus on one thing at a time is
the key factor in increasing your value. When you're not
the master of your attention, you can never be the master
of your time.

2. Focus on Value - You don't need to log long hours to get
ahead. In today's business environment it's not the number
of hours you spend at work but your productivity that
matters most.

If your results aren't good, do you think your boss will
ask, "How many hours did you work last week?" Or will your
boss ask, "How come your results weren't up to par?"

When you focus on value you'll not only earn more and get
promoted faster, you'll get more time off. You'll be able
to leave work earlier and have more time to spend with
friends and family.

Not only that, but the quality of your time off will be
better.

Imagine the sense of accomplishment you'll have, knowing
that your most important work is done. You'll be able to
enjoy everything else more, without the stress of
unfinished tasks hanging over your head.

The way to do this, of course, is to prioritize. In order
to get the important things done, you have to let some of
the little things go. This is the essence of Pareto's
principle - the 80-20 rule. Only 20% of your activities
will account for 80% of the value of your work. Focus on
this 20% and forget about the rest.

3. Set Deadlines - You've probably heard the saying "If you
need something done, give it to a busy person." It would be
better to say, "If you need something done rapidly, give it
to a busy person."

Why?

Because of Parkinson's Law, which states that "work expands
to fill the time available for its completion." In other
words, if you give yourself 8 hours to do a 2 hour project,
it will likely take you 8 hours to get the work done.

And while you would think that giving yourself plenty of
time to accomplish a task would improve the quality of your
work, that's most often not the case.

Instead it tends to reduce your productivity by making you
less efficient. That's because you have no motivation to
work quickly.

Jack Welch, one of the most celebrated CEOs of our time
talks about the "imperative for speed" in business today.
You can't afford to ignore his advice.

To maximize your productivity, set deadlines for your most
important tasks. Just be sure that you allow enough time
for quality work.

----------------------------------------------------
Dr. Robert Karlsberg and Dr. Jane Adler are leading experts
in maximizing career and business performance. Learn how to
EARN MORE and GET PROMOTED FASTER. Visit
http://www.StarIn60.com for your complimentary copy of
their Special Report, THE NEW ROUTE TO THE TOP: How to
Become a Rising Star in Your Career in 60 Days OR Less.

Small Business Accounting Software Can Improve Business Performance

Small Business Accounting Software Can Improve Business Performance
Every business functions through a range of disciplines,
sales and marketing, operational skills, purchasing and
management. Small business accounting software is an
essential tool to bring financial control to the business.
No matter how skilled and well trained the business every
small business needs a full range of functions to reach the
highest levels of success.

Liquidity is a first lesson in business to ensure that
business has sufficient cash to trade the next day. Failing
to meet this target and the business is finished which is
why financial control which can be provided by accounting
software should be regarded by the small business
management as an essential piece of kit.

Suitable small business software is available to suit every
type of business and can vary from a simple spreadsheet
arrangement to sophisticated databases. The choice to adopt
a solid financial control system is vital to ensure sales
are high enough to generate profits, gross margins are
sufficient, expenses are controlled, net profits are
generated, cash flow is under control and losses can be
identified and reversed or halted. No large business would
survive without a sophisticated system of financial control
and small businesses have the same requirements albeit on a
different scale but usually with more devastating effects.

Operating the finance function of a small business may seem
to be an administrative burden but is actually a vital tool
to assist the generation of safer stronger profits growth
and the early warning system of dealing with problems if
the business does not perform.

Use the small business accounting software to update the
financial records at least once each month. With sales
recorded every month peaks and troughs in performance are
obvious and can then be examined to replicate those actions
that produced higher sales levels and cut out those actions
which produced lesser results. The result hopefully being
sustained sales growth.

Record all the costs each month and as with sales the trend
to higher costs or more efficient cost control will be
evident from the financial accounts. Also of importance
will be the profit margin being achieved and this can be
viewed against the level of sales and justified.
Statistically small businesses run by born salesmen achieve
high sales but at the cost of lower margins while
businesses run by accountants tend to achieve higher profit
margins but with lower sales.

This statistical fact is true as is also the fact that most
small businesses are run by neither accountants nor
salesmen but by the skilled worker applying their trade or
area of expertise. By using a small business accounting
software the entrepreneur can judge what he would like the
figures to show against what they actually show and take
the necessary action to change the future and produce the
desired result. Without financial control the entrepreneur
works in the dark depending on hunches more than financial
facts.

No matter how good or bad a business is the cash flow or
lack of it might well determine future growth or in the
worst case scenario, poor liquidity can affect survival.
Many small businesses that do not use a small business
accounting solution package and run into difficulties have
often been in financial problems for many months before it
is obvious as reductions in profitability are hidden by
extended credit from suppliers or tightening credit lines
with customers.

Small business accounting software can indicate which parts
of the business are doing well, where action is needed if
underperforming and may also indicate where action needs to
be taken. Accurate control of money owed in and money owed
out is extremely difficult without the information to know
how significant these figures are. Underperformance can be
critical and the earliest warning provided by a small
business accounting package can alert the management to
make corrective changes and improve financial performance.

A disadvantage of small business accounting software is
that it may sound like a foreign language to non
accountants but it does not have to be difficult to use.
Accounting software using a database can require some
bookkeeping skills but there are other alternatives. A
small business accounting software solution written on
excel spreadsheets that produces all the main requirements
with all transactions visible can be an ideal solution for
the small businesses with little or no bookkeeping or
accounting knowledge and experience.

----------------------------------------------------
Terry Cartwright is a UK qualified accountant designing
Accounting Software at http://www.diyaccounting.co.uk/
providing complete accounting solutions for small to medium
sized business in the UK written on excel spreadsheets at
http://www.diyaccounting.co.uk/smallbusinessaccounting.htm

What Moses knew about getting ready to teach.

What Moses knew about getting ready to teach.
There's a class you've been thinking about offering for
some time now. But, you're not quite ready. A little more
research, a little more thinking, and you're sure you'll
finally be ready.

But, despite your passion, it's flat. Even practicing it in
front of a friend or colleague, it still feels flat. Oh no!
When will you ever be ready to offer this to people?

There is a missing ingredient, and Moses knew what it was.

You need manna from heaven. Allow me a short biblical
story. You see, when the Israelites followed Moses out of
Egypt, they wandered in the desert for 40 years. And, every
evening, manna came from heaven to feed them.

There's a funny thing about manna, though. If you collected
more than you needed, it spoiled, because it was only good
for one day. You were forced to trust that more was coming
tomorrow.

You have to be where the help is needed. When you stand in
the facilitator/teacher position, it's like being a spark
plug. You are a conductor, as it were, of Source. Simply
standing in that role means that your being becomes part of
the pathway Source travels to reach the students in need.

There is no amount of pre-event preparation that will
provide that feeling of being 'plugged-in' for you. You
have to trust that the manna is coming.

The scariest exercise ever. When I was faculty at the
University for Spiritual Healing and Sufism in the Teacher
Internship Program, we gave the students a scary exercise.

Stand up in front of the group, and teach from the heart,
without any preparation. Without an agenda, without knowing
what you were going to say. Just sense into what is needed,
what is flowing through, and let it come out your mouth.

The result? Well, if fear overcame the student, the flow
was blocked, and the effect was often stilted. However, if
the student overcame the fear, and allowed him or herself
to connect, what came out was stunning. Stunning.

It reminded me of my friend Alison Luterman, a poet who
taught poetry in the schools. The older kids often had a
lot of self-consciousness in their writing. But the young
ones? You could hold their poetry up to Rumi or Hafiz, and
the power was stunning.

The best speaker got a D-. I used this approach when I gave
a talk at the National Speakers Association national
conference. Afterwards, one of the members told me what he
told an NSA board member: "In terms of all the things
professional speakers are 'supposed' to do to give a good
presentation, I give Mark a D minus. But, I found him to be
the best speaker of the entire week, including those giving
the key notes, because he connected to us."

You don't need to be perfect. In fact, you can be very
imperfect. And yet, the manna from heaven always comes. It
always comes. Repeat this to yourself: 'Manna from Heaven
always comes.'

Heaven delivers the manna to the hungry. The only way to
see if it shows up is to show up there yourself, in front
of the people who need it.

Is it really as simple as that? Well, yes and no. There are
a few things that can help the process. Keep reading.

Keys to Finding the Manna.

• It does help to prepare.

How much preparation? I plan a fair amount, but I don't
fret over exact wording. I also make sure that I'm limiting
how much I'm trying to say. A little bit goes a long way.

The trick is I don't look for whether or not I'm 'ready.' I
look for whether I have bullet points on the pieces I want
to convey. If I feel like I know the material to the point
that if someone asked a question, I could answer it, then
that counts for me as 'enough.'

• Take time to connect in every moment.

In radio, the ultimate sin is 'dead air' when no one is
saying anything. This does not apply in teaching. If you
don't know what to say next, pause, connect in your heart,
connect to the audience, and wait to see what comes out.

This is the most nerve-wracking part: waiting to see if the
manna comes. However, I urge you to try it. If you just
wait with your heart open, you'll be surprised to find that
something does come out of you. It may be nothing you
planned for, but it will be good, I promise you.

When I say 'wait' I mean feel free to pause, take a deep
breath, look into the eyes of people in the audience, and
wonder in your heart, 'What's needed next?' And see what
comes.

• Receive from the audience.

They want you to succeed. They do. They've invested their
time and energy to show up, they really want you to do
well. That's some good juju to receive from their hearts.

Just recently during a talk I gave, I looked around the
room and noticed several people smiling and beaming at me.
I took a pause just to soak that up and smile back. Others
were staring intently. I might have interpreted that as
they were upset, but I know from experience that usually
people with that kind of an expression are really engaged.
I took a moment to connect with their eyes and to soak that
up, too.

Whatever new class, offer, presentation that is facing you,
forget about being 'ready' for it. Prepare yourself, and
then step into the spark plug position with your heart
open. And watch as the manna from heaven comes through you
to those who need it.

----------------------------------------------------
Mark Silver is the author of Unveiling the Heart of Your
Business: How Money, Marketing and Sales can Deepen Your
Heart, Heal the World, and Still Add to Your Bottom Line.
He has helped hundreds of small business owners around the
globe succeed in business without lousing their hearts. Get
three free chapters of the book online:
http://www.heartofbusiness.com

Which of these businesses do you think will survive?

Which of these businesses do you think will survive?
I'll warn you now... this is not going to be a pleasant
article.

I try and give upbeat, positive tips and advice on
improving your marketing and advertising.

This time I am going to rant... and review.

After being on some R&R with my family for a week and a
half on the lakes in Montana, I have come to the conclusion
that service SUCKS!

Nothing revolutionary...

I was just surprised on how BAD this is getting.

Honestly, how often do you get "wowed" by customer service?

Never?

It is amazing to me how poorly customer service people
treat their customers.

They could care less that YOU are the one paying their
wages. They could care less if you have a pleasant
experience.

They could care less what you think of them.

They feel you owe them a tip ' for nothing in return.

They feel you owe them pleasant treatment, while delivering
the opposite back.

They feel they are entitled to a successful, happy life and
not having to put anything in to it in return.

Why?

I have a number of theories, some of which won't be popular.

1) The younger generation (under 25) ' those in most of the
customer service jobs ' are (in many cases) a bunch of
spoiled kids. They have things too easy from home, and they
expect the workforce to give them the same treatment.

We have raised an entire generation of whiney, over-ego-
inflated, sense-of-entitlement-for-no-reason, "brats".

Told you this won't be popular.

(Not all of them are this way though, thankfully)

I have been reading articles about this and doing my
research. Books have been written on the subject of the
younger generation and how they think and act about their
work.

Not good.

At all. They were pampered at home.

They were never disciplined properly (the spankings I grew
up with now get you a visit from social services).

They were handed money for not having to do their chores.

They get out of school and get VERY good paying jobs
without having to prove themselves.

They grew up without real supervision (dual income
families) ' and don't think they should have to be
supervised in the workplace.

They think customers suck

And they are going to KILL your business.

(I am NOT saying they are ALL like this ' but there IS a
reason books and articles and training classes are now
being offered on how to employ this generation)

2) My second theory is that businesses just don't care
anymore.

They try advertising ' by copying their competitors. Didn't
work for them, but I'm sure it will for me!

They try different marketing techniques ' again by copying
the only people they know ' their competitors.

They hear all the junk in the media ' economy, business
failures, bankruptcy, interest rates, war. the list goes on
and on.

They don't associate with those who ARE doing well in
business. They listen to the mumbling and groaning from
those who are struggling... and (go figure) they end up in
a similar situation.

They get treated like crap everywhere they go ' so that
must be the way you do business in this day and age ' right?

(Honestly, do you feel that the people you buy from on a
regular basis actually appreciate the fact you are putting
your money in their pockets? It is a rare day when I see
people who do).

Like it or love it, my 2 thoughts on this above could be
the demise of your business... or mine. If I don't
appreciate those who buy from me ' I could be the one
people complain about.

If you don't ' it will be your business.

Find ways to SHOW your appreciation.

1) Have your staff accountable to be NICE to the people who
pay their paychecks (the customers). If you find them not
caring or treating people right FIRE THEM. You are the
boss ' it is your company ' and you have full right to fire
people who treat your customers poorly.

Best advice I heard on this ' "Hire slow ' fire fast".
Take the time to get comfortable with the person and if
they will fit it and do their job. If they don't do what
they are supposed to ' get rid of them!

2) Send thank you cards and emails to people

3) Surprise them with gifts or special discounts (for
existing customers only)

4) If your company DOES mess up give the customer a reason
to come back againa gift as an apology, a free meal at a
restaurant in town ' something (anything) will be noticed.

Customers are getting used to being treated like crap (sad)
so be the one who treats them like gold.

They are the ones paying you and your staff, make sure they
know that you appreciate them!

----------------------------------------------------
Troy White, The Marketing Results Mentor and Expert
Copywriter helps clients achieve HUGE growth surges in
their business in very short periods of time. If you're an
entrepreneur in need of quick cash flow surges ' here is
the quick-hit solution to put money in your bank.... The
Wild West Wealth Summit! Make sure you visit
http://www.WildWestWealth.com or sign up for the Free Cash
Flow Surge Newsletter at http://www.CashFlowSurges.com

Marketing Effectively: Getting to Know Your Customers

Marketing Effectively: Getting to Know Your Customers
To market your business effectively, you have to KNOW your
target audience and what problems they face. People don't
buy things. They buy solutions to problems; they want to
fulfill a desire or meet a need. It should be specific and
real...AND you should care about their problem. Examples of
powerful motivators include making money, saving money,
having more time, reducing effort, decreasing stress,
increasing comfort, good health, being fit, losing weight,
romance, and praise.

So, what are your customers trying to figure out, overcome,
fix, heal, or prevent? What is their biggest concern on a
daily basis? How are they feeling about their problem? And
what unique solution do you provide to their problem? Don't
get sidetracked by describing your service or product -
stay focused on solving their problem.

How do you want your target audience to feel when you
provide your services/products? Trust? Motivation?
Inspiration? More knowledgeable? Begin to think about the
emotions you want to evoke in your target audience and the
lasting impression you want make.

Let's take an example. Say you are a financial planner who
focuses on working with new parents to invest money for
their infant's future college payment. You might say that
their problem is not having enough money right now to pay
for their child's education. They feel worried and scared
that they won't have enough, confused about how to make the
right investment choice, and committed to sending their
child to a good school. You are going to help them to
create a secure future for their child. With your planning
services, they will feel more in control, confident, and
secure.

By focusing on this part of your marketing planning, it
will make all of your marketing messages easier because you
understand exactly what motivates your target audience and
the result they get from working with you.

You can talk to your customers, either current or past.
Take them out for coffee and ask for their assistance. Most
people are flattered to be asked for their opinion. Ask
them some of the above questions: Why did you need my
services? What were you struggling with before you sought
my help? What was the biggest improvement in your business
since we worked together? And so on.

Interview several people about their particular challenges,
needs, and problems. Try to get enough data to help see the
trends among your target audience. By tailoring your
marketing to solving your customers' problems, you will
position your company to be magnetic to your customers.

----------------------------------------------------
Wendy Maynard publishes MAVEN MARKETING, a weekly marketing
ezine for business owners, freelancers, and entrepreneurs.
If you're ready to skyrocket your sales, easily attract
customers, and have more fun, subscribe at
http://www.gomarketingmaven.com/ezine_3.html

How To Start Your Own Baby Food Business Part #4: Understanding Your Market

How To Start Your Own Baby Food Business Part #4: Understanding Your Market
Understanding your market is critical. As early as
possible, before you launch your business, I encourage you
to survey moms in your area to learn about their values,
buying habits, and infant feeding rituals. An easy way to
do this is to use an online survey tool (there are dozens
out there) to create your survey. Then send an email to
all the moms you know, post a notice on a local mommy
message board, or send an email to an online Yahoo! Groups
community that is targeted to parents.

Not only will this help you learn about your target market
but it will give you valuable data that you can use when
discussing your business with the local media.

Here are some of the questions and answer options that we
used for the first Sprouts Baby Food survey years ago.

How old is your baby?

Which of the following best describes you?
Stay-at-home mom
Working mom

If you are a working mom, which of the following best
describes your childcare support?
n/a
in-home childcare/nanny
daycare center
family member

Are you concerned about food allergies?
Yes
No

Does your baby have any food allergies?
Yes
No

FEEDING YOUR BABY

Did you breastfeed your baby?
Yes
No

How long did/do you plan to breast feed your baby?
0-3 months
4-6 months
7-9 months
10-12 months
13-18 months
19-24 months
2+ years

How old was your baby when you began feeding him/her solid
foods?
3 months
4 months
5 months
6 months
7 months
8 months
9 months
10 months
11 months
12 months
Older

Why did you begin your baby on solids?
Advice from doctor
Advice from book
Advise from website/web forum
Advice from family member
Advice from another mom
Baby seemed ready
Other

Which of the following is most often your source for
feeding and childcare information?
doctor
book
website/web forum
family member
other moms

Did your doctor give you enough information to help you
feel confident about making feeding decisions for your baby?
Yes
No

What is the most frustrating thing about introducing new
foods to your baby?

WHAT YOU FEED YOUR BABY

Which best describes the food that you most frequently give
your baby?
Home-made baby food
Traditional store-bought baby food (jarred)
Organic store-bought baby food (jarred)
Organic store-bought baby food (frozen)
Pureed table foods
Catered baby food (such as Sprouts)

Do you regularly give your baby formula?
Yes
No
Never

Which of the following baby food brands do you most
frequently use (please check all that apply).
n/a ' I don't give my baby commercial baby food
Gerber Baby Food
Heinz Baby Food
Beech Nut Baby Food
Earth's Best
Gerber Organic
Organic Baby
Homemade Baby
Bohemian Baby
Happy Baby
TotPots
Mom Made
Evie's Organic Edibles
Plum Organics
Healthy Times
Bright Beginnings

If you DO NOT make your own baby food, please give us the
reasons why. (check all that apply)
n/a ' I make my own baby food.
I think store-bought food is as good as what I could make
at home.
I would like to make my own baby food but I don't have the
time.

If you DO make your own baby food, please give us the
reasons why. (check all that apply)
I think that fresh is the best.
I like to choose my own ingredients.
I think that store-bought baby food contains a lot of
sugars, starches, and fillers.
I don't like that store-bought food is made to sit on store
shelves for 2+ years.
Store-bought food lacks variety.

Is price a factor when feeding your baby?
No ' I want the best for my baby, no matter what the cost.
Not really ' I'll pay more for better quality foods.
Kind of ' It depends. Sometimes.
Yes ' We are on a budget and can't afford to spend a great
deal of baby food.
Yes ' I just don't believe in paying a lot for baby food.

Do you read the ingredient labels on baby food in the store?
n/a ' I make my own baby food.
No
Yes, always
Yes, but only for baby food

If yes, what are you looking for on the labels?

On average, how much do you pay for baby food (per jar)?
$.10 - $.49
$.50 - $.99
$1.00 - $1.49
$1.50 - $1.99
$2.00 - $2.49
$2.50 - $2.99
$3.00 ' more

How much would you pay for quality, freshly-made, organic
baby food?
$.10 - $.49
$.50 - $.99
$1.00 - $1.49
$1.50 - $1.99
$2.00 - $2.49
$2.50 - $2.99
$3.00 ' more

On average, how many jars of baby food do you purchase each
week?
0-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
21-25
More

RESTURANTS

Before having a baby, how many times did you eat out per
month?
3-5 times per month
1-2 times per month
Once every 2 months
Other

After having a baby, how many times do you eat out per
month?
3-5 times per month
1-2 times per month
Once every 2 months
Other

Since having a baby, is "kid friendliness" (kid menu, high
chars, toys, etc. ) a key factor when choosing a restaurant?
Yes
No

Would you be more likely to frequent a good restaurant that
had healthy, organic menu selections for your baby?
Yes
No

When dining out at a restaurant do you.....?
Bring baby food along
Feed the baby off of your plate (mashing something up)
Order something off the menu for the baby (then mash it up)
Other

Additional comments on dining out with your baby.

----------------------------------------------------
Mischelle (Schelly) Weedman-Davis left her 15-year
high-tech career to become a stay-at-home mom but later
became the founder of Sprouts Baby Food, Inc. She now uses
her talents to support her husband's Seattle law firm, the
Davis Law Group so she can spend more time with her family.
http://www.InjuryTrialLawyer.com . But she remains
committed to infant nutrition and helping others that want
to start their own baby food business.

Festive and Effective Holiday Marketing Ideas

Festive and Effective Holiday Marketing Ideas
In addition to being the "Season of Sweets," the period of
time between Halloween and New Year's Day presents a
wonderful opportunity for your company to thank your
customers. It also is a time that you can drive new
business to you. Here is a list of easy and effective
marketing ideas to help you promote your business for the
holidays.

1. Send a Card: Send a holiday card to all of your
customers - depending on your target audience, it can be
for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or simply "Seasons
Greetings." You can also send a Happy New Year card. But
don't stop there. Don't forget about your vast referral
base. Be sure to send business holiday cards to your
friends, family, associates, and vendors.

2. Send your database a gift: Hopefully, you have a list of
both clients and prospects. Whether these individuals have
purchased from you or not, treat them well. Take the
holiday season as an opportunity to send them a gift. It
can be as simple as a $5 gift card to Starbucks. Small
gestures are what impress people - they work to keep
customers loyal and to convert prospects to customers.

3. Offer a "Something of the Month" club: People are always
looking for unique gifts to give. Why not help them out and
create ongoing cash flow for your company? You can do this
type of gift series with almost anything. Seriously. Did
you know there is a Bacon of the Month club? You could sell
CDs that you record each month, massages, dinners, jelly,
or even a teleseminar series. With a little creative
brainstorming, I'm certain that any business could develop
this type of program.

4. Bundle items as a holiday theme: Sell holiday specials
to entice people to buy bundles of products or services.
Instead of selling single items, offer a theme. For
example, a financial planning company could put together a
New Year's Planning Kit that includes a book, tax software,
and a one-hour consultation. A spa could put together a
Stress-Free Holiday package of a steam bath, facial, and
body lotion.

5. Give a coupon or discount: As both a gift to your
customers and a way to boost your seasonal revenue, why not
offer a discount or send out a coupon that promotes one or
more of your services or products. This could be for a
report, a CD, a session, or a special program. Again - be
creative! People love discounts.

6. Offer a holiday special: You can encourage larger
purchases by offering a holiday special like Buy Two and
Get a Third Item for Free. Here is a different variation on
this same strategy: Tell your customers when they purchase
a certain amount, the will get something for free. For
instance, Buy $100 worth of products and get a free CD.

These are just a few ways that you can both thank your
customers and offer them something special for the
holidays. These marketing strategies also help build
customer loyalty, convert prospects into customers, and
help to bring cash flow into your company. Best of success
to your business!

----------------------------------------------------
Wendy Maynard publishes MAVEN MARKETING, a weekly marketing
ezine for business owners, freelancers, and entrepreneurs.
If you're ready to skyrocket your sales, easily attract
customers, and have more fun, subscribe at
http://www.gomarketingmaven.com/ezine_3.html

How To Fold 30000 Sheets Of Paper In Just 60 Minutes

How To Fold 30000 Sheets Of Paper In Just 60 Minutes
Does your business regularly send out bulk mail? If you
distribute bulk mail to existing and potential customers on
a frequent basis, in however small a quantity, a folding
machine will prove to be a highly cost-effective bonus to
your business.

Since the Royal Mail introduced Pricing in Proportion in
August 2006, the cost of sending mail has been calculated
by size and shape, as well as weight. This has since
resulted in businesses working to find cost-effective ways
to send bulk mail, which is where a folding machine comes
into its own.

Folding machines are available across the price spectrum
and with a wide range of specifications and capabilities.
However much mail your business sends out, you will find
that sourcing the right folding machine for your needs will
be saving you money within months.

The cost of your folding machine will soon be outweighed by
savings in a two-fold area ' saving both staff time spent
folding letters, while also folding your post to the
smallest and cheapest size according to Royal Mail's
Pricing in Proportion policy. A folding machine that meets
your requirements will be paying for itself within a short
time and is surely an inevitable choice for any company
sending out bulk mail.

Folding machines are available across the price spectrum
and range in size from small desktop models to large-scale,
high-volume folding machines, which do require more space
but are also very well-designed and still surprisingly
compact for the job that they do.

Starter machines are perfect for a small business sending
out occasional bulk mail in restricted quantities. They are
usually streamlined, with a modern design which means they
are an unobtrusive desk-top addition to the workplace and
are highly affordable, costing little more than a small
desk-top printer. They can take a paper-size of up to A4,
usually have non-skid feet fitted and some folding machines
are capable of folding up to 30 letters a minute or 1,800
sheets per hour.

Bigger and more substantial folding machines are usually
equivalent in size to a large desktop printer and are
easily accommodated in the main area of any office. Taking
paper up to A4 in size, these machines are capable of
folding up to 155 sheets per minute and can execute a
number of different folding techniques.

Jumping up the specification range the more robust pieces
of folding equipment for the medium-sized company in the
business of regularly sending out bulk mail can take a
paper size up to and including A3 and usually have a
feed-table that can be loaded with up to 500 sheets at any
one time. These machines folds paper at a maximum rate of
9,000 sheets per hour, and can be easily cleaned.

For those companies in the business of sending out very
large quantities of bulk mail, then you require a highly
user-friendly machine which has a modular design, and so
can be built with some of your specific requirements in
mind. Some folding machines can process a staggering 30,000
sheets per hour and no business involved in bulk mailing
can afford to be without this serious piece of equipment.

----------------------------------------------------
Learn more about the wide selection of folding machines
available to you. Simply visit -
http://www.print-finishing-paper-handling.co.uk/folding/inde
x.htm

Property Management 101

Property Management 101
The idea of property management (sometimes referred to as
3rd party management) has been around since the dawn of
time. But, before property management was a job or career,
a title or a company, property management has been an
action that many people attended to around the land or
buildings that they owned themselves or leased from someone
else. Property management can mean different things to
different people. For some, property management might mean
keeping their own property safe, secure and pleasant to the
eye. For others, property management could mean paying
someone else to make sure your property is in tip top
shape. Some types of properties that may need property
management are; houses, condos, duplexes, town homes,
apartments, shopping centers, malls, offices buildings,
airports and public transportation buildings, hospitals and
many more. Property management is very similar to the role
of management in any business.

One important role that property management has is to act
as the middle person between the tenant and the property
management landlord. Property management should provide the
property management landlord with a sense of security,
knowing that everyday needs from the renter can be resolved
without involving said property management landlord
unnecessarily. Hand and hand with that security, the tenant
can be assured that the property will be maintained to some
set of standards which can be reviewed with the property
management team before an agreement is reached. Property
management is a delicate balance between pleasing the
property management landlord and keeping the renter happy
as well. The task of property management can prove to be
harder than it sounds. Maintaining an open line of
communication in property management and being able to
address the needs of both property management parties will
make a successful property management business. Other
duties for property management but are not limited to;
collecting rent, posting and showing vacancies,
maintenance issues, evictions, failure to pay rent issues,
harassment, and background checks on the application forms.
It is very important that a profitable property management
staff or team be knowledgeable in the current laws of the
city, state and county concerning tenant rights vs.
landlord rights. Be sure your property management team is
up to date on current property management codes, and other
items that will benefit your property management business.
Getting caught up in property management legal matters is
no way to run a property management business.

The following is the definition of property
managers/property management as posted by Wikipedia on
their website. Property management is a person or firm
responsible for the operation of a real estate property for
a fee, when the owner of the property cannot or is not
interested in managing the property themselves. The
property manager or the property management company has a
primary responsibility to the landlord and a secondary
responsibility to the tenant. Relationships the property
manager or property management team have with the landlord
and with the tenant are crucial in forming the expectations
of both parties to the lease since both parties will seek
and expect certain rights and benefits out of it. Owner's
expectations from the property manager/ property management
team are to carry out the owner's instructions, control
costs and maximize revenue to maintain a stabilized cash
flow as a return on capital invested, exercise control over
the building to safeguard the capital invested, provide a
duty of care through proper maintenance of the building, to
be professional and well informed, enhance the value of the
property by making improvements that will increase its
market value, retain and enhance pride of ownership. The
tenant's expectations from the property manager/ property
management team are the "quiet enjoyment" 'assurance of the
use and enjoyment of the premises for the intended purposes
without interference from the landlord, comfort—a
living environment properly heated, cooled and ventilated
with as many amenities as possible compatible with the
rental level, security and safety—to live or work in
a building in which there are no inherent defects or
conditions that might be hazardous to health or to
property, status—accommodation and facilities that
meet social-economic and cultural standards for the
tenant's and their guest.

Property management can be a very lucrative business when
handled correctly. Property management takes an organized,
well communicated, and dedicated individual or staff to be
able to pull off a successful property management company.
Typically property management companies will charge their
landlords a percentage of the gross rent collected each
month. This percentage for property management fees can
range from 3 to 10% depending on the property management
market. Sometimes a flat fee is more appropriate when the
property is a condominium or a type of cooperative complex
for property management. Some states might require that
property managers have a property management license or a
real estate license to be able to claim the title of
property manager or property management business.

A cousin to property management is facility management.
Facility management is like property management but the
focus is the management of buildings and services. One
definition from a large facility/property management
association says, "A profession that encompasses multiple
disciplines to ensure functionality of the built
environment by integrating people, place, process and
technology." Australians prefer the term: Commercial
Services to property management, this term replaces
facilities management in some organizations. Besides
keeping the property up to date, commercial services can
also include duties such as waste disposal, parking,
security, landscaping and more.

A homeowner may provide his or her own property management,
but property management is not limited to the duties of
house cleaning, lawn care and landscaping, building
maintenance, trash and waste disposal and interior upkeep.
Property management can be all of these, and can be hired
out to a professional that can provide better property
management services than the homeowner can or would provide
themselves. These property management services come with a
price and if the homeowner is willing to pay for outside
property management, the sky is the limit on what they can
have managed. Some property management companies even
manage home owners associations (HOAs). In this instance
the property management company is the middle person
between the homeowners and the land developer. Once the
developer has completed his contracted tasks, the
neighborhood is then turned over to the HOA. The property
management company may stay on board for a fee to help the
HOA. A landlord may also provide property management
services himself or have it hired out to a property
management company. A large company or corporation might
have internal structures in place to provide property
management on site or they may choose to hire an outside
property management company to provide the property
management services that they would need on a day to day
basis. Both of these operations are a reasonable and
effective way to tackle the issue of property management on
a large scale.

With the world of technology growing everyday, it makes
perfect sense to have applicable property management
software and property management computer systems that deal
with property management in place to help with property
management or facility management. You can have your home
wired and programmed to turn the lights on and off when
entering a room. Constant temperature and humidity levels
can be monitored along with major appliance functions.
Watering of lawns and security systems has become high tech
and available to the everyday homeowner who wants property
management. Some passenger vehicles now include a "remote"
that when programmed can turn the lights on, turn the TV on
your favorite station and more, all from the comforts of
your car. Heaven forbid you will have to walk into your
dark and quite home. Home builders, architects and
engineers saw the potential for using large scale property
management ideas in the home. Beyond the home, large
commercial properties, computer aided facility management
(CAFM) has been a natural progression of the marriage
between technology and facility/ property management. In
the late 1980's CAFM evolved to allow larger properties to
manage their property management sites more efficiently.
Most often, CAFM systems track and maintain; floor plans,
LAN and telecom information, business continuity and safety
information, workplace assets, employee and occupancy data,
building and property information and space characteristics
and usage. Being able to supervise the goings on of your
with a property management company in an efficient and well
structured way will help your property management bottom
line.

If you need information about property management, the
internet is a great place to start.

----------------------------------------------------
Property Management 101
http://blog.royaltyuniverse.com/

How To Start Your Own Baby Food Business Part #7: Marketing & Promotion

How To Start Your Own Baby Food Business Part #7: Marketing & Promotion
Marketing is critical to the success of your baby food
business. Here are some of the highpoints of the various
marketing programs that we used during the initial launch
of Sprouts Baby Food Inc. back in early 2006.

Public Relations Campaign
--Vehicle: Email press release; hand-deliver of media kits;
phone calls to key targets.
--Media Kit: Cool box, birth announcement, press release,
profiles, menus, etc.
--Goal: Awareness; Feature stories
--Target: Local newspapers (food editors, business
editors), local TV, local radio.

Doctor Direct Mail Campaign
--Vehicle: Direct mail
--Letter, Brochure, Prescription pad w/ Sprouts info for
patient
--Goal: Awareness; Get docs to refer patients to Sprouts
--Target: Pediatricians and Naturopaths

Midwife/Doula Awareness Campaign
--Vehicle: Email
--Goal: Awareness; Get midwives and doulas to refer
patients to Sprouts
--Target: Area midwives and doulas.

Mommy Network Campaign
--Vehicle: Email
--Goal: Awareness; Drive people to our website; New orders
--Target: Area mommy lists/online communities on Yahoo
Groups.

Baby Diaper Service Bundle
--Vehicle: Flyer inserted into diaper delivery service
bundles
--Goal: Awareness; New orders
--Offer: 20% discount on initial order
--Target: Select zip codes; 500+ individuals

Poster/Flyer Campaign
--Vehicle: Posters, flyers, tear-sheets, etc.
--Goal: Awareness; New orders
--Offer: 20% discount on initial order
--Target: Area parks, playgrounds, community centers,
birth centers, toy stores, libraries, and mommy hangouts.

Summer Festival Campaign
--Vehicle: Flyers & imprinted baby spoon give-a-way
--Goal: Awareness; New orders
--Offer: 20% discount on initial order
--Target: People with babies who attend the target summer
events, street fairs, etc.

Launch Advertising Campaign
--Vehicle: Area Baby/Mommy/Parenting Magazines
--Quarter-page ad
--Goal: Awareness; New orders
--Offer: 20% discount on initial order

Make Your Own Baby Food Classes
--Vehicle: Classes offered at local grocery stores, in
mommy groups, etc.
--Goal: Community Outreach; Awareness
--Offer: n/a
--Timeframe: Starting September

Website Subscriber Campaign
--Vehicle: Our own website
--Goal: Capture email addresses and general interest
categories of people who visit our website so we can market
to them in the future.
--Offer: Sign up for newsletter, promos, gift reminders,
refer-a-friend, forward a page, etc.

Web Directory Advertising
--Vehicle: Google Adwords, Yellowpages.com; Superpages.com;
etc.
--Goal: Drive people to our website
--Offer: n/a
--Timeframe: September

Farmer's Market Campaign
--Vehicle: Area farmer's markets
--Goal: Awareness; small single-unit sales during
pre-launch period

Special Offers/Promotions

Baby Shower Gift Set
--Description: Special gift set for those wanting to give
Sprouts as a shower gift.
--Package: Gift basket containing logo spoon, logo
sippy-cup, logo shirt, mock food containers, and a gift
certificate for X weeks of service.
--Price: $20 + cost of service

Pooper Parties
--Description: At home sales parties (ala Tupperware)
--Details:
oHostess orders party kit which contains 1oz samples of all
products ' one kit per guest.
oHostess takes orders
oHostess gets free food, discounted service, etc. for
subscriptions she secures.

Corporate Mommy Program
--Description: Discounted service for mommies at locally
headquartered corporations. We will deliver their food to
their office.

Register To Win
--Description: Sign up on our website to enter monthly
drawing for one free month of baby food.

Photo Contest
--Description: Monthly contest. People email us photos of
their little cutie eating or in a kitchen setting. Winner
receives 12 4oz containers of baby food.

Customer Referral Program
--Description: A referral (someone who becomes a customer)
earns free food in your next shipment.

----------------------------------------------------
Mischelle (Schelly) Weedman-Davis left her 15-year
high-tech career to become a stay-at-home mom but later
became the founder of Sprouts Baby Food, Inc. She now uses
her talents to support her husband's Seattle law firm, the
Davis Law Group so she can spend more time with her family.
http://www.InjuryTrialLawyer.com . But she remains
committed to infant nutrition and helping others that want
to start their own baby food business.

Bust Out of "Stuck" 3 Steps That Keep you On Track

Bust Out of "Stuck" 3 Steps That Keep you On Track
Is this you? You have customers to satisfy, professional
goals to deliver on and your personal goals shoved to the
back burner... and you and your friends, colleagues,
clients and vendors are already talking about 'this' year.
Decisions aren't getting made because too many of them feel
like they're all the top priority... and you find yourself
with a task list that is incomplete, messages unreturned,
and lists growing longer.

"HELP ME STAY ON TRACK!"

I had a call from one of my clients this week. She was
overwhelmed and anxious. And she was sitting at her desk
getting nothing done. Her deadlines were looming and her
team was clammering for her attention. As we spoke it
became clear that her stress was triggered by her chewing
on last year's results, her uncertainty of the results
she's targeting, and her frustration over results that have
slipped away. ALL at the same time! It probably sounds
familiar?

The truth is, you will always be bombarded by more
information, more ideas and more opportunity than you can
follow through on - that's success!

I'll admit, I've had a few of those pauses that stretched
to days with my foot jammed down on the break. I found
myself sitting in overwhelm last month, as I was trying to
get my newsletter launched, I got in the same old black
magic state of overwhelm... and pulled out my 3-step
process to bust out of being stalled.

If you cannot get a handle on the tug of war for your
attention, your future is at risk!

I don't want you to spend even one more day sitting at that
red light. So how do you get out of overwhelm and back on
track? Here are 3 steps I use that are guaranteed to work
for you personally, for your team, and for your
organization:

1. List EVERYTHING That's Incomplete

Rather than trying to decide anything, sit down and make a
list. That's all, just make a thorough, complete list.
Scientists have shown that people cannot make decisions
when their heart rate is over 90 beats per minute. So the
first order of business is to get your heart rate down, and
as you focus your attention on a task, your heart rate will
drop. In this instance the task is making a list of every
single thing that is incomplete. You can do this in writing
or on your computer, in a program that will let you list
each item on a separate line. The items may be on other
lists, on Post-It notes, in your PDA, on scraps of paper on
your desktop, on the bottom of meeting agendas, in your
wallet. You might find them on phone messages you've
"saved" in your voicemail, on receipts you put in your
"in-basket" or pinned to your bulletin board. And don't
forget to look on the white board!

2. Sort Them and Tag Them

Your next task is to sort out your list and identify the
key reason each item is incomplete. The question you'll ask
yourself is "What is the single most important reason this
is incomplete?" Some quick and easy sorting criteria to
use include: 1 - I don't have the information I need to
make a decision 2 - I have the information but I don't
like the form the decision will take 3 - I have the
information and I like the form, but not the timing 4 -
This conflicts with another item on the list Create YOUR
list of criteria, and then tag each item on the list with
ONE of those criteria. Once they are tagged regroup the
list so that all the items that need further information
are listed in a single group, and so on.

3. Prioritize Them and Act on the 1st One

Within each group, put a priority on the items in your
list. This is another form of sorting, but this time it's
within a group that already has a common characteristic.
You'll want to use a new set of criteria for sorting this
time. The criteria might be "easiest to get done" or
"easiest to delegate" or "needs to be completed in order to
do other things on this list." Set your criteria and sort
away! Once you've sorted all the groups, select one group
and the top item in that group and take action on just that
one thing. Here's a hint - you might want to start with the
"Delegate This" list if you created one. As you
systematically turn those incomplete items over to others,
they become a list of things you'll follow up on, rather
than things you need to "Do!" and you'll have even more
attention left for the things you've kept on your own list.

As you keep your attention focused, you'll retain control
over your attention and find each item is dealt with much
faster than you had anticipated. In turn, you'll find the
sensation of overwhelm and being 'stuck' will be gone!

----------------------------------------------------
© 2007 Linda Feinholz Management expert, consultant,
and coach Linda Feinholz is "Your High Payoff Catalyst" and
publishes the free weekly newsletter The Spark! and
delivers targeted solutions, practical skills and simple
ways to boost professional and personal results. If you're
ready to focus on your High Payoff activities, accelerate
your results and have more fun, get your FREE tips at her
site http://www.YourHighPayoffCatalyst.com

Going Green is Not Just for Big Business-You Can Grow Eco-Profits, Too!

Going Green is Not Just for Big Business-You Can Grow Eco-Profits, Too!
The world of big business is making daily headlines by
"going green" after discovering that what's good for the
planet is also proving good for business.

IBM recently announced "Project Big Green," a $1 billion
initiative to reduce energy consumption by offering new
lines of energy-efficient IT products.

Wal-Mart is adding solar power to more than 20 stores.

PepsiCo is buying renewable energy certificates to offset
its carbon footprint. Even major banks and energy firms are
being asked by shareholders to prove that they, too, are
going green.

It's not just the biggest businesses that are attracting
new customers and shareholders and reaping huge profits by
"going green." Small businesses also are growing
eco-profits by embracing surprisingly inexpensive
strategies to add value to their products, services and
brand.

Consider these innovative examples:

- Bob Smith of Mad River Brewing Company in Blue Lake,
California, has attracted positive publicity (and new
customers) by promoting his efforts to reduce his small
firm's waste output and take other environmentally
conscious steps. In turn, he has received welcome positive
publicity from the press. "What PR budget? That is our PR
budget," he told the Albuquerque Tribune about "going
green" to market his business.

- In Florida, Natalie Kelly formed Home Therapy Cleaning
Services, which uses only nontoxic, all-natural cleaning
products for her home cleaning business. She used to sell
aromatherapy candles from her home, she told the St.
Petersburg Times, but today uses an aromatherapy baking
soda blend to freshen carpets.

Here's what you can do:

- Two inexpensive ways any small business or solo
entrepreneur can go green are to change light bulbs to
energy-efficient bulbs and use biodegradable cleaning
products.

- With that done, tell your customers and the media about
these simple ways to go green. You will have just earned
instant credibility as a green business, and also as a
media resource for simple, effective ways to "go green."

- Many communities online and offline are forming networks
to exchange energy-saving ideas for home and business. Form
your own energy network, enlisting neighborhood businesses
that will welcome another opportunity to show they're going
green, too. The plus for you is that you will have just
positioned yourself and your business as a community
environmental leader.

- Copy what the New York Times called "Phase 2" of the
corporate response to global warming. Partner with an
environmental group. Travelocity invites customers to
donate an extra $10 to $40, which goes to the Conservation
Fund to plant trees to offset the carbon used by a client
to take a trip. Whole Foods invites customers to buy a $5
"wind power card" that goes to Renewable Choice Energy to
build wind farms. What local environmental group can you
partner with to promote on your Web site (and vice versa),
to set aside a day that a percentage of profits will go to
that organization or to make their fliers available at your
business?

- Make use of readily available, free information to hand
out with your business literature or to make available in
your office. For example, create a one-page flier on your
letterhead inviting clients to calculate their own carbon
footprint by visiting
http://multimedia.wri.org/safeclimate_calculator.cfm.

- Go deeper green! Attend a "green" conference in your
community or region, and promote your attendance. (Go to
Google.com and type in "green" and "conference" and your
area to find out when and where they are scheduled.) Write
a "green" article on simple ways you are going green and
submit it to one of the dozens of "green" Web sites and
blogs that invite reader contributions. It's a great way to
market your smart ideas and your business!

----------------------------------------------------
Ruth Klein, the De-Stress Diva (tm) and Branding Guru, is
the proverbial Woman About Town. Holding a Master's in
Clinical Psychology, consulting with renowned businesses -
small and large. Ruth is a consultant, author, speaker,
radio show host, branding strategist and productivity
coach. http://www.ruthklein.com .

7 Easy Ways to Ease Ezine Writer's Block?

7 Easy Ways to Ease Ezine Writer's Block?
If you publish an ezine regularly, inevitably there are
times when you get stuck and can't quite come up with the
perfect article for your issue. Sometimes just taking a
break and coming back later will give you a fresh start.
But other times you need more of a "writing prompt" to get
you going.

The following 7 ways should help you get unstuck and get
writing:

1. Write a Tip Sheet

Sometimes it's easier to get started by creating a list of
tips: How to _______; The 5 Ways to ____________; Top Ten
Tips to _______________; Write a couple of sentences for
each tip, and before you know it, you have a completed
article full of practical information for your readers.

2. Answer Your Most Frequently Asked Questions

As your clients interact with you, you'll likely get the
same kinds of questions over and over. Take one or two of
your most frequently asked questions and answer it in an
article.

3. Use a Client's Scenario

Protecting your client's privacy (or not, if they give you
permission), use their scenario as a case study. Explain
the client's situation and what recommendations you gave,
as well as what the results were. This will help build your
credibility in your prospect's eyes as well, as this gives
them the chance to see you "at work."

4. Comb Through Your Reading Box

Do you have a Reading Box (or tray, file, pile)? If you're
like me, I get a ton of info via email everyday that I
really do want to read, so I have a box where I toss all
the stuff I print into (actually, it's now two boxes!). Go
through your own pile, and see what ideas pop up for you
from there. (I do this often when I'm trying to switch from
mommy-mode to businesswoman-mode.)

5. Learn Something New and Pass It Along

Did you learn something new recently that you can share
with others? Or is there something you want to learn more
about? Go and do some preliminary research and share your
findings with your readers.

6. Interview an Expert

I love this one, but don't overdo it. Your readers want to
hear from you, which is why they are reading YOUR ezine.
But once in awhile, having an interview as an article, as
long as it provides valuable content for your readers, can
be a nice change and even fun.

Send your expert 3-5 questions to answer, and turn the
interview into an article by adding an introductory and
concluding paragragh. (I enjoy giving these kinds of
interviews myself, so if you'd like to interview me for
your ezine, shoot me an email at alicia@clientabundance.com
and let me know.)

7. Get Back to Basics

Think back to when you were just starting out in your
business. What were the things you found most challenging?
Choose one or two and offer your advice on how to get
beyond those stumbling blocks.

Any of these ideas should get you started, and then the
words will start to flow. I know when I'm writing
sometimes, I'm thinking "ugh - not in the writing groove
today at all" but once I get going, I'm usually pretty
happy with the end result (but I do LOVE to revise, and
revise, and revise... :)).

----------------------------------------------------
Alicia M Forest, MBA, Multiple Streams Queen & CoachT,
founder of ClientAbundance.com and creator of 21 Easy &
Essential Steps to Online Success SystemT, teaches
professionals how to attract more clients, create
profit-making products and services, make more sales, and
ultimately live the life they desire and deserve. For FREE
tips on how to create abundance in your business, visit
http://www.ClientAbundance.com .