Archive for October, 2007

Marketing to Hispanics/Latinos

Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

By Bill Willard A powerful consumer market with annual spending power exceeding $350 billion, Hispanicsor should that be Latinos?have become the largest minority group in the United States, and a marketplace well-worth looking into and with plenty to see–once you get the labels straight. Is it Hispanics or Latinos? Hispanics and Latinos have hotly debated that question for years, and apparently, picking one answer over the other means drawing political, social, and generational lines in the sand. Ill explain later, but for now lets get some numbers on the table. Hispanic Database The Numbers Tell the Story It made headlines! Hispanics are now the largest minority group in the U.S., outnumbering blacks by nearly 1 million (37 million v. 36.2 million). That may have been news, but demographers and advocacy groups saw it coming; those population estimates merely confirmed it. With extensive immigration from economic basket case, Latin America–and a robust birthrate among predominantly Catholic Hispanics–this gap is expected to grow. By 2020, the Hispanic population could easily double to 70 million, or 21% of the U.S. population; by 2050 expect people of Hispanic origin to number more than 100 million. Hispanics are 11.4% of todays work force, a figure that could easily double in a ten years. Over 7.6 million Hispanic households in the U.S. average 3.6 people per household. U.S. Hispanic households have 2 or more people employed full time; 58% of Hispanics over 18 are employed full time. About 1 million Hispanic households in the United States have incomes of $50,000 or more. The average Hispanic household spends $31,013 annually. Hispanics are a young population. The median age of U.S. Hispanics is 26.5 compared to a median age of 32.2 for non-Hispanics. 12.8 million Hispanics were foreign-born; of this number, 1 in 4 were naturalized citizens. Among foreign-born Hispanics, 43% entered the U.S. in the 1990s, while 27% entered before 1980. Although 74% of those who entered the country before 1970 had obtained citizenship by 2000, only 7% of those who entered between 1990 and 2000 had become citizens. (Becoming a naturalized citizen requires five years of residence in the U.S.) Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Census of Population and The Hispanic Population in the United States, March 2000, Roberto Ramirez and Melissa Therrien. Flexing Economic and Political Muscle Today, the 7.6 million-plus Hispanic households in the U.S. boast higher educational levels, greater access to credit and capital, and more finely tuned technological skills than ever. Consequently, with buying power exceeding $350 billion, the current generation of Hispanics is an economic powerhouse. That Adds up to Prime Marketing Potential More than half of all Hispanics in the U.S. are between ages 18-49, which means most of them are getting married, buying homes, starting families, launching careers, and in many cases, opening their own businesses. A strong entrepreneurial streak runs through this market, with Hispanic-owned businesses in the U.S. totaling 1.2 million firms employing over 1.3 million people and generating $186.3 billion in revenues in 1997, according to a report released this year by the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau. Indeed, Hispanic-owned companies made up 6% of the 20.8 million non-farm businesses in the nation and 1% of the $18.6 trillion in receipts for all businesses. Market Positioning Pays (As Always) The longer Hispanics live in an area and the more prosperous they are the more invisible they become, and many school districts are having marked success with immersion English-language training among Hispanic grade school students. Yet assimilation may never be complete. In most Hispanic communities in the U.S., strong cultural identity persists, and that can affect how you market to them. So though the times are indeed a-changing (to borrow a phrase), youll still find that a fundamental understanding of Hispanic culture and working knowledge of Spanish are assets in this marketmake that markets, since Hispanic communities are no more homogeneous than others. Like any group, Hispanics in a community typically become reconfigured into distinct market segmentssmall-business owners, professionals, agribusiness, and so onwith all the usual qualifying characteristics: Common identity and accessibility; Common characteristics; Identifiable wants, needs and objectives; active communications networks. Where is Home? The Southwest and Northeast still have the heaviest concentrations of Hispanic communities, but Latinos are changing the look, sound and feel of more and more cities across the nation that have not traditionally been home to Hispanics, reports Gigi Anders in Hispanic Magazine, adding that Hispanic communities are developing at a record-breaking pace in other nontraditional states such as Arkansas, Oregon, Nevada, and South Carolina. And Georgia! Yolanda Rodrguez, writing in Hispanics Online: In 1996, the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce had 180 members and now has 931, ranging from multimillion dollar companies to small mom-and-pop operations. Business owners and professionals who understand that will enjoy a competitive edge in this marketplace and find it easier to build productive relationships with receptive Hispanic prospects and clients. So, Which is it: Hispanic or Latino? Were back to that question Those who call themselves Hispanic are typically more assimilated (or acculturated), politically conservative, and younger than those who use the term Latino, who, conversely, tend to be liberal, older, and at times, more radical. A recent presidential tracking poll by Hispanic Trends, Inc., a polling firm associated with Hispanic Magazine, wanted to put the identity issue to rest once and for all by asking registered voters which term they preferred–Hispanic or Latino? Concludes Ms. Granado, The result was something of a surprise: A majority prefers the term Hispanic. There, does that straighten the picture on the wall? Reference Sources: 1. U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Population. 2. www.HispanicsOnline.com. This website is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to learn more about Hispanic culture, lifestyle, economics and demographics. 3. Surveys Reveal Hispanics Family Concerns, Humberto Cruz, The Savings Game, Tribune Media Services, 1/5/03 4. Family Is Priority for Many Hispanic Workers, Carol Kleiman, Tampa Tribune, 12/24/02 5. The Allied Media Publication Network allows you to target this market through publications whose editorial focus is directly linked to Hispanic culture. 6. Bilingual Yellow Pages to Embrace Hispanics, Rafael Morales, Tampa Tribune, 10/25/02 7. Small Business Research Summarys Analysis of Hispanic-Owned Companies, David Birch September 2000. Cognetics Marketing Services, Inc. 8. The Hispanic Market Continues To Grow Everywhere! Alex Lpez Negrete, President/CEO, Lpez Negrete Communications. 9. The Hispanic Population in the United States, March 2000, Roberto Ramirez and Melissa Therrien. 10. Top 10 Cities For Hispanics 2002, Gigi Anders, www.HispanicsOnline.com 11. Hispanics Living in the Peach State, Yolanda Rodrguez, www.HispanicsOnline.com 12. ‘Hispanic’ vs. ‘Latino: A New Poll Finds That The Term ‘Hispanic’ Is Preferred, Christina Granado, www.Hispaniconline.Com Want More? Send questions and comments to w.willard3@knology.net. Bill Willard has also been writing high-impact marketing and sales training primarily for the financial services industry for 30 yearsbut as Will Rogers put it: “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. Through interactive, Web-based “Do-While-Learning” programs, enewsletters and straight-talking articles, Bill helps small-business owners and independent professionals get the job done: profitably improving performance, helping grow your business, skipping expensive mistakes, making the journey to small-business success faster, smoother, easier. And fun! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Willard http://EzineArticles.com/?Marketing-to-Hispanics/Latinos&id=38952 ambien buy line ativan online pharmacy add-ambien-book-buy-guest-record buy ambien for cheap

Writing an Essay Without Reading the Book

Tuesday, October 30th, 2007

By Anthony Chatfield If youve had a book to read that you really didnt want to read, something long and boring that you had absolutely no interest in save the fact that the subsequent report or essay due on Chapter 32 of that book is due in a week and your grade depends on it, there is a way to get around it. And its not cheating (at least not technically). Many of us find that there are more than a couple of undesirable assignments in our academic lifetimes. Whether in High School or a college English course, the one thing to remember is that you almost never have to read something that you dont want to. Lets not overlook the fact that youre skipping an assignment that was designed to grow your intellect and that if youre in college youre paying good money for that growth. But, hey if youre intent on ignoring all of that and are really busy all week and just dont have the time to read the book, then lets move and look at your options. 1. Sparknotes Its the Cliffnotes of the future. Why is it different? Its more or less free. If youre reading anything remotely considered a classic, this is the place to go. Chapter summaries and analyses, character summaries, questions for consideration, and forum posts all make this an ideal place to find out exactly what youre supposed to be reading. It wont get a paper written, unless youre extremely good, but it will give you a basis for just about everything else, and discussion points in class 2. The Movie theres always a movie. The movie is the best place to go in some cases for a few very simple reasons. Instead of 10 hours, you spend 2 and there are pretty pictures. But, and this is very important, always check the movies reputation first. Go to IMDB and search for it and do a quick rundown to find out just how loyal to the source it is. If its an adaptation where the writer of the novel doesnt even receive screenwriting credit, youre probably going to fail. If there is no good adaptation, move on. Dont try and make one seem better than it is. Just move on. 3. Amazon, search in book I found this in my Junior year of College and its amazing. Amazon has made it so you can search within almost any of their books for specific lines and passages. This is the way to find a quote quickly and a page number without issue. Most classes youre in will be using the newer copies of any book and thus Amazon will have you covered. If you find a good quote on Sparknotes that you want to find in your book, do a quick search and voila, there it is. 4. Google Scholar search Google has a fairly decent service up in beta (as most of their work is) that allows you to search millions of scholarly articles and abstracts. This is not for cheating. Never ever take something that doesnt belong to you and use it as your own. If you do, its your own stupidity that got you kicked out of school. If its that easy to find something to steal for your paper, do you honestly think its that hard for your teacher or professor to do the same. But, for researchs sake this is a gold mine. Type almost anything and youll find an article. And its free, unlike Lexus or any of the other scholarly search services (which if your college gives you access to, you should use as well). 5. Misdirection Make your report or essay about something else. Choose a topic from another course in which you actually paid attention. Now, relate it back to your chosen book (the one you didnt read) and start using the above sources to compare the two. Say youre in an art history class, in which youre studying surrealism in the 1940s and that you the book youre reading is by a Beat poet, Kerouac or Ginsberg. Now, take that surrealist abstract you wrote up and some of those basic summaries and ideas you snagged from sparknotes and start tying them all together, with a few good quotes from Amazon. You may have noticed that this seems like way more work than just reading the book and writing an essay. But, once youve done this a few times, more than two or three, youll be a whiz, and the whole thing will come down to about 5 hours on the Sunday before its due. Then again, if youre not a slave to stress like myself, you could probably just read the book. I’m a self avowed unemployed writer, working on semi-constant basis to try and overcome the need to go and work a real job. I’ve written more than 200 articles and reviews and am constantly scouring the internet for any and all excuses and methods to make myself less dependent on corporate pay days. Visit my website at TheChatfield.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anthony_Chatfield http://EzineArticles.com/?Writing-an-Essay-Without-Reading-the-Book&id=419216 soma watson online carisoprodol mail order where to buy mexican soma discount carisoprodol online

What are Your Marketing Objectives?

Monday, October 29th, 2007

By Lance Winslow Does your small business have goals? Goals and objectives for how much its sales you wish to accomplish? If not, how can you adequately planned your marketing for your company? I guess what I am saying here is; If You Don’t Know Where You’re Going Any Road Will Take You There. Yes that is an old famous quote and know I did not make it up. Granted, however what are your marketing objectives? Do you have any? Where do you want to go today? To effectively design a marketing strategy for your small business you need to have goals and objectives and you need to know exactly where you want to be and where you are now. You cannot design the perfect marketing strategy or implement it correctly unless you know what your objectives are. There is of course such thing as dumb luck or beginner’s luck, but I imagine if you are a small business owner you do not want to rely on luck alone. Why not take out a piece of paper right now and write down exactly what you want at of your business, what types of customers you want, how much money you want to make, how many new clients you want to have each week and how much you want each customer to spend on your business. That’s a start and I’m sure once you start you’ll think of other goals and objectives that you would like to see in your business this year. So, go get a piece of paper and pencil and good luck. Consider this a 2006. “Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance in the Online Think Tank and solve the problems of the World; www.WorldThinkTank.net/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow http://EzineArticles.com/?What-are-Your-Marketing-Objectives?&id=249919 buy phentermine by cod buy phentermine online without a prescription can i buy phentermine without a prescription pharmacy that sells phentermine

Die Adjustment Strikes Par for the Course

Sunday, October 28th, 2007

By Brad Hall Sometimes the mint can not help but to make a few error coins in the process of minting. After all, the workers are all human and humans are prone to mistakes. Die adjustment strikes are a fine example of an error that is really beyond the control of the mint and the people working therein. In order for the coins to be minted to the exact specifications there are several adjustments that need to be made to the machinery. The first few coins through the machine not be correct and thus they are an error coin. Die adjustment strikes are one of the more common errors that come out of the mint but some of the more dramatic examples can command a very nice price. Of all the die adjustment strikes the misaligned die is the most common but can also be the most sought after. US coins are struck front and back and the exact same time. This means that the two dies need to be lined up perfectly to make sure the coin looks correct. Often times when new dies are put in the alignment is not correct, producing a coin that is not perfectly lined up. Misaligned die strikes are many times incorrectly slated as off center error coins. There is a major difference between these two types of errors though. An off center coin is one that failed to fall into the retaining collar all the way and thus was struck off center with both sides being the same. Under the die adjust strikes with misaligned dies the coin is struck incorrectly on ONE side only. So the coin appears to be off center but when you flip it over you see that it is perfect or nearly so on the other side. Die adjustment strikes value is determined by how dramatic the error is. If the coin is visibly misshapen and out of place then it is worth far more than one that needs to be really studied to see the error. You should not be fooled by coins that are billed as die adjustment strikes and can barely be seen by the naked eye. The mint considers this to be nothing more than the normal operations of the machines and nothing to be worried about. These coins have little or no value at all and should be avoided from a collecting stand point. Go for the most dramatic forms of dies adjustment strikes and you will get the best value and rarity. Brad Hall is the editor for http://us-mint-coins.blogspot.com the number one resource for die adjustment strikes information on the web. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brad_Hall http://EzineArticles.com/?Die-Adjustment-Strikes-Par-for-the-Course&id=217255 free online prescriptions for valium paxil diazepam buy ambien online valium no prescription needed online pharmacy no prescription valium

Deodorant - Top 7 Ingredients To Avoid

Saturday, October 27th, 2007

By Christine Farlow The first thing you must do whenever you buy deodorant or any product that goes on your skin or in your body is to read the ingredients. Theyre usually in very tiny print on the back of the label. If you have trouble reading small print, carry a magnifying glass around with you so you can read before you buy. This is critical because what you put on your skin can be absorbed directly into your bloodstream. And harmful ingredients in your blood can have potentially deadly effects on your body. Here are 7 ingredients to avoid when choosing your deodorant: Aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly or any aluminum compounds. Aluminum is absorbed through the skin and accumulates in the body. It has been suggested that there is an association between aluminum and Alzheimers disease. Parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl, benzyl and butyl), are all derived from toluene, a toxic petrochemical derivative. Toluene is toxic if swallowed or inhaled. It is also harmful in contact with the skin. There is some evidence that repeated exposure to toluene may cause reproductive harm. Since 2000, 13 research studies have shown that various types of parabens act like estrogen in animals and in tissue culture. Estrogen is known to drive the growth of cancerous cells. Triclosan is a skin irritant and may cause contact dermatitis. It may kill healthy bacteria as well as harmful bacteria. It may contain carcinogenic contaminants. It is stored in body fat and is classified as a pesticide by the FDA. Talc is classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer if it contains asbestiform fibers. The quantity of asbestiform fibers in cosmetic grade talc is unregulated. If talc is listed on the label, there is no way of knowing whether or not it contains asbestiform fibers. Propylene glycol absorbs quickly through the skin and is a penetration enhancers. It may cause delayed allergic reactions. NIOSH says propylene glycol is a neurotoxin and may cause kidney or liver damage. The EPA says its not fully investigated for carcinogenic potential. Silica is a skin irritant. It may be contaminated with crystalline quartz, which is a carcinogen. Steareth-n (n may be any number like say 100), may be vegetable derived but is reacted with ethylene oxide (ethoxylated), a known human carcinogen. Instead choose deodorants with ingredients like vegetable glycerin, natural preservatives like bioflavanoids and lichen, herbs or herbal extracts, de-ionized water or distilled water, green tea, aloe vera, baking soda and essential oils. A word of caution: Plant extracts listed on labels can already contain parabens and propylene glycol. These do not have to be listed on the label. Very few herbs supplied to manufacturers are free of parabens or other synthetic preservatives unless they are extracted in vegetable glycerine. To make sure that the products you buy are healthy and free of these harmful chemicals, call the deodorant manufacturer and ask them for detailed information. Dr. Christine H. Farlow, D.C. is “The Ingredients Investigator.” She has been researching ingredient safety since 1991. She is the author of three books, including the new, second edition of Dying To Look Good. To learn more about the safety of ingredients in your deodorant, visit DyingToLookGood.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christine_Farlow http://EzineArticles.com/?Deodorant—Top-7-Ingredients-To-Avoid&id=146987 buy online tramadol no prescription tramadol tramadol thai pharmacy lowest prices buy tramadol without prescription

Bible Prophecy Fulfilled: Messiah to Appear in Jerusalem in A.D. 31

Friday, October 26th, 2007

By Britt Gillette One of the most amazing prophecies in the Old Testament is found in the Book of Daniel. The angel Gabriel appears to Daniel and reveals to him the exact number of days that will pass between the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem and the time the Messiah will appear in Jerusalem and be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing. Only one historical persons life fulfills this prophecy of the Messiah: Jesus of Nazareth. This is what Gabriel tells Daniel: A period of seventy sets of seven has been decreed for your people and your holy city to put down rebellion, to bring an end to sin, to atone for guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy One. Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One comes. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, despite the perilous times. After this period of sixty-two sets of seven, the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing, and a ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the City and the Temple. Daniel 9:24-26 (NLT) According to the Book of Daniel, 483 years [(7 x 7) + (62 x 7)] will pass between the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One comes. Since a biblical year is 360 days, were actually being told that 173,880 days will pass. So to find out if this prophecy was fulfilled, we only need to count forward 173,880 days from the time of the command and see if anyone entered Jerusalem and was killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing. If such a person exists, the Word of God confirms that person is the Messiah. So when was the command given? The Book of Nehemiah tells us. In the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never appeared sad in his presence before this time. So the king asked me, Why are you so sad? You arent sick, are you? You look like a man with deep troubles. Then I was badly frightened, but I replied, Long live the king! Why shouldnt I be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been burned down. The king asked, Well, how can I help you? With a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied, If it please Your Majesty and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried. The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, How long will you be gone? When will you return? So the king agreed, and I set a date for my departure. I also said to the king, If it please Your Majesty, give me letters to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, instructing them to let me travel safely through their territories on my way to Judah. And please send a letter to Asaph, the manager of the kings forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself. And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me. Nehemiah 2:1-8 (NLT) According to the Book of Nehemiah, the command to rebuild Jerusalem was given in the 20th year of the reign of Artaxerxes (446 B.C.) during the month of Nisan (March/April). Using an online Calendar Conversion Tool, we can calculate the time frame in which the prophecy must be fulfilled. Counting 173,880 days into the future from Nissan 1 to Nissan 30 in the year 446 B.C. (the year 3315 in the Jewish Calendar), we learn that the prophecy must be fulfilled between the dates of 13 April A.D. 31 and 12 May A.D. 31: Gregorian Calendar: 20 March 446 B.C.Jewish Calendar: 1 Nisan 3315 +173,880 days (360 days x 483 years) Gregorian Calendar: 13 April A.D. 31Jewish Calendar: 4 Iyyar 3791 and Gregorian Calendar: 18 April 446 B.C.Jewish Calendar: 30 Nisan 3315 +173,880 days (360 days x 483 years) Gregorian Calendar: 12 May A.D. 31Jewish Calendar: 4 Sivan 3791 Did anyone appear in Jerusalem between 13 April A.D. 31 and 12 May A.D. 31 who fulfilled the prophecies of the Messiah and was killed, appearing to accomplish nothing? Yes. Jesus of Nazareth. During the Passover festivities in Jerusalem in the year A.D. 31, Jesus was killed in such a way. According to David Reagans commentary on the subject, the New Testament provides evidence that two Sabbaths occurred, one on Thursday and one on Saturday, during the week of Jesus of Nazareths crucifixion. Given other historical records and evidence, we can be certain that the crucifixion of Jesus occurred on the 24th of April A.D. 31, a date that falls between the predetermined timeframe of 13 April to 12 May for the Messiahs appearance. This is because biblical scholars unanimously agree that this event occured between the years A.D. 30 and A.D. 37, and the only year during this timeframe in which the celebrations of the Passover week included both Thursday and Saturday Sabbaths was A.D. 31. Thus, we can be certain that Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled the requirements of this messianic prophecy. He also fulfilled all the other messianic Old Testament prophecies. No other historical individual appeared during April/May of A.D. 31 who could fulfill this prophecy. Furthermore, Daniel 9:26 predicted, after this period of sixty-two sets of seven a ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the City and the Temple. Did this happen? Yes. In A.D. 70, thirty-nine years after Jesus was killed, a ruler named Titus (who later became Emperor of Rome), led the Roman legions into Jerusalem where they destroyed the City and the Temple. This completed the messianic prophecy of Daniel 9:24-26, and made it impossible for anyone to appear after the year A.D. 70 and make a legitimate claim to fulfillment of the messianic prophecies. History and the Old Testament prophecies are clear: Jesus of Nazareth is the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Holy One of God, and the Lamb of God. As a human being, the most important thing you can do in your life is investigate these claims and build a personal relationship with Jesus. About this Article More information about the Messiah, fulfilled and unfilled bible prophecies, and the end times can be found by visiting BrittGillette.com. 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How to Retain Your New Customers

Thursday, October 25th, 2007

By Michael Fleischner Okay, so your marketing has paid off - you have new customers. The key to growing your business is to effectively communicate and leverage these new customers into advocates for your products and services and purchasers of additional services. This can be done in a variety of ways. However, some basics steps must be followed to ensure retention. Here are a few tips you can use to develop long-term relationships with newly acquired customers. 1. Proactively shape impressions about your business. Whether you’re sending a welcome message, making the first contact via phone, or sending a letter, be sure to position you company for the long-term. Often times, individuals buy products without knowing a whole lot about the company their buying from. A popular tactic is sending a welcome kit or an overview letter that introduces your company, your values, and the additional resources you have available for your customers including a support email address, 1-800 number and so on. This lets you control your company’s image among newly acquired customers. Otherwise, your customers are free to form their own opinion without any guidance whatsoever. 2. Categorize your customer. Is your customer a high potential? Are they a transactional buyer that will likely never buy from you again unless you offer the lowest price? By segmenting your buyers based on your existing database or known behaviors, you can develop customized communication plans to retain them for years to come. Some communication plan may be focused on up-sell while others may only be focused on retention. The communication plan you implement should be based on the proper categorization of your customer. 3. Show your thanks. Once you’ve acquired a customer, don’t forget to thank them. This may seem trite, but done properly, this goes a long way. Often a hand-written note or personalized email from a company president can do the trick. The real key is to make the customer feel good about the purchase they’ve made and the company they’ve chose. 4. Provide consistency among all touch points. Once you’ve acquired a new customer, you must make sure that you provide a consistent user experience. For example, if the prospect contacts your technical support rep the first day after they’ve purchased a product and receive an answer to their question, then call the following day only to receive a different answer, they’re going to lose faith in your company’s ability to provide consistent and reliable support. You can benefit greatly by developing procedures that can be documented and delivered consistently - meeting customer expectations. This builds trust in your business and can minimize defections. If the consumer knows they can count on you to give them what they need/want, they’ll be willing to forgo a better price or promise of a better deal elsewhere. 5. Share customer testimonials on future marketing pieces. Many marketers believe that testimonials are only for prospects. The truth is that testimonials can help retain customers, especially new ones, when they are exposed to positive experiences of individuals just like them. In addition to sharing testimonials, it is always a best practice to ask newly acquired customers (within 30 days of purchase) for their feedback/testimonials. The benefit of reaching out to your customers is that if a problem exists, you can react to it and if they have something positive to say about your product or business, it can be used to reinforce your brand. (Note: be sure to get permission to publish a customers testimonial). These techniques are very effective for maximizing lifetime customer value. By shaping the image of your company, providing a consistent experience, and sharing testimonials for similar customers, you can develop a positive, lasting impression with your marketplace. Most importantly, keep it simple. Don’t overwhelm your new customers with tons of email, or direct mail. Develop a well thought-out communication plan that has a definite purpose. And most importantly, remember to thank your customers for choosing your company, product or service. Michael Fleischner is a marketing expert with more than 12 years marketing experience. He has appeared on The TODAY Show, Bloomberg Radio, and other major media. For more free marketing articles like this one, visit http://www.marketingscoop.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Fleischner http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Retain-Your-New-Customers&id=363135 reductil 30mg online pharmacy meridia online dreampharmaceuticalscom meridia buy tramadol online meridia online buy meridia meridia online dreampharmaceuticalscom

Five Weight Loss Tricks

Wednesday, October 24th, 2007

By Antoinette Boulay The most basic approach to weight loss is to burn more calories than you take in, but sometimes no matter what you do it just doesnt seem to be working. When you need a trick up your sleeve for a critical moment, try one of these to jump-start your weight loss again. 1. Add weights to your routine. Adding weight-lifting to your routine is one of the fastest ways to see results. Your body will respond almost immediately, shaping and toning muscle, and remember, the more muscle you have, the more fats you burn! To determine the weight you should start with, grab a 5-lb. dumbbell and do as many bicep curls as possible. If you can do more than ten reps comfortably, use a higher weight. On the other hand, if you cant do more than eight repetitions without strain, try using a 3-lb. weight instead. For those of you already training with weights, go up to the next highest weight to see results. If you dont have weights at your home, it is highly recommended that you invest in a set that ranges from three to ten pounds. These usually cost less than $30 and are well worth the investment. 2. Increase the intensity. During your cardio workout routine, assess the intensity level to determine how hard youre working. If you can carry on a conversation with ease while exercising, its time to boost the intensity. You can do that by taking deeper strides as you move and placing a greater demand on the muscles of the thighs and buttocks, which in turns burns more calories. The best way to gauge the intensity of a workout is to pretend to carry on a conversation. You should be able to speak in short sentences with a breath after each one. Never exercise to the point where you cannot talk. 3. Shake up your routine. Despite being called a routine, your exercise program should keep you interested. Add different activities for variety and you not only maintain your concentration but also constantly challenge your body to meet new obstacles and developing more than just a few muscles. More muscles equal a greater calorie burn whats not to love? Try new activities that keep your mind engaged and experience an extra boost for your brain! 4. Give your diet a makeover. The daily diet is most frequently the worst problem area when youre trying to lose weight. Between home and work and the responsibilities that come with each, it can be almost impossible to find healthy choices at the last minute. Spare yourself the daily scrounging and stock up on healthy foods that can be ready at a moments notice. Make a point to stash some of your good-for-you snacks at work so that when the mid-afternoon cravings hit, you have something satisfying and diet-friendly. 5. Challenge yourself. Set personal goals for yourself and dont forget to reward your accomplishment! If your goal is to be more active at work, buy a pedometer and challenge yourself to take 6,000 steps during your workday. Be creative about it: walk to a colleagues desk rather than email, take the stairs instead of the elevator, and go to the bathroom three floors down instead of the one on your floor. Challenging yourself can be very fulfilling on a personal level when you achieve your goals, and can encourage you on to greater achievement. Antoinette Boulay is a fitnesss enthusiast and contributor to http://www.BurnUpExcess.com, where you can read about Abdominal Exercise Equipment, and pregnancy exercise videos. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Antoinette_Boulay http://EzineArticles.com/?Five-Weight-Loss-Tricks&id=93933 buy ultram cheaply online mexico pharmacy ultram order pal pay ultram ultram pharmacy on line

9 Reasons Why Your Weight-Loss Efforts FAIL!

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007

By Karen Sessions You have been struggling for some time now trying to lose weight. Each day you start fresh only to have your dedicated eating to fall short of your best intentions. Weight loss has not only become a daily struggle that has left you disappointed, but you also feel no matter what you do youll never lose weight. Does any of this sound familiar? You are not alone. Millions of people have the same daily struggles. If you want to take control and finally lose that weight, you have to identify the reasons your weight-loss efforts fail. Check this list and see if you can find your own weight-loss pitfalls. Identifying them can be your first step to breaking them. Not putting YOUR needs first If you want to lose weight you have to make it a priority, and this means you have to put your needs first. If this means taking your food along on a trip or watching what you eat at a dinner party, do it. Failure to get realistic goals Many people set weight-loss goals, but far too often people set unrealistic weight-loss goals. If your goal is too far out of reach, you cant achieve it. Write down a goal that your mind first believes, because what your mind believes, your body achieves. Having a do-or-die attitude Jumping into a weight-loss program with a do-or-die attitude is almost always a set-up for failure. Easing into a weight-loss program allows you room for adjustments and doesnt leave you feeling restricted. Make small weekly changes so you are not overwhelmed. Expecting immediate results Expecting immediate weight-loss results will destroy a positive attitude every time. You must realize that you didnt gain fat weight overnight and you arent going to lose fat weight overnight either. Give your weight-loss program time. Eating haphazardly Eating haphazardly can ruin your best weight-loss intentions. Your body responds best to a scheduled eating program. Eating a small balanced meal every three hours works best for keeping the metabolism up and warding off sugar and carb cravings. Justifying nibbling If you want to lose weight once and for all, you have to cut out the nibbling between meals. If you are nibbling between meals due to true hunger, you need to be sure you are eating every three hours and are eating enough calories. Giving in to temptation Giving in to temptation will leave you feeling hopeless. Think about why you want the temptation and decide if its really worth giving in to for the sake of simply having it. More often than not, if you step back and think about it, you can walk the other way and not give in. Lying to yourself Lying to yourself about weight loss will cause failure. If you want to lose the weight, you have to be true to yourself. If you cheated, hold yourself accountable for it and realize you may not have a good outcome at the end of the week when you do your weight and stat check. Making excuses upon excuses Making excuses leads to failure, no matter what youre trying to accomplish. Whats worse is that many people try to rationalize their excuses. An excuse is an apology, rationalization is justification. Many people combine the two to simply get out of personal responsibility. Stop making excuses and find a way to be successful. Conclusion If you have identified yourself in one or more of the scenarios listed above, now is the time to do something about it. Banish the excuses, take action, and reap the rewards of a leaner and healthier lifestyle. Copyright 2006 Karen Sessions Karen Sessions has been in the fitness industry since 1988. She is a nationally qualified bodybuilder and holds two personal training certifications. She has written 6 ebooks on fitness and has helped hundreds of clients transform their bodies. http://www.theelitephysique.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Sessions http://EzineArticles.com/?9-Reasons-Why-Your-Weight-Loss-Efforts-FAIL!&id=322079 legal incest porn free real incest stories pre-teen incest stories father daughter incest

Let Her Be Covered Part Four

Sunday, October 21st, 2007

By B. White Again, lets call attention to our text: Let her be covered. One more question: Why? Well, I hope that some answers have already gotten through to you. To all that, I would add this: Wear the headcovering because you know God wants you to! I cannot supply you with a more valid reason for the performance of any deed than simply to know that God wants you to do it. Can you? Can you think of a more valid reason to motivate any action? For every pliable saint, what God has written right here should be enough to settle the matter. It is here made apparent that God wants to preserve an awareness of His divinely established order. That is urgently needed in todays society. Furthermore, he wants YOU to have a part in that, not only the sisters, but also the brethren. He wants both Christian men and Christian women to give visible evidence of their pledge to abide by that order. For the man, that visible witness is given by the non-wearing of a religiously significant covering. For the woman that witness is given by the wearing of a religiously significant covering. The God-supplied long hair will not suffice for this because it is not a personally supplied witness. It doesnt necessarily reflect a personal endorsement of Gods arrangement. It doesnt convey the clear signal that Im voluntarily submitting to mans leadership. The humanly supplied covering should be worn to convey that signal. To all who see it, it proclaims this message: I will not attempt to dominate, I will not attempt to manipulate my head. I submit to Gods plan. Now, to all of this, the response of the critic might be: So what? There is no salvation in it! That is as much beside the point as to say that theres no salvation in baptism or in any other of the ordinances. We dont keep the ordinances to become saved, rather being saved we gladly keep those commandments. He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me. Its very obvious that some portions of this passage have not been touched on in this message. Perhaps they can be touched on some other occasion. Before I close, I wish to add some remarks bearing on the more practical side of this practice. We as church leaders try to monitor changes in covering styles and covering sizes, but changes can be made so gradually that we may not always be abreast of what is happening. Little by little, you can make your covering smaller and smaller, and you may suppose that no one else notices it, but God knows it, and you know it, and very likely more people take notice of that than you realize. You may never know. If you take that course, you may never know how many other sisters are influenced to do likewise. Now you may take that course if you choose, but that will not build the kind of church life that I think you want. It will not build the kind of church life that you want for your children. Im glad for the healthy signs among us. Its a healthy sign when daughters appear with coverings as large as their mothers. Thats something to rejoice over and thank God for. Really, anything less than that will lead in the wrong direction. If, in successive generations, the daughters covering every time is just a little smaller than the mothers, it will only be a few generations until the covering is lost. I dont think you want that to happen here, so I plead with you to help to keep it from happening. Shall we come before the Lord in prayer? For those that have read all four articles I trust they were enlightning and helpful to you. If you still think that I do not know what I am talking about visit www.successmagnet.org Should you like to more about Christian living please write:Living Waters For thirsty Souls,40 Wood Corner Road,Ephrata, PA, USA,17522 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=B._White http://EzineArticles.com/?Let-Her-Be-Covered-Part-Four&id=19698 online order ambien generic ambien online no perscription buy ambien online without prescription usa buy ambien