How to Start A Business Plan

 by: John Mussi

A business plan precisely defines your business, identifies your goals, and serves as your firm's resume. The basic components include a current and pro forma balance sheet, an income statement, and a cash flow analysis. It helps you allocate resources properly, handle unforeseen complications, and make good business decisions. Because it provides specific and organized information about your company and how you will repay borrowed money, a good business plan is a crucial part of any loan application. Additionally, it informs sales personnel, suppliers, and others about your operations and goals.

Plan Your Work

The importance of a comprehensive, thoughtful business plan cannot be overemphasized. Much hinges on it: outside funding, credit from suppliers, management of your operation and finances, promotion and marketing of your business, and achievement of your goals and objectives.

Despite the critical importance of a business plan, many entrepreneurs drag their feet when it comes to preparing a written document. They argue that their marketplace changes too fast for a business plan to be useful or that they just don't have enough time. But just as a builder won't begin construction without a blueprint, eager business owners shouldn't rush into new ventures without a business plan.

Before you begin writing your business plan, consider four core questions:

What service or product does your business provide and what needs does it fill?

Who are the potential customers for your product or service and why will they purchase it from you?

How will you reach your potential customers?

Where will you get the financial resources to start your business?

You may freely reprint this information on your website provided the following caption remains intact.

?This information courtesy of http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk Click here to see full range of loans.?

Useful Tips On Avoiding Credit and Charge Card Fraud

 by: John Mussi

Credit and charge card fraud costs cardholders and issuers hundreds of millions of dollars each year. While theft is the most obvious form of fraud, it can occur in other ways. For example, someone may use your card number without your knowledge.

It's not always possible to prevent credit or charge card fraud from happening. But there are a few steps you can take to make it more difficult for a crook to capture your card or card numbers and minimize the possibility.

Do:

Sign your cards as soon as they arrive.

Carry your cards separately from your wallet, in a zippered compartment, a business card holder, or another small pouch.

Keep a record of your account numbers, their expiration dates, and the phone number and address of each company in a secure place.

Keep an eye on your card during the transaction, and get it back as quickly as possible.

Void incorrect receipts.

Destroy carbons.

Save receipts to compare with billing statements.

Open bills promptly and reconcile accounts monthly, just as you would your checking account.

Report any questionable charges promptly to the card issuer.

Notify card companies in advance of a change in address.

Don't:

Lend your card(s) to anyone.

Leave cards or receipts lying around.

Sign a blank receipt. When you sign a receipt, draw a line through any blank spaces above the total.

Write your account number on a postcard or the outside of an envelope.

Give out your account number over the phone unless you're making the call to a company you know is reputable.

Reporting Losses and Fraud If you lose your credit or charge cards or if you realize they've been lost or stolen, immediately call the issuer(s). Many companies have toll-free numbers and 24-hour service to deal with such emergencies.

You may freely reprint this information on your website provided the following caption remains intact.

?This information courtesy of http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk Click here to see full range of loans.?

Useful Tips When Choosing Credit Cards

 by: John Mussi

Chances are you have received your share of "pre-approved" credit card offers in the mail, some with low introductory rates and other perks. Many of these solicitations urge you to accept "before the offer expires." Before you accept, shop around to get the best deal.

Credit Card Terms:

A credit card is a form of borrowing that often involves charges. Credit terms and conditions affect your overall cost. So it's wise to compare terms and fees before you agree to open a credit or charge card account. The following are some important terms to consider that generally must be disclosed in credit card applications or in solicitations that require no application.

Annual Percentage Rate:

The APR is a measure of the cost of credit, expressed as a yearly rate. It also must be disclosed before you become obligated on the account and on your account statements. Some credit card plans allow the issuer to change your APR when interest rates or other economic indicators - called indexes - change. Because the rate change is linked to the index's performance, these plans are called "variable rate" programs.

Free Period:

Also called a "grace period," a free period lets you avoid finance charges by paying your balance in full before the due date. Knowing whether a card gives you a free period is especially important if you plan to pay your account in full each month. Without a free period, the card issuer may impose a finance charge from the date you use your card or from the date each transaction is posted to your account. If your card includes a free period, the issuer must mail your bill at least 14 days before the due date so you'll have enough time to pay.

Annual Fees:

Most issuers charge annual membership or participation fees.

Transaction Fees and Other Charges:

A card may include other costs. Some issuers charge a fee if you use the card to get a cash advance, make a late payment, or exceed your credit limit. Some charge a monthly fee whether or not you use the card.

Other Costs and Features:

Credit terms vary among issuers. When shopping for a card, think about how you plan to use it. If you expect to pay your bills in full each month, the annual fee and other charges may be more important than the periodic rate and the APR, if there is a grace period for purchases. However, if you use the cash advance feature, many cards do not permit a grace period for the amounts due - even if they have a grace period for purchases. So, it may still be wise to consider the APR and balance computation method. Also, if you plan to pay for purchases over time, the APR and the balance computation method are definitely major considerations.

You'll probably also want to consider if the credit limit is high enough, how widely the card is accepted, and the plan's services and features.

Useful Tips:

Keep these tips in mind when looking for or using a credit or charge card.

Shop around for the plan that best fits your needs.

Make sure you understand a plan's terms before you accept the card.

Hold on to receipts to reconcile charges when your bill arrives.

Protect your cards and account numbers to prevent unauthorized use.

Draw a line through blank spaces on charge slips so the amount can't be changed.

Keep a record - in a safe place separate from your cards - of your account numbers, expiration dates and the phone numbers of each issuer to report a loss quickly.

Carry only the cards you think you'll use.

You may freely reprint this information on your website provided the following caption remains intact.

?This information courtesy of http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk Click here to see full range of loans.?

How To Become A Data-Feed Super Affiliate

 by: Konstantin Goudkov

I am not going to describe what a product feed (or a data-feed) is. There is a lot of information out there about how to use one to build sites. Instead, I want to talk about how you can actually make more sales with data-feed sites.

The program that I manage offers a product feed, and I get a chance to see a sad picture of many good affiliates wasting their potential.

Here is my advice from the affiliate manager's perspective.

Whenever you join (or think bout joining) a program, you need to look for two things:

• Temporary or permanent opportunities

• Flaws of a merchant

Here is an example of an opportunity that was created by an outside factor.

Recently, we got removed from the Yahoo index because of a penalty. I have no idea when (or if) we will get included back in, but I do know that it makes one decision much easier for our affiliates.

Judging by the numerous posts on various SEO-related message boards, it looks like Google and Yahoo use very different algorithms to rank pages. So for any given site, you have a choice to make. You can optimize for Yahoo, for Google, or for both.

Since Yahoo and Google use different algorithms, it is going to be hard to optimize the same set of pages for both of those engines at the same time, unless you employ heavy cloaking. And the way I see it, for an affiliate, it is better to appear high on one search engine than to appear low on both of them in an attempt to optimize for different algorithms at the same time.

Imagine that you are one of our affiliates. Given the information I just told you, shouldn't you concentrate on Yahoo for that data-feed site that is being used to promote our products?

Why spend (at least) half of your time and resources on optimizing for Google when you know that we are nowhere to be found in Yahoo?

You have to have an extremely well linked and optimized site to get ahead of the merchant for the exact product-name search terms. The merchant is your biggest obstacle when it comes to the search engine traffic. So if there is a route that lets you get around that obstacle - take it!

Most of our well-performing affiliates did just that. Either intentionally or unintentionally, they ended up making much more money by appearing high in Yahoo results, while not being ranked high in Google.

So on a practical side of things, here is what you should do.

For your existing merchants, check if they are removed from the index in any of the major search engines, and if they are, then start reading and implementing SEO tips for that particular engine.

And if you are thinking about joining a program and can't decide between several merchants, then check if any of them is not in the index of either Yahoo or Google. If you find a merchant like that - drop everything else you are doing and jump on that program.

As far as theory goes, this was just a simple, but specific example of what you should look for to make your efforts pay off. There are many different opportunities to get ahead in existing programs with data-feed sites; you just have to look for them.

Now, let's talk about flaws of merchants and how you can exploit them to make more money and help consumers at the same time.

I will give another specific example, but you should be able to apply this concept to many different programs.

Our site has one huge structural flaw: we only list products by product-oriented categories.

In other words, there is no way to navigate our site by a specific occasion or by the purchasing intent of a visitor.

You can follow a path like:

widgets -> wooden widgets -> red wooden widgets

This setup works fine for some type of shoppers, but is a complete turn-off for others.

And the problem is that most affiliates simply mirror the catalog structure of a merchant according to their feed.

But if you structured your site to list widgets as:

• widgets for birthdays

• widgets for girlfriends

• widgets for those who are over 50

• the Independence Day widgets

  
  etc.

then you would attract different type of shoppers. You would no longer compete with the merchant, but instead you would complement them.

A visitor who is looking for a gift for his 50-something friend and has no idea that a red wooden widget would be perfect, will not travel down the path laid out by our catalog. So if he gets to our home page, we simply lose a sale. And if your data-feed-based site follows the same structure - you lose a sale as well.

Also, since the visitor does not know that he really wants a red wooden widget, he we not use those keywords while searching for a present on the search engines.

But if you attracted that visitor to your site, presented him with ideas for older friends' birthday gifts and guided him to that specific widget's page - then we would make a sale, you would make a commission, and the visitor (turned customer) would get his present with much less searching around. Everyone wins.

Such approach takes more work than simply cloning the merchant's site with a feed, but affiliates who actually do something to complement merchant instead competing with them make a lot more money. After all, if you create a copy of a merchant's site - you are not only competing with the merchant, you are also competing with all of their affiliates that use the same feed in the same way.

The Zero Down 80/20 Mortgage

 by: Matthew Allen

This is an excellent loan for those that are lacking the down payment required for other types of mortgages.

The 80 20 mortgage is simply two loans for 100% of the purchase price. It is a first mortgage at 80% of the purchase price with a 20% second mortgage.

If you are a conforming borrower, doing your loan in this manner will save you from having to pay mortgage insurance. Mortgage insurance is almost always required when you have less than 20% down. But with the 80 20 loan you avoid this necessary evil.

If you are a sub-prime borrower, doing you loan in this manner will typically keep your interest rates ?% to 2.5% lower than doing a 100% one loan. A 100% one loan is simply one loan for the entire purchase price.

Many times you will have two choices when it comes to the second mortgage portion of the 80 20 mortgage. The second mortgage can either be a fixed second mortgage or it can be a line of credit.

If it is a fixed second mortgage. The interest rate is fixed for the entire length of the mortgage. Most fixed second mortgages are a 30 due in 15. Meaning that the second mortgage is amortized over 30 years, but is due in 15 years. Basically it is a balloon payment. Don?t let this scare you. Statistically people refinance or sell their home every 7 to 9 years any ways.

If it is a line of credit as the second mortgage. The interest rate will fluctuate as the Federal Reserve adjusts the prime interest rate up or down. The benefit of going with the line of credit as the second mortgage is that the interest rate is normally much lower than the fixed second mortgages rate. It can be 2% to 5% lower.

If you are considering doing the 80 20 loan have your loan officer compare the two different options if you have both available to you.

You may also want to consider an 80 20 interest only loan. The interest only loan could save you hundreds of dollars in mortgage payments every month. This can help you purchase a more expensive home or keep the payments down on the home you want to buy

Can It Be? Is There Advertising People Actually Love?

 by: Scott Rauber

Can it be???

Is there advertising that people actually love?

You bet there is! And you are already very aware of it. The type of advertising I'm referring to is promotional items, also known as advertising specialties. It's anything a company would put their logo and contact information on, and then give away. They are used by many businesses all over the world to help maintain, and increase the amount of business they do with their customers every day.

Why do people love it? Because we view the item more as a gift from the giver instead of an advertising tool. Have you ever been handed a logoed scratch pad, coffee mug, pen, coaster, calendar, etc. and then said THANK YOU? Of course you have. We all have.

When you accept it, an emotional (almost an obligation to do business with) type of attachment is created in you. A kind of warm & fuzzy feeling if you will. For a long time they'll remember the gift you gave, and in order to show their appreciation to you, almost instinctively, they'll try to do more business with you. That's the secret behind this type of advertising!!!

And that's why it's The ONLY type of advertising people love. AND it'll work powerfully for you too!!

The next time you're pondering ways to increase your business, consider using promotional items.

Scott Rauber , Biz Promo, LLC

727-733-8387 getmorebiznow@verizon.net

Short Messaging Service (SMS) for Enterprise Messaging

 by: Vijay Shukla

Short Messaging Service (SMS) for Enterprise Messaging

SMS for Enterprise Messaging ? Value added services

Short message service, usually called SMS, is a globally accepted wireless service for enterprise messaging (mobile value added services) that enables the transmission of alphanumeric messages between mobile subscribers and external systems such as electronic mail, paging, and voice-mail systems.

The text comprises letters or numbers or an alphanumeric combination. SMS was created as part of the GSM Phase 1 standard. Each short text message is up to 160 characters is length when Latin alphabets are used and 70 characters in length when non-Latin alphabets such as Arabic and Chinese are used.

SMS comprises two basic point-to-point services:

• Mobile-Terminated short message (MT)

• Mobile-Originated short message (MO)

SMS Mobile-Terminated (SMS MT)

SMS (MT) are transported from the SMSC to the handset and can be submitted to the SMSC by other mobile subscribers via MO-SM or by other sources such as voice-mail systems, paging networks, or operators

SMS MT Services allow the deployment of various applications such as:

• Information Services (loyalty card members, delivery confirmation etc.)

• Real-time notifications and alerts (banking, finance and stock alerts, travel, sporting results)

• Direct Marketing offerings (promotions, new product announcement, events and shows, m-coupons)

• Ring tones, Logo downloads

• Quiz, live games

SMS Mobile-Originated (SMS MO)

SMS MO are transported from a MO-capable handset to the SMSC and can be destined to other mobile subscribers or for subscribers on fixed networks such as paging networks or Internet protocol (IP) networks (including the Internet and private e-mail networks).

SMS MO Services are typically used in deploying applications to receive information from Mobile users to an external short messaging entity, which is typically a computer connected to the internet. Such request for information is made by sending an SMS from their mobile phones to a service number linked to the service of the content provider.

Typical SMS MO service examples are dedicated requests, voting or quiz applications. A customer can register his request for information e.g. Text ?Product ABC? to +44 7979458584 to know the product details of the product or to text ?Yes? to a mobile number to confirm presence in an event.

Why do enterprises need SMS based mobile data services?

SMS based mobile data services are not necessary for every enterprise or every division within an enterprise. As with any new communications/ IT application or service, the investment and cost of an implementation must be balanced by a sufficient economic return. Several research firms have stated that two to three years after a mobile data services implementation a company should see a positive return on their investment.

However, there are a few compelling reasons for enterprises to get on to tap the potential of SMS based mobile data services. For many enterprises, such wireless initiatives form ways to advance customer service, productivity, cost reduction, or simply functionality necessary to remain competitive. A good example is the financial industry where wireless services have played a role in maintaining competitive position in the consumer market. Many leading banks, stock brokers and mutual funds have already started such service in which their customers receive pre-defined ?business-rules? driven alerts or notifications. These notifications or alerts are a result of SMS enabling of business processes. Such a service eliminates the need of conventional getting connected on voice, thereby reducing direct communication cost and indirect costs (time of people making voice calls) and complexity involved in the business process.

Of late, innovative and cost effective and business models for SMS based mobile data services have emerged by which the enterprises are not required to own the wireless communication infrastructure required for the said service. Instead, they get all the benefits by the hugely successful ?pay-as-you-go? model. This reduces total cost of ownership of the new initiative.

There are a few Mobile Value Added Service Providers (MVASP) that have emerged in the past couple of years which provide high quality service as compared to operators, who do not focus in enterprise wireless messaging as the size of the market is sub-optimal from the perspective of operators. Moreover, the expertise required in providing high quality and end-to-end service requires expertise in both IT industry and telecommunications verticals which makes this service offering unique. Many enterprises globally are already benefiting from such SMS based wireless initiative to reduce cost and increase operational efficiency at work.

To deliberate and decide, whether SMS based mobile data services will provide tangible economic benefit to their business, there are a number of questions enterprises should ask can themselves. This type of strategising is a first step in defining the value SMS based mobile data services provide and is necessary to avoid initiatives that provide ?neat? capability without sufficient and early return. When evaluating your needs for mobile data services, questions to ask include:

• What all business processes, in which if the concerned person gets to know relevant information on the move, he/she will be able to take desired action?

• Is a significant percentage of an organisation?s work or workforce away from a fixed place of business?

• Is my enterprise ready for such a kind of initiative?

• Would such an initiative have the potential to reduce my total cost of communications?

• Can remote users easily access pertinent information from internal systems?

• What are my competitors doing with regard to wireless applications?

• Will using SMS based mobile data services improve my customer service?

Mobile data services are aimed to increase operational efficiency and reduce costs. When computing the actual return on a wireless initiative, one must look at cost savings from increased efficiencies, productivity, customer satisfaction, and other such metrics. This is substantially more complex than discounting revenue generation, because many of the metrics are approximates and many of the benefits very subtle, but this estimation gives the most accurate measure of success.

Many companies provides mobile data services like ValueFirst Messaging Pvt. Ltd. www.vfirst.com is a leading enterprise messaging services company in India provides SMS on GSM/CDMA/GPRS also provides SMS sending software / applications services and products.

There are a number of metrics that will assist in determining the return of a wireless initiative. Take careful attention to assure that the metrics used relate directly to the type of solution. For example, when deploying SMSbased mobile data services for maintenance, look at the amount of time spent on a sales call. If billing is incorporated into the system, check the change in the billing cycle, to see that it has decreased. Some other metrics that may help measure the success of a wireless implementation are:

• Increased sales per employee

• Decreased time per maintenance call

• Increased customer service levels

• Reduced turnaround time

• Reduced communication costs

This is the Power of PR

 by: Robert A. Kelly

The power of public relations is its ability to alter individual perception, resulting in changed behaviors that lead directly to your organization?s success.

Its power really lies in doing something positive about the behaviors of a business, non-profit or association manager?s important outside audiences ? behaviors that MOST affect his or her operation.

That?s how external stakeholder behaviors are created that help achieve managerial objectives. In particular when managers persuade those key outside folks to their way of thinking, then move them to take actions that help the manager?s department, division or subsidiary succeed.

A basic public relations blueprint looks like this: people act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action the very people whose behaviors affect the organization the most, the public relations mission is accomplished.

So, two key messages radiating from that fundamental premise are (1) your public relations effort must involve more than special events, brochures and news releases if you really want to get your money?s worth, and (2), the right PR really CAN alter individual perception and lead to changed behaviors that help you succeed!

A variety of results can flow from this managerial approach to public relations. It can generate follow-on activity like customers making repeat purchases; stronger relationships with the educational, labor, financial and healthcare communities; improved relations with government agencies and legislative bodies; prospects starting to work with you, and even capital givers or specifying sources looking your way

You can even see results such as community service and sponsorship opportunities; new proposals for strategic alliances and joint ventures; enhanced activist group relations, and expanded feedback channels; rebounds in showroom visits; and membership applications on the rise, not to mention new thoughtleader and special event contacts.

Because those kinds of results can be expected from such a high-impact blueprint, your PR staff ? agency or staff ? must be committed to you, as the senior project manager, to the PR blueprint and its implementation, starting with target audience perception monitoring.

Certainly you agree that your most important outside audiences really must perceive your operations, products or services in a positive light if you are to succeed. So be certain that your PR staff is completely onboard for the whole effort. Be especially careful that they accept the reality that perceptions almost always lead to behaviors that can help or hurt your unit.

Review the PR blueprint in detail, especially the plan for monitoring and gathering perceptions by questioning members of your most important outside audiences. Questions like these: how much do you know about our organization? How much do you know about our services or products and employees? Have you had prior contact with us and were you pleased with the interchange? Have you experienced problems with our people or procedures?

The perception monitoring phases of your program can obviously be handled by professional survey people IF the budget is there. But you can always choose to use your PR people who are also in the perception and behavior business and can pursue the same objective: identify untruths, false assumptions, unfounded rumors, inaccuracies, misconceptions and any other negative perception that might translate into hurtful behaviors.

Let?s talk about the public relations goal. You need one that addresses the aberrations that cropped up during your key audience perception monitoring. In all probability, it will aim to straighten out that dangerous misconception, or correct that gross inaccuracy, or do something about that hurtful rumor.

Of course, when you set a goal, you need a strategy that shows you how to get there. You have three strategic choices when it comes to handling a perception or opinion challenge: create perception where there may be none, change the perception, or reinforce it. A bad strategy pick will taste like ketchup on your pecan pie, so be certain the new strategy fits well with your new public relations goal. For example, you don?t want to select ?change? when the facts dictate a ?reinforce? strategy.

Here?s some really hard work for your PR team, because they now must come up with some carefully targeted, corrective language. Words that are compelling, persuasive and believable AND clear and factual. You must do this if you are to correct a perception by shifting opinion towards your point of view, leading to the desired behaviors.

After going over your message for impact and persuasiveness with your communications specialists, work with them to select the communications tactics most likely to carry your words to the attention of your target audience. You can pick from dozens that are available. From speeches, facility tours, emails and brochures to consumer briefings, media interviews, newsletters, personal meetings and many others. But be sure that the tactics you pick are known to reach folks just like your audience members.

Taking no chances with the time-honored warning that the credibility of a message can depend on how it?s delivered, consider introducing it to smaller gatherings rather than using higher-profile tactics such as news releases or talk show appearances. When the calls for progress reports get loud enough, you can respond by returning to the field with your PR folks for a second perception monitoring session with members of your external audience. Using many of the same questions used in the first benchmark session, you?ll now be alert for signs that the bad news perception is being altered in your direction.

Should things slow down, you can always accelerate matters by using more communications tactics along with increased frequencies.

In this way, you employ the unique power of public relations in just the right way. You alter individual perception, resulting in changed behaviors that lead directly to your organization?s success.

end

Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. A copy would be appreciated at bobkelly@TNI.net. Word count is 1085 including guidelines and resource box.

Robert A. Kelly © 2004.

How to Avoid the Legal Pitfalls when Setting up Your New Business

 by: BrainyBusiness

How To Avoid The Legal Pitfalls when Setting up Your Own Business

No matter who you are you will make mistakes at some point in your business life and unfortunately the law is not very forgiving - ignorance is not a defence. Here are some of the common pitfalls to watch out for when setting up your own business.

Partnerships

A partnership is formed when two or more parties form to start a business, sharing the workload and investing capital to get things going. It is always wise to have a written partnership agreement and get it checked by a solicitor. If you do not have a proper agreement and it all goes wrong, the partnership will be covered by the Partnership Act 1890, whose provisions may not always seem fair.

For example, under it partners can withdraw without giving notice. This could mean they insist on the immediate return of their capital and the business may be forced to close down as a result. If you do not however, have an agreement you may be liable for all sorts of costs and you have no legal standing. It is very important to make sure all of your agreements are legal and will withstand in a court of law.

Clarify Relationships

You can find yourself in a partnership without realising it, for example, if you run a business with somebody but don't employ them, this often happens with husbands and wives or other family members. In a partnership, each partner is responsible for business debts incurred by other partners and there is no limit to their liability.

Put Everything in Writing

I cannot stress enough how important it is to have everything in writing. If things go wrong you have no legal standing without some form of documentation (which includes all correspondence), contracts are the basis of all business relationships. A contract will include four key components: Consideration, an obligation to pay or a promise to provide something in return for something of value. Certainty, the contract must clearly state what is expected of all parties. The intention to be legally bound and an offer and an acceptance. However, contracts can be oral and it isn't always clear when one has been made.

Confirm every agreement in writing so everyone knows where they stand. What is the brief? Who will pay? When? How much? Are expenses included? What are the acceptance criteria? Who will own copyright? It is important that all aspects are covered and that there are no grey areas.

Make Sure all Employees Have a Contract

It is very important to have a contract of employment in place from day one for all employees. Make sure that all new employees are entitled to work in this country, or you could face heavy penalties. The contracts act to protect both parties.

Know your Employment Laws

Employment laws in this country are very precise on what you can and cannot do. Before you fire someone, make them redundant or change their terms and conditions of employment, take legal advice. If you don't, you could find yourself open to claims for unfair dismissal, discrimination or breach of contract. Also warn employees that discrimination, sexual harassment and other illegal acts will not be tolerated.

The Importance of Health & Safety

If you fail to carry out your health and safety obligations you may face prosecution, your insurance premiums may rise and you may find difficulty in obtaining insurance altogether. In the worst cases your business may be closed until you adhere to the Health & Safety laws. Information packs are available from the Health & Safety Executive which will outline your legal requirements. The Government are legally entitled to carry out spot checks on your premises at any time.

Make Sure you are Insured

Insurance is vital from a financial viewpoint. There are also legal requirements for employer's and public liability insurance. If you sell products, product liability insurance will protect you if someone injured by a defect in your product successfully sues you.

Are you Covered?

Many people find it hard to imagine that work they have done will result in a claim for hundreds of thousands of pounds. However, most people only contribute a link in a chain, so the effects of a mistake can be out of all proportion to their individual contribution. If you offer services or advice you must get adequate professional indemnity insurance. Indemnity cover is needed for years after the work has been done, because it has to cover when the claim is made. Failure to do this will leave you open to claims that may make you bankrupt!

Terms and Conditions

If you don't spell out in black and white your terms and conditions of trade (T&Cs) you are giving you customers the licence to pay you when they feel like it. And if they go into liquidation before paying you, you may not be able to reclaim your goods if you do not have a Retention of Title clause in your Terms & Condition?s. Draft some suitable Terms & Condition?s for your business and ask a solicitor to check them. You must ensure your customer agrees to them, and ideally, signs them when placing an order.

Data Protection

If you keep any information about individuals you may need to notify the Data Protection Commissioner. It is not expensive (approximately ?35 per year) and very simple to do. However, it is a criminal offence to break the law on data protection. If you are caught, you face a fine of ?5,000 plus costs in a Magistrate's Court, or an unlimited fine in the High Court. Contact your local government who will be able to guide you in the right direction to obtaining the relevant information.

Read the Small Print

Read all loan and overdraft agreements carefully to ensure you understand what you are letting yourself in for. Be very wary of signing personal guarantees. Banks often seek to over secure' their lending. Once you have signed any paperwork you will be legally bound to any terms and conditions that are set out in the small print, no matter how unreasonable they may be. It is imperative that you read all small print before signing anything.

Property Pitfalls

Be careful when signing lease agreements, especially for property. Even if you move and sell the lease on, you could find yourself liable if the next person defaults. Check whether you will be liable to repair and improve the property under the terms of your lease.

Avoiding the legal pitfalls will help ensure that smooth running of your business and will also prevent you from receiving any unwelcome fines.

How to Create Well-Defined Processes

 by: Chris Anderson

Interested in learning how to reduce development time, save money and stay in control? Business professionals can learn how to create well-defined processes with the easy-to-manage Process Approach of Plan-Do-Check-Act.

Real Tools for Real Business Process

In MBA courses, students come across a lot of buzzwords and the theories behind them. And in the textbook, the terms look and sound great. But after they finish with their classes, they think to themselves: so now what I can I do with all of these terms like process mapping and control? How can I use these tools in my job, and why is it important for my business ? in the real world?

A Fresh, New Look Management Effectiveness

Even though these business men and women are feeling a little discouraged, they still know the importance of attaining this knowledge. So, for their jobs, they look to take further courses out there like ?How to Create Well-Defined Processes to Build Effective Management Systems.? They are a little skeptical going in, thinking that they will get just more of the same quick and simple definitions. But, surprisingly, they are happy to say that such a course shows them something quite different.

These courses fill in the missing context that they need. It thoroughly shows them the how, and thoughtfully explains the why. They receive a fresh outlook, and many highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to improve their business.

Easy Learning Process

Fortunately, because of such a course?s open classroom environment, the instructors can answer both general and specific questions. The setting welcomes participation and discussion to develop solutions, which on-the-go business professionals very much appreciate. And so did Otis Jones, PMO Manager at Sara Lee Baking Group, who attended such a course. He was especially impressed with the user friendliness of the course content.

?Process mapping, process variability and the various process diagnostic tools were all excellent lessons to learn,? Jones said. ?The detail that they gave me in these areas was exactly what I was hoping for.? Jones also said that he would push for other Sara Lee managers to take such a course so that they can better prepare for their business discovery phase. Next Jones will implement the information he learned into his company?s internal training documents.

Gain Process Knowledge

And many others too are encouraged. Such courses prove to them that a business does not have to just hope for the best of luck. Business owners and executives can clearly define processes, and then monitor and improve them to keep the system consistent, efficient and effective. With Plan-Do-Check-Act, this can let one see if there is any waste in the system, and also how to reduce this waste and save money.

Walk Away Empowered

Individuals can walk away energized with a sense of empowerment. They can walk away with the profound knowledge that they can make tangible improvements in everyday processes. Everyone desires to feel better about their jobs and businesses, and through this type of course they can take the first steps to learn how.

The Long Term Benefits From Pay Per Click Advertising

 by: Kevin OHara

The long term benefits from pay per click advertising.

Businesses are starting to look closely at the long-term benefits from pay per click advertising. Pay per click search engines are primarily used for sales in the now time frame, but they are also being used to build a business identity that their customers will remember. This form of brand awareness can be applied to a company of any size, large or small. If you take a look at a traditional magazine or newspaper ad, the companies are using that advertising to increase their brand awareness. The purpose of the ad is to direct the customer to their products or services but there is no chance to make a sale immediately. They are referred to a website or a retailer. When search engine advertising, as potential customers search the web looking for a product or service and see the same site come up in their searches time and time again it begins to create that same brand awareness for that product or service.

Over 85% of all searches on the Internet are done through search engines and they are the best tools for enhancing a company?s identity. They are identity builders, and they direct targeted consumers who are looking for your product or service right to your doorstep. In the long term, brand awareness can bring visitors to their site without additional advertising. By using the power of search engines you can use the Internet to deliver a targeted prospective customer who is actively looking for your products or services right to your doorstep and build long term brand awareness at the same time.

Business Funding

 by: Monte Zwang

Every business needs money at one time or another. The process of obtaining financing can be daunting and the chances of success limited if it is approached in a disorganized or haphazard way. Lenders are conservative critters; however it is important to understand that it is their job to lend money, and they are happy to do so if their risk is reasonable. The chances of obtaining a business loan are greatly enhanced if you adhere to the following procedure.

KNOW WHAT YOU NEED

Understand how you intend to use business financing, how much funding you need and how you intend to repay the loan. Be able to communicate this clearly and confidently with prospective lenders.

UNDERSTAND YOUR CURRENT SITUATION

If you are an existing business, are you profitable, and does your balance sheet have positive equity? What does your credit look like? Have a clear understanding of any existing liens and lien priority. Know your credit score and answers to derogatory credit issues (liens, judgments, slow pays, collection actions) before presenting your application. If there have been credit, profitability or equity issues in the past, present a credible argument as to why these issues have been resolved or how this loan will change this situation.

KNOW YOUR OPTIONS

All lending is critiqued from a risk standpoint. Certain levels of risk will qualify for certain types of financing. The level of risk is reflected in the cost of the financing. The more secure a lender's money is, the less it costs you. Get creative. Financing takes many forms, and is available from a wide range of sources.

Standard (conventional) bank financing usually offers the best interest rates, however it is the most difficult to qualify for. These loans appear as a long-term liability on the business balance sheet. Conventional loans are available through banks and other lending institutions and can be guaranteed in whole or part by the SBA.

Revolving Lines of Credit are another form of business financing. This type of loan is secured by accounts receivable or inventory and is available from a bank or an Asset Based Lender. Credit cards are a form of revolving line of credit. An Asset-Based Line of Credit (ABL) is considered alternative financing and is available to borrowers who are too highly leveraged for a bank.

Real Property, Equipment Leases and Notes are another form of business financing. In these contracts the collateral for the loan is the property or equipment itself. When there is no outstanding balance owed on the asset, the property or equipment could be used in a Sale-Leaseback transaction. Here, the asset is sold to the lender for cash, and the borrower leases the property from the lender until the loan is paid.

Landlords can be a source of financing. It is not uncommon for a landlord to contribute dollars or rent concessions to the development of a tenant?s space. For this loan, the landlord may require a Percentage of Gross Sales Clause in the lease as repayment. Extended vendor terms for purchase of product may provide short-term operating capital loans.

In the event that additional credit strength is required, loan guarantors or borrowing someone?s credit may help the borrower qualify for less expensive financing. Be flexible. Your final package may be comprised of several lending solutions

PRESENT A CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLE PROPOSAL

Lenders need to know who you are personally, professionally and financially. The lender needs to evaluate Income Tax returns (Corporate and Personal), financial statements (income statement and balance sheet) and a cash flow projection. The balance sheet has to look a specific way. The Current Ratio should be at least 1:1, and the Debt to Equity Ratio should be at least 4:1.

Be specific as to how the money is going to be used and how it will be paid back. Lenders want to know what is securing their debt. Lenders evaluate the quality of the collateral, and want to insure that it is adequate to secure the debt in case of default. A secondary source of repayment is required prior to granting standard financing. The personal guarantee of the borrower is often required. In some situations, a lender may seek secondary collateral. Secondary collateral is simply some other asset in which you have equity or ownership, i.e. equipment, property, inventory, notes.

Business funding is not difficult if the borrower is creative and realistic. Know how much money you need and how you are going to use it. Be prepared to defend your needs and anticipate the lender?s questions. In the event that a lender cannot grant your request, perhaps it is the way a loan is packaged. Find a lender who is willing to make recommendations that will help you find financing. A good lender will tell you quickly if they can help you or not. If an intelligent and organized package is presented, a timely response is warranted.

Menu Driven Business Planning

 by: Monte Zwang

So you want to open a restaurant? Many people come to me with their plans, and ideas after they have decided to build or open a restaurant. It is my responsibility to assist them in their planning process and determine how clearly they have thought their concept through. I ask them to show me a menu, and if their initial response is "I haven't gotten that far in my planning process yet," my response is ?You haven't started the planning process yet?.

A menu is the foundation of any restaurant; Guests will support or avoid a restaurant for its food. Starting with a preliminary menu is a simple and basic approach to restaurant development. Begin with a menu, and you are light years ahead in the restaurant development process. A menu will tell you and your Guest what you are trying to be as a business, and greatly enhance your chances for success.

I view a menu for content, image and pricing. Content (the actual items on the menu) will dictate service staffing needs, level of culinary experience and type of management required. Who will be doing the cooking, do they have experience in this type of food, and how much are you paying them?

Image is how the Guest will perceive the menu. Menu image helps define the targeted clientele and which other restaurants this operation would be competing with. Are the content and image of the menu appealing to your desired clientele? Pricing helps determine a potential restaurant?s competitive placement. Is the pricing for the type of food offered competitive with other's in the market area, and does it permit the ability to manage a profitable food cost? Pricing sets the Guest's expectations in terms of food and service quality. This perception will, in turn, help define appropriate staffing levels. The budgeting process can now begin. Analysis of menu content, image and pricing will tell prospective restaurant operators whether their concept is appropriate for a certain market area.

With a preliminary menu in hand, a prospective operator can target a location that will be convenient and appropriate for their desired clientele. Once a site or facility is selected, sales volumes can be projected based on number of seats, menu pricing and the competitive business analysis. With projected sales volumes, how much an operator can spend to acquire, remodel or build a facility is determined. Leases and/or purchase agreements can now be negotiated.

With a clear menu, competitive analysis, sales forecast and development budget, financing can realistically be sought. A business plan can be derived which, if taken to potential investors will demonstrate what type of return they can anticipate on their investment.

Any restaurant business plan must begin with a menu. A proposed menu provides the basics for many questions that must be answered during the restaurant development process. It creates an image of the restaurant, identifies targeted clientele, and defines the proposed restaurant's competition. A preliminary menu allows a sound basis for business budgeting, tests potential profitability, and dictates the development dollars required for a facility. Most importantly, beginning the business planning process with a menu maintains the focus of ownership on the importance of food and the impact it has on the success of the restaurant.

Should You Lie On Your Resume?

 by: Donna Monday

Warning: Lying on your resume could cost you your job and your freedom.

Picture this. You?re sitting at your desk working away happily at a company you?ve been employed with for ten years. You?ve had several promotions and you?re now a Sr. Assistant Manager.

You?ve got your eye on a top management position, which everyone says you?re a shoe-in to get. Your future looks bright, indeed. So, when the boss calls you into the office for something extremely important, you assume it?s going to be really good news.

Instead, it?s your worst nightmare.

Your boss hands you a letter of termination, and worse, you?re told that you better get a lawyer. The employer is going to press charges against you for criminal fraud. Why is all this happening to you?

Suddenly it comes back to you. You lied on your resume ten years ago and did some funky things to back up your lie. Now it?s finally caught up to you all these years later. But what?s the big deal?

Lying on a resume isn?t a crime is it?

Umm . . . Yes, it is. In fact, it?s a felony.

It?s an illegal act to lie on your resume about your credentials and intentionally mislead an employer by using measures such as hacking into computer databases or using toll-free phone numbers to verify false information.

If you?re ever caught fabricating outright lies about your experience and qualifications, be aware that you could literally go to jail ? even 10 years after the fact.

Getting caught in these types of lies may be easier than you think. Employers are doing more thorough background checking on potential employees and current employees applying for promotions. If you say you have a B.A. or a Masters degree, they won?t just take your word for it. Many employers will request a college transcript directly from your school to check if your statement is true.

So the next time you apply for a job either online or off line, remember that honesty is the best policy. By the way, it?ll also keep you out of the slammer.

Resume Writing and Preparation is Free Online

 by: Donna Monday

Creating a strong resume is a very important part of applying for a job, either online or off line. There are many resume writing services that will help you build an impressive resume for job interviews.

You can also learn how to write a resume for free by surfing the Internet for resume writing help. Many sites will show you tips and advice on choosing a resume style that works best for you.

You can also find samples of resumes, resume templates, resume software, and examples of resume cover sheets or letters.

Whether you?re looking to create a business resume, marketing resume, military resume, electronic resume, accounting resume, nursing resume, acting resume, sales resume, teacher resume, executive resume, student resume or a customer service resume, you can find great advice online with a little research.

When preparing your resume, keep in mind that employers use resumes for several purposes:

• Screen Applicants ? Most employers will only look at a resume for about 30 seconds to determine whether or not an applicant is a good fit for their organization.

• Develop Interview Questions ? Statements on your resume can be used to formulate questions they may ask during an interview.

• Communication Skills ? Employers want to see how well you express yourself.

• Qualifications ? Employers will reference your resume when making hiring decisions based on how closely your qualifications match their needs.

Writing a resume isn?t easy, but by studying various tips and advice, you can learn to create a type of resume that will get you one step closer to your ultimate goal of finding a great job.

5 Simple Rules for A Great Job Interview

 by: Donna Monday

Many years ago, when I was a young job-searching greenhorn, I ventured to New York City to take a bite out of the big apple of opportunity.

When it came to finding a job in a crowded city of millions, I quickly learned that it?s much easier on one?s sanity to sign up with one of the many employment agencies which helps job seekers looking for work.

I scoured the newspaper and found a large ad for one such well-known employment agency. True to their word, they promptly sent me off on several interviews ? none of which I felt particularly comfortable at. Needless to say, I didn?t get any job offers.

While nursing a cold, I decided I needed a change. So, I contacted a much smaller agency and decided to see if my luck would be different.

These people rocked! They were down-to-earth friendly and genuinely concerned about helping me find a job. Before they sent me out on any interviews, they put me through a mock interview session and evaluated my performance (something the larger fancy-pants agency didn?t do). Afterwards, an advisor sat me down and we chatted about the results of my mock interview.

I am forever grateful for the feedback I got that day, because the interview preparation tips they gave me have served me well over countless interviews these many years. I?ve condensed their pointers into five simple rules that anyone can follow for better success at a job interview.

1. Eye Contact ? Look directly at your interviewer. Don?t cast your eyes down.

2. Sit up Straight ? Don?t slouch in your chair ? it makes you look lazy and uninterested. Good posture makes you look like a confident person.

3. Don?t Fidget ? Keep your hands in your lap when you?re not making a point in the conversation. Fidgeting looks unprofessional.

4. Speak Up ? Don?t mumble your words. Speak directly at your interviewer with a clear, strong voice.

5. Smile and Show Some Personality ? It?s ok to be a little nervous, but remember to stay loose and be yourself. Personality counts for a lot.

Of course, there?s a lot more to think about when preparing for an interview. But even if you only remember these five simple interviewing rules, you?ll be able to make a good impression on the one person standing between you and a job ? your interviewer.

Surprise! Accounting is the Hot New Major

 by: Donna Monday

There was a time when accounting was the boring college major that many people regretted signing up for. A constant barrage of numbers, statistics and spreadsheets was none too interesting.

Boy, have times changed! Thanks to recent accounting scandals by companies like Enron, there is a high demand for accountants and auditors.

According to the Job Outlook 2005 survey, accounting comes out on top as the most in-demand major on college campuses. Forget dot com start ups. Cleaning up a company?s accounting books is what?s in.

But can accounting be sexy?

?All the focus on accounting created a perception to students that accounting matters and is perhaps even sexy,? says Ira Solomon, head of the department of accountancy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Colleges are scrambling to find more accounting teachers and professors to replace those retiring. Not an easy task, since there are twice as many accounting faculty openings than applicants to fill them.

Here are the top 10 most in-demand college majors as surveyed by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE):

1. Accounting

2. Electrical Engineering

3. Mechanical Engineering

4. Business Administration/Management

5. Economics/Finance

6. Computer Science

7. Computer Engineering

8. Marketing/Marketing Management

9. Chemical Engineering

10. Information Sciences and Systems

If you?re good with numbers and a stickler for details, you might want to consider accounting as a good career choice. However, you?ll probably have to take a number and wait in line behind all those other future accountant hopefuls.

Dressing Tips for Interview Success

 by: Donna Monday

Dressing appropriately for job interviews is one of those areas that puzzles some people.

Should you dress conservatively or wear casual attire?

What colors work best?

What types of shoes should you wear?

As a rule, you should dress conservatively for most job interviews. Remember, you only get one shot at making a good first impression.

Here are some basic dress for success tips:

• Research how people in a particular field/organization dress and then dress accordingly. If you?re not sure what the dress code is, dress conservatively.

• Conservative formal dress consists of a suit (gray, navy, or black) with a nice dress shirt/blouse. Shoes should be dark and well-shined. Women can also wear a tailored dress with or without a jacket. Pumps with low to medium heels are best.

• Business casual is a more relaxed look for both men and women. Casual interview wear can consist of a sports coat or jacket with pants or a skirt in an attractive contrasting color. Think: Navy blazer with khaki pants, etc. Add a casual shirt or turtleneck to complete the look.

• Hair and nails should be clean and well-groomed.

• Skip the perfume and aftershave. You don?t want to turn an interviewer off by overpowering their sense of smell.

• Avoid wearing noisy, dangling earrings and bracelets ? these can look inappropriate and be distracting. Hide or remove body piercings and tattoos.

Learning how to dress smart for your interviews will create a great impression and also give your self-confidence a real boost.

Traveling for An Interview? 10 Tips to Get You From Here to There

 by: Donna Monday

You?ve just been granted an on-site interview in another town. Hurray!

This means you?ll be traveling to an employer?s location so that they can further evaluate you for a specific job position.

Before you make any travel arrangements, it?s a good idea to discuss who will be paying for your trip ? you or the employer. If you?re paying, find out if you?ll be reimbursed. It?s a good idea to save all your receipts from the trip if you?re being reimbursed for expenses.

Here?s some things to keep in mind when traveling to interviews:

1) Let the employer know immediately if you have to cancel the trip or make any changes to your visit.

2) Unless the employer is reserving your flight and hotel room, you will need a way to make reservations in advance.

3) Get all directions and transportation instructions to your destination ahead of time.

4) Factor in your commute time when planning to leave for the interview destination. How long will it take you to get there in traffic?

5) Avoid late airplane flights. These can be cancelled or delayed at a moment?s notice.

6) Bring your interview clothes with you on the plane ? just in case your checked luggage is lost or delayed.

7) It?s okay to wear casual clothes while traveling if there is no employer representative waiting to meet you when you arrive.

8) When you check into the hotel, ask the clerk if there are any messages or information for you from the employer.

9) Schedule a morning wake up call with the hotel so you don?t oversleep. Or, bring a travel alarm clock.

10) Bring extra copies of resumes, recommendation letters, transcripts, contact information, etc.

More Uses for Your Business Plan

 by: Gerry McRae

You have invested a lot of time and energy on writing a business plan just to get a loan or to attract an investor. What do you do when you get the money or, worse, should you be turned down?

Do you just file it away? That's like investing in a boat that remains parked in your driveway after its inaugural voyage.

Instead of filing it away or leaving it on a shelf to gather dust, why not capture more return on your investment? To gain a clearer perspective, convert your investment of time and energy into a dollar amount. Then, you'll think twice before filing your business plan away.

Ways to capitalize on your investment

1. Expand the marketing section for an ongoing planning document, or for periodic reviews, or for revising marketing strategies. The historical data, projections, competition surveys and analyses are valuable bases for updating the data into a working framework. The material is a convenient reference for when you are asked to make an oral presentation, to write an article, to provide background data for ad copy or for other promotional activities.

2. Save the various sections as templates for any number of purposes. Some of these can be used for decision-making, for analyzing proposals and new ventures, or for dispensing with those time-consuming 'dream/someday' projects.

3. Use some excerpts for such Human Resource Management activities as: orienting and training a new associate, or as a preparation for a staff promotion.

4. All your grueling work on the financial data can form the foundation for financial controls and reviews, budget-actual sheets and as background for trend projections. Your original documents serve as benchmarks and as reminders of your progress for your bankers.

5. You will not have to start out from scratch should you have a similar need to re-apply for funds, tender an invitation to a partner, or supply data for the experts should you consider 'going public.' The evidence of before-and-after progress is helpful as a contribution to a 'for sale' proposal, or for a sudden and urgent offer to buy. Plans for expansion, mergers, spin-offs, or cooperative alliances can start with your collected data.

6. Your business plan, with its appendices, is a convenient repository for company data and records, equipment details, floor plans, measurements, maps, contact details for legal and accounting consultants, general historical information, industry descriptions including your historical SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis of the past, current and future at the time of its writing.

7. Create in-house displays of your mission statement, the organizational chart or the photographs and biographical sketches of your benefactors and supporters.

Don't have a business plan in your files? Begin preparing portions today as an investment for that day when you will need one. It's quite probable that when that need arises you will be too pre-occupied to devote the required time and energy on an appropriate plan.

Now, you have a greater incentive to do a more thorough business plan today, knowing it is going to serve several useful purposes in the future.

4 Steps to Success In Life, Business, The Universe And

 by: Keith Longmire

Everyone wants to succeed in life. And no one starts a business of any sort, on-line or off-line, wanting to fail.

Yet the sad fact is that 80% of offline and 97% of internet businesses will fail in the first year. 84% of internet businesses will never make any income at all.

So what can you do to ensure your success?

Luckily these four simple (never confuse simple with easy), tried and tested steps dramatically increases your chances.

1. Set Out Your Goals

Success means something different to us all. A self-made businessman worth millions of dollars would be thought successful by most. But if that businessman only rarely sees his family, never gets to play golf and spends all of his time on airplanes or in some exotic sounding (but usually antiseptic) hotel, is that really a success?

Would that businessman think his life a success?

Possibly, possibly not.

But if that man had set himself goals for his business, private and social lives he at least has some way of measuring his achievements.

Before starting on any endeavour - set your goals.

Make sure your goals are specific enough that you know when you have achieved them. "I want to make money on the internet" is weak. "I want to make $100,000 next year and $200,000 the year after" is much stronger.

Don't forget to include your private and social goals. Many rich people complain that they have all the freedom that money can buy - but money can't buy the time to enjoy what they have earned.

2. Plan, Plan, Plan

If the number one key to success in retailing is location, location and location, the number one key to success in business is plan, plan, plan.

Remember the 5 Ps success model - Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance. (When I was taught this in the military there was a 6th P - for the sake of a mixed audience I have left this out. Use your imagination - you'll guess what it was :-))

If you've done your goal setting you know what you are going to achieve. The point of planning is how you are going to do it. Break each goal down into constituent steps needed for its achievement. For each step decide what, who, where and when it is to be done.

Be realistic and make sure that every step is achievable in the time set. Be prepared - when you plan-out all that you need to do, the amount of work can be daunting. Better to know this up-front than sale merrily into a venture only to find it is a huge monster that is going to take you a lifetime to kill.

3. Action Counts

I've seen some beautiful plans. Highly researched, well thought out and presented. I'll talk to a business owner and they'll say, "We've got a plan" and, after searching around for a while, pull it out of the bottom draw of a filing cabinet.

"So, why aren't you using it", I'll ask. Nine times out of 10 the plan was produced to obtain funding. Despite the really good work to produce the plan once finance is received the plan is put to one side and ignored.

Big mistake. Taking action is the only thing that counts. And the plan ensures that your actions deliver your goals.

Every successful business I have looked at has clear, current business, operational and marketing plans. It doesn't matter whether your business is offline or online - effective plans deliver results.

4. Another 5 'P's to Success

Passion - You have to believe in what you are doing. No where is this more obvious than on the internet. You can spot the 'me-too' advertisers in a second. The people who succeed are the ones in have passion, who truly believe in what they are doing. So do something that you love.

Push - No matter how good your plan you have to provide a big push to get it moving. Your plan inevitably involves change. Achieving change takes effort. Think of it as if you were trying to move a boulder. To get that boulder up and moving takes a lot of muscle and effort. Once it is moving though it becomes much easier.

Persistence - Getting started is relatively easy. Afterall, you are all fired up with energy and enthusiasm at that time. Few things worth achieving happen over night. Instead, there will be problems, hold-ups and frustrations. Don't allow yourself to become disillusioned or demotivated. You need persistence.

Patience - Results don't happen instantly. Allied to persistence you will need some patience.

Profit - OK, OK it's trite. But follow the steps here, gear yourself to provide these 5 Ps and you will succeed.

No one can guarantee your success whether in life or in business. You can dramatically increase your chances of success through these four simple, very well established principles.

The question is, "WILL YOU"?

Justify Social Security ... Don't Save for Retirement

 by: Kemberly Wardlaw

It is a common question when investors review their retirement plan?should we include social security benefits into our retirement income projections?

It seems the closer an investor is to retirement, the more likely he/she will include social security benefits into the analysis. Younger investors, however, may feel compelled to omit such benefits. They must then become mavericks on the retirement front. The choice is yours, but before you decide the influence of social security on your future, remember the following points:

When Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the social security act in 1935, he stated that social security gives some protection to American families. One reoccurring theme of his statement focused on assistance, not 100% protection. In the President?s words, ?the law will flatten out the peaks and valleys of deflation and of inflation (source: http://www.ssa.gov).?

For many, the Social Security Administration has raised the age of full retirement from 65 to adopt a more stringent schedule. This may be an addition of a couple of months or a couple of years. The administration justifies the increases due to longer life expectancies and general healthier life styles.

For example, those born after 1960, your full retirement age is 67. Going forward, we should ask ourselves ?what other changes will be made to social security?? If you would like a complete schedule of retirement ages for full benefits, I recommend you visit Social Security's website at http://www.ssa.gov.

An opinion adopted by many is to consider social security in part the closer you are to retirement. For example, if you are sixty years of age and plan on full retirement in five years, you should consider an analysis based on your current projected benefits. Even with the proposed reform plans, preservation of benefits is a priority for eligible citizens age 50-55 and older.

If however you are thirty, it may be better for you to omit such projections. The result will be overfunded personal savings. Thus social security will be an added benefit and not the benefit.

Consider the troubling issues of the 2004 OASDI Trustees Report: future scheduled benefits for today's young workers could be reduced by 27% or more if amendments to the current plan are not adopted.

Young workers should take note of this report. Do not rely on social security and concentrate on personal savings.

In conclusion, you have a risky option?there is only one way to justify social security, don't save for retirement. If this is your chosen route, be prepared for difficult times ahead.

UK Debt When Moving Abroad

 by: Nicola Bullimore

The idea of moving abroad to escape debt seems to be more of a common practice these days. People who have failed businesses or are swamped in debt believe that moving abroad will give them a fresh start and allow them to build a new life.

Reading some of the comments on various UK debt forums opinions on this seem to be divided. Some people think running away from debt is too much of a risk, and creditors will eventually catch up with them whilst others encourage the idea, stating that there is no way you will be found and people should move on and enjoy a new life free from the responsibilities of debt.

In the past this might have been a successful way to start a new life without the worry of unpaid debt. However, creditors and courts alike seem to have caught up with the idea over the last few years and have taken action to make it more difficult for people to escape the responsibility of paying the money they owe.

Creditors taking action

Germany and Canada have reciprocal agreements with the UK when it comes to tracing debtors and debt collection practices. There is not much information available regarding other countries with such agreements although a search on the web may reveal more, it is possible that creditors do not want this information to be readily available.

A reciprocal agreement in the UK means a UK Court can enforce a CCJ (County Court Judgment) using the legal system of the other country. If there is no such agreement in place, a creditor can sell a debt to an agency in the relevant country and debt recovery procedures will commence under the law of that land.

Tracing a debtor

The resources available to creditors for tracing a debtor are vast. Although the resources in some countries may be limited, there are still ways and means of finding people, especially once the creditor has some idea of where the debtor has gone. A creditor may have their own office in that country, or relations with other credit companies in that area.

Creditors employ a variety of tactics to trace debtors. They may go to the last known address, talk to the neighbours, family friends or relatives who could unknowingly tell them of the person?s whereabouts. Once they know which country the debtor is in, their job is made much easier.

Using an ATM card in another country shows us how easy it is to get information from a UK account abroad. If we can do this so simply, what other information is able to zip round the world almost instantaneously?

Having resources to trace a debtor or having agreements with other countries, or even the possibility of selling the debt to an agency in the appropriate country does not automatically mean that a creditor will be successful in tracing a debtor. In some cases, people do get away with it. A creditor has a period of 6 years from the last time a person acknowledged a debt to use the legal system to recover monies. However, if a creditor has taken legal action on an account, the debt can be legally recoverable indefinitely. This means that someone could start a new life abroad and work hard for the assets they accumulated, only to find a few years down the line that a creditor has traced them! Everything they have worked for is put at risk and could be taken from them to repay their debt.

What are the Options?

Many people who move abroad to escape their debts may not be aware of the free financial help available. They do not even need to telephone the UK, as there is free advice and help available on the web. Just a quick email can put someone?s mind at rest and make them realise they are not alone.

There are companies such as FCL Debt Clinic (www.debtclinic.co.uk) who offer free financial assessment and advice. FCL can also refer clients to a Debt Management Company who charge no fees and can help negotiate affordable monthly repayments on their clients? behalf by setting up repayment plans with their creditors. Anyone with a UK bank account or the use of one for transferring money, with UK debts, can be helped. This way, the ever-present worry of whether a debt is still around is no longer there to haunt you.

Savvy Internet Marketers

 by: Willie Crawford

You know that your business will probably grow slower than molasses in the Winter unless you joint venture and partner with other online marketers. If you're just launching your own product or service, you really need access to their lists. You need access to their contacts.

You also know... intuitively, that people like partnering with their friends. They like partnering with people whom they actually know and trust. Consequently, you know that you need to break into some of your desired partners' inner circles. You need to actually get to meet these people so that they do know and trust you.

Knowing the above facts leads you to the logical conclusion that you need to attend a few seminars and conferences so that you can meet like-minded individuals. You need to attend events like Michael Penland's Internet Marketing and Joint Venture Super Conference. This is the conference being held in Orlando, Florida, December 3rd - 5th. Read about it here: http://www.profitautomation.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=107710

If that event isn't appropriate for you, you can locate lots of other events (many close to where you live) at: http://InternetMarketingSeminarSchedule.com

So, you concede that you need to get out and meet some potential JV partners. 'BUT' - and there's that word. It's just too expensive. There's not only the costs of attending the event itself, but there's also travel, lodging, and meals. 'These expenses can really add up,' you whine :-)

'Not really!' the savvy internet marketer counters. If you're smart you can probably get into major hotels at many seminar locations for a mere fraction of the going rate. You can also get rental cars or airfare at bargain prices.

'Tell me more,' you say!

Several years ago, I listened to an audio tape of Wade Cook speaking at a seminar. He explained that his travel and lodging was practically free. He stayed at only 4-star hotels and traveled the world... dirt cheap. Wade's secret... he was registered as a travel agent.

It's a little know fact that cruise lines, hotels, resorts, condo operators, car rental companies, and those offering all kinds of travel packages, often offer deep discounts to travel agents. They let travel agents take advantage of what are called 'fam trips' or 'fam rates.' 'Fam' is short for familiarization. These companies offer these incredible deep discounts to travel agents because they want the travel agents to be able to make a heart-felt recommendation for their resort, cruise, or luxury travel package to their clients.

The simple economics behind giving these fam rates to travel professionals is that they are offering rooms or other accommodations that would otherwise go unused. If you have spare cabins on a cruise ship, or extra rooms in a luxury resort, why not at least make a few dollars while building a relationship with someone who can help grow your business?

Ok, I've let that secret out. I am a 'card carrying' referring travel agent. That means I can often get such deep discounts that it costs me practically NOTHING to attend conferences and seminar in major cities. There's a 'little' more to it than that. Some of the places, for example, may want you to attend an orientation or tour... but others don't.

This little discussed secret is so amazing that I can fly from Florida to places like Ireland, Hawaii, or Mexico and spend a week in a luxury resort for only hundreds of dollars. Check it out at: http://www.ytbnet.com/williecrawford

'Ok, so I can get my accommodations cheap, but it still costs a lot to get IN to these events.'

Not really. If at one of these events you form just one joint venture with someone with say... a list of 100,000... who agrees to send out an endorsed mailing for you, you could make back twenty times your investment. Remember, your purpose in attending these events (aside from learning from the speakers) is so that you can locate appropriate business partners and get your business growth un-stuck!

Take a look at Michael Penland's Internet Marketing and Joint Venture Super Conference again, and you'll see why seasoned Internet marketers like me will be sitting in the audience. http://www.profitautomation.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=107710 It's how we grow our businesses. We negotiate deals: in the hallway, at dinner, and after hours. We don't consider it an expense. It's a tiny, very wise investment.

Now you know several Savvy Internet Marketers' BIG Seminar Secrets. Your competitors are acting upon that knowledge right now. Are you?

Increase Your Sales in 5 Minutes

 by: Al Hanzal

Increase your sales?in five minutes. This article is the third in a series of five articles probing the five critical points influencing how you find a steady stream of customer for your business.

Customers Buy Benefits

You want more sales? Customers buy for one reason. They buy because your product or service has a benefit they want. Telling your customer your product has a 10 year warranty is a product feature. Telling them that in over 400 roofing jobs last year, there were no leaks, no call backs and no broken tile is selling the benefits your customer wants. Sell customer benefits and you will increase your sales.

Why You Sell Features

Bottom line, selling features is easier. Features are the visible things you see about products and services. Features are the things you see, touch, feel and smell.

Selling features is your self-interest. The products and services are your life-blood. You live with them every day. You know them inside and out. You love talking about them!

Identifying the benefits each customer wants it tough work. Customers are unique. Each buys for his or her own reason. It is easier to talk about common product features rather than uncover unique customer benefits.

Your Five Minute Exercise to More Sales!

The five minute exercise is called ?SO WHAT.? When you complete this exercise, you will change your from selling product features to selling customer benefits. Remember, customer benefits are what sell! Here is how it works.

You create a five minute dialogue between a pretend customer and yourself. It?s important to speak this conversation out loud. Start with one of your most popular business features. Explain the feature to your pretend customer. Then listen as the customer says, ?so what?? Now answer the customer?s so what question. Then listen as the customer says, ?so what?? to your response. Again answer the customer?s so what question. The customer again responds with a ?so what? question. Keep doing this dialogue until the customer no longer asks you a ?so what?? question.

Now, you have identified a customer benefit!

Check Out This Example

This is how an insurance agent used the exercise. I asked him, ?What distinguishes you from other agents?? He told me, ?I find the cheapest and best policy for my customers.? I responded, ?So what??

He said, ?Well, unlike other agents, I customize each policy for my customer.? I said, ?So what?.

He answered, ?As part of my program, I promise to keep my customer informed about any policies changes that may benefit them in the future. ? I asked ?So what?.

He responded, ?The customer has the security of knowing that they have the best program and best costs for their insurance.? I said, ?So you are guaranteeing me that I can go to bed at night and not worry that I am paying too much for my insurance??

?Exactly,? he exclaimed, ?That is the security I provide each customer with my insurance program!?

By using the SO WHAT exercise, the agent moved from selling the ?cheapest rates? (business feature) to providing the customer the security of knowing he will always have the best rates (customer benefit).

Which agent would you buy from; the one with the cheapest rate or the one that provided you with security about your rate and policy?

Conclusion

Now, you have a simple way to make more money by improving your sales at no additional costs! Use the SO WHAT dialogue with each of your business features and start selling customer benefits. For a special report that shows how the five critical pieces work together in getting more customers for your business, Send an email to al@hanzal.com with subject line, ?Special Report.?

Copyright Al Hanzal, 2004. All Rights Reserved