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A Good overview of the FACT that the Federal Reserve is PRIVATELY OWNED.

2007-09-03T06:58:00.000-07:00

The Federal Reserve - An overview of the facts indicatiing the Federal Reserve is privately owned.The following file is a good overview of the FACT that the Federal Reserve is PRIVATELY OWNED.

[Part 1 of 3]

Acknowledgements: Our country likes to thank our forefathers for the Constitution.

I wish to thank Mr. Lou Gamboa for his research of the Constitution and our banking system. Lou Gamboa is a national speaker on the subject, and has spoken on numerous radio programs in an effort to educate the public.

I also want to thank Bob Corcoran for his research and encouragement.

I applaud the thousands of patriotic Americans who are spreading the word so we can live in economic prosperity and uphold our Constitutional rights.

ARTICLE 1, SECTION 8 OF THE CONSTITUTION STATES THAT CONGRESS SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO COIN (CREATE) MONEY AND REGULATE THE VALUE THEREOF.

IN 1935 THE SUPREME COURT RULED THAT CONGRESS CANNOT CONSTITUTIONALLY DELEGATE ITS POWER TO ANOTHER GROUP. (Reference 22, P. 168)

Rothschild, a London Banker, wrote a letter saying "It (Central Bank ) gives the National Bank almost complete control of national finance. The few who understand the system will either be so interested in its profits, or so dependent on its favours, that there will be no opposition from that class... The great body of the people, mentally incapable of comprehending, will bear its burden without complaint, and perhaps without even suspecting that the system is inimical (contrary) to their interests." [The bankers created the legislation for the FED]

In 1913, before the Senate Banking and Currency Committee, Mr. Alexander stated: "But the whole scheme of a Federal Reserve Bank with its commercial-paper basis is an impractical, cumbersome machinery, is simply a cover, to find a way to secure the privilege of issuing money and to evade payment of as much tax upon circulation as possible, and then control the issue and maintain, instead of reduce, interest rates. It is a system that, if inaugurated, will prove to the advantage of the few and the detriment of the people of the United States. It will mean continued shortage of actual money and further extension of credits; for when there is a lack of real money people have to borrow credit to their cost."

Dear American:

Pursuant to your request, I will attempt to clear up questions you have about the Federal Reserve Bank (FED). I spent much time researching the FED and these are the shocking and revealing conclusions.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK IS A PRIVATE COMPANY. Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution states that Congress shall have the power to coin (create) money and regulate the value thereof. Today however, the FED, which is a privately owned company, controls and profits by printing money through the Treasury, and regulating its value.

The FED began with approximately 300 people or banks that became owners (stockholders purchasing stock at $100 per share - the stock is not publicly traded) in the Federal Reserve Banking System. They make up an international banking cartel of wealth beyond comparison (Reference 1, 14).

The FED banking system collects billions of dollars (Reference 8, 17) in interest annually and distributes the profits to its shareholders. The Congress illegally gave the FED the right to print money (through the Treasury) at no interest to the FED. The FED creates money from nothing, and loans it back to us through banks, and charges interest on our currency. The FED also buys Government debt with money printed on a printing press and charges U.S. taxpayers interest. Many Congressmen and Presidents say this is fraud (Reference 1,2,3,5,17).

Who actually owns the Federal Reserve Central Banks? The ownership of the 12 Central banks, a very well kept secret, has been revealed:

Rothschild Bank of London Warburg Bank of Hamburg Rothschild Bank of Berlin Lehman Brothers of New York Lazard Brothers of Paris Kuhn Loeb Bank of New York Israel Moses Seif Banks of Italy Goldman, Sachs of New York Warburg Bank of Amsterdam Chase Manhattan Bank of New York (Reference 14, P. 13, Reference 12, P. 152)

These bankers are connected to London Banking Houses which ultimately control the FED. When England lost the Revolutionary War with America (our forefathers were fighting their own government), they planned to control us by controlling our banking system, the printing of our money, and our debt (Reference 4, 22).

The individuals listed below owned banks which in turn owned shares in the FED. The banks listed below have significant control over the New York FED District, which controls the other 11 FED Districts. These banks also are partly foreign owned and control the New York FED District Bank. (Reference 22)

First National Bank of New York James Stillman National City Bank, New York Mary W. Harnman National Bank of Commerce, New York A.D. Jiullard Hanover National Bank, New York Jacob Schiff Chase National Bank, New York Thomas F. Ryan Paul Warburg William Rockefeller Levi P. Morton M.T. Pyne George F. Baker Percy Pyne Mrs. G.F. St. George J.W. Sterling Katherine St. George H.P. Davidson J.P. Morgan (Equitable Life/Mutual Life) Edith Brevour T. Baker (Reference 4 for above, Reference 22 has details, P. 92, 93, 96, 179)

How did it happen? After previous attempts to push the Federal Reserve Act through Congress, a group of bankers funded and staffed Woodrow Wilson's campaign for President. He had committed to sign this act. In 1913, a Senator, Nelson Aldrich, maternal grandfather to the Rockefellers, pushed the Federal Reserve Act through Congress just before Christmas when much of Congress was on vacation (Reference 3, 4, 5). When elected, Wilson passed the FED. Later, Wilson remorsefully replied (referring to the FED), "I have unwittingly ruined my country" (Reference 17, P. 31). Now the banks financially back sympathetic candidates. Not surprisingly, most of these candidates are elected (Reference 1, P. 208-210, Reference 12, P. 235, Reference 14, P. 36). The bankers employ members of the Congress on weekends (nickname T&T club -out Thursday...-in Tuesday) with lucrative salaries (Reference 1, P. 209). Additionally, the FED started buying up the media in the 1930's and now owns or significantly influences most of it (Reference 3, 10, 11, P. 145).

Presidents Lincoln, Jackson, and Kennedy tried to stop this family of bankers by printing U.S. dollars without charging the taxpayers interest (Reference 4). Today, if the government runs a deficit, the FED prints dollars through the U.S. Treasury, buys the debt, and the dollars are circulated into the economy. In 1992, taxpayers paid the FED banking system $286 billion in interest on debt the FED purchased by printing money virtually cost free (Reference 12, P. 265). Forty percent of our personal federal income taxes goes to pay this interest. The FED's books are not open to the public. Congress has yet to audit it.

Congressman Wright Patman was Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency for 40 years. For 20 of those years, he introduced legislation to repeal the Federal Reserve Banking Act of 1913. Congressman Henry Gonzales, Chairman of a banking committee, introduces legislation to repeal the Federal Reserve Banking Act of 1913 nearly every year. It's always defeated, the media remains silent, and the public never learns the truth. The same bankers who own the FED control the media and give huge political contributions to sympathetic members of Congress (Reference 12, P. 155-163, Reference 22, P. 158, 159, 166). THE FED FEARS THE POPULATION WILL BECOME AWARE OF THIS FRAUD AND DEMAND CHANGE

We, the People, are at fault for being passive and allowing this to continue.

Rep. Louis T. McFadden (R. Pa.) rose from office boy to become cashier and then President of the First National Bank in Canton Ohio. For 12 years he served as Chairman of the Committee on Banking and Currency, making him one of the foremost financial authorities in America. He fought continuously for fiscal integrity and a return to constitutional government (Reference 1). The following are portions of Rep. McFadden's speech, quoted from the Congressional Record, pages 12595-12603:

"THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, A GOVERNMENT BOARD, HAS CHEATED THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OUT OF ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE NATIONAL DEBT. The depredations and the iniquities of the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve banks acting together have cost this country ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE NATIONAL DEBT SEVERAL TIMES OVER."

About the Federal Reserve banks, Rep. McFadden said, "They are private credit monopolies which prey upon the people of the United States for the benefit of themselves and their foreign customers; foreign and domestic speculators and swindlers; the rich and predatory money lenders. This is an era of economic misery and for the reasons that caused that misery, the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve banks are fully liable."

On the subject of media control he state, "Half a million dollars was spent on one part of the propaganda organized by those same European bankers for the purpose of misleading public opinion in regard to it."

Rep. McFadden continued, "Every effort has been made by the Federal Reserve Board to conceal its power but the truth is the Federal Reserve Board has USURPED THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES. IT CONTROLS EVERYTHING HERE AND IT CONTROLS ALL OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS. IT MAKES AND BREAKS GOVERNMENTS AT WILL. No man and no body of men is more entrenched in power than the arrogant credit monopoly which operates the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve banks. These evil-doers have robbed this country of more than enough money to pay the national debt. What the Government has permitted the Federal Reserve Board to steal from the people should now be restored to the people."

"Our people's money to the extent of $1,200,000,000 has within the last few months been shipped abroad to redeem Federal Reserve Notes and to pay other gambling debts of the traitorous Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve banks. The greater part of our monetary stock has been shipped to foreigners. Why should we promise to pay the debts of foreigners to foreigners? Why should American Farmers and wage earners add millions of foreigners to the number of their dependents? Why should the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve banks be permitted to finance our competitors in all parts of the world?" Rep. McFadden asked.

"The Federal Reserve Act should be repealed and the Federal Reserve banks, having violated their charters, should be liquidated immediately. FAITHLESS GOVERNMENT OFFICERS WHO HAVE VIOLATED THEIR OATHS SHOULD BE IMPEACHED AND BROUGHT TO TRIAL", Rep. McFadden concluded (Reference 1, contains an entire chapter on Rep. McFadden's speech).

If the media is unbiased, independent and completely thorough, why haven't they discussed the FED? Currently, half the states have at least a grass roots movement in action to abolish the FED, but there's no press coverage. In July, 1968, the House Banking Subcommittee reported that Rockefeller, through Chase Manhattan Bank, controlled 5.9% of the stock in CBS. Furthermore, the bank had gained interlocking directorates with ABC.

In 1974, Congress issued a report stating that the Chase Manhattan Bank's stake in CBS rose to 14.1% and NBC to 4.5% (through RCA, the parent company of NBC). The same report said that the Chase Manhattan Bank held stock in 28 broadcasting firms. After this report, the Chase Manhattan Bank obtained 6.7% of ABC, and today the percentage could be much greater. It only requires 5% ownership to significantly influence the media (Reference 14, P. 56-57). This is only one of 300 wealthy shareholders of the FED. It is believed other FED owners have similar holdings in the media. To control the media, FED bankers call in their loans if the media disagrees with them (Reference 25, P. 134-137).

Rockefeller also controls the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the sole purpose of which is to aid in stimulating greater interest in foreign affairs and in a one world government. Nearly every major newscaster belongs to the Council on Foreign Relations. The Council on Foreign Relations controls many major newspapers and magazines. Additionally, major corporations owned by FED shareholders are the source of huge advertising revenues which surely would influence the media (Reference 14, P. 56-59). It can be no wonder why groups such as FED-UP(tm) receive minimal, if any, press attention.

How do taxpayers stop financing those whose purpose it is to destroy us? First, expose their activity, then demand change.

THE SOLUTION:

Currently all we do is exchange FED money (interest attached) for real U.S. money (interest-free) dollar for dollar as Kennedy tried to do. We should not be required to pay interest on our own currency. According to Benjamin Franklin, this was one of the primary reasons we fought the Revolutionary War. Today we are still fighting the same family of bankers (Reference 4, Reference 1, P. 211, 212).

The U.S. Government can buy back the FED at any time for $450 million (per Congressional record). The U.S. Treasury could then collect all the profit on our money instead of the 300 original shareholders of the FED. The $4 trillion of U.S. debt could be exchanged dollar for dollar with U.S. non- interest bearing currency when the debt becomes due. There would be no inflation because there would be no additional currency in circulation.

Personal income tax could be cut if we bought back the FED and therefore, the economy would expand. According to the Constitution, Congress is to control the creation of money, keeping the amount of inflation or deflation in check. If Congress isn't doing their job, they should be voted out of office. Unfortunately, voters can't vote the FED or its Chairman out of office.

If the government has a deficit, we could handle it as Lincoln and Kennedy did. Print money and circulate it into the economy, but this time interest-free. Today the FED, through foreign banks, owns much of our debt and therefore controls us. The FED will cease to exist as taxpayers become informed and tell other taxpayers. The news media and Congress will have no choice but to meet the demands of grass roots America. (Reference 1, P. 17, 22)

AMERICA DECEIVED

By law (check the Congressional record), we can buy back the FED for the original investment of the FED's 300 shareholders, which is $450 million (Reference 1, P. 227, Reference 17, P. 36). If each taxpayer paid $25, we could buy back the FED and all the profit would flow into the U.S. Treasury. In other words, by Congress allowing the constitutionally illegal FED to continue, much of your taxes go to the shareholders of the FED and their bankers. Note: The people who enacted the FED started the IRS, within months of the FED's inception. The FED buys U.S. debt with money they printed from nothing, then charges the U.S. taxpayers interest.

The government had to create income tax to pay the interest expense to the FED's shareholders, but the income tax was never legally passed (Reference 20 shows details, state-by-state why it was not legally passed). The FED is illegal, per Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution.

Not one state legally ratified the 16th Amendment making income tax legal. Currently, fewer and fewer Americans are being convicted for refusal to pay income taxes. In IRS jury trials, the jury, by law, must decide if the law is just.

If taxpayers do not believe the law is just, the jury may declare the accused innocent. Judges are legally bound to inform juries of their right to determine the fairness of a law. Judges often do not disclose this information so they can control the court outcome. Luckily, more and more citizens are becoming informed. If one juror feels the law is unfair, they can find the defendant innocent (Reference 19). In Utah, the IRS quit prosecuting taxpayers because jurors verdict is not guilty. Please tell your friends and sit in the next jury.

If we eliminate the FED and uphold the Constitution, we could balance the budget and cut personal income tax to almost nothing. In Congressional hearings on September 30, 1941, FED Chairman Eccles admitted that the FED creates new money from thin air (printing press), and loans it back to us at interest (Reference 17, P. 93). On June 6, 1960, FED President Mr. Allen admitted essentially the same thing (Reference 22, P. 164). If you or I did this we would go to jail.

It is time to abolish the FED! Tell your friends the truth and win America back. We don't even need to buy back the FED. We only need to print money the way the Constitution requires, not the new proposed international money.

We want to keep our sovereignty and print real U.S. money. Why has Congress allowed the FED to continue? If a Congressperson tries to abolish the FED, the banks fund the Congressperson's opponent in the next election (Reference 17, P. 35). The new Congressperson will obviously support the FED. When Congresspeople retire, political campaign funds are not taxed. Get elected and be a millionaire if you vote right. By the way, the profit of the FED is not taxed either (Reference 1, 9). Once America understands, and takes action, Congresspeople will then gladly abolish the FED. In 1992, Illinois Congressman Crane introduced a bill, co-sponsored by 40 other Congressman, to audit the FED. This is a step in the right direction.

America is a great nation. As "We the People" become informed, the media and Congress will be forced to buy back the FED, balance the budget, significantly cut taxes, and stop allowing bribes to determine voting strategies. I have already heard from politicians who claim they will change their platform to include abolishing the FED if enough people become informed.

IT IS UP TO YOU TO INFORM THE PEOPLE. The FED hopes you will be passive and not act on this information. We believe in grass roots America - we are waking up America. Ultimately, the battle plan is to inform all Americans and demand change in the media and Congress. True Americans should run for office and throw out the politicians who allow this fraud to continue. Congress may refuse to deal with this issue. That's why each person needs to go to their local county/state government with the proper paperwork and ask them to abolish the FED. With the proper documents, they are legally obligated to do it. WE NEED LEADERS TO BEGIN THIS ACTION. WILL YOU HELP?

Consider this fact. Most of the given sources in this booklet show how the blood line of family bankers who own the FED funded both sides of all major wars.

They created fake colonial money to destroy the Americans during the Revolutionary War and tried to finance both sides in the American Civil War. Abraham Lincoln refused and the South accepted. Many publications show that these bankers financed World War I, World War II, and the Russian Revolutionary War, which helped Napoleon, Lenin, and Hitler come to power. They financed both sides from money created from nothing and profited greatly. These same bankers created a number of American depressions to change the U.S. legislation and seize our wealth. Read the sources for details. This is why our forefathers wrote in the Constitution that only Congress can issue money - not private banks (Reference 18).

More wars create more debt which means more profit to the bankers (Reference 1, 21). These bankers planned three world wars so people would welcome United Nations intervention to govern the world in peace, not war. (Reference 22 gives specific details on World War I and World War II, showing exactly how the bankers were responsible for the beginning and continuation of these wars for their profit).

The banks have publicly announced they will force us to a cashless society by 1997. Furthermore, they plan to create a one world government through the United Nations headed by the FED, Trilaterals, and the Council on Foreign Relations (Reference 3). By the definition of treason, they have committed treason! This means you lose your rights under the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Does this sound far fetched? Twenty-four U.S. Senators (two of them presidential candidates, Harkin & Tsongas) and 80 Representatives have signed a "Declaration of Interdependence." This Declaration, designed to make a one world government, is treason to the oath of office they took. The media remained silent. The FED announced publicly that their first objective was to get nationalism out of the American people's heads because patriotism to a country would not be of value in the future. The media makes us think the U.N. has all the answers, and to "think globally." Congress passed a law stopping certain individuals from being tried for this treason (Reference 6, Reference 1, P. 191-198). Why pass this law if no treason was committed? State Department document 7277 calls for the disarming of America, thus turning our sovereignty over to a one-world government. Again, the media is pushing to eliminate guns. Our forefathers believed that the right to bear arms would prevent a takeover of our government. History shows that before any government took over, they disarmed the citizens. Hitler did it, and before our Revolutionary War, King George told us to disarm - good thing we didn't!

Under the Federal Reserve Bank Act, the bankers control our economy. The FED controls interest rates and the amount of money in the economy. These factors determine either economic prosperity or the lack thereof. Bankers are now pushing for a one world government and a cashless society. Why cashless? No cash means no money for drugs, no theft, and the ability to collect taxes on the underground economy. Anyone who wouldn't support a cashless society must be a drug dealer, thief, or tax evader, right? What a cashless society really means is the banks can now control you. Today you fear the IRS. In a cashless society, if you disagree with the bankers' political goals, you'll find your money gone via computer error. (For additional information on a cashless society, read Reference 13, P. 174; Reference 3; Reference 14, P. 9-12; Reference 15, P. 136; Reference 25, P. 216).

If you could accurately predict future interest rates, inflation and deflation, you would know when to buy or sell stocks and make a bundle of money. The FED has secret meetings (per Congressional Record) to determine future interest rates and the amount of money to be printed. The Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) by law, stops insiders from profiting by privileged information. Congressional records prove that FED bankers routinely hold secret meetings to profit by manipulating the stock market via interest rates and the amount of money they create. FED bankers also profit greatly from economic disasters like the Depression (Reference 22, P. 56). The bankers create inflation, sell their stocks before the market crashes, then buy up stocks at cheaper prices. Bankers admitted this to Congress. This violates the law, yet Congress does not act because these bankers are large political contributors (Reference 17, P. 96-98; Reference 1, P. 162-163; Reference 22, P. 114-170 & P. 136). Thomas Jefferson predicted this scenario if we ever allowed a private bank, like the FED, to create our currency (Reference 1, P. 247).

FED Chairman Burns states "Killing can be made simply by knowing the next few months newspapers ahead of time." Congressman Patman said "The FED officials own more than 100 million dollars (of stocks) while making decisions influencing these stock prices..." (Reference 24, P. 123). History proves that banks profit from bankrupting a nation (Reference 22, P. 56).

Congress consistently defeats balanced budget amendments. In the past 30 years, Congress has raised our taxes 56 times and balanced the budget only once. We need the sound banking system our forefathers wanted us to have. History proves that banking systems like the FED don't work. Major world powers have been destroyed over similar banking systems (Reference 1). If we don't change this system NOW, in five years the only thing our taxes will pay is the interest on the national debt.

Section 7 of the Federal Reserve Act, passed December 23, 1913, states that much of the profit of the FED should flow into the U.S. Treasury. In 1959, new legislation allowed the FED to transfer bonds to commercial banks at no cost to the bank. Now the FED receives less interest income and less profit for the U.S. Treasury because the money is diverted to other banks through an accounting entry (Reference 17, P. 115-130). Congress and the IRS do not have access to the financial records of the FED. Every year Congress introduces legislation to audit the FED, and every year it is defeated. The FED banking system could easily be netting 100s of billions in profit each year. Through "creative accounting" profit can easily be reclassified as expense (Reference 14, P. 20, Reference 17, P. 239).

Within the first few years, the shareholders of the FED received their initial investment back with no risk. All the income is tax-free, except for property tax, according to the Federal Reserve Act. When are the profits of the FED going to start flowing into the Treasury so that average Americans are no longer burdened with excessive, unnecessary taxes? Clearly, Congress cannot or will not control the FED. IT IS TIME TO ABOLISH IT!

3 WAYS TO ABOLISH THE FED AND ISSUE MONEY PER THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE 1, SECTION 8:

* Buy back the FED and have the U.S. Government collect all profits.

* Abolish the FED by printing real U.S. dollars as President Kennedy attempted (Executive Order 11.110, 1963) (Reference 4).

* Request your county/state to use their Constitutional powers to abolish the FED. This is the BEST SOLUTION. Nearly half the states are attempting or considering this action (Reference 5). Congress has had 80 years to follow the Constitution, and has refused to abolish the illegal FED. The state/county effort is working faster than any other method. We need your support to start a local chapter of FED-UP(tm) Inc. and petition your county.

THE WRONG SOLUTION THAT HAS FAILED FOR 80 YEARS: Congress and the media may want to require the FED to return the required profits into the U.S. Treasury (per the Federal Reserve Act, 1913). The problem is that with "creative accounting" techniques, profit can be easily masked as expense. The FED has expensed items illegally to lower profit (Reference 17).

"We the People" have pushed the following states to pass or introduce legislation calling for an end to the FED: Arizona, Washington, Arkansas, Idaho, Oregon, Indiana, and Texas. We still need your signatures on petitions, even if you live in these states. Many other states are considering such action due to your petitions. These states and a few honest Congresspeople are powerless until all Americans become informed and demand change. Please pass out the petition. Once we demand change, the media will have to report the whole truth and not just push their own agenda. FED-UP(tm) challenges the media to expose the facts on prime time talk shows or news programs.

By abolishing the FED, we would not pay interest on Federal Reserve Notes. Until it is abolished, the FED has a monopoly on profit on our currency and whether our money supply will be increased or decreased, inflation or depression. The banks are capable of controlling business by controlling ywho can or cannot obtain a loan.

WE'VE DONE OUR PART - NOW IT IS UP TO YOU TO SPREAD THE WORD. Please take the brochure (Cutting taxes $6,000 per family per year) to VFW, Moose/Elk Lodges, Bars, Union Halls, Churches, and Association groups. Make copies of the "single-page" brochure for everyone at work and ask your friends to do the same. Ask small business owners in your community to tell other business owners and spread the brochure and petition through the local Chamber of Commerce. CPAs should be interested in saving their clients taxes. Ask your CPA to mail the brochure and petition out to his/her clients. Upon receiving this petition, many presidents of large corporations made this brochure and petition available to all employees. Once people are informed, we can force a change. People will have more money to spend, the economy will be strong, and we can keep our Constitutional rights, liberties, and freedoms.

Contact your library for the names and addresses of your local and federal Congresspeople. MAIL THEM AN ENVELOPE WITHOUT YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS ATTACHED. In the envelope, say "FED-UP(tm) Inc. Abolish the FED." Also enclose one teabag (Boston Tea Party). Ask your friends to do the same (give them the addresses). Politicians are aware of the "Teabag Protest."

If you don't mail it in, they're going to believe that we're not organized or we just don't care. IF YOU DON'T DO IT NO ONE ELSE WILL! Many Congresspeople want to make this change, but can't without the support of the people.

[End of Part 1 of 3

[Part 2 of 3]

WHY OUR FOREFATHERS FOUGHT THE FED

"Allow me to control the issue and the nation's money and I care not who makes its laws!" The above quote has long been attributed to the 18th century banker Amshell Rothschild (his blood line controls the FED). For if one unscrupulous group is allowed to print a nation's money - it can eventually use that money to gain control of the press AND the politicians - and thus gain control of making the nation's laws - and finally - control of the nation itself. (Reference 4)

If you will take the time to read the reference material listed which has been researched by Professors of Universities, Congresspeople, etc, you will turn up information that might frighten you. For instance, in 1921 the stockholders of the Federal Reserve financed an organization called the " Council on Foreign Relations" (CFR). Harpers magazine called this the most powerful organization in the United States. Ninety percent of the people in the State Department and key positions in the Executive Branch are members of the CFR. The CFR publishes a magazine called "Foreign Affairs." Read it if you want to know what is going to happen in coming years. The CFR is in favor of a New World Order (Reference 3).

Congressman Patman re-quoted Thomas Jefferson showing that our founding fathers knew this banking principle very well. "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies...."

"Already they have raised up a money aristocracy that has set the government at defiance. The issuing power (of money)," he said, "should be taken from the banks and restored to the people to whom it properly belongs." The American Revolution was a struggle to wrest control of wealth from the Bank of England and to restore the centers of power to the People where it "properly belongs." The Constitution is specific about the authority of the People, through their elected officials, to control the money, and thus, the affairs of their government. (Reference 5, P. 32).

Ben Franklin said in his autobiography that the inability of the colonists to get the power to issue their own money permanently out of the hands of George III and the international bankers was [one of] the PRIME reason[s] for the Revolutionary War. (Quoted in Reference 4)

Thomas Jefferson stated, "If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered." (Reference 1, P. 247)

Congressman Charles A. Lindbergh of Minnesota said: "This [Federal Reserve] Act establishes the most gigantic trust on Earth. When the President [Wilson] signs this bill, the invisible government of the Monetary Power will be legalized... the worst legislative crime of the ages, perpetuated by this banking and currency bill." (Reference 5, P. 33)

Robert H. Hemphill (Credit Manager, Federal Reserve Bank in Atlanta): "We are completely dependent on the commercial banks. Someone has to borrow every dollar we have in circulation, cash, or credit. If the banks create ample synthetic money we are prosperous; if not, we starve. We are absolutely without a permanent money system. When one gets a complete grasp of the picture, the tragic absurdity of our hopeless position is almost incredible, but there it is. It [the banking problem] is the most important subject intelligent persons can investigate and reflect upon.

It is so important that our present civilization may collapse unless it becomes widely understood and the defects are remedied very soon." (Reference 1, P. 247)

Napoleon, a sympathizer for the international bankers, turned against them in the last years of his rule. He said: "When a government is dependent upon bankers for money, they and not the leaders of the government control the situation, since the hand that gives is above the hand that takes... Money has no motherland; financiers are without patriotism and without decency; their sole object is gain." (Reference 4)

Congresspeople have referred to Federal Reserve Notes as "FIAT" (no- backing) money. (Reference 1, P. 128, 169)

In 1879 the Supreme Court declared that the U.S. Government can legally issue United States Notes, debt and interest-free, just as Lincoln and Kennedy attempted. (Reference 1, P. 233)

A bank that attempted to repossess property on the basis of default faced Judge Mahoney in a jury trial. Jerome Daly was found innocent. The bank could not foreclose on the property because it created the loan money from thin air, as many banks do. Use this as a precedent the next time any bank tries to foreclose on your house. (Reference 17, P. 82, 83 for court records)

The FED violates Security & Exchange Commission (SEC) rules. (Reference 17, P. 96-98)

California 9th Circuit Court declared FED banks are private, not government. (Reference 17, P. 273)

Mr. Marriner Eccles, who was Chairman of the board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System longer than any other man, testified before the Joint Economic Committee in August 1962. When Chairman Rep. Wright Patman asked whether it was not a fact that the Federal Reserve System has more power than either the Congress or the President, Eccles replied: "In the field of money and credit, yes." (Reference 1, P. 206)

Dr. Hans F. Sennholz, Chairman of the Department of Economics at Grove City (PA) College stated: "The Federal Reserve System facilitates the government's own inflationary financing in "periods of emergency." It makes easy the inflationary financing of budget deficits and the inflationary refunding of government loans. It stabilizes the government bond market through inflationary methods and manipulates this market to the advantage of the government. It does all this by wrecking the purchasing power of the dollar; by subtly stealing from the people of this country what it thus provides for the government, through a process exactly on par with the coin-clipping of ancient kings - but much more diabolical because it's so much less visible." (Reference 1, P. 250, 251)

Source: Banking Act of 1935, Hearings before a Subcommittee of the Banking and Currency Committee, U.S. Senate, 74th Congress, 1st Session, on S.1715, May 1935, pp 871-2. "The Federal Reserve System is in the wrong hands. No Constitutional republic can function when the government's money powers are in the hands of the financial oligarchy such as New York financiers.

A Republican Senator, who preferred to remain unnamed, stated: "Congress is too much motivated by fears and anxieties concerning pressure groups and the "non election." (Reference 1, P. 210)

By controlling Congress, the FED has been able to control the nominating conventions of both political parties. In this way, it has been able to hand-pick the presidential nominees so that no matter which party wins, their nominee for President is under definite obligations to the FED... (Reference 1, P. 210; Reference 22)

In 1975, the Rockefeller Foundation Report discussed the "Interdependence" of the countries of the world on each other. It stated we are one world and America shall become a nation-state under one government. They also say we must reach a zero state population growth. The Rockefeller Foundation stated that they have in excess of 747 million dollars to achieve this with. (Reference 3)

Congressman John R. Rarick states that the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is dedicated to a one world government. The media remains conspicuously quiet. The CFR wants to convert the U.S. from a sovereign, constitutional republic into a servile member state of a one world dictatorship. On February 17, 1950, CFR member James Warburg (banker, and architect of the Federal Reserve System) stated before a Senate Foreign

Relations Committee, "We shall have one world government whether or not you like it, by conquest or consent." Again, the media remained silent. In the April 1974 issue of the CFR journal, "Foreign Affairs", page 558, Richard Gardener states that the new world order "will be built... but an end run around national sovereignty, eroding it piece by piece, will accomplish much more than the old fashioned frontal assault." Congressman McDonald, Heinz and Tower stated that this is a conspiracy. Again, the media remained silent. (Reference 14, P. 17, 18, 32, 33). THE CFR WANTS TO ABOLISH THE CONSTITUTION. (Reference 14) WE MUST STOP THEM!!

In a letter to Thomas Jefferson, John Adams wrote: "All the perplexities, confusions, and distresses in America arise, not from defects in the Constitution or confederation, not from want of honor or virtue, as much as from downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit, and circulation". Responding, Thomas Jefferson wrote:... "And I sincerely believe, with you, that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies; and that the principle of spending money to be paid by prosperity, under the same name of funding is swindling futurity on a large scale." (Reference 1, P. 199)

British bankers have stated "Those that create and issue money and credit direct the policies of government and hold in their hands the destiny of the people". (Reference 1, P. 200-214)

Adams, Jefferson, and Lincoln believed that banker capitalism was more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. In a republic, banks would lend money but could not create or manufacture it. (Reference 1, P. 215)

Later, Jefferson used stronger language and denounced the institution as " one of the most deadly hostilities against the principles and form of our Constitution." Some have said that Jefferson did not favor a strong central bank. What he did not favor was the delivery of our monetary system into private hands to be run for private profit. (Reference 1, P. 230)

President James A. Garfield said: "Whoever controls the money in any country is absolute master of industry [legislation] and commerce". (Reference 1, P. 247, Reference 4)

Without the Federal Reserve System, there can be no continuing march towards socialism, and with it there can be no free economy. (Reference 1, P. 251)

By controlling our own money, Thomas Jefferson expected that the government would incur no debt, as had occurred in the European system. (Reference 1, P. 243) European banks are like the FED.

The FED system is the death of our Constitution. (Reference 1, P. 250)

THE PLAN TO REDUCE PERSONAL INCOME TAX BY 75% AND BALANCE THE BUDGET BY ABOLISHING THE FED CAN BE PROVEN BY AMERICAN HISTORY. THE FACTS:

* England lost the Revolutionary War. * England nearly destroyed the Colonies by creating fake Colonial money and hyper-inflation. * Rothschilds who control the Bank of England (Like our FED) said that by controlling the issue of money (printing it) you can control the government. * The authors of the Constitution understood private banks' control over governments. The Constitution gives only Congress the right to print money. * From the beginning of the United States to present there have been two ways to issue new currency:

The first way is to have the government print the money, debt and interest- free, and circulate it through the economy for use as a medium of exchange. There is no tax levied to pay interest on the currency in circulation because it is debt and interest-free. This is the system Lincoln used with his "greenbacks", a system Kennedy desired, and Jefferson demanded.

The second method is: The Citizens allow the bank to print $500 billion in currency (cash). The bank pays for printing costs, ink, and paper. The Citizens do not charge the bank any interest for use of the $500 billion in printed currency. The bank uses the $500 billion cash to buy a $500 billion government bond which pays the bankers interest. The bank keeps some of the bonds and sells, for a fee (10%), some of the bonds to the public.

The bank can buy back the bonds from the public simply by printing more money. The bankers can create inflation and depressions by manipulating the amount of currency in circulation. The FED operates exactly like this today. It also prints money (through the U.S. Treasury) and uses this printed money to buy loans from other banks. This money has created our inflation. We give the bank cash interest-free, then they charge us interest on our own currency.

Take a look at our history in view of the two banking systems: BEN FRANKLIN - THE TWO BANKING SYSTEMS

>From the autobiography of Ben Franklin as reported by Gertrude Coogan in " Money Creators":

...the inability of the colonists to get the power to issue their own money permanently out of the hands of George III and the international bankers was the PRIME reason for the Revolutionary War. (Reference 4).

Ben Franklin answering a question about the booming economy of the young colonies: "That is simple. In the colonies we issue our own money. It is called Colonial Scrip. We issue it in proper proportions to the demands of trade and industry." (Colonial Scrip had no debt or interest attached.) (Reference 4)

BANK OF AMERICA

International bankers saw that interest-free scrip would keep America free of their influence, so by 1781 banker-backed Alexander Hamilton succeeded in starting the Bank of America. After a few years of "bank money", the prosperity of "Colonial Scrip" was gone. Benjamin Franklin said, " Conditions were so reversed that the era of prosperity had ended and a depression set in to such an extent that the streets of the Colonies were

filled with the unemployed!" Bank money was like our FED money. It had debt and interest attached. By 1790 Hamilton and his bankers had created a privately owned central bank and converted the public debt (interest-free) into interest bearing bonds, payable to the bankers. When Hamilton's bank charter expired in 1811, the international bankers started the war of 1812. By 1816, another privately-owned U.S. bank was started with $35 million in assets - only $7 million of that was owned by the government. This bank lasted for 20 years. U.S. history shows that currency with debt and interest attached created a depression. (Reference 4)

ANDREW JACKSON - A GREAT PRESIDENT!

When the 1816 charter expired in 1836, Andrew Jackson vetoed its renewal. It was then that he made two famous statements: "The Bank is trying to kill me - but I will kill it!" Later he said "If the American people only understood the rank injustice of our money and banking system - there would be a revolution before morning..." (Reference 4)

ABRAHAM LINCOLN - ANOTHER GREAT PRESIDENT!

President Lincoln needed money to finance the Civil War, and the international bankers offered him loans at 24-36% interest. Lincoln balked at their demands because he didn't want to plunge the nation into such a huge debt. Lincoln approached Congress about passing a law to authorize the printing of U.S. Treasury Notes. Lincoln said "We gave the people of

this Republic the greatest blessing they ever had - their own paper money to pay their debts..." Lincoln printed over 400 million "Greenbacks" (debt and interest-free) and paid the soldiers, U.S. government employees, and bought war supplies. The international bankers didn't like it and wanted Lincoln to borrow the money from them so that the American people would owe tremendous interest on the loan. Lincoln's solution made this seem ridiculous. (Reference 1, P. 46, 47; Reference 4)

Shortly after Lincoln's death, the government revoked the Greenback law which ended Lincoln's debt-free, interest-free money. A new national banking act was enacted and all money became interest bearing again. (Reference 4)

The late Thomas A Edison explained the matter of issuing currency this way: " If our nation can issue a dollar bond (interest bearing) it can issue a dollar bill (interest-free). The element that makes the bond good makes a bill good also. The difference between the bond and the bill is that the bond lets money brokers collect twice the amount of the bond and an

additional 20 percent, whereas the currency pays nobody but those who contribute directly in some useful way. It is absurd to say that our country can issue $30 million in bonds and not $30 million in currency. Both are promises to pay: But one promise fattens the usurers (interest collectors) and the other helps the people." (Reference 1, P. 46)

The FED is owned largely by foreign banks that control our economy and Congress through the power of money and the media which they bought with profits generated with profits generated by artificial debt.

If we can convert U.S. dollars that are debt and interest-free to interest bearing currency, we can change it back just as easily. Both the media and the banking system will probably claim that such a change will cause hyper- inflation. The answer however, can be found in history. Lincoln printed debt and interest-free Greenbacks (cash) to finance an entire war. With added production you can add currency without having hyper-inflation. Lincoln proved it. John F. Kennedy - a President with vision! On June 4, 1964, President Kennedy issued Executive Order 11110. This Executive Order called for the issuance of new currency - the United States Note. At the time, $4,292,893 of this currency was put into circulation. This new currency was to be distributed through the U.S. Treasury and not the Federal Reserve System. Furthermore, it was to be issued debt and interest-free. Upon Kennedy's assassination, this currency was withdrawn from circulation, never to be issued again. The media remained silent on

how Kennedy would have eliminated the debt and interest payments, and therefore eliminated the FED. Interest-free United States Notes do not result in hyper-inflation. By issuing United States Notes, interest-free, we have less interest expense, and less taxes. With less taxes people spend more and buy more. This result is added production, and therefore, you can add dollars without inflation. Either Rockefeller and his people will spend your tax money into the economy or you get to spend your own money by paying less taxes. The bankers want you to think you'll have mass

inflation by changing the system. This is only true if you add dollars to the economy without added production. For example, look what happened in post World War I Germany. They merely printed money without increasing production. The result was hyper-inflation. Another example: In the entire economy, if you have only 10 loaves of bread and only $10, each loaf would sell for $1. If you print an extra $10, now you have $20 and the 10 loaves which would sell for $2 each. This is only true if we don't have

added production. By cutting taxes, people will spend more and buy more bread. If we print more money and bake more bread, we have $50 and 50 loaves, so each loaf still sells for $1. As long as you monitor production with increased cash, inflation will not occur. Under the FED system, the price of bread has dramatically increased since 1913. If we cut taxes and YOU spend your money instead of the BANKERS spending it, you will have more bread, cars, and wealth than the bankers. SOMEONE will spend your money - it might as well be YOU!

A FED-like banking system has destroyed other governments. In five years the only thing taxes will pay is the interest on the debt. Clearly, the FED must be abolished before we're demolished! Already laws are set up to have a dictatorship when we have the economic crisis (Federal Emergency Management Act, or FEMA).

Under the FED system, when a new dollar is issued, we pay taxes to pay for the dollar as the principal (debt) plus interest on the dollar. We pay for each new dollar twice, and who gets most of the money? The bankers, who control this money. Taxpayers should only pay taxes for the paper, ink, and printing costs of new money. Why should we give bankers the right to print money on a printing press, charge them no interest on this money, and then let them exchange their "free" money for a government bond that pays them interest??

England never gave up on owning the United States. They are still silently fighting the same Revolutionary War. The Bank of England, through the Rothschilds, owns and controls the FED (Reference 22). We have been robbed of our wealth, and in five years we will be bankrupt if there is no change. The FED bankers will LEGALLY OWN OUR NATION; OUR HOUSES, OUR CARS, OUR BUSINESSES, just as Thomas Jefferson predicted.

[End of Part 2 of 3]

[Part 3 of 3]

SPECIFIC PLAN: HOW TO GET OUT OF DEBT

U.S. history proves that issuing debt and interest-free currency allows our economy to prosper, as long as Congress controls the amount of money created. You can add printed dollars into the economy as you add production, and there will be no inflation. With today's sophisticated computers, we can easily monitor the printing of money and inflation.

Congress needs to buy back the FED and/or abolish it. Any government debt they own would be automatically eliminated. All remaining debt could be paid as needed with the same type of currency Kennedy issued (debt and interest-free United States Notes). United States Notes are backed by the full faith of the best government in the world - The United States of America.

This is no different than the backing of today's Federal Reserve Notes. U.S. citizens collect only a small fraction of the interest income on Federal Bonds and Bills. Foreigners benefit from this interest, but we pay the tax so that they collect interest on our currency. This makes sense to bankers and Congresspeople who receive money from bankers and foreign lobbyists.

As we pay less interest, government spending will decrease and so will taxes. Less taxes mean that people buy more goods and services and our economy expands. An expanded economy means more jobs and higher profits for businesses. More profit means increased state/federal business taxes. Businesses continue to pay taxes while personal taxes decrease. People will have more money to spend, will buy more, and therefore pay increased state sales tax. This allows the states to balance their budgets without raising real estate taxes. As history proves, we will prosper.

For 80 years the FED has destroyed our economy. It will take years to undo this damage. Just as Congress appoints a Postal Service, we will have Congress appoint an agency to monitor inflation as we exchange our retiring government debt for debt and interest-free United States Notes (cash). We need to break up all Central Banks created by the FED and return to the Constitution of the United States. We have to return the power of the citizens' money back to the people.

THERE ARE SEVERAL SIMPLE WAYS TO ABOLISH THE FED:

* Inform all Americans of this report and collect signatures on the petition. * Demand that Congress and the media support "We the People's" rights to uphold the Constitution and abolish the illegal FED. * Write to your local newspaper, show them this report and ask them to keep freedom of the press alive, support the Constitution and abolish the FED. Freedom of the press should not be limited to those who own it. * Write to CNN and other media. Tell them you want to see FED-UP(tm) on their programs. * Ask your State/County Representatives to use their Constitutional powers to enforce your rights under the Constitution to have the FED abolished. Write to Reference 5 for detailed paperwork to be given to your local government. * Call in on TV and radio talk shows and discuss why the FED should be abolished. * Support businesses who distribute the petition and display the sign "FED-UP". If they don't, please ask them to.

* Ask candidates if they plan to introduce legislation to abolish the FED and uphold the Constitution which they are obligated to defend. Make candidates take a stand! Have the politician sign a contract with "We the People" enacting legislation to abolish the FED by a certain date or the politician must resign from office. The Democratic Congress and President promised the people "no FED" before the election. Thirteen months later, they passed the FED.

* Display your bumper sticker to show support and inform people. * If 5,000 people distribute 2-3 brochures daily, we can inform half a million Americans monthly. Roughly 10% of these half a million people will make copies and inform others. Our goal is to inform 70 million adult Americans. Public opinion will soon be on our side. Once 10% of the population know, the other 90% will follow. * Pray and ask God to return us to "One nation under God."

It is our recommendation that you research the references listed, support all organizations that re trying to stop this fraud, and help us in our goal to get every American to sign this petition. REFERENCES:

(1) "The Federal Reserve Bank", by H.S. Kenan, published by The Noontide Press

(2) National Committee to Repeal the Federal Reserve Act, P.O. Box 156, Westmont, IL 60559

(3) "The New World Order, Saving America", P.O. Box 1205, Middleburg, FL 32050-1205

(4) "Bulletin", February 1989 & November 1991 issues, P.O. Box 986, Ft. Collins, CO 80522 (Newsletter; $3 each)

(5) "The Most Secret Science", Betsy Ross Press, P.O. Box 986, Ft. Collins, CO 80522 (Book) States attempt to abolish the FED. $12.00

(6) "Insider Report", P.O. Box 84903, Phoenix, AZ 85071

(7) "Phoenix Journal Express", P.O. Box 986, Tehachap, CA 93581

(8) $16 trillion in government and private debt, much of which the FED printed and collected interest on (Reference 3)

(9) Northpoint Tactical Team, P.O. Box 129, Topton, NC 28781

(10) Christian Defense League, Box 449, Arabi, LA 70023

(11) "Bulletin", June 1992 issue, P.O. Box 986, Ft. Collins, CO 80522 (Newsletter; $3 each)

(12) "Savings and Loan Unethical Bailout" by Rev. Casimir F. Gierut

(13) "Dark Secrets of the New Age" by Texe Marrs

(14) "En Route to Global Occupation" by Gary H. Kah

(15) "One World" by John Amkerberg & John Weldon

(16) "The Spotlight", Liberty Lobby, 300 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003 (Newspaper)

(17) "Repeal the Federal Reserve Banks" by Rev. Casimir Frank Gierut

(18) The Constitution of the United States

(19) "Walls in Our Minds" by M.J. Red Beckman, Common Sense Press, P.O. Box 1544, Billings, MT 59103. A must read book - $2.50

(20) "The Law That Never Was" Volume I, Bill Benson & M.J. Red Beckman, P.O. Box 1544, Billings, MT 59103 or write to Bill Benson, P.O. Box 550, South Holland, IL 60473. Proof that the 16th Amendment (income tax) was never properly ratified.

(21) "New World Order: The Ancient Plan of Secret Societies" by William T. Still

(22) "The Secrets of the Federal Reserve" by Mullins

(23) "The Social Security & Pension Conspiracy" by Metz

(24) "The History of the Federal Reserve. How to Replace It or How to Reform It" by Metz - for references 23 & 24 write to Howard Metz, P.O. Box 341, Malverne, LI 11565

(25) "The New World Order" by Pat Robertson. On page 131 he states that we must abolish the FED.

(26) "Operation Vampire Killer 2000", highly recommended book. $6.00 ($8.00 for 2) from ACLA, P.O. Box 8712, Phoenix, AZ 85066 This is a must read book with quotes from well known people. This book proves conspiracy. Your local police needs to read this book so they will protect you - not become United Nations Agents against you. This book will stop the New World Order plan to take over the U.S.A.

"America Betrayed", Center For Action, 652 N. Glenview, Nesa, AZ 85213

For references 1, 12, and 17, contact The National Committee to Repeal the Federal Reserve Act (Reference 2) MEDIA BLACKS OUT THE FACTS Here's one terrific example. John Swinton, the former Chief of Staff for the New York Times, was one of New York's best loved newspapermen. Called by his peers "The Dean of his Profession", John was asked in 1953 to give a toast before the New York Press Club, and in so doing, made a monumentally important and revealing statement. He is quoted as follows:

"There is no such thing, at this date of the world's history, in America, as an independent press. You know it and I know it. There is not one of you who dares to write your honest opinions, and if you did, you know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid weekly for keeping my honest opinion out of the paper I am connected with. Others of you are paid similar weekly salaries for similar things, and any of you who would be so foolish as to write honest opinions would be out on the streets looking for another job. If I allowed my honest opinions to appear in one issue of my paper, before twenty-four hours my occupation would be gone.

The business of the journalists is to destroy the truth; to lie outright; to pervert; to vilify; to fawn at the feet of mammon, and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread. You know it and I know it, and what folly is this toasting an independent press? We are the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are the jumping jacks, they pull the strings and we dance. Our talents, our possibilities, and our lives are all the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes."

RICHARD M. COHAN, Senior Producer of CBS political news said: "We are going to impose OUR AGENDA on the coverage by dealing with issues and subjects that WE choose to deal with."

RICHARD SALANT, former President of CBS News stated: "Our job is to give people not what they want, but what WE decide they ought to have."

And what is "their" agenda? What do they believe we, the American people, - THE COMMON HERD, "...ought to have?" Here is the answer:

NORMAN THOMAS - For many years the U.S. Socialist Presidential candidate proclaimed: "The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism. But under the name of "liberalism" they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a Socialist nation, without knowing what happened."

HERMAN DISMORE, foreign editor of the New York Times from 1950 to 1960: " The New York Times is deliberately pitched to the liberal (socialist) point of view."

WALTER CRONKITE: "News reporters are certainly liberal (socialists) and left of center."

BARBARA WALTERS: "The news media in general are liberals (socialists)."

Reference for everything above - Operation Vampire Killer, P.O. Box 8712, Phoenix, AZ 85066

The world, finally including even the balky American public, is "being rapidly educated into overcoming limited patriotism" and accepting "United Nations solutions to common global problems," said Henry Kissinger.

Bilderberg participants expressed satisfaction with progress toward world government on two fronts:

* Establishing a UN tax to not only finance new global programs, but to condition "citizens of the world" to paying tribut * Conditioning the public -- again, especially "those stubborn Americans" -- to accept the idea of a UN army that could, by force, impose its will on the internal affairs of any nation.

"Today, Americans would be outraged if UN forces entered Los Angeles to restore order; tomorrow, they will be grateful," Kissinger said (of the 1992 Los Angeles riot).

Kissinger reported on a shocking speech made by UN Secretary General Butrous Ghali to the American Association of Newspaper Publishers at UN headquarters in New York in early May. The publishers' newspapers covered up the story.

The UN Security Council must have a permanent force that can be deployed anywhere in the world, instantly, to "protect the peace" and "ensure human rights" the secretary-general told the newspaper publishers.

UN TO INVADE U.S.

This force must be allowed to intervene "at the local and community levels," the UN leader told the American publishers.

What is "especially gratifying," Kissinger said, "is that the publishers showed no reservations about the prospects of UN forces landing in the United States and imposing the UN's will."

Reference - The Spotlight, June 8, 1992, page 10. Liberty Lobby, 300 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003 (Newspaper)

SUMMARY OF QUICK FACTS * Various dates and proofs that the Bankers created panic to push Congress to pass laws favoring bankers... Reference 22

* President Wilson received $85,000 bribe from bankers... Reference 22, pages 25-26

* How England, through the Bankers, controls our Congress... Reference 22, pages 47-48

* Rockefeller is connected to President Carter... Reference 22, page 171; Reference 25, page 103

* How George Bush is directly connected to the FED bank... Reference 22, page 49

* President Hoover and President Roosevelt were international Bankers... Reference 22, pages 69-71 and pages 157-159

* President Nixon was hired by Rockefeller's law firm to become President... Reference 25, pages 100-101

* FED owner's manual to destroy and control U.S. citizens... Reference 22, pages 55-56

* Proof Bankers claim they control the government... Reference 22, page 59

* Proof the FED knowingly created the Great Depression for their gain... Reference 22, pages 137-170

* FED bankers are directly linked to the New World Order and the United Nations. New World Order was discussed by George Bush, Rockefeller, Adolph Hitler, and Jimmy Carter... Reference 25, pages 5-7

* The Great Seal on back of the FED $1 bill, below pyramid, the NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM means "New World of the Ages" or --->> New World Order... Reference 25, page 35

* How the Banker's tax-exempt organizations fund activities to destroy America's freedom by attacking our Constitution and way of life... Reference 25, pages 138-159; Reference 14 (throughout whole book)

* Senator Barry Goldwater warned of economic powers capable of bypassing or controlling the political powers. Bank induced depression is possible in the future to force political change... Reference 25, 131

* Rockefeller's money was used to seize control of America's teaching and training of students by rewriting history and textbooks. Rockefeller has also funded the National Education Association (NEA)... Reference 14, page 61

* Gary Kah, high-ranking government liaison having first-hand knowledge of the New World Order exposes the truth. Read his book and En Route To Global Occupation... Reference 14 QUICK FACTS FROM TOM SCHAUF:

First, we must uphold the Constitution. Please call the Hotline (217-854- 7504) weekly for new information. When a state considers a Constitutional Convention, concerned Americans call the Hotline and it gives us the names and telephone numbers of the legislators involved. It tells us exactly what to say, and to whom. The Hotline helps us to fight and win!

Secondly, we must change the opinions of the masses with information. The brochure has been a big help, and once 10% of the population agrees to abolish the FED, the rest will follow.

It is obvious the media (radio and newspapers) have lied about the FED and the efforts of FED-UP(tm) to educate people with the truth. This will not stop us - we will persist! Decide for yourself if you want to win America back. If 10,000 patriotic Americans each distribute 1,000 brochures, 10 million Americans will become informed. It would be almost impossible to stop people from talking about abolishing the FED if that many Americans were informed. Another way you can participate is to put a bumper sticker on your car. Over 1,000 people every month will see that bumper sticker about abolishing the FED.

If you think our goal is impossible, remember this; only 3% of Americans supported the Revolutionary War, and we won that war. We can win this war too, but only with your help.

IN CLOSING

For the secret owners of the FED to control the volume of money and become our absolute masters, they had to get the Gold away from our grandparents. This was accomplished in 1933 with the threats of fines and imprisonments by their President Franklin D. Roosevelt with aide Harry Hopkins, who said... "Elect, elect, elect, tax, tax, tax, spend, spend, spend, for the people are too damned stupid to understand". By the way, Roosevelt was an international Banker. See "Fool's Gold is Green" by Winston Smith. 7THE FED IS SLOWLY DESTROYING AMERICA

Our government never had a chance...with political corruption ravaging its Constitution. The *real facts* don't lie...and neither do government documents...Congressional Record, Congressman Wright Patman, A Primer On Money prepared by the Sub-committee on Domestic Finance, House of Representatives, Committee on Banking and Currency - 88th Congress, 2nd session, August 4th, 1964 and December 23, 1913, page 1464 & 1478.

Congressional Record, Congressman Louis McFadden, June 10, 1932, House of Representatives, pages 12604-12605

Congressional Record, 98th Congress, 1st session, February 3, 1983, Congressman Ron Paul

Congressional Record, Committee on Banking and Currency, House of Representatives, 77th Congress, 1st session, Tuesday, September 30, 1941, pages 1342-1345

THERE ARE MANY MORE CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONIALS

IS THERE BIAS IN THE MEDIA REGARDING THE FED?

DURING THE TV PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES, CLINTON WAS ASKED SHOULD THERE BE RESTRICTIONS ON THE FED? THE NEXT DAY, MAJOR NEWSPAPERS SAID THEY COVERED THE WHOLE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE TEXT, BUT MANY NEWSPAPERS ELIMINATED THIS ONE QUESTION. CHECK YOUR LIBRARY!

The Revolutionary War was fought and the Constitution was written to prevent other nations and private banks from issuing (printing) money and controlling our currency.

In 1913, members of Congress committed treason and violated their oath of office to defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic by voting in the Federal Reserve Bank.

For the New World Order to create a one world government, they must control a central bank, eliminate the Constitution, end Christian values, disarm America, and control the media. The Council on Foreign Relations has openly said they will take us over in favor of a one world government.

The American people must be warned or we may lose our freedom forever. If we do not demand our rights and uphold the Constitution, the CFR and bankers will continue their march toward socialism. If we allow them to continue, they will abolish our rights and put an end to our present government. I urge all Americans to distribute the "main" FED-UP brochure ("saving $6000 in taxes per year, per person & balancing the budget) and collect signatures on the petition (see order form in the main brochure). Then all informed Americans can take action and hold their politicians accountable.

The bankers control the media, but can not stop patriotic Americans from using copy machines to distribute information and inform America. Once informed, people will demand an explanation why Congress allowed this fraud as the media appeared to be independent and investigative, but remained silent on this important issue.

The ones who scream the loudest to keep the Federal Reserve Bank probably profit the most.

[About the Author:]

Thomas D. Schauf, CPA, is a national speaker to Certified Public Accountants and business leaders. Mr. Schauf's expertise includes banking, the economy, business appraisals, mergers, and acquisitions.

We are looking for leaders in all states to help us abolish the FED Please write and let us know you're willing to help The future of America depends on you.

PLEASE HELP DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION AND COLLECT SIGNATURES ON PETITIONS Mr. Schauf and other speakers are available to speak at seminars, group meetings, on radio, and on television. FED-UP(tm) * P.O. Box 834 * Streamwood, IL 60103-0834 (C) 1992 Thomas D. Schauf PLEASE COPY AND DISTRIBUTE WIDELY WITH NO CHANGES

[End of Part 3 of 3]

www.blackmarket-press.net
The Federal Reserve - An overview of the facts indicatiing the Federal Reserve is privately owned.

Writing a Small Business Plan - 7 Great Tips for Mature Business Entrepreneurs

2007-08-12T05:35:00.000-07:00

Mature business owners - entrepreneurs in the 40+, 50+ and 60s age group – are in a prime position to start up on their own after retirement from their mainstream career. Great ideas from experienced minds may be flowing, but without a good business plan format any new venture is much more likely to fail. Transforming your vision into reality begins with writing a small business plan, outlining your structure, costs and staffing, and making sure that your new business has the best chance of success from the outset!

Writing a small business plan – tip #1. Outline your structure.

Begin with the simplest ideas, using your existing knowledge and strengths, and start to build up your business plan format with the basics first. Think about how you want your new venture to run, how much time you’ll be able to commit, and what you ultimately want to achieve. Using a business start up kit is an excellent solution for new mature entrepreneurs.

Writing a small business plan – tip #2. Investment and capital.

Consider the financial side of your new business, how much money you personally have to start up with, and if you’ll require investment from elsewhere – banks or other lenders, venture capital, small business loans or even family and friends. When you’re looking at how to format a business plan, the financial side of your new enterprise is all too important, so making sure that you have the capital and investments in place from the beginning is an essential part of writing a small business plan.

Writing a small business plan – tip #3. Running costs.

Now that you’ve sorted out the initial capital, think about the day-to-day costs of running your new business. As well as the obvious overheads – materials, staffing costs and transport - remember to include the smaller items such as paper and envelopes, ink for your printer, telephone calls, internet and website charges in your business plan format.

Writing a small business plan – tip #4. Staffing.

No matter how large or small your new venture will be, you’re likely to need help with setting up or running your business, and this should be reflected in your business plan format. Consider the possibility that you’ll need to employ a few people, or if you’re working on your own, whether you’ll require to outsource some of your tasks, for example web design or copywriting.

Writing a small business plan – tip #5. Operations, sales and marketing.

A business start up kit for the home office could be a good choice when you’re moving into a new business after retiring. Planning the day to day running of your business, marketing and selling your product are all necessary components when writing a small business plan, so you’ll need good software to help you keep on track.

Writing a small business plan – tip #6. Time.

As a mature entrepreneur, you will no doubt have built up various skills over the years, which you will find invaluable when starting your own business. Keep in mind though; you want your business to work for you, not the other way round. Your business plan format should include the ability to automate and delegate tasks to streamline your business, giving you free time to enjoy the benefits of having your own company.

Writing a small business plan – tip #7. Organization and vision.

A key element when writing a small business plan is to ensure that the components of your business are neat and tidy. This includes files, documents, spreadsheets and software applications. Your business plan format must be adaptable, allowing you to change and grow your business in the future.

After retirement from a regular job, forming your own business can be an extremely rewarding experience. Starting out in the right way when writing a small business plan will not only save you time and money, but will give your new business the best opportunity for success in the future!

How to Create a Logo

2007-08-03T05:20:00.000-07:00

Top 10 Tips For Using Web 2.0 To Promote Your Business

2007-08-02T04:52:00.000-07:00

We hear a lot about "Web 2.0″ these days. It sounds neat and it's trendy to talk about blogging and social media. But does it really affect our businesses? Is Web 2.0 just for kids and tech-hipsters or is it something we business owners should use to help promote our businesses?

I can't tell you if Web 2.0 is right for your business but I can tell you it's something to be aware of Ignoring it means ignoring a possible tool that could be valuable in helping you get more customers.

So, to help you get started in thinking about Web 2.0 for your business, here are some things for you to consider.

1. Have a plan.

Don't dive in just because it's cool or because you read an article about it. Be clear about what you're trying to accomplish, how much you're willing to invest and what time frame you are working on. Like any aspect of your business - plan ahead.

2. Make sure your target audience is online.

Web 2.0 tools are fun but useless if the people who see your stuff don't want what you offer. Or if they don't look to the Web for information to help them buy what you sell, then your efforts will be less effective. Like any marketing channel, it only works if your prospective customers are there to see (or hear) your message and they are receptive to it.

3. Create good content.

Web 2.0 is the social web but it's still content-driven. Lousy content leads to lousy marketing, no matter how flashy it is. Make your content relevant, interesting and real. Put yourself in your customer's shoes and answer their questions with your content.

4. Don't sell.

Help, inform, educate but do not sell. Web 2.0 is all about people connecting by helping each other. No salesman allowed! Think education, not advertising. Deliver useful, nuts and bolts stuff or honest opinions they can believe. That's how you build credibility and trust that lead to new customer relationships.

5. Start with a free hosted blog.

www.Wordpress.com and http://www.Blogger.com both have very useful and simple blogs you can setup for free. Use them to start blogging and get a feel for how it works and how people use Web 2.0. Dip your toe in the water before diving in.

6. Talk to kids

Chat with some kids (ages 8 to 18) and find out how they use the web. They are the trend-setters. What they're doing now, the rest of us will be doing soon. Learn what they do and why. This helps you understand the web from a different perspective.

7. Do it yourself.

Web 2.0 is about being real. It's real people connecting with each other. It's okay to hire a pro to advise you. But to keep it genuine, make sure you or your employees create the content and do the work. Otherwise people will know you're faking it.

8. Buy a camcorder and start shooting

Go to Best Buy or Radio Shack and buy an inexpensive camcorder, tripod and lapel microphone. Buy 20-30 tapes too. Then take a weekend and shoot film. Practice, practice, practice. Get comfortable being on camera so you're not nervous or dorky. Then, write a funny or useful how-to sketch and film it. Use Microsoft MovieMaker to edit and then upload to http://YouTube.com.

9. Buy an inexpensive audio recorder

MusicBarn.com has a package that includes M-Audio's MobilePre USB recording interface. Add a microphone and you have a high quality setup to record podcasts and MP3 audio files whenever you want. Then buy NGWave sound editing software to make it sound professional and you're in business.

10. Surf 'till it Hurts

Surf blogs, YouTube, Google Videos, http://Del.icio.us, Digg, Reddit, StumbleUpon, Technorati and other social media websites. Get a feel for how they work and who goes there. Become part of some social media communities. Make new friends online. Immerse yourself in the Web 2.0 culture so you know how it works and if it might fit your marketing plans.

175 Power Verbs and Phrases for Resumes, Cover Letters, and Interviews

2007-08-01T05:29:00.000-07:00

While you’re revamping your resume or cover letter or constructing your proof-by-example stories for interviews, you’ll find you need to watch your word choice. Why? Communication is powerful if the words we use to communicate are powerful. That’s not all it takes, but the right words make for a good beginning.

So as you craft achievement statements or write paragraphs that sell your skills or draft interview responses to knock the employers’ socks off, consider these suggestions:

Use verbs in active tense, not passive tense.
Use verbs that convey power and action.
Use verbs that claim the highest level of skill or achievement you can legitimately claim.
Use verbs to accurately describe what you have done on the job.
Use adjectives and adverbs sparingly, but when you use them, use them well.
Use nouns that are as specific and as descriptive as possible.
Use numbers whenever possible.
Use the most impressive (and still honest) form of the number you use.
Never lie! It IS NOT worth it. It WILL catch up with you.
Proofread all your verbs and nouns for agreement, tense and appropriateness.

Here, then, are 175 powerful verbs and phrases to make use of in resumes, cover letters and interviews:

abated
abolished
accelerated
accomplished
achieved
actively participated
administered
advanced
advised
aggressively analyzed
applied
assumed a key role
authored
automated
built
hired
closed
coached
co-developed
codirected
co-founded
cold called
collected
co-managed
communicated
completed
computerized
conceptualized
conducted
consolidated
contained
contracted
contributed
controlled
convinced
coordinated
cost effectively created
critiqued
cut
dealt effectively
decreased
defined
delivered
designed
developed
developed and applied
directed
doubled
earned
eliminated
emphasized
enforced
established
evaluated
exceeded
executed
exercised
expanded
expedited
facilitated
filled
focused
formulated
fostered
founded
gained
generated
ground-breaking
headed up
helped
identified
implemented
improved
increased
initiated
innovated
instituted
instructed
integrated
interviewed
introduced
investigated
lectured
led
leveraged
maintained
managed
marketed
motivated
negotiated
orchestrated
organized
outmaneuvered
overcame
oversaw
penetrated
performed
permitted
persuaded
planned
played a key role
positioned
prepared
presented
prevented
produced
profitably
project managed
promoted
proposed
prospected
protected
provided
published
quadrupled
ranked
received
recommended
recruited
reduced
removed
renegotiated
replaced
researched
resolved
restored
restructured
reversed
satisfied
saved
scheduled
scoped out
selected
self-financed
set up
sold
solved
staffed
started
stopped
streamlined
substituted
supervised
taught
tightened
took the lead in
trained
trimmed
tripled
troubleshooted
turned around
upgraded
yielded

While you certainly can use the list anytime you’re looking to say something in a more powerful way, you can also use it to help jog your memory about accomplishments on present and past jobs that you might otherwise overlook. Also, consider using the list to help you refine your resumes and cover letters to be more powerful in their presentation and communication.

Use LinkScanner Online to inspect: Any link with suspicious characters or web site you have never visited.

2007-07-27T06:21:00.000-07:00

If you'd rather be safe than sorry, enter the URL of the site or web page you want to visit in the box below. Our free LinkScanner Online service will visit the URL in a controlled environment on our servers. LinkScanner Online will inspect it in real-time for whether it is hiding any exploit code and, if so, what exploit.

Use LinkScanner Online to inspect:

Links forwarded by friends
Web sites displayed on search results
Any link with suspicious characters or web site you have never visited

Why use LinkScanner Online?

Cybercriminals use "lure" sites to attract web users to sites they have invisibly infected with exploit code. This exploit code is then used to infect users' PCs with drive-by downloads of spyware, rootkits, and other malware.

Just because you click a link doesn't mean you'll land on the site you thought you would
Just because a site looks innocent doesn't mean the underlying code is harmless
Just because a search engine serves up a listing doesn't mean you can trust it

Top 10 Tips To PR Success

2007-07-23T04:41:00.000-07:00

As business owners I'm sure you recognise the power of publicity and how positive media coverage can have an impact on your business. Free media exposure has a lot more credibility than advertising. In fact it's said that publicity is seven times more effective.

However you may also think that you don't have the skills or knowledge to gain publicity and maybe you're not in a financial position to hire a PR firm (yet!).

But if you follow my 10-point plan I'm sure that you'll soon experience the power of the press.

1. Gain the appropriate skills and knowledge to become an expert in your field. Experts on specialist topics are sought after by the media. Become a qualified member of your industry's association, as this will give you credibility when the media choose to profile you.

2. Be clear on what your message is, know what you want to say. Understand that you need to have a point of difference or something interesting to say and that you need to get that across in an entertaining and informative way. Summarize your message in short, succinct, sound bites.

3. You need to have an audience to listen to your message. Do some research on your ideal customer, perhaps a survey. Look at whom your competitors are talking to. Zero in on your target.

4. Reach out to your target audience through the media. Research the most appropriate magazines, newspapers, on-line media or TV shows for your story. Build a database of media contacts or buy a media directory.

5. Approach the media. Send out a well-written media release, follow up with phone calls. Submit articles to magazines. Submit articles to on-line sites. Follow up again. Make sure to be consistent with your media liaison.

6. A picture tells a thousand words. Send out a professional and creative photograph with your release or ring the media outlet and suggest a photo opportunity. Stage a creative film opportunity for television. Media is entertainment and most people are attracted to strong visual images.

7. Be persistent. Keep on submitting media releases and articles. But learn to take no for an answer and don't be a pushy publicist. You need to build good working relationships with journalists.

8. Be prepared for media interviews. Prepare beforehand possible questions and rehearse the answers. Prepare a few points you want to get across and stay on track. Again think of sound bites and memorable phrases to convey.

9. Build up a portfolio of information about you. Your media kit to include on your website as an online newsroom and for meetings with journalists.

10. Consolidate your expertise by publishing books, CD's and DVD's and reap the rewards of successful public relations.

34 Original Ways To Write Your Next Tagline, Positioning Statement Or Brand Promise.

2007-07-19T10:36:00.000-07:00

1. Ask a question
Does she or doesn't she?
- Clairol

2. Show your unique commitment
We try harder.
- Avis

3. Explain product superiority
Takes a licking and keeps on ticking.
- Timex

4. Evoke a benefit in a fresh way
Let your fingers do the walking.
- Yellow Pages

5. Use an emotive call to action
Reach out and touch someone.
- AT&T

6. Use an evocative call to action
Put a tiger in your tank.
- Esso

7. Use an imperative call to action
Just do it.
- Nike

8. Use a one- word call to action
Think.
- IBM

9. Use a cheeky call to action
Let us tan your hide.
- Crisby Frisian Fur Co.

10. Revisit a familiar call to action
Reach out and bust someone.
- Crime Stoppers

11. Link a product feature with an abstract need
A diamond is forever.
- DeBeers

12. Link a feature with your address
We corner the market.
- Irving Rivers Ltd.

13. Combine a feature and a benefit in the same phrase
Make yourself at home.
- IKEA

14. Declare a superlative feature
The world's #1 selling financial software.
- Quicken

15. Make a compelling promise
The world on time.
- Federal Express

16. Be whimsical
It's the real thing.
- Coca- Cola

17. Say it staccato
Soothes. Cleanses. Refreshes.
- Murine Co. (eyedrops)

18. Use a two- fold delivery with a twist
Common sense. Uncommon results.
- David Ingram and Associates

19. Address a specific need
For women whose eyes are older than they are.
- Robert Powers (skin cream)

20. Be abstract but client- centred
After all, it is your information.
- Authentex Software

21. Describe your product in a novel way
Liquid jewelry.
- Lorr Laboratories (nail polish)

22. Link company name to product benefit
Never forgets.
- Elephant Memory Systems

23. Suggest the cost of not using your product
Because so much is riding on your tires.
- Michelin

24. Be grotesque to make a point
Wears like a pig's nose.
- W. M. Finck & Co. (men's overalls)

25. Turn a current business maxim on its ear
Think small.
- Volkswagen

26. Link a well- known phrase with your product benefit
Understanding comes with Time.
- Time magazine

27. Brag about yourself
We take the world's greatest pictures.
- Nikon

28. Brag about your product and your client
You and Betty Crocker can bake someone happy.
- Betty Crocker

29. Take a breath and say it all
Finest anti- knock non- premium gasoline ever offered at no extra cost.
- Union Oil Co.

30. Describe your service and its #1 benefit in two words
Advertising pays.
- Industry maxim

31. Personify your product
Laughs at time.
- Du Pont (paint)

32. Distill your business into one phrase
The Document Company.
- Xerox Corp.

33. Tie your slogan to your logo
Get a piece of the Rock.
- Prudential Insurance Co.

34. Dare to be different
Dare to diff.
- LOEB Cola

Everything they dont want you know about Credit Cards: Part One

2007-07-16T06:35:00.000-07:00

PART ONE

DEFINITIONS

First some terms, along with the meanings they have in the industry:

Cardholder - an individual to whom a credit card is issued. Typically, this individual is also responsible for payment of all charges made to that card. Corporate cards are an exception to this rule.

Card Issuer - an institution that issues credit cards to cardholders. This institution is also responsible for billing the cardholder for charges. Often abbreviated to "Issuer".

Card Accepter - an individual, organization, or corporation that accepts credit cards as payment for merchandise or services. Often abbreviated "Accepter" or "merchant".

Acquirer - an organization that collects (acquires) credit authorization requests from Card Accepters and provides guarantees of payment. Normally, this will be by agreement with the Issuer of the card in question.

Many issuers are also acquirers. Some issuers allow other acquirers to provide authorizations for them, under pre-agreed conditions. Other issuers provide all their own authorizations.

TYPES OF CARDS

The industry typically divides up cards by the business of the issuer. So there are bank cards (VISA, Master Card, Discover), Petroleum Cards (SUN Oil, Exxon, etc.), and Travel and Entertainment (T&E) cards (American Express, Diners' Club, Carte Blanche). Other cards are typically lumped together as "Private Label" cards. That would include department store cards, telephone cards, and the like. Most private label cards are only accepted by the issuer. People are starting to divide the telephone cards into a separate class, but it hasn't received widespread acceptance. (This is just a matter of terminology, and doesn't affect anything important.)

Cards are also divided by how they are billed. Thus there are credit cards (VISA, MC, Discover, most department store cards), charge cards (American Express, AT&T, many petroleum cards) and debit cards. Credit cards invoke a loan of money by the issuer to the cardholder under pre-arranged terms and conditions. Charge cards are simply a payment convenience, and their total balance is due when billed. When a debit card is used, the amount is taken directly from the cardholder's account with the issuer. Terminology is loose - often people use "credit card" to encompass credit cards and charge cards.

A recent phenomenon is third-party debit cards. These cards are issued by an organization with which the cardholder has no account relationship. Instead, the cardholder provides the card issuer with the information necessary to debit the cardholder's checking account directly through an Automated Clearing House (ACH), the same way a check would be cleared. This is sort of like direct deposit of paychecks, in reverse. ACHs love third-party debit cards. Banks hate them.

Another recent addition is affinity cards. These cards are valid credit cards from their issuer, but carry the logo of a third party, and the third party benefits from their use. There is an incredible variety of affinity cards, ranging from airlines to colleges to professional sports teams.

HOW THEY MAKE MONEY

Issuers of credit cards make money from cardholder fees and from interest paid on outstanding balances. Not all issuers charge fees. Even those that do, make most of their money on the interest. They really LIKE people who pay the minimum each month.

Issuers of charge cards make money from cardholder fees. Some charge cards actually run at a loss for the company, particularly those that are free. The primary purpose of such cards is to stimulate business.

Issuers of debit cards may make money on transaction fees. Not all debit card transactions have fees. Most debit cards exist to stimulate business for the bank and to offload tellers and back-room departments.
To date, third-party debit cards exist solely to stimulate business. Providers of such cards make no direct money from their use.

Acquirers make money from transaction charges and discount fees. Unlike the charges and fees mentioned above, these fees are paid by the accepter, not (directly) by the cardholder. (Technically, it is not legal for the merchants to pass these charges directly to the consumer. Some petroleum stations have gotten away with giving a discount for cash, and it has survived court challenges so far.) Transaction charges are typically in pennies per transaction, and are sensitive to the type of communication used for the authorization. Discount fees are a percentage of the purchase price and are sensitive to volume and compliance to rules. One way to encourage merchants to follow certain
procedures or to upgrade to new equipment is to offer a lower discount fee.

Until fairly recently, the only motivation for accepters was to expand their business by accepting cards. Reduction of fraud was enough reason for many merchants to pay authorization fees, but in many cases, it isn't worth the cost. (That is, it is cheaper to pay the fraud than to prevent it.) Recently, electronic settlement has provided merchants with an added benefit by reducing float on charged purchases. Merchants can now get their accounts credited much faster than before, which helps cash flow.

Companies that issue charge cards are real keen on float reduction. The sooner they can bill you, the sooner they get their money. Credit card companies are also interested in float reduction, since the sooner they bill, the sooner they can start charging interest. Debit cards typically involve little or no float.

Affinity cards usually pay a percentage of purchases to the affinity organization. Although it may seem obvious to take this money from the discount fee, this doesn't work since the issuer is not always the
acquirer. The money for this usually comes from the interest paid on outstanding balances. Essentially, the bank is giving a share of its profits to an organization in turn for the organization promoting use
of its credit card. The affinity organization is free to use its cut any way it wishes. An airline will typically put it into the frequent flyer program (and credit miles to your account). A college may put the money into the general fund or into a scholarship fund. Lord only knows what a sports team does with the money!

THE PLAYERS AND THEIR ROLES

American Express (AMEX) is a charge card issuer and acquirer. (Their other businesses are not important to this discussion.) All AMEX purchases are authorized by AMEX. They make most of their money from the discount fees, which is why they have the highest discount fee in the industry. That's one reason why AMEX isn't accepted in as many places as VISA and MC, and a reason why many merchants will prefer another card to an AMEX card. The control AMEX has over authorization allows
them to provide what they consider to be better cardholder ("cardmember" to them) services.

VISA is a non-profit corporation (SURPRISE!) that is best described as a purchasing and marketing coalition of its member banks. VISA issues no credit cards itself - all VISA cards are issued by member banks. VISA does not set terms and conditions for its member banks - the banks can do pretty much as they please in signing cardholders. All VISA charges are ultimately approved by the card issuer, regardless of where the purchase was made. Many smaller banks share their account databases with larger banks, third parties, or VISA itself, so that the bank doesn't have to provide authorization facilities itself.

Master Card (MC) is very much like VISA. There are some differences that are important to those in the industry, but from the consumers standpoint they operate pretty much the same.

Discover cards are issued by a bank owned by Sears. All Discover purchases are authorized by Sears.

Most petroleum cards, if they are even authorized, are authorized by the petroleum company itself. There are exceptions. Fraud on petroleum cards is so low that the main reason for authorization is to
achieve the float reduction of electronic settlement.

THE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS

Card acceptors generally sign up with a local acquirer for authorization and settlement of all credit cards. This acquirer may or may not be a card issuer, but certainly will not have issued all the cards that the merchant can accept. The accepter does not generally call one place for VISA and a different place for MC, for example. At one time, this was necessary, but more and more acquirers are connected to all networks and are offering a broader range of services.

Acquirers generally are connected to many issuers, and pay transaction charges and discount fees to those issuers for authorizations. Thus, the acquirer is actually making money on the difference between fees paid and fees billed. Most acquirers gather together transactions from many accepters, allowing them to get volume discounts on fees. Since the accepters individually have lower volume and are not eligible for those discounts, there is a markup that the acquirer can get away with. Acquirers also, of course, provide the convenience of a single contact.

Most large banks are issuers and acquirers. Things get real interesting when it's time to settle up. Some small banks are only issuers. There are third parties that are only acquirers.

In future episodes, I'll explain how standards help all this chaos work together, and give details about how the authorization process happens.

Payment mechanisms designed for the Internet.

2007-07-14T10:46:00.000-07:00

Payment mechanisms designed for the Internet
This is a collection of links to existing payment schemes that were designed for, or are in use on, the Internet.

ACH Datasoft allows online payment from a US bank account using the automated clearing house (ACH) bank network.

Achex allows money transfer between two US checking accounts, using SSL to protect the request.

Anonymous Internet Mercantile Protocol (Postscript paper).

Automated Transaction Services provide real-time credit card processing and electronic checking services.

Authorizenet processes credit card and checking account transactions.

Bank Internet Payment System (BIPS) from the FSTC, is a non-proprietary protocol for enabling payment through banks over the Internet.

BankNet offer an electronic cheque system in Sterling. In the future it will also incorporate the SET protocols.

Beenz is an account-based Web loyalty points system, often called a Web currency.

BidPay allows person-to-person payments, by accepting a credit card payment from the payer, and sending a money order to the payee.

BillPoint allows person-to-person payments from a credit card. Originally targeted at eBay customers.

BizPay from Consygen.

Brand's Cash: The PhD work of Stefan Brands on electronic cash payment mechanisms.

C2it, also known as AOL Quickcash, from Citibank, is an account based payment system, with e-mail notification of payments received.

CashBox , from Intertrader is a payment management system which supports Internet loading and spending of a variety of Internet payment types including Mondex.

Checkfree provide payment and billing solutions.

CheckSpace is a user-to-user account based scheme, linked to a US bank account, with a check-like Web interface. Targeted at small businesses, it allows e-mail payment requests/invoices.

Ching , from Mediais, is an account based payment and loyalty scheme, linked to a credit/debit card.

1ClickCharge is an account based micropayment scheme for the Web, allowing charges to be made with a single click.

Clickshare is a publishing system to to track movements and settle charges for digital transactions.

Commercenet

Common Electronic Purse Specifications (CEPS)

Credit Card Network have a credit card authorization system using SSL.

CurrencyOne from ArticWeb is an SSL based credit card solution. It is used in Bank of Ireland's Clikpay credit card payment system. ArticWeb also have a voice authenticated payment system.

CybaCard from CybaCom, is an anonymous Mastercard account that can be used online, with purchases charged to a normal payment card.

Cybank is a Web payment system, where purchases are charged against funds held in a Cybank account.

Cybercard.

CyberCash offer secure credit card transactions, and electronic checks over the Internet. CyberCoin, their micropayment solution, is no longer supported. Here is the initial protocol specification for their credit card payment system. Plans were to migrate to SET for credit card payments. Also available are an abstract from a CyberCash paper presented at INET'95.

Cybergold allows you to earn, and spend, money online.

CyberSource offer real-time credit card processing and other electronic commerce services.

DataCash, based in the UK, provide secure credit card authorization over SSL.

DebitNet

DigiGold

Digital Silk Road is a proposed payment system for extremely low cost activities such as delivering and routing packets.

Downtown Anywhere has a system using account numbers, and personal payment passwords.

Ecash is a fully anonymous electronic cash system, using Chaum's blind signatures. Originally from DigiCash (until Nov'98), acquired by eCash Technolgies in August 1999.

eCharge Phone allows purchases to be charged to a local telephone bill. eCharge also have an account based payment system.

eCheck Secure accepts check details over the Internet, and clears them via the ACH network.

E-coin is a token-based micropayment system, which uses a client wallet plugin. Free tokens are currently available.

eComm is an implementation of the SET protocol with extensions for the French B0' banking smart cards. There is a further extension to allow small payments, which are aggregated as a single SET transaction.

Ecount is an account based person-to-person debit system, that allows account value to be spent wherever a credit card is accepted. Value can also be transferred to another account holder.

Econnect provide a card-present payment system which uses a swipe card reader, the ECashPad, to read (debit/credit/smart) card details which are sent only to the bank. More research can be found here.

E-gold allows payments in gold (silver, platinum, or palladium) to be made from customer to customer using an account-based system.

Efficient Electronic Cash: New Notions and Techniques, by Yiannis Tsiounis.

Electronic Funds Clearinghouse provide payment transmission and intake conduits over the Internet. Here's a quick summary.

Electronic Lottery Tickets as micropayments, proposed by Ron Rivest.

E-lysium provide an account based payment scheme and EBPP solutions.

eMoneyMail , from Bank One, allows person to person payments, using a credit card or checking account.

eScrip is electronic scrip (gift vouchers) for specific merchants, sold as fundraising for schools.

ExchangePath is an account based payment scheme, funded with a credit/debit card, and with group billing capabilities.

Fairtunes allows digital music consumers to voluntarily send money to music artists, and is based on credit card payments, PayPal, and E-gold.

First Bank of Internet (FBOI) (Now defunct).

First Virtual Internet Payment System. (now defunct)

Flexible Internet Secure Transactions Based on Collaborative Domains. Appeared at the Security Protocol Workshop'97.

Flooz is a central account based payment system allowing user-to-user payments.

FSTC Electronic Check Project

Fundamo is an account based mobile commerce architecture which allows mobile users to make and receive payments, initially over GSM.

GlobalCollect, a payment provider based in the Netherlands, provide cross border collection of consumer payments made using local payment cards, bank transfers and check payment options.

Globe ID credit and debit card based payment systems.

GMoney is an account based group payment scheme, which allows payment amounts to be split between group members.

HashCash is a token based postage scheme using partial hash collisions.

iBill provides credit card and check processing.

iCanBuy allows parental control of online spending. Parents fund a child's online account using a credit card and can specify where and how the funds may be spent.

i-Escrow is a third party which holds a buyers money in trust, until a vendor delivers purchased goods.

iKP: A Family of Secure Payment Protocols from IBM, and the full iKP paper

InterCoin is an on-line billing service, with a try-before-you-buy attitude.

InternetCash is a prepaid card that is purchased from a real-world store and spent on-line. A temporary anonymous account is setup from the unique card ID (which looks something like: 3842 F932 J283 7832 PRXZ), and its value is decremented as purchases (as small as 50 cents) are made on-line.

Internet Dollar

Internet Secure ATM Payments (ISAP) is a NACHA Internet Council project, which allows ATM/debit card purchases to be authenticated with a user digital signature.

IPAY draft from the IETF Payment Working Group. (now defunct)

iPIN is an account based system, that aggregates purchases and charges them monthly to your ISP bill.

iTransact provide credit card, check and EFT payment processing.

iWinpak is a PGP credit card application for Windows.

Jalda is an account based system for making both micropayments and macropayments from any IP device. Using digital certs and SSL encryption it was designed by Ericsson Hewlett Packard Telecommunications.

The Java Electronic Commerce Framework (JECF) is not an actual payment protocol, but will provide a framework for other payment protocols including SET, smart cards, micro-transactions, electronic checks and other tokens-based schemes.

Kagi aggregates credit card payments on behalf of individual product vendors.

LETSystems (Local Exchange Trading System) and community currencies.

Magex, backed by NatWest Bank, is an account based payment system for encrypted content.

Magic Money description.

MagnaCash is an online account management and money transfer system, a former division of Cybergold.

MBroker, from MoreMagic, provides user billing/payment transaction management for chargable network services.

Micro Gateway, from Auric, is an account based micropayment system.

Micro Payment Transfer Protocol (MPTP) from the W3C Electronic Payments group. The W3C continue their work on micropayments by producing a micropayments markup and micropayments API.

Millicent from Compaq (originally DEC) was designed to support purchases costing less than a cent. Millicent is now live in Japan since mid 1999. There have been a few academic prototypes using Millicent, namely MiniMark and Minstrel.

Mojo Nation uses accounts and micropayments to allow payment for use and provision of unused online resources. Reputations are used as a means of preventing double spending.

Mondex smart card based payment scheme.

MoneyZap from Western Union/First Data allows person to person payments, to and from traditional payment instruments.

Mon-e is an account based system which is funded using a real-world prepaid card.

Movilpago, allows payments to be made from GSM mobile phones. From Spain, a venture between Telefonia and BBVA.

NACHA , have a number of Internet electronic payment initiatives including Internet Secure ATM Payments (ISAP) , where a user digital signature authenticates debit card holders, and DirectPay , which allows Internet initiated ACH credits.

NetBill Electronic Commerce Project, and related publications including a good introduction to NetBill.

NetCard is a hash-chain based micropayment scheme, as part of the NetCard Project at Cambridge University.

NetCash ,an introductory article and the NetCash Home Page.

NetCheque.

NetChex , a debit card based scheme.

NetFare is a pre-paid information access card for making small, aggregated, incremental payments over the Internet for purchases of electronic delivery of information.

NetPay is a micropayment system based on PayWord, which allows partially unspent chains to be transferred between vendors.

NETeller is an account based payment system with merchant accounts.

Netscape Communications sell Netsite Commerce Server for conducting Internet commerce.

NewGenPay is an IBM Research spin-off, that provide a micropayments solution, for "pay cent per click" applications, originally known as Mini-Pay.

Oakington provide an online account-based payment transaction system, where any party can create and manage their own currency.

O-Card , from Orbiscom, uses a one-time credit card number, which is linked to an original credit card, per transaction. The merchant clears the number through the credit card network in the usual manner.

Online Check Systems allows checks to be accepted online.

Open Market have a Web Payment Scheme.

PayByCheck.com processes U.S. checks online, depositing funds into a merchant's account.

PayCash the fully anonymous electronic cash system from Russia.

Paylinx provide payment servers for credit card processing.

PayMe , as presented at the 4th WWW Conference , Boston, Dec.95 by me!

Payme.com is a user to user central account based system.

Payment Online provide a credit card payment processing service, called SecureGate.

PayMyBills.com is an account based bill payment service.

PayPal allows user to user payments, where the payer uses a credit card to pay money into another user's account.

PayTrust is an electronic bill payment and presentment (EBPP) scheme, that makes payments from a normal checking account, and can issue cheques to any U.S. payee.

PayWord and MicroMint , two simple micropayment schemes from R.L.Rivest and A.Shamir

Pay2See is a plug-in payment application allowing pay-per-view Web pages by using an account based system.

PC Pay is a smart card based system for Internet payments and banking.

Pocket Pass is a prepaid account, usable for online payments, user-to-user payments, and as a US phone card.

PrivateBuy.com provides an anonymous debit account, which can be used online wherever a credit card is accepted.

Propay.com is a person-to-person account based payment, that also allows credit-card payments to be be accepted by users.

Proton is a stored value smart card scheme (e-purse), originally issued in Belgium as an alternative to physical cash. It is now being adapted for Internet payments.

QPass aggregates small purchases at multiple merchants and charges against a credit card periodically. Reminds me of the First Virtual model, but with a nice Web interface.

QuickCommerce is a credit card and ACH check clearing system.

RocketCash is an account based system, allowing parental control of spending. The RocketCash account can be funded using a check, money order, or credit card.

SafeDebit is a debit card, encoded on a regular CD, for use in the a PC CD-ROM drive for purchases from participating merchant Web sites.

Secure-Bank.Com provides online transaction processing solutions for credit cards and check drafts, based on SSL.

SecureClick , from Cyota, uses a one-time transaction number which is linked to a credit card account, and is cleared through the credit card network as normal by a merchant.

Secure Electronic Payment Protocol (SEPP) from Mastercard et al. (No longer available). Superseded by SET.

Secure Electronic Transaction (SET) from Visa/Mastercard. SETCo oversees issues relating to the global deployment of SET. FreeSET is a free Java implementation of a SET user wallet, with a JavaCard component.

SecureTrans is a real-time credit card processing system and electronic checking service, using SSL.

Secure Transactions Technology (STT) from Visa and Microsoft. Old press release. Superseded by SET.

SmartAxis allows stored value held on smart cards to be used over the Internet. Currently Proton and Mondex cards are supported.

SNPP: (academic paper) A Simple Network Payment Protocol.

SubScrip a micropayment scheme for subscription style applications on the Internet, from the Monetary Systems Engineering Group, Univ. of Newcastle, Australia.

SureFire Commerce provide credit card transaction processing services as part of their e-commerce solutions.

SurePay

SVP : A Flexible Micropayment Scheme. Appeared in the proceedings of the Financial Cryptography '97 Conference.

Systemics Open Transactions (SOX) payments system.

TeleCheck, is a large processor of online check payments, and provides a number of products for accepting checks over the Internet.

TeleVend allows payments for physical goods from a mobile phone, charging the amount to a phone bill or bank account.

TipJar Internet Treasury allows value to be transferred between TipJar accounts using the Web.

Tipster enables voluntary payment for digital content such as music. The actual payment method used is negotiatable.

TransPoint , now merged with CheckFree, provide an EBPP scheme, allowing any party to be paid from a US checking account.

VirtualPay is an on-line bill payment system

WebCharge, from Anacom, offers real-time credit card processing services based on SSL.

WebFunds, a Java application that acts as a host and platform for payment systems such as SOX, and user features such as email payments.

WebMoney transfer system, is an account based system with some anonymity, allowing transfer between temporary accounts using wallet software.

WiSP, from Trivnet, is a payment system which uses the existing relationship with an ISP, to allow third-party purchases to be billed by that ISP.

WorldPay provide multi-currency credit/debit card and account based micropayment solutions.

Yahoo! PayDirect will allow user-to-user payments, provided by DotBank.com.

Ziplock is a credit card payment system where customers receive a key code to unlock the product only after it has been downloaded and their credit card authorized.

when and how to pitch angel investors for your business

2007-07-13T07:02:00.000-07:00

When it comes to raising money for your startup, don't expect any miracles: Angels don't descend from heaven. In most cases, angel investors will already know you or be introduced by a mutual friend. This is partly because they need to have confidence and trust in you to take a risk on you and your business, but also because they simply like hanging out with entrepreneurs. Angel investors like being mentors, and they typically like to experience the entrepreneurial life vicariously.

Why do they want to hang out with you? Angel investors learn about you by being as interested in you personally as they are in what your business does or sells. If they don't already know you--that is, they're neither your friends nor members of your family--they'll ask around about you behind your back. They'll see what kind of car you drive and if and where you take vacations. Their impression of you, as well as your business experience and your management skills, are all critical to their decision to invest. They'll also talk to mutual associates to get the inside skinny on you--if people they know and trust say you're a genius but lousy with money (or something equally frank), they're likely to listen closely.

And angels are interested not just in you; they also want to know about your team. They want to get to know the people working with you and see that you've gathered an experienced and innovative management team to help you grow your business.
Scheduling a Meeting

You'll need to weigh three factors to help you decide when to schedule the meeting where you'll ask the angel for the investment:

1. State of your relationship with the angel investor. The right time to ask for money is when your relationship is comfortable and trusting and when you sense the investor will be open to the request.

If the investor is a friend or family member, you should have a good sense of their personal life. For example, if there are any big life events like a move, a marriage or a new baby coming up, it's probably not the best time to ask for money. If the investor is unrelated, you'll be best served to make contact and have at least two or three social interactions with him or her before asking for money--unless of course you're lucky enough to have a strong introduction from a close friend of the investor--preferably one who's already invested in your business--that is specifically intended to help you schedule a meeting to ask for money.

In each case, the investor should know you have a business plan and be curious to hear more before you suggest a meeting about capital-raising.

2. Cash needs of your business. A useful calculator for estimating your company's cash needs is available on our site here. It will take, at a minimum, many months to close on your round of fundraising, so you'll need to understand your cash flow well enough to plan several months in advance for how much you'll need and when.

3. Time it'll take to close the deal. It takes time to raise money from relatives, friends and angel investors--just like it takes time to raise money from venture capitalists. Entrepreneurs expect it to take six to 12 months to close a round of venture capital. For raising money from relatives, friends and angels, it could take as little as three months to close a round from five to six investors. For raising a larger round from 10 to 15 investors, it could easily take well over 6 months.

Why does it take time? Because you're not just trying to raise money for your business. You're also trying to run your company. And the investors have other things going on as well. Scheduling meetings, communicating, coordinating schedules, drafting documents--all these things take time. You might be able to impose closing dates on VC investors who are investing out of fear of losing the deal, but imposing deadlines on angel investors is notoriously difficult.
Goals for Your Meeting

You have two goals for your "money raising" meeting with an angel: First, you want to share your business idea, and second, you want to achieve a nonbinding agreement, verbal or written, to invest. If you can't end with an agreement to invest, end the meeting with a plan to follow up.

Goal #1: Communicate your business idea. When you ask for equity capital, you really must have an articulate business plan in place for two reasons. First, you need to be able to answer certain important questions about your idea. One popular one is, "When will you make a profit?" The answer to this should be in the cash flow projections of your business plan.

Second, a smart equity investor will nearly always ask to see a copy of your business plan. My advice is, unless they ask for it in advance, don't bring your full plan to the meeting. When they ask about it at the meeting, you can provide them with a plan summary and offer to mail the complete plan to them afterwards. There are two reasons for this. If you have the full plan on hand, you may get bogged down in the details related to the presentation of the plan or some information within it. Also, it's excellent fundraising practice to have a reason to contact the investor after the meeting.

In addition to your business plan, you'll be talking about your idea in general. Here are the three items that, in my experience, you'll need to know for certain before you go into a meeting with a potential investor:

* What it takes to get to profitability. Investors will want to see that you've "crunched the numbers" and made a plan for success.

* What skills you're lacking and which types of people and skill sets you'll need to have. Good leaders have the confidence to surround themselves with smart people who together make a great team. Show your investor that you know this and have a plan in place to bring on board the people needed to make your business a success.

* How your personal finances relate to those of the business. Investors don't want to hear that you're starting a business so you can spend more time at home with your kids. They don't want to see you driving around in a luxury car or dropping cash like it's going out of style. They want to know you'll be the one sweeping the floors after everyone else goes home at night. They want to know you're willing to sacrifice--to scrimp and save--to make the business succeed. They know it's hard work to create and run a successful business, and they expect you to do what it takes to make them a lot of money.

Talking to your equity investors can be nerve-wracking. Although the benefit of having a relationship is that you and your investor already have a certain level of trust established, you should still choose your words carefully. In addition to the tips I offered in my previous article on the kitchen table pitch, you should also avoid saying the following to your investor:

* That you have big plans for the future. Big plans--for example, to turn your startup chocolate pretzel store into the next big franchise--may appear vague and overly ambitious. Your investor expects you to be a visionary, but also to achieve the short term financial projections that will earn both of you a lot of money.

* Anything that appears cagey or dishonest. Honesty is the most important value investors can find in an entrepreneur, and your investor will be trying to assess your degree of honesty from day one. Avoid the temptation to puff up your projected profits or your colleagues' resumes beyond the bounds of reality.

Goal#2: Get to "yes." The goal of your meeting with the angel should be to reach a verbal agreement to invest. In the case of equity investing, because the deal will be more complex than a loan, you can approach this in two ways: with a handshake or with a "letter of intent."

With most family and friend investors, you can proceed from a nonbinding agreement, such as a handshake, straight to a legally binding agreement. But it's rare for a deal to come up and close in the same meeting, so don't expect to ask for and receive the money in one sitting. Aim to get agreement on a range--such as "I could do $25,000 to $50,000"--and that you'll send the paperwork. If you've gotten this far, you're in great shape. All that's left is to follow up by drafting and sending the agreement.

For unrelated angel investors, especially those who are notoriously difficult to pin down, aim to get the investor to sign a letter of intent (LOI) at the meeting. Although the letter will be informal and nonbinding, it's a great way to get the investor to agree to the idea of making the investment. Follow up promptly with the legally binding stock purchase agreement. The LOI is a tool to get you a commitment from an investor at the moment when he or she is most excited about the business. A signed LOI also allows you to nudge other investors by letting them know you already have money committed.

5 Great Business Audio Books you didnt know.

2007-07-10T05:45:00.000-07:00

For most of us in business, there is a continuous need to get better at what we do, do more of it and all of it in less time. Of course we usually don’t get given any extra time to do this - unless we are lucky enough to be sent on a course. But even then, studies show that most of what is taught on a course is not used - people just do not have the slack in their jobs to rejig their timetables when they get back to take on board the new ideas.

But there is an answer - audio books. There are audio books available in every possible subject you can imagine and they can be listened to whenever you feel like it. As a business person, I’m sure you can also see the amazing value audio books compared to the high cost of courses. What I find absolutely fantastic about these books is that they can be listened to when traveling, at your computer or when out working but the real value is in the daily ‘pep’ talk you give yourself. For me, the biggest reason I don’t carry out any good intentions I have from training courses is that I can’t readjust my work agenda instantly to use my new ideas and my good intentions evaporate. With audio books this is not the case.

Now everyone has their own favourites but if you’re not sure which specific business audio books to go for, her are 5 of some of the best that any business person would want:

1. How to Win Friends and Influence People - by Dale Carnegie
An all time classic that ensures you keep the most important factors at the forefront of your business – people and relationships. As the title suggests, this is a simple guide to how you can communicate with people and build relationships that matter.

2. Winning – by Jack Welch and Suzy Welch
This is such an easy ‘listen’ and is actually related by Jack giving it an extra dimension. It is full of anecdotes and at 11 hours is packed full of useful advice for anyone in business from a genuine winner.

3. The On-time On-target Manager – by Ken Blanchard
Although ‘The One Minute Manager’ is a modern classic, I’m going for this alternative as it tackles head on what I think is the biggest problem of the modern business – procrastination. There’s always so many other things to do that it’s very easy to put the difficult things off until a ‘better time’. Told as a parable rather than a preachy ‘should do’ approach, at just 2 hours in length, it’s something than can be broken up and listened to on the way to work to focus your mind on achievement.

4. The E-Myth Revisited – by Michael E. Gerber
This business classic is narrated by the author and looks at why most small businesses don’t work and what you can do about it. Given that well over 95% of all businesses are classified as small, this is a must-listen if ever there was one. Based on four fundamental ideas that will make or break your business, give this book a try if you think there’s any possibility that your business could be improved.

5. The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More – by Chris Anderson Described as ‘the most important business book since the Tipping Point’, this book describes how the Internet has changed business forever and explains how the idea of limitless choice changes the traditional business model as most know it.

These 5 audio books can give your career a massive boost but they can also give you an enormous advantage over your colleagues- how many of them will be using their time as well as you? My guess is that most will do what they have always done – listen to the radio, complain, read light magazines or papers. Just give it a try and see the effect it has.

Business Plan for a Startup Business

2007-07-09T05:26:00.000-07:00

Credit Dictionary

2007-07-09T05:19:00.000-07:00

Credit Dictionary

Accounts Receivable: credit extended by any person or company to another (normally unsecured) with usual repayment terms requiring a monthly payment to amortize the balance owed.

Amortize: To liquidate or reduce an amount owed through a series of payments.

ANI: See Automatic Number Identifier.

Attorney: A legal agent authorized to appear before a court of law as a representative of a party to a legal controversy.

Automatic Number Identifier: The ability of a company to identify an 800-number caller's name and address. Every time a consumer calls one of these toll-free 800 numbers, there is a record of that call; the debt collection community frequently uses this to locate a consumer's home or business location after they have gone underground. (Use pay phones!)

Bad Debt Expense: An accounting category reserved for debts deemed uncollectible.

Bankruptcy: A legal maneuver allowing consumers or businesses to discharge all debts and liabilities. The actions of most debt collection agencies force consumers into bankruptcy instead of settling outstanding accounts.

Blackmail: Any payment induced by or through modation, by use of threats of injurious information or accusations. (A technique frequently used by unethical debt collection agencies.)

Bulletproofing: Insulating yourself from financial adversaries such as creditors, debt collectors, attorneys, etc. Simple techniques include obtaining an unlisted phone number and post office box to more advanced maneuvers such as use of family trusts, corporations, etc.

Cease-Commed: Term used, by the debt collection industry to describe the status of an account. When a consumer has cease-commed a debt collector this means that they have invoked federal law by sending a Cease & Desist letter via certified mail, forcing the debt collector to cease collection activity of that account.

Certified Mail: Specialized postal service technique utilized to track delivery and obtain proof of delivery of letters or packages.

Chapter 7: A consumer bankruptcy filing that liquidates all non-exempt assets to pay off creditors.

Chapter 12: Bankruptcy filing reserved for working ranches, farms, etc.

Chapter 13: A type of consumer bankruptcy filing that allows the consumer to pay off creditors within a specific time period, no longer than five years. Also referred to as a "wage eamer" plan.

Chapter 20: Ploy used by some bankruptcy attorneys to delay a foreclosure of real property by filing a Chapter 13 petition, then quickly converting the filing to a Chapter 7.

Charge-off: A creditors action taken on an uncollectible account. Alternative term used: Written Off To Bad Debt Expense. This action normally results in negative information lines on a credit report that can stay for at least 7 years. (Also see uncollectible)

Class-action lawsuit: A legal action initiated by 3 or more parties against a defendant. Many suits in this category are initiated by state or federal attorneys.

Coercion: Exercising force to obtain compliance. A favorite technique employed by debt collectors and attorneys representing creditors.

Commission: A sum or percentage paid to a person for his successful completion of services.

Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS): A nonprofit organization that sells itself to the American public as the last hope for consumers buried in debt. The reality is that they are actually debt collectors for the original creditors, a fact that seems to be routinely shuffled aside and not disclosed to the consumer.

Consumer literacy test: A test proposed by the author to be given to high school students to determine competency in basic consumer skills. These skills include how to open checking and savings accounts, how to balance a checkbook, how to create/follow a budget, how credit cards work, a brief understanding of insurance, etc.

Contingency basis: A fee paid to a third party for their involvement in either a legal proceeding or debt collection. This fee is normally paid only when a successful outcome to a legal proceeding or debt has been collected, either in part or in full.

Credit grantor: Companies or individuals that extend financing to consumers. A credit grantor can be a mortgage company willing to finance a house, a bank willing to finance an automobile, or a major national credit grantor willing to extend credit through the issuance of a charge card such as Visa, MasterCard or Discover.

Credit manager: Individual that oversees the lending department in a bank, department store or other credit-granting entity. Many times this individual will work closely with the collections manager to develop collections strategies for past due/bad debts.

Credit record: National grading system filed by subject's name, birth date and social security number. Major companies providing these services include TRW, TransUnion and Equifax.

Credit repair manual: Derogatory term used by the credit reporting industry for any books that may show consumers the inside information about their industry.

Criss-cross: A directory, also known as a City Directory, that is frequently used by the debt collection community to find out information about a debtor's neighbors. One section lists households and businesses by street address; another lists all telephone numbers by exchange (in numerical order) and to whom each number is assigned. A powerful tool of information intimidation utilized to put fear into unwitting consumers.

Databases: Term used to describe the enormous pools of information managed by computers. Creditors and debt collectors will access national credit databases managed by companies like TRW, CSC/Equifax, TransUnion, etc.

Debtors' havens: Term that refers to states such as Texas and Florida which have liberal laws protecting debtors from creditors.

Deceptive forms: Another trick of the debt collector trade, these forms can take on a variety of intimidating looks-from threatening (but non-binding) documents that appear to have been issued by a court of law to demand letters that look like something issued by the IRS. Of course they're illegal ... you don't think that will stop the debt collectors from using them, do you?

Deed in lieu of foreclosure: Technique used with mixed results by consumers unable to continue making payments on their homes. Sometimes lenders will allow debtors to deed the property back to the lender instead of suffering through the embarrassment of a foreclosure sale on the courthouse steps.

Deep discount: When a creditor sells Accounts Receivable or Bad Debts at an amount normally less than 50% of the outstanding balance.- Many times these sales are made to companies that specialize in buying these types of "dead assets."

Defaulted student loans: Loan made to students to attend secondary educational institutions at low interest rates. These loans were guaranteed by the federal government as an inducement to banks to make these loans but as a result, were poorly researched before being made. Over $13 billion of these loans exist and are now owned by the U.S. government. Revised laws now enable consumers to restructure these loans. Contact the Department of Education in Washington, DC.

Deferment: Contractually agreed-to period of time a borrower is allowed to suspend payment on a debt. Usually applies to student loans and suspends the accrual of interest or late fees on the outstanding loan balance.

Deposition: Sworn statement made in the presence of a court reporter (usually) as a result of questions posed by attorneys in court (or post judgment) action. These statements are normally made outside a court of law, but are fully admissible during trial and fully binding under perjury statutes.

Discharged: To relieve of obligation, responsibility, etc. Common term used in bankruptcy court to describe the process of eliminating debtor obligations.

Discounts: Selling Accounts Receivable or Bad Debts at an amount normally in excess of 5 1 % of the outstanding balance. Many times these sales are made to companies that specialize in buying these types of "dead assets."

Dispossession of property: Taking away property against the ovmer's wishes, normally as a result of non-payment.

Erroneous information: False, misleading or incorrect data. Frequently found in consumer medical or credit files across America.

Exempt assets: Assets not at risk of being seized or forfeited as a result of legal action.

Financial management: Technique used to balance income vs. expenses. Responsible financial management usually results in an excess of monies available. (This style of managing finances has yet to be mastered by the United States Government.)

Flaky loans: Questionable loans made by banks in the 1980s such as student loans or land development loans. (see defaulted student loans)

Fraudulent activity: Transaction designed to swindle consumers or creditors, normally cheating these groups out of goods, services or assets. (see sign of the beast)

Freebie report: A copy of your credit report given to you at no charge for one of two reasons ... every consumer gets a free report from TRW just for asking and every consumer gets a free copy of their credit report if they have been declined credit.

Getting bulletproof: The process of insulating a person from lawsuits, garnishments, creditor intrusion and harassment. Popularized in Texas during the late 1980s ... now being utilized by consumers/business people in California and the East Coast.

Hired gun: The hiring of third party debt collectors or attorneys to emotionally pummel a consumer in hopes of collecting an overdue account.

Hot checks: Drafts on a bank account that will be or have been returned by the bank for insufficient funds to pay face amount of check issued.

IRS refund offset program: Effort initiated by the Department of Education to recover defaulted student loans by seizing the tax refunds of consumers with the assistance of the Internal Revenue Service.

Interrogatory: Sworn statement made in writing as a result of a list of questions/inquiries by attorneys in court (or post judgment) action

Intimidation: Inspiring or inducing fear (a favorite tactic of debt collection agencies).

Knee Breaker Collection Agency: Generic name used to describe a collection agency that may use techniques that are not endorsed by the American Collectors Association or deemed legal by the federal government under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. (see Vito)

Lawyers: (see Attorneys)

Leverage: A negotiating position of strength; something creditors may have, debt collectors never have, and consumers almost always have.

Mail drops: Companies like Mailboxes, Etc. and others who provide a valuable service to consumers wanting to distance themselves from intrusive individuals such as debt collectors. Allows a new mailing or street address to be instantly created by consumers trying to insulate their lives.

Medical bills: The number-one reason consumers have been filing for bankruptcy, medical bills many times can be appealed or I negotiated with the original provider. It is not uncommon to be grossly overcharged or mis-billed for medical services, so it's important for consumers to be aggressive when auditing these statements.

National Foundation For Consumer Credit: Parent organization for CCCS. (see Consumer Credit Counseling Service)

Negative information (or remarks): Statements or grades assigned on credit reports due to late payment, non-payment or default on debts owed to creditors. Bankruptcies and hens also show up under this category. Favorite point of leverage utilized by collection agencies attempting to passively blackmail consumers.

Nine-Digit Zip Code: Increasingly becoming a powerful tool for skiptracing, the 9-digit zip codes allow specific location (if a current address can be located) of a consumer, courtesy of the U.S. Post Office. (Another compelling reason to utilize post office boxes or mail drops.)

Non-dischargeable debt: Debt that cannot be eliminated through bankruptcy court. Some types of IRS debt, student loans and certain types of judgments fit into this category.

Old debt: Debt that has been charged off/written off by a creditor, normally referred to an outside 'third party" collector. Old debts are usually those debts/accounts that have not had charge or payment activity for over 2 years and are the easiest to negotiate payment/removal from credit reports with creditors.

Open account: An account with a creditor that is still on the books and, in the opinion of the original creditor, collectible. These types of accounts usually are reported/updated to the credit bureaus and report late payments. They can be the most difficult to negotiate with a creditor.

Oxymoron: A term that contradicts itself, such as "jumbo shrimp" or "military intelligence" or "ethical debt collector" or "reasonable legal fees."

Paid As Agreed: Old term used on consumer credit bureau reports to describe an account that may have been renegotiated and/or settled for less than the full amount. Many creditors are now flagging these notations as negatives, so it's important that your creditor agrees to delete all information regarding a settled account, not just re-classify the account as "paid as agreed."

Paralegal: Vague title used (and abused) by many debt collectors to misstate level of power, prestige or might Threats of lawsuits and jail time are frequently used by people espousing to be "paralegals".

Password: An identifying word or code that consumers may set up with the phone company and other service providers that allows only authorized individuals access to information concerning an account. Unprotected accounts are frequent targets by the debt collection community in order to obtain additional information about a consumer.

Positive identification: A means to identify without a doubt the identity of a consumer wishing to obtain a copy of their credit file. A check and balance designed to keep unauthorized people from gaining access to your information.

Postdated check: A check with a date in the future, a technique utilized to connate a person to make payment after the date written on the check. (Something a consumer should never, ever give to a debt collector.)

Profit & Loss Statement: A valuable accounting function that shows a reconciliation of all gross income and expenses to offset the same, arriving at a net profit (or loss) figure.

Prospective creditor: A credit grantor that has not yet agreed to loan/lend monies for the purchase or a home or automobile, or through the issuance of a credit card.

Public records: Another terrific source of information tapped into on a regular basis by the debt collection community, in an attempt to gain insight into a debtor's activities or current location. Favorite records to be studied by the debt collectors: Divorce records, property records, tax information and motor vehicle records.

Red ink: Term used to describe losses sustained by any financial entity. When individual consumers drown in red ink they may end up filing for bankruptcy; when the U.S. government engages in this financial activity it holds another treasury note or bond auction.

Regulatory agencies: Any agency empowered by either local, state or federal authorities to enforce civil laws, such as the Federal Trade Commission.

Reply card tracer: Used by Postal Service to track down return receipts that never returned to verify delivery of parcel.

Re-prioritize: The resetting, of priorities in one's life, usually due to a dramatic change in circumstances. Sometimes a necessary first step toward solving one's financial problems.

Return receipts: When a letter is sent by Certified Mail, this receipt (green card for domestic mails/pink card for international) give the sender a record of who actually received/signed for letter or package sent.

Revolving charge card (or credit line): Commonly issued by major department stores and major banks, it requires a monthly payment sufficient to amortize the outstanding balance. Example: If consumers pay only the minimum balance on a $10,000 credit card and do not use the card for any additional purchases, it will take over 25 years to amortize/pay off the debt.

Risk free: A concept used in lending to describe the risk vs. return of certain types of consumer/business loans. Also refers to overdraft protection checking accounts at the House of Representatives bank in the 1980s.

Roll over: What many consumers do when dealing with credit bureaus or collection agencies, giving up without a fight. Also used to describe the apathy displayed by most Americans when asked about their input in the law making/enforcement process or budgetary responsibility of congress.

Scam: Fraudulent plan or scheme designed to separate a consumer from their money without delivering on promised goods, services (training) or value.

Scoring system: A tool used by prospective lenders to grade the credit-worthiness of a potential borrower.

Secured creditor: Creditor whose financial position is secured by real property, such as a bank or finance company with a lien on an automobile or a mortgage company secured by the house they financed. hi the event of default the secured creditor can repossess or foreclose on the property they financed, greatly reducing their chance of total loss exposure.

Secured credit card: A major national credit card (normally Visa or MasterCard) that has a credit limit secured by a cash deposit placed with the issuing bank by the cardholders A positive recovery step for consumers who have gotten into credit problems but need a credit card in order to get a hotel room, a rental car or other business/travel- related activities.

Sign of the beast: A reference to Satan in a passage from the Revelations chapter of the Bible; also used as a derogatory term describing debt collectors and some attorneys.

Skip and skiptracing: Technique used by creditors and collection agencies to find consumers that are suddenly difficult to locate (skips). No magic here, just instant access to enormous databases containing a variety of information that, in most cases, will lead the debt collectors to your new front door.

Snake oil: A negative term used normally by an individual to discredit another. Refers to selling or promoting something that falsely claims inflated results or expectations. (A favorite term of the American Collectors Association, a trade group representing debt collectors across the U.S.)

Social security number: A nine-digit number issued by the Health and Human Services Administration to identify Americans for future social security benefits. This number has evolved into the years as a national identifier for Americans, a serial number now used for referencing credit information files, military and school records, etc.

Telephone recording device: A $20 device sold by national electronic retailer Radio Shack that allows consumers to tape telephone conversations for later review. A great equalizer when being harassed by a debt collector who thinks he's above the law.

Tele-terrorist: Term coined by this author to describe today's debt collectors who use the telephone or telefax to threaten, intimidate or coerce consumers into making (more) poor financial decisions.

Third-party debt collector: Collection agency or attorney engaged in the business of collecting debts that they did not originate. Usually taking these accounts on a contingency basis, the majority of these collection agencies work on a commission basis. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act specifically regulates the activities of this type of collection agent.

Threats: An indication or warning of probable trouble, often illegally used by debt collectors. (see debt collectors or Vito)

Time-Value of money: A concept used by a large number of groups involved in money and finance. When relating to the debt collection business, it's an accepted fact that the longer an account goes without payment or reduced payments, the lower the chances of collecting the entire amount.

Trial by fire: Term used by individuals, often average consumers, who have acquired "street smarts" by dealing directly with their financial problems. These individuals frequently include graduates from the "school of hard knocks."

Uncollectible: Term used by creditors to describe an account that has gone past a certain period of time without payment, usually at least 6-9 months.

Underground: Another term commonly used for someone who has dropped out of sight or "skipped." Usually the result of incessant threats and phone calls from unethical debt collectors.

Unscrupulous tactics: Any number of techniques used by debt collectors in order to collect money on overdue accounts from unsuspecting consumers.

Unsecured creditor: Creditor who has no collateral covering their financial exposure. Almost all credit or charge cards fit into this category. The weakest position to be in during tough financial times, unsecured creditors are the largest employers of third-party debt collectors.

Vito: Name used to describe any individual in the debt collection industry who may use techniques that are not endorsed by the American Collectors Association or deemed legal by the federal government under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act.

Vocational school: Non-traditional institution of higher learning designed to train students in job skills as opposed to educational degree plans in specific areas of study. Vocational schools can graduate students in 6- to 24-month course studies as opposed to 48 months in traditional colleges/university programs. This type of school is coming under increasing scrutiny by the Department of Education.

Wage-earner plan: Alternate term used to describe a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. This plan allows consumers to pay off creditors over a period not to exceed five years.

4 Steps to Spectacular Customer Service.

2007-07-06T23:50:00.000-07:00

Most towns have at least one “flashpoint” business—a place that’s famous for its turbo-charged workers and lines of eager customers. These are the local hot spots that are “always jumping,” places in which employee motivation and customer satisfaction fuel each other in a flashpoint of contagious enthusiasm.

But flashpoint businesses don’t just happen by lucky accident. They have to be made to happen. If there aren’t many such businesses, it can only be because so few owners and managers understand the simple 4-step process for creating a flashpoint culture in their own workplaces.

Not convinced such a process could be that simple? Not sure any such process could ever work in your own business setting? Here’s a quick and easy way to find out.

Step 1: Invite your employees to come up with some ideas for improving the customer experience. For this process to work, the ideas for changes in behavior or procedure need to come from the workers themselves. The old way is to dictate in memos or training programs the kinds of behaviors management wants employees to adopt, and then try to legislate these new behaviors into the workplace—a way that has never worked. Employees will only get behind a change if it’s one they believe in. And employees are always more likely to believe in a change if the idea for it comes from themselves, instead of their bosses.

Step 2: Choose one employee idea, and help the employee(s) implement it successfully. The objective is to make the workers who came up with the idea look like heroes in customers’ eyes. If there are costs associated with the idea, helping with implementation will mean providing funding for it. (Think of this cost as an investment in positive word-of-mouth, the most effective form of advertising on the planet). If the idea requires changing a policy or procedure, do everything possible to make the change. Eliminate all obstacles to successful implementation of the employees’ initiative.

Step 3: Make it easy for customers to give positive feedback about the new initiative. It’s always good business practice to hear what your customers have to say—but few businesses make it convenient and easy for customers to give feedback on a regular basis. To test this process, make a point of soliciting feedback that relates specifically to the idea the employees implemented. Use various methods to collect feedback, especially that most powerful method of all: simple face-to-face conversation with the customers themselves.

Step 4: Let the employee(s) bask in the motivational effect of the positive feedback. This is where the magic begins. Let’s say an employee came up with the idea of installing a bench so senior citizens would no longer have to stand while waiting in line. When delighted seniors begin to rave about the convenience of the bench, tell them, "This bench was actually Terry’s idea. In fact, Terry, could you come over here for a moment—these folks would like to tell you something about your bench"

And now watch the effect this feedback has on Terry. You’re watching the first spark of the flashpoint effect: customer satisfaction driving up employee motivation, and employee motivation driving up customer satisfaction.

Once you’ve seen how well the process works, apply it again. And again. Keep the ball rolling by holding regular employee brainstorming sessions to come up with a rich supply of new ways to delight customers. Break a typical customer transaction down into its individual steps, and get employees thinking about ways to add a “wow factor” element in each step. Not every idea will be implemented, of course, but make sure enough are implemented to keep the positive customer feedback flowing in. And give your workers opportunities to hear this feedback directly from their customers. Immediate positive feedback from delighted customers is the primary motivational fuel all flashpoint businesses use to keep the fires of employee enthusiasm burning hot and bright.

The 7 Ways to find the Best Wholesale Sources.

2007-07-06T09:53:00.000-07:00

Wholesale sources are a lot easier to find then everyone makes it seem. Just because people sell lists and offer advice, does not mean you cannot find the sources yourself. Not only will finding the sources yourself save you money, it could give you the most quality, unique, and lesser known sources that will provide you with a better product and selling opportunity.

Newspaper Classifieds Newspapers have many great sources as well. Be sure to not only look in the classifieds, but also look at the ads all over that you usually just ignore. Also, be sure to search several newspapers and not just one.
Retail Stores
Many retail stores such as Macys and Sears have closeout sales where you can find great deals. They only have a limited space to work with, and when a new shipment or new model of products arrives, they must get rid of these closeout products as soon as possible. You can expect to save 50-80% on various items. Staying current with the sales and arriving when they first start as early as possible is the key to success.
Auction sites Auction site such as eBay and Liquidation.com have many great auctions for bulk supplies of a wide range of products. The great thing about getting your wholesale supplies from auction sites virtually gaurantees you a unique lot of supplies which will drastically reduce the number of competitors you have. As with all auction sites, be sure you deal with reputable people and carefully read the product terms and details.
The Phonebook The phonebook is another great place to find unique sources. Remember, the more unique your source is, the less competitors you will have. Also, since your phonebook only deals with local suppliers, you will save a lot on shipping, or might even be able to pick up the supplies on your own, which will save you money and will give you the chance to personally inspect the products prior to purchase. Don't have a yellowbook? You can conveniently find basically the same information at www.yellowpages.com
Government Auctions Everyone knows that government auctions are a great source for wholesale supplies, yet many people are confused on how to go about finding them. First, I would suggest using Google to search "(Your County) Surplus Auction". This will usually direct you to your County's government auction sale. If not, go to your township or county website and take five minutes to search for information. Five minutes is all it will take, but many people just refuse to look. Then, make sure you look in local papers for government sales too. Remember, they usually only post in one paper, so you must search through several until you find the right paper with the government auction posting. If you put in about 30 minutes, you can get all the information you need about your local government auctions. Be sure to get the information from your local government's actual website, not some third party website.
Wholesale Directories There are a few wholesale directories online. Sources such as Wholesale Checklist are of quality because they do not take money for placement, hand picking out quality resources to be listed. Many other directories are great places to start searching for wholesale sources too.
Search Engines Search engines are probably the worst place to look for wholesale sources, yet you cannot neglect them. First of all, if you find a source on a search engine, chances are thousands upon thousands of other people have found that source as well. This means many competitors are against you. Also, there are many scams on the internet, and search engines cannot weed them out for you. If you have a very, very specific need for a source, then a search engine might be okay, but do not rely only on search engines.

How NOT to Earn $10,000/Month with Google Adsense.

2007-07-05T02:42:00.000-07:00

Here is an explanation why "expensive keyword" isn't equal to "profitable keyword"
Almost all AdSense publishers are looking for the most expensive keywords. Let's have a look at the top 100 most expensive keywords. But first let's add 2 extra columns to the list: clicks/day and cost/day by Google AdWords estimation:

Have you noticed that keyword price result in ZERO profit if there are no clicks? It's cost/day (keyword price X clicks/day) that makes you rich, not keyword price itself.

Here is the list of the most PROFITABLE, not the most expensive AdSense keywords:

Keyword	Cost Per Click	Clicks/Day	Cost/Day
insurance	$17.41	49,893.5	$868,645.81
hotels	$3.52	200,636.0	$706,238.75
film	$2.88	183,044.0	$527,166.75
home	$3.89	102,282.5	$397,878.91
car	$5.09	52,069.5	$265,033.75
schools	$4.13	60,913.0	$251,570.69
acting	$2.28	106,337.0	$242,448.36
credit	$8.67	25,705.0	$222,862.34
cheap	$2.71	82,139.5	$222,598.05
digital	$1.70	130,607.0	$222,031.91
hotel	$2.38	84,776.5	$201,768.06
film schools	$5.64	35,501.5	$200,228.45
software	$3.23	61,259.5	$197,868.19
new	$2.17	90,415.0	$196,200.55
auto insurance	$29.48	6,453.0	$190,234.44
rental	$5.97	31,635.5	$188,863.94
free	$1.06	172,680.5	$183,041.33
travel	$5.02	35,084.5	$176,124.19
auto	$7.28	23,610.5	$171,884.44
video	$2.01	83,295.0	$167,422.95
mortgage	$13.03	12,172.0	$158,601.16
flights	$1.91	75,692.0	$144,571.72
editing	$2.37	57,747.0	$136,860.39
refinance	$20.01	6,827.0	$136,608.27
loans	$9.38	13,966.5	$131,005.77
uk	$1.43	86,623.5	$123,871.60
computer	$3.67	33,043.5	$121,269.64
buy	$2.06	58,840.5	$121,211.43
extended stay	$20.13	5,758.0	$115,908.54
home insurance	$18.75	6,152.0	$115,350.00
training	$3.60	31,112.0	$112,003.20
travel insurance	$11.29	9,861.0	$111,330.69
cars	$3.90	26,198.5	$102,174.15
debt	$9.17	11,104.5	$101,828.26
furniture	$1.76	57,463.5	$101,135.76

10 Top Tips for Successful Networking.

2007-07-04T00:55:00.000-07:00

1. Recognise the importance of networking

Ask any successful business person and they will tell you that above all else networking skills are absolutely vital to grow your business. Networking can increase your market share, help you gain new ideas, provide work and perspectives on life and business. Speaking to one person can potentially give you access to over 200 clients and suppliers.

2. Aim to become visible

You need to let others know you exist and what you do by becoming highly visible and being set apart from the crowd, which is what good networking skills can provide. Be seen and get known. Look for interesting events to go to; clubs, associations, meetings, seminars, conferences, presentations, breakfast briefings, lunches, or start your own networking club.

3. Take care of your image

To have success in networking you need to maintain your self-esteem and build your confidence. Consider how you dress, speak and maintain your body language; aim to present a professional, positive image.

4. Always be positive

By having an open “can do” attitude and having the belief in giving and sharing as well as offering assistance your reputation will soon grow.

5. Treat all events as networking

Going into a specific networking event you may experience fear and trepidation but there is also the thrill and challenge of who potentially you might meet. However we all have all sorts of events we attend which are in effect networking ie meeting people to build mutally beneficial relationships. The networks we belong to can include schools, colleges, work, social life, small businesses, corporate businesses, family, neighbours, advisors or the church.

6. Build your relationships

You need to project an excellent image of warmth, approachability, understanding, knowledge, empathy, and an ability to engage with anyone.. Don’t forget your most powerful contact might not be the most useful to you. Above all be genuine. You should take an interest in everyone you meet, remember their name, listen acutely to them to understand their needs and how you could assist each other. Tact, reassurance and the building of trust are also the hallmarks and vital components of relationship building. Be relaxed and stay interesting.

7. Develop the ability to “small talk”

Being able to talk to anyone about anything is a valuable skill in its own right and essential in networking. Being able to initiate a conversation means you are more likely come into contact with people who may well turn out to be invaluable contacts. Small talk can be difficult but have a few stock phrases up your sleeve such as “How did you get started in…..?”, “What do you particularly need to succeed?” “Where are you going with it next……?”

8. Develop active listening skills

Networking is not about selling it is about listening to the other person and showing them you are interested in them by active listening. Allow others to open up & talk freely. Give you’re your undivided attention even if it is only for five minutes. Take an interest in what’s said and acknowledge this by nodding or agreeing. Use positive body language such as facing them with lots of eye contact. Used subtle mirroring techniques (body language copying) to develop rapport.

9. Use your business card

With the many people you meet this is the only way to maintain the initial contact. 90% of businesses have no card and only 25% have a card that is up to date and informative. At the very least your own should have on it your name, address and phone number and ideally your email address if not your website. Try to include on the back your skills focus to help others identify what you have to offer. You should also create a tracking system to identify and remember all those who you meet.

10. Be organised

Keep a written list of everyone you know and everyone you meet and what they do or keep a database. Write memory joggers on the back of business cards. You may find it useful to keep a diary of who you meet and where and any mutual contacts for future reference.

10 Business Oriented Service Businesses To Start Today

2007-07-02T00:19:00.000-07:00

Business-Plan Consulting
Not only is a business plan crucial in obtaining bank financing, but also it's an invaluable tool for anticipating and tackling a business's inevitable ups and downs. With your writing skills, spreadsheet know-how, and general business savvy, show clients how to present their best-laid plans

Packing and Unpacking Service
Packing up to move to a new home or office not to mention unpacking on the other end is enough to leave one feeling upended. Thank goodness for packing and unpacking entrepreneurs who, with their hassle - and timesaving services, make moving seem so easy.

Specialized Staffing
Helping clients meet their workforce needs is a matter of finding a niche and filling it--and keeping up with human resources trends. Work your way up in the industry by developing a roster of specially skilled workers, then use your "people skills" to build your business.

Bookkeeping
Though today's software makes keeping your own books easier, it doesn't make it much less time-consuming. That's why, for business owners with little time to spare; a bookkeeping service is not only a time-saver, but also an asset.

Referral Service
For referral-service entrepreneurs who act as a "welcome wagon" to newcomers getting to know new as well as existing businesses pays off in more ways than one. Local companies pay to get their services introduced to newcomers, while these new customers pay for a little friendly advice.

Executive Search
Take your business to a "hire" level: As an executive-search specialist, help busy clients find the right man / woman for the job. Your job involves placing ads and conducting interviews to screen potential employees for clients. Put on your best interviewing suit, and get down to business.

Long-Distance Reselling
By buying time in bulk from wholesalers, long-distance resellers ring up sales by servicing long-distance consumers--often at significant savings. You make the call: Either purchases the telecommunications equipment you'll need now, or rent it and simply focus on the marketing of your service.

Professional Office Consultant
It's one thing to spend a day at the office, and another altogether to run the office. As a professional office consultant, you'll oversee such responsibilities as marketing, insurance and daily operations for professional lawyers, doctors or other specialists--while leaving the rest to the "pros."

Office-Support Service
Typing, filing, sorting mail, entering data, and answering phones are just a few tasks an office-support service can perform to help out harried business owners. Hand out business cards to every businessperson you know--and get ready to spend a productive day at the office!

Seminar Promotion
If there's one thing consumers can never seem to get enough of, it's information. Give them an earful by planning and promoting informational seminars. You don't need to be an expert yourself; just schedule the speakers, reserve a location, promote the event, and get ready to collect the profits at the door.

Top 12 Proven Tips to Strengthen Your Marketing Muscle

2007-06-29T02:23:00.000-07:00

The more you stretch it the stronger it becomes. And that will make you a better marketer, and more confident to generate more and more business.

Listed below are my top 12 proven ways to strengthen your marketing muscle. I realise you may find some of them challenging to undertake. That’s the whole point. If you don’t stretch your marketing muscle you wont improve it.

Ready… knees bent…breathe in…

Website:

Try running a few pay-per-click advertisements on Google (Google Adwords). It doesn’t cost very much at all. You will learn a lot, even if you don’t get an immediate flood of business.
Optimise the home page of your web site by fixing the page title, using a few descriptive headings, and sprinkling key words in appropriate places on the page.
Ask your typical customers what they think of using your web site. But don’t just ask. Run a low-cost user-test by having one person sit in front of a computer and navigate your site. Ask them to do a typical task at your site. Talk with them about how easy (or not) it was for them to do the task.

Advertising:

Investigate an important customer niche market and find the main publication, website, or professional journal they read. Contact the publication and ask about their advertising options.

Write an article:

Choose one topic that you know your potential customers will be interested in, related to the services you provide. Write a brief article of 500-600 words explaining how they should approach/manage the topic you selected. (This article is 750 words.) Include some useful action-oriented tips. Add the article to your web site. Email it to your contacts. Add it to one of the many online article directories so that other people can access it and publish it on their website.

Speaking:

Approach your local business group, networking club, social group, or community group and ask if it would be possible for you to present a short talk to them. Pick a relevant topic that you can cover in the time they allow (usually 15-20 minutes would be enough).

Selling:

Create a value-added offer and mention it during all your sales discussions over the next week. Don’t forget to tell your networking group as well, if you are a member of one.

Public Relations:

Focus on one event you run, survey you conduct, or client success story you have, and write a media release around it. Focus on the people in the story. Include a photo – with people – if possible. Send that to appropriate publications and websites.

Newsletter:

Start a newsletter. Make it monthly so you do not get overwhelmed. Decide on a few topics you can write about, then select one as the first subject. Even if you don’t have a large list of contacts. Make a start. Be sure to follow good email practices.

Ask for a testimonial:

Contact previous clients and tell them you are updating your marketing material, and you are approaching them to get their feedback on how they found your service. Get the testimonials in writing, or write one for the client based on what they tell you. Be sure to ask if it is OK for you to use their words and name.

Networking:

Meet with one person over coffee who offers a complementary service or product. Keep it casual. Get to know their business. Make sure you also explain how you help clients. Don’t expect an order from them. Discuss possible future opportunities with them as a referral or alliance partner.

Promotion:

Create a one or two-page summary of your services and the benefits you offer. Don’t just list features, or your credentials. Include a testimonial or two. Use this document as the main follow up after you meet new people, or when contacting prospects. It is important to have it as a PDF document (not Word, Publisher or other program) so that you can send it via email and everyone can open it.

11 Golden Tips To Cut Costs When Launching A Startup

2007-06-28T06:49:00.000-07:00

Launching a startup can be very expensive. In the last few years however the cost of launching innovative projects and web startups in particular has dropped dramatically. What you usually need to spend on is: hosting, domain registration, help from friends and a “big garage”. What is really important is to be patient and find a niche for your service or product. Many people get discouraged because of entry costs in markets and costs of creating and launching a startup.

Let me tell you how you can cut costs easily:

1. Look into projects according to your background.

The best way to save money is have a proper knowledge of the industry and the products you are going to provide. If you are an engineer try to stick to your background; biochemistry or astronomy will probably be something to avoid especially if you don’t have anyone with such knowledge in your company. The key to success is competitive advantage which derives from unique abilities and skills.

2. Ask your family and your friends to comment on the project.

You family and your friends will always tend to be subjective, but their advice will be free. Asking “what do you think about it?” will allow you to identify potential opportunities and serious mistakes. This could be vital.

3. Observe competitors before spending money.

This is something that I always stress. Don’t create another Youtube or Google, focus on innovation. A good solution is to avoid cloning, but invent something new every time. The only exception that comes to my mind is cloning from one country to another. Fotki.pl for example is very similat to Flickr.com and is a polish clone of it. This site is very popular and in this case it turns out to be a good approach to business.

4. Keep your ideas secret.

It usually takes 2-3 weeks to clone a project. Your ideas are the most important thing in the whole company. Never share all your ideas or you will end up with nothing. Competition is fierce and big players in the industry are always one step ahead, so be careful.

5. Negotiate with suppliers

Cutting costs by negotiating with suppliers is extremely important. Your bargain power at the begging is very low but if you are cunning you can find special opportunities even in competitive markets.

6. Don’t tell media what you are doing in the first stage of your project.

This point is connected with point 4. If you tell media about your ideas they will do exactly, what you planned to do. Marketing comes next, first concentrate on the product.

7. Be flexible.

If you see that there is something to be changed, change it. There is no point being stubborn. Be critical and you will be able to optimize your product or service.

8. Spend more time thinking than doing

It doesn’t matter how much time you spend working on a bad project. It’s better to wrok an hour on a very good idea than 24 hours on crap. “Quality is the king”.

9. Be ready to give up when everything goes wrong. There are thousands of project to look at.

This point is vital to survive. Risk diversification and project selection will take you out of major problem. If something goes wrong, switch to something diffeent.

10. Run a blog to keep in touch with users.

Keep in touch with customers. It doesn’t matter how you do, but they have to know that you are able to support them in case something goes wrong.

11. Don’t hire, outsource instead

It is always a good idea to focus on the core business. If you need to have something done from someone else, especially from time to time, try to avoid hiring.

Increase Your Internet Traffic With the One-Line Attention Grabber.

2007-06-27T04:03:00.000-07:00

There are many articles on the Internet today that advise people on how to promote a successful e-commerce website. These articles are valuable resources, yet I find that most do not go beyond the technical aspect of website promotion. Mainstream topics of web promotion today explain how to rank high on a search engine, how to create viral affiliate programs and how to create targeted e-direct mail. These techniques are very important and I encourage every e-commerce businessperson to become an expert in these subjects however, it is my opinion that many Internet entrepreneurs are not tapping into their full profit potential because they are ignoring the basics of marketing. Whether you are an established Internet guru or brand new to the e-commerce scene, I think this short article will serve to light a fire under your proverbial rear end as I reintroduce one of the basics of marketing known as the one-line attention grabber.

A one-line attention grabber can be used like a neon sign to attract interest and to encourage curious web surfers to visit your site. Your attention grabber should wake people up, startle them and create an irresistible desire to read more about your web page. A good attention grabber leaves the reader eager for answers. Also known as a slogan or tag line, a one-liner can help you grab a potential customer’s attention so you can introduce what you do or what you can do to benefit the customer. Here are a few well-known examples from some popular and successful companies.

“Always Low Prices!" –Wal-Mart “Have it Your Way" –Burger King “The Quicker Picker-Upper" –Bounty “It’s Everywhere You Want to Be" –Visa “Reach Out and Touch Someone" –AT&T

Creating a slogan does not require a great deal of creativity. It could be simple as stating what you or your company does. For example, if you have an Internet business that sells nutritional supplements, you can have a slogan that states “your source to a fitter and healthier life." A good slogan is simple and merely invites potential customers to read or learn more about a company or website. It can also make for an interesting title to a web page. Now that you have the attention you want, it is up to you to make these potential customers fully grasp what you can do for them and to convince them that acquiring your product or service is in their best interest.

Getting traffic to your website will require some work. Even if you have a firm grasp of the technology involved in website promotion, you would be wise to not overlook proven marketing techniques such as simple attention grabbing slogans.

Top 10 Tips - Dressing for Success.

2007-06-26T04:47:00.000-07:00

Are you afraid to plan, purchase and coordinate your wardrobe, because you think you might not know enough about style and fashion? Fear no more with these top ten steps to dressing for success tips:

Top Ten Dressing for Success Tips

1. Buy a basic wardrobe
2. Care for your clothing
3. Accessorize
4. Choose colors compatible with your complexion
5. Mix and match pieces
6. Choose outfits to wear for each occasion
7. Buy the right style
8. Dress-up and dress-down
9. Shop at expensive stores and save
10. Buy discount designer outfits

Your basic wardrobe should include garments such as daytime dress, coat, suit-dress, after five dress, sportswear, rain wear and accessories. The basic dress is a simple black dress that you can use to dress up or dress down. These garments should complete your basic wardrobe. Once you establish your basic wardrobe you can build on it to produce great outfits for any occasion.

3 Important Qualities of Entrepreneurs

2007-06-25T00:42:00.000-07:00

Entrepreneurs today have transformed to become a new breed of business-savvy individuals. Although they may come from all corners of the world, they still possess the same qualities. You should check out these qualities in order to know whether or not you fit the description of an entrepreneur.

1. Patience Most successful entrepreneurs understand the need for patience. After all, Rome was not built in a single day. From formulating a strategy to planning and implementation, you should know that it will take time. If you are not normally a patient person, you can make a realistic plan complete with an acceptable timeline. This way, you will be focused on meeting each deadline and not on how long each portion of the plan is taking. Make use of this time to explore and look at your plans on every angle. Conduct researches and interviews to verify information.

2. Organized Because most entrepreneurs establish businesses single-handedly, being organized is a must. You must be able to manage your time and resources well in order to maximize their full potentials. If you are having difficulties managing your time, you should consider looking for effective ways to accomplish this, such as making lists. Most entrepreneurs manage excellently because they have learned to discern which among the many tasks at hand is least important. Prioritizing is the key and even if many people say that there is no single formula for establishing a business, you will learn eventually that effective time management helps immensely.

3. Perseverance As an entrepreneur, this quality is important for the simple reason that businesses do not succeed overnight. You should expect bumps along the way and some losses. If you are willing to look at these setbacks as challenges and opportunities to persevere and work harder, then your decision to be an entrepreneur is right, but if you feel disheartened at the first sign of trouble, then this is not the career for you. Entrepreneurs usually welcome these obstacles because they test flexibility, adaptability and of course, perseverance.

Becoming an entrepreneur requires you to have a complete set of entirely new qualities. Luckily for you, these qualities can be considered as skills that can be acquired through dedication or commitment. Now that you have realized that establishing a business is exciting AND very challenging, you should prepare yourself for any unexpected problems, the good news is you will learn a lot from all these situations and gain much enlightening and rewarding experiences.

Everything they dont want you know about Credit Cards: Part 6

2007-06-24T12:44:00.000-07:00

Part 6 - Networks

ACCESS NETWORKS

For most credit card applications, the cost of the access network is the single biggest factor in overall costs, often accounting for over half of the total. For that reason, there are many different solutions, depending on the provider, the application, and geographical constraints.

The simplest form of access network uses 800 service, in one of its many forms. Terminals at merchant locations across the country dial an 800 number that is terminated on a large hunt group of modems, connected directly to the acquirer's front-end processor (FEP). The FEP is typically a fault-tolerant machine, since an outage here will take out the entire service. A large acquirer will typically have two or
more centers for terminating the 800 service. This allows better economy, due to the nature of 800 service tariffs, and allows for disaster recovery in case of a failure of one data center. An advantage
of 800 service is that it is quite easy to cover the entire country with it. It also provides the most effective utilization of your FEP resources. (A little queuing theory will show you why.) However, 800 service is quite expensive. It always requires 10 (or 11) digits dialed, and in areas with pulse dialing it can take almost three seconds just to dial 1-800. The delay between dialing and connection is longer for 800 calls than many other calls, because of the way the calls get routed. All of this adds to the perceived response time at the merchant location, even though the acquirer has no control over it.

Large acquirers prefer to offer some form of local access service. In this service, terminals at the merchants dial a local telephone number to gain access to the acquirer. Typically, the local number actually connects to a packet network, which then connects to the acquirer. If the packet network is a public network, the terminal must go through a login sequence to get connected across the packet network. Typically, local calls are much less expensive than 800 service calls, and local calls typically connect faster than 800 calls. The cost of those calls are absorbed by the merchants directly. In those few remaining areas where local calls are still free from a business line, this works out well for the merchant. Otherwise, the merchant can end up spending a lot of money on phone calls. Usually, the acquirer has to offer lower prices to accepters who use local calls, to help offset this. Even so, these networks are generally much less expensive for the acquirers. Such networks are difficult to maintain, due to the distributed nature of the access network. Since most packet networks are much more likely
to experience failures than the phone network is, the merchant's POS terminal is usually programmed to dial an 800 number for fallback if the local number doesn't work. Also, it is generally not cost-effec-
tive to cover every free calling area in the entire country with access equipment, so some 800 service is required anyway. There is also an administrative headache associated with keeping track of the different
phone numbers that each merchant across the country needs to dial. When you have tens of thousands of terminals to support, this can be formidable.

Acquirers are beginning to experiment with Feature Group B (FGB) access. FGB access was the method of access used to get to alternative long-distance carriers before "equal access" was available. The tariffs are still on the books, and they are favorable for this application. FGB access provides a single number, nationwide, for all merchants to dial in order to gain access to the acquirer. The call has
simpler (hence, presumably, faster) routing than 800 service, and the call is charged to the acquirer, not the accepter. FGB access does have to terminate on equipment that is physically located in the Local
Access Toll Area (LATA) where the call originated, so there is the problem of having distributed equipment, as above. This also implies that it is not cost-effective to deploy FGB access everywhere, as well. There are also some technical oddities of FGB, due to its original intent, that have made it difficult to implement so far.

The other big switched access capability that is likely to have an impact in the future is ISDN. So far, this has been inhibited by limited availability and lack of adequate equipment on the merchant end, but it could be very beneficial when these problems are solved.

Private-line networks are pretty straightforward applications of point-to-point and multipoint private lines. Since private lines are quite expensive, engineering of the networks is challenging. Usually, sophisticated software is used to determine the optimum placement of concentrators in order to minimize costs. Since tariffs, real estate prices, and business needs change frequently, maintaining a stable, cost-effective network is hard work. A typical asynchronous private line network will have multiplexers at remote sites, with backbone links to companion multiplexers at a central site. Synchronous private line networks may use multiplexers, or remote controllers, or remote FEPs, depending on the application and the availability of real estate.

INTERCHANGE NETWORKS

Interchange networks physically consist mostly of point-to-point private lines. In many of the large interchange networks, there is a central "switch" that takes transactions from acquirers (thereby acting as an issuer), and routes them to issuers (thereby acting as an acquirer). Often the switch provider will actually be an acquirer or issuer as well, but this is not always the case. Usually, the provider of the
switch defines standard message formats, protocols, and interchange rules. These formats and protocols usually comply with national and international standards, but sometimes do not. Often the switch will provide translation between different message formats and protocols.

The switch provider is generally very concerned that settlement complete successfully. Failure to settle with one or more large issuers can leave the switch provider with an overnight deficit of a couple million dollars. Even though this is a temporary situation, it has significant financial impact.

In some current networks, authorization and settlement take place on completely separate facilities, with separate hosts in some cases. This is mainly due to the history of the industry in this country. Re-
call that authorizations were originally done by voice calls, and settlement was done by moving paper around. These two processes were automated at different times, by separate means. Thus VISA has a BASE 1 network for authorization, and a BASE 2 network for settlement. Likewise, MasterCard has INET and INES, one for authorization and one for settlement. These functions are becoming less and less separated as communication and computer facilities evolve, and will probably be completely integrated over the next five to ten years.

Interchange networks are probably the most volatile part of the ATM market right now. There is currently a shakeout going on in much of the market, with larger, more aggressive regionals buying out standalone networks and smaller regionals. This causes local banks to change local and national network affiliation from time to time. So a card may work in a given ATM one day, but fail in that machine the next, which confuses many consumers. Most large regional and national networks have operating regulations requiring labeling of ATMs and cards, so that if you see the same logo on your card and the ATM, you can be pretty sure it will work.

Some regionals are interconnected, and others are not. The two biggest nationals, Cirrus and Plus, have operating regulations that effectively prohibit a member of one network from connecting to the other. But a regional on Cirrus could be connected to a regional on Plus. In that case, whether a machine will take your ATM card depends on the routing algorithm used. In most cases, the acquirer will have a table of issuers that are directly connected, and will send anything else to the regional switch. The regional switch will have a table of each issuer it is directly connected to, and tables of which cards are acceptable to other regionals it interchanges with. Anything else goes to the national switch. The same process happens in reverse from there. Often the order of search in the routing tables is determined by fee scales, not geography, so transactions can be routed in completely non-obvious ways.

So the easiest way to tell if your card will work in a given ATM is to stick the card in and try. I don't know of any machine that will eat a card just because it can't route the transaction - it will generally give some non-specific message about being unable to complete the transaction and spit the card back out. Of course, if the transaction is completed from a machine that you're not sure of, you also aren't sure what the fee is going to be if your bank passes those fees on to you. Sometimes the fee will be printed on the receipt, but usually it isn't. If you do the transaction in a foreign country, you may not know the exchange rate used. (I once couldn't balance my checkbook for a month until I got a statement with the transaction I did at Banc du Canada in Montreal.) But if you need the money and are willing to pay the fee, you have little to lose by trying out just about any ATM.

This completes the course in Credit Card 101. Hope you all found it
enjoyable and informative.

Joe Ziegler
att!lznv!ziegler

Additional reading:

Magnetic Stripe Technology Index
How plastic card magnetic stripe are encoded, ISO-7811 standards

Credit Card Validation - Check Digits
Illustrates how the Luhn formula works using an example credit-card number

Everything you ever wanted to know about CCs
An easy-to-understand, in-depth look at credit cards and the credit-card industry.

Luhn Formula
Explanation of the formula used to generate and/or validate the accuracy of credit-card numbers.

7 Surefire Ways To Increase Your Traffic Starting Yesterday

2007-06-24T07:47:00.000-07:00

To help you out in generating more traffic for your site, here are some seven surefire ways to increase your traffic starting from yesterday.

1) Invest in good advertising with search engines

Google's Adwords and Yahoo's Overture provide great advertising schemes that are very truly popular and assures great traffic. Although with this surefire way to increase your traffic would cost some money. While some would shy away from spending money to increase traffic, it is imperative in this case to do so because Adwords and Overture is the top surefire way to increase your traffic.

You could see for yourself the success this search engine advertising methods have reaped rewards for so many companies. Lots of site feature these advertising system and many have signed on to reap the benefits. Do not be left behind. Every penny is worth it with using Google and Yahoo's advertising.

2) Exchange or Trade Links with other sites

With exchanging links with other sites, both of you will benefit from the efforts both of you do to enhance your sites traffic. When one site features another sites link, they could provide one another with the traffic one site generates. The efforts are doubly beneficial because it would seem like both of you are working to generate more traffic. The more links traded with more sites the more traffic could be expected.

3) Use Viral Marketing

Viral marketing allows you to spread the word about your company and product without any costs or if ever low costs only. This is a marketing method that can be quite sneaky; you can attach your company's name, product or link to a certain media such as a funny video, entertaining game, an interesting article or a gossip or buzz. With this method, people get infected with the creativity and entertainment of the medium that they will pass it on to many people.

4) Search and use proper keywords or keyword phrases for your sites content
Search engines look for certain keywords that they would show in their results page. In doing so, having the right keyword and keyword phrase is a high requirement in ranking in high in search engine results. You could write your own content or you could hire someone to do it for you.

5) Write Articles that can lead traffic to your site
Submit articles to sites that would contain the same subject that your site deals in. If you sell car parts write press releases and articles about cars and car parts. Attach your sites description and services at the end of the article as well as the link.

6) Join forums and form online communities

Capture a market and show your expertise and credibility. When you found a good foundation for your site, people will trust you and your site and will pass on to many people their trust. Traffic will certainly increase because they know that you can provide what they need.

7) Lastly, Offer newsletters.

If many people know what you are about and your existence is shared with many others, you will find a loyal traffic that can provide you with more traffic by recommendation. If you arouse the curiosity of your customers they would be pushed to help you with your traffic.

3 Easy Steps for Gathering Competitive Intelligence.

2007-06-23T07:31:00.000-07:00

It's important to complete a competitive analysis during the start-up phase of your new business, about the time you're putting together your marketing plan. In fact, if you get underway without performing a competitive analysis, you run the risk of creating marketing tools and product or service offerings that are way off the mark. This can cost you valuable time and money during the critical early months. You should also plan to gather competitive intelligence as your business grows, in order to stay competitive.
Who's Your Competition?

One of the biggest mistakes new entrepreneurs make is failing to recognize the range of competitors for their businesses. Your new company will have two types of competition-real and perceived. For example, imagine you're a former college athlete who's decided to start a personal fitness training business. Your competitors will fall into two categories: other personal trainers, and gyms and health clubs that offer trainers or advisors on staff. Although you'd directly compete only with the other personal trainers, your prospects-people who want to shape up-would perceive the gyms that offer these services as a viable alternative to hiring you. So to complete your competitive analysis, you need to evaluate the marketing materials and services both types of competitors offer.

Get the Facts.

The first step in your competitive analysis is to collect all the marketing materials used by your competitors-both perceived and real. Begin by clipping your competitors' ads. Then request copies of their brochures and other marketing materials-not so you can copy their ideas, but so you can check out marketing strategies and formats, competitive pricing, special offers, the key benefits (or promises made), and clues to marketing niches that may be underserved.

If possible, you may even want to "mystery shop" your competitors-go out and actually buy their products or services so you can experience the purchasing process with their store personnel or salespeople. If your competitors are large enough, you can gather information about them on the Net.

Use major search engines to look for recent press releases and articles about them. There are even free sites on the Web that allow you to customize your own daily news page, such as NewsPage by NewsEdge Corp. (www.newspage.com). And don't forget to check out your competitors' Web sites. How do your direct and perceived competitors use the Net to attract customers and sell products? This will give you important clues about information a Web site of your own should contain.

Put It All Together

Now you're ready to draw some conclusions about the types of competitive offers and pricing your new business should use. Best of all, you'll have clear guidelines for developing your marketing tools. Complete your analysis by answering these questions: * What size are their materials? Do most of your competitors use standard mailing envelopes, or are they using large folders with inserts? * Do your competitors use photography or illustrations in their materials? * Do they have Web sites, and how deep are they? Do they sell products online or just offer information? * How are your competitors' products or services similar to yours? How are they different? * What key benefits do their marketing materials communicate? Can you offer additional benefits that are valuable to prospects? * What special product, service or pricing offers do your competitors use to stimulate responses to brochures and ads?

Once you find answers to these questions, you'll be in the perfect position to create marketing tools that work as hard as you do.

This article originally appeared as "The Spying Game" in the October 1999 issue of Business Start-Ups magazine.

How to Take advantage of online marketing sites and watch your business grow.

2007-06-22T07:26:00.000-07:00

There's no question that consumers are using the internet to navigate their way to local brick-and-mortar retailers. A recent study by ROI Research Inc. and Performics shows that online searches influence 20 to 30 percent of purchases made at retail locations--and that number is only increasing. More and more sites, like Local.com, are making their presence known by competing against major search engines like Google and Yahoo!. So study up, plan your budget and get in on the online advertising game.

1. Website: Google AdWords
How It Will Help You: AdWords helps you target local online customers by setting your pay-per-click ads to appear only when people search a particular city, state or region. There's no minimum spending requirement--your daily budget is up to you.

2. Website: Yahoo! Local Listings
How It Will Help You: Local Listings will promote your business to customers looking for information in Yahoo! Local. Choose from three different plans (one is free) to meet your company's needs.

3. Website: CitySearch
How It Will Help You: CitySearch offers online advertising tools to easily open your account, manage your daily results and receive ad placement on MSN, Yahoo!, Google and Ask.com. Similar to the idea of pay-per-click advertising, CitySearch offers two paid plans, "Web Connect" and "Call Connect."

4. Website: Ask.com's AskCity
How It Will Help You: Ask.com recently launched AskCity, a new local search application that's a one-stop destination for making plans. In one screen, consumers can map a route, make dinner reservations, purchase movie tickets and e-mail plans to others. Pricing for advertising on Ask.com varies.

5. Website: AOL's CityGuide
How It Will Help You: AOL's CityGuide specializes in providing local entertainment information to AOL service members. Advertising with AOL allows marketers to target consumers specifically by lifestyle and market.

6. Website: Craigslist
How It Will Help You: Craigslist gets an estimated 10 million unique visitors per day. With an online classified ad format organized by region or city, Craigslist connects buyers and sellers in more than 300 communities; for the most part, posting on the site is free.

7. Website: MerchantCircle.com
How It Will Help You: This free site offers a local business listing service that allows you to better manage your online reputation and become more visible in search engine results.

8. Website: Dotster
How It Will Help You: Dotster is a web domain registration and hosting company offering a local web advertising package called "Local Site Promotion." You set your monthly budget and Dotster will make your ad visible on all the major search engines.

9. Website: Local.com
How It Will Help You: Advertising on Local.com will give you access to their 10 million-plus monthly customers. Choose from a free basic listing or pay-per-click options.

10. Website: Froogle Local
How It Will Help You: Google's shopping search engine allows users to search for specific products by location. It's a great way for users to find retail stores regardless of whether you use e-commerce.

11. Website:ReachLocal
How It Will Help You: This site provides a central location for businesses to set-up, maintain and track local search advertising campaigns. Pricing varies.

12. Website: RegisterLocal
How It Will Help You: RegisterLocal is a service, costing $199.95 per year, that allows you to create a master profile they submit to search engines and directories on your behalf.

13. Website: TrueLocal
How It Will Help You: This local search engine features full-text searching and offers advertising opportunities for businesses. Currently indexing more than 13 million local businesses, TrueLocal starts at just $1 per month.

14. Website: YellowPages.com
How It Will Help You: YellowPages.com is a large online local directory site featuring city guides and advertising solutions. Basic listings are free.

15. Website: Web.com's MyEzClicks program
How It Will Help You: MyEzClicks lists your business on more than 30 major search engines, including Google, Yahoo! and MSN for a monthly fee.

5 Simple Rules of Logo Design.

2007-06-21T08:09:00.000-07:00

Easier said than done, you say? Maybe. Luckily, there are time-tested guidelines you can follow in your quest for a great logo. Whether you hire an agency or decide to create it yourself, commit these rules to memory--or at least bookmark this web page:

1. Your logo should reflect your company in a unique and honest way. Sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how many business owners want something "just like" a competitor. If your logo contains a symbol--often called a "bug"--it should relate to your industry, your name, a defining characteristic of your company or a competitive advantage you offer.

What's the overriding trait you want people to remember about your business? If it's quick delivery, consider objects that connote speed, like wings or a clock. Consider an abstract symbol to convey a progressive approach--abstracts are a great choice for high-tech companies. Or maybe you simply want an object that represents the product or service you're selling. Be clever, if you can, but not at the expense of being clear.

2. Avoid too much detail. Simple logos are recognized faster than complex ones. Strong lines and letters show up better than thin ones, and clean, simple logos reduce and enlarge much better than complicated ones.

But although your logo should be simple, it shouldn't be simplistic. Good logos feature something unexpected or unique without being overdrawn. Look at the pros: McDonald's, Nike, Prudential. Notice how their logos are simple yet compelling. Anyone who's traveled by a McDonald's with a hungry 4-year-old knows the power of a clean logo symbol.

3. Your logo should work well in black and white (one-color printing). If it doesn't look good in black and white, it won't look good it any color. Also keep in mind that printing costs for four-color logos are often greater than that for one- or two-color jobs).

4. Make sure your logo's scalable. It should be aesthetically pleasing in both small and large sizes, in a variety of mediums. A good rule of thumb is the "business card/billboard rule": Your logo should look good on both.

5. Your logo should be artistically balanced. The best way to explain this is that your logo should seem "balanced" to the eye--no one part should overpower the rest. Just as a painting would look odd if all the color and details were segregated in one corner, so do asymmetric logos. Color, line density and shape all affect a logo's balance.

Many logo gurus insist your logo should be designed to last for up to 10 or 15 years. But I've yet to meet a clairvoyant when it comes to design trends. The best way to ensure logo longevity, in addition to the rules I've listed above, is to make sure you love your logo. Don't ever settle for something half-baked.

S Corp Or Llc? That Is The Question.

2007-06-20T08:56:00.000-07:00

As a business owner, it only makes sense to protect your personal assets from company debts and liabilities. The question is: what’s the best way to do that? If you’re going back and forth between the limited liability corporation (LLC) and the S Corporation (standard corporation), you’re certainly not alone!

LLC vs Corporation – The Similarities

So what benefits do these two business entities share? Owners of an S Corp or LLC both enjoy limited personal liability, they both avoid "double taxation," and they both pay income taxes on a flow-through basis like sole proprietors and partners.

In the past, business owners who wanted to protect their personal assets but also wanted to report income and losses on a personal tax return had to create an S Corporation. Today, that can also be accomplished with an LLC. And for many small businesses, the flexibility of the LLC makes it a pretty popular option. In fact, in the LLC vs S Corp battle, the LLC is quickly becoming the entity of choice among small business.

Benefits of LLC vs S Corp

•Simple & Fast – An LLC can be formed in one easy step, while an S Corporation election is made only after a General Corporation is formed first.

•Skip the Formalities – S Corporations are required to hold annual meetings and keep formal minutes, while an LLC is not.

•Flexibility – LLC members can split profits/losses in any way they choose. In an S Corporation, shareholders must receive dividends according to the number of shares that they own, regardless of the amount of effort put into the business.

•Ownership Freedom – Any combination of individuals or business entities can own an LLC. Only United States citizens and resident aliens may own an S Corporation.

Still, when it comes to the question of S Corp or LLC, a clear winner cannot be named. While many business owners are enjoying the simplicity and flexibility of the LLC, it’s not the best choice for everyone.

Benefits of S Corporation

•Issuing of Stock – If you want to entice or compensate employees with stock options or stock bonuses, the S Corp is still the way to go since LLCs do not issue stock.

•Tax Benefits – S Corp shareholders pay Medicare and Social Security tax only on money received as wages or salary, not on profits received as dividends or that stay within the company.

•Fewer Audits – An S Corporation is said to have less risk of government audits as a corporation, compared to an LLC.

As you can see, there’s no clear cut answer as to which form of business entity is better. Each individual business owner will have to weigh his or her options in the battle of LLC vs S Corp. If you’re still feeling overwhelmed, it might be time to talk to a business attorney or accountant about what’s best for you. Another great option is utilizing an online incorporation firm – they can answer your questions and assist you in setting up your S Corp or LLC for a reasonable fee.

The 6 Web Traffic Techniques.

2007-06-19T03:45:00.000-07:00

Building a great website is not enough; visitors must be able to find it. Successful sites build links, optimize their sites for the search engines, build partnerships online and use all other means available to extend their reach. These sites generate more traffic, leads, sales and create greater exposure.

While there are literally dozens of options for getting in front of your ideal visitors, here are some key web marketing techniques to promote and drive traffic to your site. In some cases you will be pulling traffic in from search engines and ads; in some cases you are pushing your site out to new audiences.

SEO (search engine optimization) Optimizing your site for the search engines is the key to grabbing the lion's share of visitors from the natural search traffic. Search engines use many factors when deciding where a site ranks. Still, the best first step to any successful SEO campaign is to identify the search terms / phrases that you wish your site pages to be found in the search engines. Once you have a well researched list of keywords and an SEO plan worked out, start the optimization process by applying them to the following site elements:

Write compelling Title tags for each page. Place the most important keywords within META tags (description, keywords tags). Develop keyword-rich Alt attributes for images. Define page headings that include important keywords. Create keyword-rich anchor text for links. Optimize page copy. Clean up HTML coding errors.

PPC (pay per click) PPC refers to a site's paid listings in the sponsored results of the search engines. Pay per click advertising works by charging you each time someone clicks on your listing. When a user searches for a particular keyword, site ads are displayed according to how much they bid on that particular word or phrase. The beauty of PPC advertising is that you only pay when someone clicks through to your site.

PPC campaigns can be set up and begin generating traffic in less than 24 hours, but can be complicated, competitive and require constant monitoring. Competition for position and keywords drives click prices up. PPC is not for every business, it is up to you to determine how PPC fits into your overall marketing campaign and combine it with SEO or other online marketing techniques to drive targeted traffic to your site.

Directory Listings There are thousands of online business directories where you can submit your site. Backlinks from directories are very important, helping drive traffic to the site and helping to improve a site's status in the search engines. Directories fall under two cateogories: general directories which provide general authoritative information about sites, and topic specific directories that target specific interests and industries. Find the most appropriate directories that relate your industry and get listed.

Email Marketing Email can be a very cost effective tool for promoting your business. Because the nature of email marketing is immediate, a message can be tracked within hours of a campaign being launched. A monthly newsletter, weekly product or promotional update to your clients or prospective customers will generate return traffic, as well as enhance the relationship between you and your visitors.

Additional Traffic – building techniques: Write and submit authoritative articles about your products or services. Research content related sites to place ads on that will bring your site additional traffic. Begin a business blog that positions your business as the expert in your industry. Advertise your site in free and paid classified sites. Include your site's URL on all online and offline business materials. Join online forums that are related to your industry. Create a custom advergame highlighting your brand or product.

By using the techniques and methods outlined here you can get the ball rolling and begin experiencing growth online. Which option you choose depends on your own marketing goals.

How to use Federal Government to Fund your Business.

2007-06-17T07:11:00.000-07:00

SBA-licensed one-stop funding shops SBICs and SSBICs are looking for businesses to fund. Could your business be next.

What It Is: Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs) and Specialized Small Business Investment Companies (SSBICs), which target entrepreneurs who have been denied the opportunity to own a business because of a social or economic disadvantage, are licensed by the Small Business Administration (SBA). These investment companies have their own private capital of several million dollars and may borrow additional funds from an SBA-sponsored trust at favorable rates. SBICs tend to be more risk tolerant than banks or regular venture funds, specialize in a particular industry, and target young companies that aren't ready for a traditional venture deal.

Appropriate for: Companies that are capable of repaying a loan. This typically means established to early-stage companies with good sales and earnings, or companies about to turn the corner toward profitability.

Supply: SBIC financing is abundant. According to the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies, there are more than 400 SBICs and SSBICs with more than $21 billion under management.

Content Continues Below

Best Use: For activities that generate cash flow in a relatively short period of time, such as product rollout, or for additional manufacturing or service capacity for which there is a demand.

Cost: Expensive. SBICs and SSBICs charge interest, but in addition, many look for some kind of equity compensation in the companies they finance. This equity compensation is usually in the form of stock, as well as options or warrants that allow the holder to buy stock at predetermined prices for a predetermined period of time.

Ease of Acquisition: Challenging but attainable because the company must submit itself to traditional credit analysis to prove it can repay a loan. This difficulty is countered by the fact that these investment companies are hungry for new business and can be helpful in shepherding companies through the application and due diligence process. In addition, an SSBIC or SBIC generally represents a one-stop shop, and companies need only satisfy the requirements of this single investor to obtain funding.

Range of Funds Typically Available: $150,000 to $5 million.

First Steps
The affiliation SBICs and SSBICs have with the federal government through their SBA license tends to mislead many entrepreneurs. This is because many labor under the mistaken idea that there is an arm of the government that gives money to businesses that cannot secure financing from traditional sources of capital. Unfortunately, SBICs and SSBICs are not this elusive Holy Grail. Second, many entrepreneurs believe that the SBA, through a mechanism such as an SSBIC or SBIC, lends money to businesses with no visible source of repayment.

Unfortunately, this is not the case; SBA-licensed investment companies tend not to finance companies that do not exhibit an obvious source of repayment or that show a high degree of risk.

In fact, briefly exploring the financial structure of these SBA-licensed investment companies is helpful because it shows not only the kinds of deals they won't do, but the kinds they will, and what types of companies should spend their time pursuing this option.

For example, Freshstart Venture Capital Corp., an SSBIC in New York City, gets its money from two places. The first is equity capital, which Freshstart founder Zindel Zelmanovitch raised from public and private investors. But the second and far more substantial source of capital for Freshstart is funds from an SBA trust fund.

The interest Freshstart must pay on the funds it borrows, as all SSBICs and SBICs do, means the investment company must become involved in deals in which it receives interest as well. Otherwise, there is a massive mismatch between the investment company's sources and uses of funds. After all, how can an SBA-licensed investment company make investments in which it receives no interest but still pays interest on its own borrowings? The answer is investment companies can't because the difference between the interest they pay and interest they receive is precisely how it makes money.

And because their cost for funds can be quite low--from 4 percent to 7 percent--and the price SBICs and SSBICs charge on loans can be quite high--from 9 percent to 17 percent--these lenders can be pretty profitable. Freshstart, for instance, earned about $781,000 on about $1.8 million in interest income for the 12 months ending November 30, 1997.

If SBA-licensed investment companies are primarily lenders, what makes them different from a bank? There are two differences, really. First, SBICs and SSBICs tend to take slightly more risk than a bank in terms of collateral. That is, whereas a banker needs a loan to be fully collateralized, and/or guaranteed, at an amount that is equal to or greater than the loan value, an SSBIC or SBIC may not. Most investment companies specialize in a particular industry. As a result of their specialized focus, they tend to assign higher values to collateral than does a general commercial lender.

Second, SBICs and SSBICs take a larger interest in smaller loans that range from $150,000 to $1 million. Large commercial banks like to make large loans. It's that simple. The systems these banks have installed to analyze, disburse and monitor loans are so expensive that for many, a large loan is the only way they can hope to make money.

By contrast, many SBICs and SSBICs are smaller partnerships. They have limited capital and are careful not to make investments that will outstrip their financial resources. Some SBICs, however, are affiliated with large commercial banks. These SBICs are capable of making substantial loans, and many have investment minimums of $1 million.

To find SBICs and SSBICs in your area, The National Association of Investment Companies (NAIC) in Washington, DC, represents SSBICs as well as other investment companies focusing on minority investments. The NAIC doesn't have a referral service but sells its membership directory for $35. Or try the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies (NASBIC), a trade group that consists of SBICs and SSBICs exclusively.

20 Factors to Consider Before Going Global

2007-06-16T08:31:00.000-07:00

As with any new business plan, the first step you should take before crossing borders is to do your homework. Take these 20 critical factors into account before you begin:

Factor 1: Get company-wide commitment. Every employee should be a vital member of your international team, from the executive suite to customer service through engineering, purchasing, production and shipping. You're all in it for the long haul.

Factor 2: Define your business plan for accessing global markets. An international business plan is important in order to define your company's present status and internal goals and commitment, but it's also necessary if you plan to measure your results.

Factor 3: Determine how much you can afford to invest in your international expansion efforts. Will it be based on ten percent of your domestic business profits or on a pay-as-you-can-afford process?

Factor 4: Plan at least a two-year lead-time for world market penetration. It takes time and patience to build a great, enduring global enterprise, so be patient and plan for the long haul.

Factor 5: Build a website and implement your international plan sensibly. Many companies offer affordable packages for building a website, but you must decide in what language you'll communicate. English is unarguably the most important language in the world, but only 28 percent of the European population can read it. That percentage is even lower in South America and Asia. Over time, it would be best to slowly build a site that communicates sensibly and effectively with the world.

Factor 6: Pick a product or service to take overseas. You can't be all things to all people. Decide on something. Then stick with it.

Factor 7: Conduct market research to identify your prime target markets. You want to find out where in the world your product will be in greatest demand. Market research is a powerful tool for exploring and identifying the fastest-growing, most penetrable market for your product.

Factor 8: Search out the data you need to predict how your product will sell in a specific geographic location. Do you want to sell a few units to a customer in Australia or ten 40-foot containers on a monthly basis to retailers in France? Doing your homework will enable you to find out how much you'll be able to sell over a specific period of time.

Factor 9: Prepare your product for export. You should expect to adapt your product to some degree for sale outside your domestic markets before you make your first sale. Packaging plays a vital role in enabling international connections. Make yours the best in its class, and you'll be able to sell it anywhere in the world.

Factor 10: Find cross-border customers. There is no business overseas for you unless you can locate customers first.

Factor 11: Establish a direct or indirect method of export. It all boils down to export strategy and how much control you wish to exercise over your ventures. On the other hand, readiness to seize an opportunity is more important than having your whole strategy nailed down beforehand.

Factor 12: Hire a good lawyer, a savvy banker, a knowledgeable accountant and a seasoned transport specialist, each of whom specializes in international transactions. You may feel you can't afford these professional services, but you really can't afford to do without them.

Factor 13: Prepare pricing and determine your landed costs. Be ready to test out your price on your customer. See what reaction you get and then negotiate from there.

Factor 14: Set up terms, conditions and other financing options. Agree on terms of payment in advance, and never, ever sell on open account to a brand new customer. No ifs, ands or buts. Just don't.

Factor 15: Brush up on your documentation and export licensing procedures. If you find it too time consuming, hire a freight forwarder who can fill you in on the spot. Ask a lot of questions. Use their expertise to your advantage.

Factor 16: Implement an extraordinary after-sales service plan. The relationship between your company and your overseas customer shouldn't end when a sales is made. If anything, it should be just the start of a long relationship which requires more of your attention. The "care and feeding" of your customers will determine if they keep coming back for more.

Factor 17: Make personal contact with your new targets, armed with culture-specific information and courtesies, professionalism and consistency. Your goal should be to enter a different culture, adapt to it and make it your own.

Factor 18: Investigate international business travel tips. The practical aspects of international business can make or break the success of your trip. In preparing to go boldly where you've never gone before, plan accordingly.

Factor 19: Explore cross-border alliances and partnerships. In charting your global strategy, consider joining forces with another company of similar size and market presence that's located in a foreign country where you're already doing business, or would like to. Gauge your readiness-or willingness-to take on a 50/50 partnership and what it can and cannot do for you.

Factor 20: Enjoy the journey. Never forget that you are the most important and valuable business asset you have, and that the human touch is even more precious in our age of advanced technology. Take the best possible care of yourself, your employees, your suppliers and your customers, and your future will be bright, prosperous and happy.

Going global doesn't have to be a scary proposition. By considering and developing these twenty essential factors before going global, your organization can realize the full potential of globalization and capture dramatic revenue growth.

4 Easy Branding Tactics to give your small company a big, professional image.

2007-06-13T08:08:00.000-07:00

To successfully brand your business, you should project an image of strength and stability--traits often associated with big companies. Customers need to trust that you can and will deliver on your promises. They have to feel comfortable with you. You can tell customers you stand behind your products and services, but if your marketing materials scream "amateur" or "mom and pop," forget about it.

It's not about looking conservative; it's about looking professional. After all, big companies don't fall into a one-size-fits-all mold. There's plenty of room for creativity. Consider Apple Computer vs. Microsoft. While their branding couldn't be more different, both project big-company professionalism.

Content Continues Below

Fortunately, looking like a big company isn't rocket science. The cardinal rule to looking big is to coordinate your promotional materials--from your business cards to your website and everything in between. If your marketing materials don't match, potential customers may believe they're looking at different companies. Here are four easy ways to tie your marketing materials together:

1. Create a clean and uncomplicated logo. Consider the logos of Fortune 500 companies like Nike, Sprint and Target. These huge companies didn't pick clean, simple logos by accident. They chose them because they fit the key requirements of solid logo design: They're easy to remember, they can be resized without losing detail, and they work in one color (for instance, when used in faxes). They're unique and meaningful as well, proving you don't need complex artwork and intricate details to leave an impression.

A good logo is essential because it'll appear on--and should match--all of your marketing materials. From a graphics perspective, your logo is your brand foundation. Build it wisely.

2. Make one color yours. Choose a color--preferably one from your logo--and use it throughout your marketing materials. Again, look at the big guys: Target focuses on red; Sprint uses yellow. Notice that each has chosen one color, not two or three.

Color plays a huge role in memory recall. As much as possible, your color should set you apart, work with your industry and image, and relate to your brand promise. Most important, the color you choose should appear as the predominant color on every promotional piece you develop.

3. Work with only one or two fonts. Again, your goal is to get customers to remember you and associate your materials with your brand attributes. Fonts, like colors and graphics, project different images. For example, if you want to appear conservative, I would recommend Helvetica.

4. Stay the course. At some point, you may get sick of your brand standards. Unfortunately, this usually occurs at the same time your brand starts resonating with your customers. Or you may want fresh material for a trade show or customer meeting and may be tempted to introduce an exciting new color or unusual font selection. Remind yourself that while consistency isn't always fun, it's the proven path to branding success.

Nowadays, your company's actual size may not matter, but its perceived size does. And looking big will pay off big-time.

The Lazy Man’s Way to Attract VC Investors.

2007-06-12T06:55:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been to a conference where selected entrepreneurs are invited to present their ideas to a panel of investors who then critique their chances of getting funded? If not, then you've really missed out--these meetings are probably one of the best ways aspiring entrepreneurs can get a glimpse of what professional investors are looking for in what they call a "fundable company."

Recently, the Software Council of Southern California asked if I'd like to attend their event, VentureNet, to see what the latest trends were. I eagerly accepted, but my interest was not so much in what was going on at the stage level, but in picking the brains of the professional investors to see what they'd say "behind the scenes." Now, before I share what I learned, let me just make a few qualifying statements:

1. Every professional investor has a slightly different perspective on what's important. Yes, there are some things we all seem to emphasize, but our differences can be extensive. Thus, this article represents the opinions of just the particular cross-section I happened to interview on this one occasion.
2. The individuals I interviewed were very candid and, to protect them from being "profiled" with any one statement, no direct quotes will be made.

The professional investors offering opinions from which this article was extracted include: David Cremin, managing director of DFJ Frontier; Michael Song, a partner with Rustic Canyon; Bill Collins, managing partner of Publex Ventures; and Robert Kibble, managing partner of Mission Ventures. Some additional comments and insights were also provided by Jon Kraft, chair of the Software Council of Southern California.

So what do these gentlemen prefer to see in a company before they get excited enough to write a check? What, if anything, has changed from what they used to look for during the dotcom craziness of the late 90s?

Here's what they said is important now:

Seasoning. They're looking for more experienced, older entrepreneurs who have "been there, done that." The time of investing in the 19-year old kid who's a tech-genius isn't necessarily gone, but the kid had better be able to find an older, seasoned executive to join his team.

Customers. Contrary to putting the emphasis on the team or the revenue numbers, there seemed to be a new emphasis on the customer:

* What compels them to buy this product or service?
* What problems does this product or service solve? Why is it better than the alternatives?
* Why is it worth the price?
* Does it compel you to tell others about your experience?
* Are your customers asking if they can invest in your company?

Team. The team is still an important part of the equation, but the entrepreneur is just as important. Here's what the investors are looking for in both:

* Passion: The entrepreneur must demonstrate a contagious excitement about their vision for the company.
* Tenacity: The entrepreneur must prove they have the stamina and willpower to stay with their vision through thick and thin.
* Flexibility: The entrepreneur must be willing to reevaluate and refocus their plans when things don't work out as anticipated.
* Commitment: The entrepreneur must be willing to invest enough of their own money into this project to convince investors they're serious.
* Teamwork: The entrepreneur's team must prove they can work effectively together.
* Coachability: The entrepreneur and their team must be coachable. No team knows everything they need to know to succeed.
* Knowledge: Investors prefer to back teams that really know their market by having backgrounds that are rich and impressive in the market niche for which the company is engaged.

Opportunity. Investors want big ideas. Ideas that can change the world. Ideas that change our behavior, culture or way of thinking. Ideas that can build $100-million-size companies. Anything less is too speculative. The risks of investing in a company are so great--and the chances of a reward so small--that investors can't afford to bet on opportunities that won't surely have huge payoffs. And one of the biggest problems when addressing opportunity is "Am I too early?" Investing in a huge opportunity five years before the market will recognize and embrace it is a very frustrating thing. Not only will you lose your investment, you'll have to suffer the extreme frustration of watching someone else make a lot of money on the foundation you helped build.

Business Model. Will the numbers map out? In other words, once someone takes a sharp pencil and starts tracing where every revenue dollar comes from and then seriously challenges every expense it'll take to generate that revenue dollar, will you have:

* a profitable model?
* a repeatable model?
* an expandable model?
* a predictable model?
* a defensible model?

Many an entrepreneur fails because they don't know how to do this type of exercise with a "real world" view.

Well, there you have it: the latest and deepest thinking from a sample of professional investors. How do you and your company match up? If you were honest and found areas that were lacking, please find someone who can help you fix them before you approach anyone to invest. Your extra investment of time will significantly improve your chances for funding.

Jim Casparie is the "Raising Money" coach at Entrepreneur.com and the founder and CEO of The Venture Alliance, a national firm based in Irvine, California, that's dedicated to getting companies funded.

10 Steps To Increase Profit With Web Site Promotion

2007-06-11T11:59:00.000-07:00

Web Site promotion is supposed to be the main element of your web site marketing strategy. It is not sufficient just to design a gorgeous web site and place in on the Internet. Endorsing your web site has to be carried out continually if you desire to get an incessant flow of traffic to your web site. If you fail to draw traffic to your web site, all the effort and money that you put in creating your colorful pages of the web site are in vain. Also, before you go into detail on how to get traffic to your sites, you need to make sure that you complete following basic steps on your way to get the most out of your marketing campaigns:

1. The first step to successful web site promotion that gives a lot of profit is creating a successful web site promotion plan. Planning plays a vital role in web site promotion. When crafting your web site, make a plan on how to advertise it as well. Attempt to put yourself in your customer's place when designing your web site. It is too simple to just see your web site from your own viewpoint. You require having an apparent idea for your commerce, objectives, which may be long term, or short term that you desire to attain and the policies of how you will achieve them.

2. The second step to increase profit with web site promotion is to classify your target market. Many online marketers endorse their web site pointlessly in a field, which is too big. They may employ bulk mailing as one of their endorsement approaches. This may bring you visitors but does not guarantee sales. It is important to get targeted visitors rather than just traffic to your web site.

3. The third step is to promote your web site with every possible strategy. Use of forums and email marketing has proved to be an important method of web site promotion.

4. The fourth step to successful web site promotion is writing articles and submitting them to various web sites. The resource box of the article can be helpful for web site promotion.

5. The fifth step to increase profit with web site promotion is to promote your web site continuously. You don't need to work 8 hrs 7 days a week but reserve 1-2 hours EACH day for your marketing efforts. Intermittent promotion does not help to generate traffic.

6. The sixth step is to calculate your return on investment value from your promotion strategies. It is very important keep a track of the amount that you are willing to spend in web site promotion and the amount of money that you are profiting from your strategies. This will help you to avoid any kind of wastage on non-returning avenues.

7. The seventh step to make more money with web site promotion is properly analyzing your web site traffic. This will help you to find out whether the efforts that you are putting in to promote your web site are paying off or not. If not you need to change your strategies.

8. The eighth step is to keep a close on your industry and be prepared to make necessary changes from time to time so that you run according to the market changes. Make sure that the web site promotion tactics are not out dated and according to current marketing trends.

9. The ninth step is to monitor your web site in search engines. It is vital that you have a search engine optimized website and proper HTML standard so that you attain good ranking in results page.

10. The tenth step is to make use of all types of marketing methods to promote your web site, both on and offline. Do not forget the print media and other conventional methods to promote your web site.

The 9 Tips for Choosing a Good Domain Name.

2007-06-03T18:26:00.000-07:00

In this digital age, your company's web site is your electronic business card. A strong domain name is the key to your Internet presence. It should be recognizable and relate to your business name, brand, product, and/or activities. Make sure it fits on a business card and is easy to remember whether seen in print or mentioned over the phone.

Use the name people know you by. Don't abbreviate, unless the abbreviation is your company's trademark. Ask your co-workers, your customers, your friends, and your family what domain name they'd expect your company to have.

Don't forget to include your domain name in your site's logo. And put your domain name on all company promotional materials such as business cards and stationary.

Length Matters
Conventional wisdom states that a good domain name is easy for customers to remember, easy to spell, and short. That said, it's increasingly difficult to secure short domain names among top level domain names such as .com, .net and ,org. In these cases (and you have 67 characters to choose from), it's preferable to choose a meaningful statement such as Lawreferralservice.com" or Hotelreservationservice.com," rather than lrs.com or hrs.com

Give a Good Impression
We all know that first impressions can be crucial, so choose your domain name carefully. Domain names often come without spaces, so pay careful attention to the total package. For example, PatternsExchange can look like patternsexchange.

Select Alternate Names
If your first domain name choice is not available, you can check the "whois" information box for the domain name, contact the person listed, and see if they're willing to sell it. If they want to sell, they will likely charge more than the $24.95 registration fee. An easier alternative is to register a variation of your first choice.

For example, if your company name is Mrs Smith's Cookies, but mrssmithscookies.com and the more obvious cookies.com are registered, try adding a small letter such as "e" to indicate that it's an online business. Or add the word online. Or add your location to attract local customers:

ecookies.com
Cookiesonline.com
CookiesNewYork.com

Alternatively, try registering a local domain name:

mrsmithscookies.ca
mrsmithscookies.us

Use a little creativity, and you may find your alternative beats your original choice. Once you've got a list of alternatives for your online business, test them with your friends and colleagues to see which ones they like best. Make sure these names can be easily pronounced and spelled by your test audience. Then, rank them in order of popularity.

Consider Spelling Mistakes
Consider mistakes people will make when typing your web site address and how your domain name sounds when you have to read it over the phone to a customer. Explaining special characters, abbreviations, and spelling is awkward and doesn't make good business sense. Will customers accidentally make spelling mistakes? Will they use the plural form of a word instead of the singular form, or visa versa? Make a list of possible mistakes, and register additional domain names that incorporate these mistakes.

Register Multiple Versions of Your Name
Register all possible domain name variations related to your company name. If your company's name is hard to spell, register common misspellings. Register every domain people might use to find your company. It only costs $24.95 a year to register each domain name, and that's a small expense to keep a customer.

Take this example: Before America Online acquired Time Warner for $178 billion, it registered at least 21 domain names that might be useful to the new company, named AOL Time Warner, from AOLTW.com to AmericaOnlineTimeWarner.com. Alternatively, web sites exist that capitalize on misspellings using them as advertising vehicles and diverting customers from your site.

Register Product Names
When users search the Internet for a particular product or service they often search by product or service, rather than business name. To increase the chances of having your site found, register extra domain names that relate to your core business or products. If you owned the hypothetical company name of Widgets & Widgets co. but you sold an array of household products, you could register generic domain names relating to all aspects of household goods. You may be too late to snap up obvious domain names such as detergent.com or vacuum.com, but a little creative thinking into alternatives can be lucrative. These alternative domains can be easily linked to your main web site.

Avoid Trademarked Names
Ensure someone else has not trademarked the name you register. You cannot register names already registered as copyright (for example, McDonalds). Like company names, domain names are unique and cannot be duplicated. Avoid registering domain names that are similar to your competition or to famous trademarks. Businesses have lost their rights to registered domain names due to conflicts with existing trademarks for off-line companies.

Register Locally
If your company is located in Canada, you can register a .ca domain name even if your business activity includes export trade. If you have an international presence, a top-level domain such as .com, .net , or .org is more suitable. Many businesses choose to register all three, and we suggest doing so. All three addresses can "point" to the same e-mail account and web site.

Conversely, you might open a virtual office in another country. For example, bread.com could also register bread.ca, which may "point" towards the same site, attracting a larger audience. Don't forget to check to see if a local presence is required in the country you wish to register.

Use a metaphor
If your .dot com businesses does not have a name, the world is your oyster. One Internet incubation company decided on the metaphor campsix, referring to the final basecamp on the Everest climb rather than a straight description of services. The name reflected the difficulty and challenges of building an Internet company to the scaling of Everest. Bear in mind that if your web site is the primary tool for business, the company name must be the company URL.

How To Write An Effective Ad.

2007-06-03T08:17:00.000-07:00

A letter or postcard allows you to "talk" one-on-one to your prospect. That means you should use "I" and "me" and "you" in your sales letter. Don't use the corporate sounding "we".

Remember just one person is reading your letter or postcard at once. So don't write in the plural, even if your mailing is going out to thousands of individuals. Just write the same way you'd talk to a friend explaining the advantages and benefits of the product or service you're offering.

Your message must get through to your prospects one at a time. The are individuals who read your offer, think about it, and react to it. They react to your message once they connect with you and feel an appropriate emotion based upon the content of your messages. So the real key to your advertising success is connecting with your prospects one-to-one. If you look at your own buying behavior you will realize that you buy from people that you connect with, people you trust. You feel good when you buy product that you could have purchased from hundreds of different individuals from someone you have gotten to know. Most individuals make their buying decisions the same way, except the rare exceptions who just shop for the cheapest price!

Start your killer copy with an emotion-packed opening statement that will get the attention of your prospects.

The Headline

The headline should be a benefit, a powerful promise. You my ask a provocative question. It should also solve a problem. Start your letter with a compelling, benefit-driven headline. Prospects will decide to continue reading by the headline. If your headline fails to capture their attention and keep them engaged, your letter will quickly end up in the trash like any other they receive everyday. Remember: The headline is the most important and must communicate a powerful benefit and makes a promise. The promise should be unique to what you are selling, and preferably should offer something that your competitors do not. Use "power words" in the headline.

Power Words

Absolutely.. Achieve.. Acquire.. Advice.. Amazing.. Announcing.. Appreciate.. Approved.. Aspire.. Astonishing.. Attain.. Attractive.. Authentic.. Bargain.. Beautiful.. Better.. Big.. Breakthrough.. Cheap.. Certain.. Colorful.. Colossal.. Complete.. Confidential.. Crammed.. Definite.. Delivered.. Direct.. Discount.. Discover.. Easily.. Effective.. Emerging.. Endorsed.. Enjoy.. Enormous.. Excellent.. Exciting.. Exclusive.. Expert.. Exploit.. Extensive.. Famous.. Fantastic.. Fascinating.. Fast.. Focus.. Fortune.. Free.. Full.. Fundamental.. Genuine.. Gift.. Gigantic.. Greatest.. Guaranteed.. Helpful.. Highest.. How to.. Huge.. Imagine.. Immediately.. Improved.. Informative.. Instructive.. Integrity.. Interesting.. Irresistible.. Just Arrived.. Largest.. Lasting.. Latest.. Lavishly.. Learn.. Liberal.. Lifetime.. Limited.. Lowest.. Magic.. Magnificent.. Mammoth.. Miracle.. Money.. Must.. Noted.. Notable.. Now.. Odd.. Outstanding.. Personalized.. Popular.. Powerful.. Practical.. Prestige.. Professional.. Profitable.. Profusely.. Prominent.. Promising.. Proven.. Quality.. Quickly.. Rare.. Recommended.. Reduced.. Refundable.. Remarkable.. Reliable.. Reputable.. Revealing.. Revolutionary.. Reward.. Satisfactory.. Scarce.. Secrets.. Security.. Selected.. Sensational.. Simple.. Simplified.. Sizable.. Special.. Stability.. Startling.. Strange.. Strong.. Sturdy.. Successful.. Sure.. Super.. Superior.. Surprise.. Technology.. Terrific.. Tested.. Tremendous.. Terrific.. Truth.. Unbelievable.. Unconditional.. Unique.. Unlimited.. Unparalleled.. Unsurpassed.. Unusual.. Useful.. Valuable.. Wealth.. Weird.. Wonderful. You. Introducing, and so forth.

If your headline is designed to arouse curiosity or grab attention then be sure to make nature of your proposition immediately clear in a subhead or within the first sentence. Otherwise you will lose the interest of the reader.

The Body

Here, using the same tone and stay with the spirit of the headline, and give details of your unique selling proposition. Address that reader as if it was personal and an offer just for him/her. You continue talking about the powerful benefits and offer proof of the claim you made on the headline. In the body of your ad copy you share the details of the benefits, and promise you made. Here you prove your case. Remember, by the end of the ad body, the goal is to create an emotional response that will cause the reader to do what you want him/her to do. In the body of the sales letter you will begin to offer proof. There are many possibilities for opening your sales letter, that could persuade the reader to buy.

*Tell a story that the reader can identify with

*Make an announcement of a new product or service, a one of a kind event, or important news

*Address the reader as your equal

*You could go with something provocative, perhaps a quote

*Address an obvious problem, one that your product/service will solve

*Ask a question, may be a provocative question

*Let the reader in on some secret or little known information

Another effective technique is to let the reader know you are offering something free ("Special Free Offer - Free Booklet - Fee Sample - Coupon Below").

Use plenty of short sentences, colors and graphic. White space makes the ad copy look shorter and more appealing. Even if your copy is long, it will look much more inviting to read than a solid block of long sentences. The reader will feel like they are flowing through your ad copy, compelling them to reader further.

Involve your audience! Use words such as: You, I, Me, We, Us. Your copy will seem more personal and more likely to appeal to your readers. Remember! Involve your audience! Tell them what's in it for them! keep the vocabulary of your ad copy simple and keep the sentences short. It makes it Fun! More Energetic! People don't like to be bored while reading, and especially while they are reading advertisements. Nowadays people are very busy and do not have time to go through all those ads. They are constantly bombarded with ads and offers for your competition. If your ad copy is too long they won't bother reading it . So do your audience a favor, make it interesting and appealing! If possible use humor.

Use power words all along your copy! Nothing catches more attention than the word FREE! NO CHARGE! Give away some sort of freebie in your ad copy, whether it's a free gift, advice, seminar, consultation, sample, information kit, coupon, or even a booklet.

Call To Action

VERY IMPORTANT. Call your audience to action! Ask them to do something. Tell them to JOIN NOW! or CLICK HERE! or ACT NOW! or BUY TODAY! or CALL TOLL-FREE XXX-XXX-XXXX! or OFFER EXPIRES .. You must state a deadline for your offer so that they act today if not they will procrastinate. That's human nature. Your audience is much more likely to do something if you tell them to do it. So start using those action words! People want things made easy; they want you to make up their minds for them. Tell them what to do.

Killer ad always asks the readers for action in the most powerful way possible. If you ask the reader to order, or to contact you for the specified reason you must make it easy for him/her to reply. You may support your postcard or letter with a postcard reply or prepaid envelope, and an order form. Supply a toll free number, or website URL. Always close with a thank you and use a signature at the end of the sales letter/postcard. Save one of the best points for last: Always use a P.S. For example, "If you order before September 1rst, we will include the following bonus . . ." Or "30-Day Money back guaranteed " Or "Discount is good until September 1rst"

20 Reasons Why You Will Never Live Off Your Affiliate Income!.

2007-06-01T08:35:00.000-07:00

20 Reasons Why You Will Never Live Off Your Affiliate Income!

Why is it that the top 10% of affiliate marketers earn 90% of all affiliate income, with the remaining 90% left to fight over the 10% of scraps left? What are the millionaire affiliate marketers doing which is different to you?

While there are a number of ways of improving your affiliate marketing offerings, you first need to appreciate where you may be going wrong before you can improve. Listed below are the 20 most popular reasons why you are not living off your affiliate income, what to avoid and how to attract more affiliate sales.

1. Lack Of Traffic To Your Site

Many many people fall into the simple trap of thinking, add some affiliate links to my site, and over time I will surely get some sales. Why? What is the reason behind this way of thinking?

Unless you actually have traffic coming to your own site (and the more focused the traffic the better) it will be nearly impossible for you to create a regular income stream.. True, you may get the odd sale once a month, but this is not enough, you need to aim higher and bring visitors to your site to stand ANY chance.

2. Poor Affiliate Products

You would not believe that amount of people who do not actually research what they are looking to sell. There are millions of affiliate products out there, and while there are a lot of high quality offerings available, there are also lots of low quality products. If you would not buy it, why should anyone else?

3. Priced Too High

This goes back to the age old argument of selling one high valued product, and taking a commission, or selling more low value products and taking a greater number of smaller commissions. Research has shown that the one factor which can scupper a sale is the price - if it is too high your potential customer will be turned off straight away.

Why not mix a number of low value and high value products? If your visitors buy a low value product and it works, you have more chance of them returning (with more trust in you) and even contemplating buying a higher value product. The trust factor is very very important.

4. Low Commissions

As mentioned above, it can often be more lucrative to sell lower value products (with reasonable commissions), but you need to ensure you are being remunerated properly for your leads. Why send hundreds of customers to an affiliate site where they pay you only a few cents a lead? Who is the big winner in this situation ? Certainly not you!

You need to balance the commission on offer against the amount of traffic which you can send, and the split of income between yourself and the owner of the affiliate program. Do not sell be too keen to pass over your users for small returns.

5. No Investment

In order to advertise your affiliate links you will need to put some of your own money upfront, either advertising your site or your affiliate links. Those who think that traffic will just fall into their lap are kidding themselves. You need quality focused traffic, and you need potential customers to see your link before your competitors. The affiliate marketing world is very competitive and you need to ensure that you gain maximum exposure. Adsense and PPC programs are very good ways of advertising your site, and while they can be expensive, they can reap massive rewards.

6. Quality Content

Even if it takes a while longer to establish yourself in the affiliate marketing world for certain products, always ensure that you offer quality, not quantity and certainly not rubbish. One poor looking affiliate site, one bad experience and you customers will disappear over night. If you promote rubbish on your site, what does that say about you and your respect for your customers?

As they say “the cream will always rise to the top”!.

7. Lack Of Feedback

If you are looking to forever improve your site, your offerings and the image and reputation of your site, you need to encourage feedback from your customers. Is there a problem with the product they bought? Were they happy? What could be improved?

Everyone likes to have a moan, but if you actually ask and listen to their concerns, their questions, they will respect you for it - they may not thank you, but they will appreciate it. Any improvements which you are able to make, any comments you are able to pass on to the affiliate program owner, will all ensure you receive less complaints in the future.

8. No After Sales Service

Similar to feedback, it is essential that you at least offer some form of after sales assistance (where relevant) to ensure that your customer is able to get the most out of their purchase, whether this be an eBook, Software or the latest Mobile Phone.

A sympathetic ear is always appreciated, and interaction with your customers has been shown to be the best way of building up a relationship - let them know that you are human!

9. Hard Sell

As well as high prices, the so called “hard sell” is guaranteed to put off any potential customers. Do not push the offers down their throats, be subtle, be helpful, but do not exert any pressure - even if you have the best product in the world. The hard sell does not work, and your reputation will not be enhanced.

10. Not Relevant To Your Site

It is essential that your build your affiliate program offerings around the subject of your site. There is no point in listing baby wear affiliate links on a site about mobile phones. The more relevant the affiliate links on your site the more chance of actually bringing in some commission.

If you can get your readers excited about a certain subject and then show them an affiliate link for a suitable product, you will have a great chance of them clicking on the link. Keep the site AND your affiliate offerings focused .

11. Old Products

The world of affiliate marketing is moving all of the time and it is essential that you keep your affiliate products up to date. Selling yesterdays favourite affiliate product will not earn you big bucks - sell today’s favourite and tomorrow’s favourite and you are talking.

It is vital that you regularly visit your affiliate link providers to ensure that you are offering the best and most up to date products around. Failure to do so and you customers may well look elsewhere, and you will have lost a potential sale.

12. Cookie Time Limits

Many of today’s better affiliate programs will actually offer you a set time, during which any customers you pass over will be eligible to earn you commission. Where you are promoting affiliate links which may offer a vast array of products, which will keep members coming back time and time again, you need to ensure that the cookie is of a suitable length.

The cookie is basically the marker which will be attached to the user, to confirm that they were sent via your affiliate link. Some sites offer cookie lengths up to 365 days, while some may offer short 10 days periods. If a customer, originally from your site, were to buy a product after the cookie period was over, you would receive NO commission.

This is an area of affiliate marketing which is often overlooked - do not make the same mistake, and end up selling yourself short.

13. Links Do Not Work

Of the thousands of affiliate links available there are hundreds which will become invalid, or have been replaced, every day. There is nothing worse than clicking through to a non-existent link, and this does not give a very professional impression of your site. Always check that your links are valid, even on a monthly or weekly basis, and ensure that old invalid links are either replaced, or deleted asap.

14. Know Your Customer

There are a variety of statistic and traffic programs available which will give you an insight as to where the majority of your traffic is coming from - i.e. which country, browser, etc.

It is essential that you make use of this information and tailor elements of your affiliate products towards the majority of your customers. Currency is one of the major elements which you need to consider, because this is something that can put off a prospective buyer if they are dealing in a currency which they are not familiar with.

As a rule of thumb, the US dollar is the more popular currency on the internet, and seems to have a universal acceptance. Research has shown that while UK sterling buyers are willing and comfortable dealing in dollars, many Americans are not comfortable dealing in sterling (or any other foreign currency).

While you will never get this element totally correct, you need to appeal to the masses, which will most probably require offering products in US dollars.

15. Presentation

How you present and expand on your affiliate offerings has a massive effect on how successful you will be. A simple 3 word text link will be no where near as successful as an article detailing in the product, and the affiliate link at the end. Tease your customers with details, make them want the product and then offer the affiliate link when they are thinking about the product.

16. Do Not Try To Trick Your Customers

There have been many many instances of people being duped into clicking on affiliate links, and while 99% of these result in no sales, 99% of your visitors who have been “duped” will not return to your site. Trust is a major element of any business and it is essential that you treat your visitors with respect and honesty.

You may hear about people making big bucks in the short term with dubious tactics, but these people will never have a long term income stream. They will always be found out, and one bad review of your site on the internet can soon spirally into hundreds - effectively black listing your site from a mass of would be visitors.

17. No Free Products? Is Your Mix Correct?

While it may sound strange advising people to give away free products in the same area in which they are trying to sell products, there is some sense in the madness. If you are able to give away quality free products to your visitors, your trust factor with these customers will rise sky high. The more trust they have in you, the more often they will visit the site, and the more comfortable they will be actually buying a product via your affiliate links.

Too many webmasters seem to throw themselves straight into the market without a strategy, and this initial optimism soon dies with many giving up. You will not build up a quality income stream overnight, it will take time, you will have to build up trust, and be patient.

18. Have You Tested The Product?

If you were selling one of your own products, you would have tested the format, the product and the feedback before launch. It should be no different with affiliate links - ensure you are familiar with the offering, how it is presented, the standard of service and if it actually delivers what it promises.

The type of products which may need the most investigation, and possible purchase, are eBooks and software downloaded from the internet. If it works for you, and is clear and concise then you can do no more, although if it does not work, or does not do what it promises, you should not be promoting it.

19. Internet Feedback - Forums, etc

Before you sell any product it is essential that you search the internet to see if there has been any negative feedback about the provider or the product. Popular sites such as www.sitepoint.com and forums.digital point.com are very useful sites to search. They often provide great feedback about affiliate providers and products.

Know you product, know your customers, and you have a firm basis for success!

20. Do You Really Know What You Are Talking About?

There are many many products on the internet which are being sold by people who do not even have a basic understanding of what they are selling. Many are blinded by the commission figures, the potential for sales, and forget about researching the actual product.

A focused site with a good knowledge base, and unique content will go a long way towards building up a rapport with your readers, increasing the trust they have in you, and ultimately increasing your chances of a sale. Even a bit of basic knowledge about a product goes a long way, although the more professional you come across, and the more information you can pass to your readers, the better.

Conclusion

While there are many reasons as to why your affiliate sales may not be what you expected, you probably have the basis of a good income stream. Small changes to the presentation, your promotion of the site, and your mix of products can and will have a massive effect on your sales. If you do the basics well, the rest will follow, and once you have the basis of a good affiliate sales income, you can replicate this time and time again on other sites.

Multiple, smaller income streams, are more consistent than one large income stream which may well stop tomorrow if a competitor beats you to the market. Spread the risk, and increase the reliability of your income - but do not forget to reinvest back into your site, your design and your affiliate offerings, do not stand still as the market is forever on the move

4 Tips Getting Visitors to Read Your Article and Increase Your Web Site Traffic

2007-05-24T20:40:00.000-07:00

Article writing should be a major part of your internet marketing strategy. In most cases, depending on the content, articles can greatly increase traffic to your web site. But there is a problem.

The internet was built for those of us who love to surf through the information rather than read volumes at a time. Since many people do prefer scanning, there is a pretty good chance your entire article will not be read. Visitors usually look for sentences or paragraphs that capture their attention, and then return to the search engines to continue surfing. If they happen to come across a poor or mediocre article, they will leave even sooner. You can bank on that.

So what does it take to get your visitors to read more than a few sentences and view your article as a quality resource? The answer is to provide a well written article with plenty of useful content. You can get more web site traffic by using the following tips.

1. Use Sub-headings

A good sub-heading can peak the curiosity of your visitors and get them to read more of your article. Do not try to be too cute. The sub-heading should be relative to your subject without overwhelming the content of article. The whole purpose of a sub heading is to lead the visitor to the next section of your article. Integrate your subheadings without allowing them to be distractions.

2. Use Bullets and/or Numbers

For whatever reason, people like lists. Most of us will take reading articles with bullets and numbers over those with long drawn out paragraphs. With so much information available today, attention spans are not what they used to be. People get bored very easily, so you must capture their attention fast and hold it. Formatting with bullets or numbers allow you to keep the pace and momentum of your article moving forward. Think in terms of the soundbytes you see on television; descriptive and catchy but very brief. Apply that to your article writing.

3. The Hook

Each paragraph of your article must hand off to the next one. Develop a main point for each paragraph without giving too much information away concerning the rest of the article. Think of each paragraph as steps that get your visitors to take action. The action in this case is you want them to continue reading your article and click on your web site link in the resource box. Give your readers just enough in each paragraph to get them to the end of your article.

4. Your Credibility

This by itself can determine your site traffic. If you are just starting out, the best credibility is to provide good content. The product or service you offer might be great but let us face facts: among millions of websites, people do not know you. Earning credibility does not happen overnight. It is going to require a steady flow of unique content before you stand out from the crowd so get started writing now.

Whether immediate or long term the point is get readers to go beyond just scanning your article. Utilize these tips while staying focused on providing informative content and watch your web traffic steadily increase.

How to Research Your Business Idea.

2007-05-20T09:38:00.000-07:00

The Idea Stage

For some entrepreneurs, getting the idea-and imagining the possibilities-is the easy part. It's the market research that doesn't come so naturally. "It's a big red flag when someone outlines the size of the market-multibillion dollars-but doesn't clearly articulate a plan for how the idea will meet an unmet need in the marketplace," says Aaron Keller, an adjunct professor of marketing at the University of St. Thomas in neighboring St. Paul and a managing principal of Capsule, a Minneapolis-based brand development firm.

That kind of full-throttle approach can cost you. "Entrepreneurs are often so passionate about their ideas, they can lose objectivity," adds Nancy A. Shenker, president of the ONswitch LLC, a full-service marketing firm in Westchester, New York. "Rather than taking the time to thoroughly plan and research, they sometimes plow ahead with execution, only to spend valuable dollars on unfocused or untargeted activities."

Market research, then, can prove invaluable in determining your idea's potential. You can gather information from industry associations, Web searches, periodicals, federal and state agencies, and so forth. A trip to the library or a few hours online can set you on your way to really understanding your market. Your aim is to gain a general sense of the type of customer your product or service will serve-or at least to being willing to find out through the research process. "For example," says Shenker, "if you don't know if your product will appeal to the youth market, make sure you include a sample of that population in your research efforts."

Your research plan should spell out the objectives of the research and give you the information you need to either go ahead with your idea, fine-tune it or take it back to the drawing board. Create a list of questions you need to answer in your research, and create a plan for answering them. "Utilize experts in planning and conducting research sessions," Shenker advises. "They can recommend what type of research is most appropriate, help you develop statistically valid samples and write questionnaires, and provide you with an objective and neutral source of information."

The type of information you'll be gathering depends on the type of product or service you want to sell as well as your overall research goals. You can use your research to determine a potential market, to size up the competition, or to test the usefulness and positioning of your product or service. "If, for example, the product is a tangible item, letting the target audience see and touch a prototype could be extremely valuable," notes Shenker. "For intangible products, exposing prospective customers to descriptive copy or a draft Web site could aid in developing clear communications."
Analysis

When working with firms on brand development, Keller first looks at a business idea from four perspectives: company, customer, competitor and collaborator. This approach allows Keller to scrutinize a business idea before even approaching the topic of brand development. Here's what he looks at for each of the four issues:

1. Company. Think of your idea in terms of its product/service features, the benefits to customers, the personality of your company, what key messages you'll be relaying and the core promises you'll be making to customers.

2. Customer. There are three different customers you'll need to think about in relation to your idea: purchasers (those who make the decision or write the check), influencers (the individual, organization or group of people who influence the purchasing decision), and the end users (the person or group of people who will directly interact with your product or service).

3. Competitor. Again, there are three different groups you'll need to keep in mind: primary, secondary and tertiary. Their placement within each level is based on how often your business would compete with them and how you would tailor your messages when competing with each of these groups.

4. Collaborators. Think of organizations and people who may have an interest in your success but aren't directly paid or rewarded for any success your business might realize, such as associations, the media and other organizations that sell to your customers.

Another approach is to research is SWOT analysis, meaning analysis of the strengths of your industry, your product or service; the weaknesses of your product (such as design flaws) or service (such as high prices); and potential threats (such as the economy). "[SWOT] enables you to understand the strengths and flaws, [everything] from internal information such as bureaucracy, product development and cost to external factors such as foreign exchange rates, politics, culture, etc.," says Drew Stevens, a St. Louis professional speaker and consultant who works with entrepreneurs in researching and marketing their ideas. "SWOT enables an entrepreneur to quickly understand whether their product or service will make it in the current environment."

Whatever your approach to evaluating your idea, just be sure you're meeting the research objectives you've outlined for your product or service. With those goals always top-of-mind, your analysis will help you discover whether your idea has any holes that need patching.
Checking Out the Competition

Assuming your research process has helped you uncover your competition, you now need to find out what they're up to. Shenker advises becoming a customer of the competition, whether by shopping them yourself or by enlisting the help of a friend. "Visit their Web site and put yourself on their list," she says. "Talk to your competitor's customers, too-ask them what they like or don't like about your competitor's product or service. If you conduct formal research, include a question like 'Where do you currently go for that product or service? Why?'"

Your aim is to understand what your competition is doing so you can do it better. Maybe their service is poor. Maybe their product has some flaws-something you'll only know if you try it out yourself. Or maybe you've figured out a way to do things better, smarter, more cost-effectively. Find your selling point. It's going to be the core of your marketing program, if and when you're ready for that step. It's also going to be what sets you apart and lures customers your way.

After all this-the idea stage, analysis of the idea, competitive analysis-you might find that your idea (and not your competitor's, as you'd hoped) is the one with the holes. Does that mean you need to scrap the whole thing and resign yourself to life as an employee? "Not always," says Keller. "Sometimes it just needs to be reworked or retooled."

That can be disheartening if you've already spent X amount of hours in the idea stage, plus X amount of hours on market research-only to find that you're not quite ready to get started after all. But taking the time to refocus your energies and determine why your idea needs some tightening is the best predictor of future success. "No entrepreneur wants to hear that his 'baby' is flawed, but only by listening and reacting to feedback can he give his idea a chance for success," notes Shenker. "Ask yourself, 'Is this a weakness that can be overcome?' If you can't create true value for your customer and your business, then it's time to pick another idea to pursue."

Remember, though, that many ideas simply need some fine-tuning. Before you panic and start flipping through your idea books again, closely consider whether you can make this idea work. After all, there was a reason you thought of that idea in the first place. Some ideas that seem like they'll be total duds after doing a little research end up being great successes. "Ideas that seem like a flop are always interesting to me," says Keller. "Sometimes you look into an idea and find it was just luck-but many times, you find the original founder had some clear insight into the potential. That insight was his or her focus, and it seemed to lead them to success.

"I've seen many people launch ideas that I thought were beyond foolish," Keller adds, "but then I learned more about the idea, the customer and the vision-and realized the true risk being taken."
When Your Idea Is Ready to Go

The market research you've conducted thus far ought to be a good indicator of where you need to go next with your idea. One key factor to consider is pricing. You want to do it competitively while also considering what the market will bear. For products or services that have a close competitor, Keller advises pricing with respect to the competitive position. "Higher-priced positioning requires an idea with enough relevance and importance to customers to overcome the gap between your idea and the nearest competitor," Keller says.

The beauty of being in business for yourself is that you have the option to make changes at will-so if a pricing structure isn't working, you can alter it. "Price high to start-you can always drop the price down," says Keller. "You can never go up."

Shenker adds that you need to be sure your product or service is delivering enough value to command the price you set. If possible, test different pricing offers as you go, and determine what works best.

When you're ready to get started, be sure you're selling where your target market is likely to buy. "Your marketing plan and budget should include a well-crafted distribution strategy," notes Shenker. If you'll sell over the Internet, budget for media to drive new customers to your site. If you'll sell via retail distribution, you might need workers with industry experience to help you reach your target market.

Remember, too, that you can always seek help in this long, arduous process of bringing an idea to fruition. The Internet, your local library, the U.S. Census Bureau, business schools, industry associations, trade and consumer publications, industry trade shows and conferences, and new-product development firms can be invaluable sources of information and contacts. "It's just a matter of seeking knowledge from as many sources as possible," notes Keller. It's also a matter of putting your ego aside and being willing to create a business that will not only survive, but thrive. "If you have an idea, don't be afraid to refine it, retool it, rethink it," adds Keller. "The more you do before you launch, the less you'll have to do [afterwards], and the less painful the lessons tend to be."

If you've got a product that lends itself to a live demonstration, you may want to think about infomercial advertising.

2007-05-20T08:54:00.000-07:00

What It Is:
Half-hour TV commercials (also done sometimes on the radio) that are very similar in appearance to a news program, talk show or other non-advertising format and that provides consumers with in-depth information on a product or service

Appropriate For:
Any business with a product that's best sold with a demonstration or explanation--especially a new product that needs an introduction to consumers

Typical Cost:
$20,000 to $250,000 on average, depending on the length of the infomercial, talent involved, location, product size and complexity, and many other factors of production

How It Works:
First, let's all admit we've watched a few and move on. Maybe it was because we were too tired to change the channel or perhaps we were actually drawn in by the subject matter and didn't realize the program was really an infomercial. While they used to be relegated to airing overnight, usually between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., they now also run during the day on the weekends, where the channel guide reads "Paid Programming." A good clue that you're watching an infomercial is that the commercials within the program advertise the same product!

There's a lot to be said for being able to give a live demonstration of your product so that consumers can actually see how it works--how easy or difficult it is, how large or small, how sharp or dull, or how effective. This is a form of advertising you don't want to attempt yourself. Hire a professional to guide you through this multi-faceted process. Even television stations aren't set up to handle the making of an infomercial from beginning to end. They don't have the capability to provide the set design, scripts, show format, celebrity acquisition and testimonials, just to name a few of the elements that go into the process. They can shoot the footage in the beginning and edit the whole thing together at the end, but everything in-between is out of their realm.

Most advertising agencies can help you with the production of your infomercial. They can be responsible for such pre-production details as budgeting, scouting locations, promotion and public relations, research, any construction needed, and much more. One solution is to hire an advertising agency to create the "pieces," such as the testimonials, the set designs, the scripts and the talent, and then bring everything to the TV station to put it all together. Your television sales reps may also be able to recommend companies, such as Hawthorne Direct or Producers Direct in your vicinity that can handle your project from start to finish. To find a company in your area, run a Google search for "DRTV production companies."

Your infomercial will seldom be watched by anyone from beginning to end, so you must break up the half-hour show into separate, interesting segments with a "closer" or "call to action" at the end of each segment. While your toll-free phone number, website URL and/or P.O. box address should stay on the screen at all times, a "closing" segment should take place every ten minutes or so to encourage people to buy immediately or to offer a list of store locations where the product can be found. Then move right on to a new segment.

Keep your messages moving. For instance, a car dealership may showcase its used cars in one segment, then move on to its service department, then present its new cars, then show testimonials. The idea is to keep the audiences interested without boring them to death and to keep the half-hour fluid.

Businesses with products that don't change much over time can more easily recover the cost of making an infomercial because they can produce just one and use it for years. But the infomercials for some businesses have a much shorter shelf-life because the footage is constantly becoming outdated (the car dealership, for example). Owners of these type of businesses need to continually bear the cost of revising or creating entirely new productions year after year.

Infomercials take time to produce. For instance, if you want to include testimonials, you have to find the right people and, depending on the product, you may even have to travel to shoot footage of them. Multiply your travel costs by the number of testimonials you want to use in your infomercial, and you can see that just that portion can take a week or more. When all is said and done, you can probably add another week or more for selecting your music, editing the footage, and getting the copies (dubs) made for whatever stations you'll be running it on.

When it comes to televising your infomercials, you'll spend anywhere from $100 to $3,000 per spot, on average, to buy actual air time. Since most of these ads run overnight and on the weekends, the per-spot cost isn't quite as high as it would be during any other time of the day or evening. It all ads up--it's not territory for the faint of heart or the small of budget to explore. And because you won't know if your infomercial is a good one--meaning one that works--until it actually airs, it only makes sense that you start with professionals who know the ins and outs of creating infomercials to give yourself the best chance of success. And for this reason, you'll want to test your long commercial in a small market and not cast a wide net until you know if it's working for you!

Although the industry's reputation is improving, there are still infomercials that may make this form of advertising difficult to be associated with. Psychic readers, get-rich-quick schemes, and all those too-good-to-be-true infomercials where they say you can lose weight without any effort make it hard for others to be taken seriously. So be sure that if you use infomercials, you follow through with your fulfillment and return policies--and that your product or service lives up to what you promise your audience.

The 10 Laws of Sales Success.

2007-05-20T08:42:00.000-07:00

A recent Gallup poll on the honesty and ethical conduct of business professionals found that insurance salespeople and car salespeople ranked at the bottom of the list. Bet you're not surprised to hear this. But did you know that it's not just car salespeople who have a bad reputation? Bill Brooks of the Brooks Group estimates that more than 85 percent of customers have a negative view of all salespeople.

But it doesn't have to be that way: You can prove the masses wrong, and learn to develop the skills that will have people thinking differently about the selling process. In fact, selling can be one of the most rewarding tasks you'll undertake as a business owner-but only if you follow these 10 tactics:

Law #1: Keep your mouth shut and your ears open. This is crucial in the first few minutes of any sales interaction. Remember:

1. Don't talk about yourself.
2. Don't talk about your products.
3. Don't talk about your services.
4. And above all, don't recite your sales pitch!

Obviously, you want to introduce yourself. You want to tell your prospect your name and the purpose of your visit (or phone call), but what you don't want to do is ramble on about your product or service. After all, at this point, what could you possibly talk about? You have no idea if what you're offering is of any use to your prospect.

Law #2: Sell with questions, not answers. Remember this: Nobody cares how great you are until they understand how great you think they are.

Forget about trying to "sell" your product or service and focus instead on why your prospect wants to buy. To do this, you need to get fascinated with your prospect; you need to ask questions (lots and lots of them) with no hidden agenda or ulterior motives.

Many years ago, I was selling CDs at a music festival. It didn't take me long to figure out that it wasn't my job to sell the CDs-it was my job to get the earphones on every person who walked by my booth!

I noticed right away that whenever people sensed I was attempting to "sell" them a CD, their walls of defense immediately went up and they did everything in their power to get as far away from me as they could.

So instead, I made it my job to introduce new music to anyone who wanted to put on the earphones. Once they heard the music, they either liked it or they didn't. I didn't do any "selling," and I made more money that week than any other CD hawkers at the festival.

Back then, I didn't know anything about sales, but I knew enough about human nature to understand that sales resistance is an oxymoron: The act of selling creates the resistance! Which leads us to the next principle:

Law #3: Pretend you're on a first date with your prospect. Get curious about them. Ask about the products and services they're already using. Are they happy? Is what they're using now too expensive, not reliable enough, too slow? Find out what they really want. Remember, you're not conducting an impersonal survey here, so don't ask questions just for the sake of asking them. Instead, ask questions that will provide you with information about what your customers really need.

When you learn what your customers need and you stop trying to convince or persuade them to do something they may not want to do, you'll find them trusting you as a valued advisor and wanting to do more business with you as a result.

Law #4: Speak to your prospect just as you speak to your family or friends. There's never any time that you should switch into "sales mode" with ham-handed persuasion clichés and tag lines. Affected speech patterns, exaggerated tones, and slow, hypnotic sounding "sales inductions" are never acceptable in today's professional selling environments. Speak normally, (and of course, appropriately) just as you would when you're around your friends and loved ones.

Law #5: Pay close attention to what your prospect isn't saying. Is your prospect rushed? Does he or she seem agitated or upset? If so, ask "Is this a good time to talk? If it's not, perhaps we can meet another day." Most salespeople are so concerned with what they're going to say next that they forget there's another human being involved in the conversation.

Law #6: If you're asked a question, answer it briefly and then move on. Remember: This isn't about you; it's about whether you're right for them.

Law #7: Only after you've correctly assessed the needs of your prospect do you mention anything about what you're offering. I knew a guy who pitched a mannequin (I'm not kidding)! He was so stuck in his own automated, habitual mode, he never bothered to notice that his prospect wasn't breathing. Don't get caught in this trap. Know whom you're speaking with before figuring out what it is you want to say.

Law #8: Refrain from delivering a three-hour product seminar. Don't ramble on and on about things that have no bearing on anything your prospect has said. Pick a handful of things you think could help with your prospect's particular situation, and tell him or her about it. (And if possible, reiterate the benefits in his own words, not yours.)

Law #9: Ask the prospect if there are any barriers to them taking the next logical step. After having gone through the first eight steps, you should have a good understanding of your prospect's needs in relation to your product or service. Knowing this, and having established a mutual feeling of trust and rapport, you're now ready to bridge the gap between your prospect's needs and what it is you're offering. You're now ready for:

Law #10: Invite your prospect to take some kind of action. This principle obliterates the need for any "closing techniques" because the ball is placed on the prospect's court. A sales close keeps the ball in your court and all the focus on you, the salesperson. But you don't want the focus on you. You don't want the prospect to be reminded that he or she is dealing with a "salesperson." You're not a salesperson, you're a human being offering a particular product or service. And if you can get your prospect to understand that, you're well on your way to becoming an outstanding salesperson.

The 6 basic steps to Take Your Company Global.

2007-05-20T08:28:00.000-07:00

Doing business around the world can seem a long way from doing business in your hometown. But each year countless small businesses make the trek. Like most long journeys, going global can be boiled down to a series of steps. Here are the six basic steps to going global:

1. Start your campaign to grow by international expansion by preparing an international business plan to evaluate your needs and set your goals. It's essential to assess your readiness and commitment to grow internationally before you get started.
2. Conduct foreign market research and identify international markets. The Department of Commerce is an excellent source of information on foreign markets for U.S. goods and services.
3. Evaluate and select methods of distributing your product abroad. You can choose from a variety of means for distributing your product, from opening company-owned foreign subsidiaries to working with agents, representatives and distributors and setting up joint ventures.
4. Learn how to set prices, negotiate deals and navigate the legal morass of exporting. Cultural, social, legal and economic differences make exporting a challenge for business owners who have only operated in the United States.
5. Tap government and private sources of financing—and figure out ways to make sure you are getting paid. Financing is always an issue, but government interest in boosting exporting and centuries of financial innovation have made getting funding and getting paid easier than ever.
6. Move your goods to their international market, making sure you package and label them in accordance with regulations in the market you are selling to. The globalization of transportation systems helps here, but regulations are still different everywhere you go.

Understanding Another Culture
One big difference between doing business domestically and internationally is culture. According to Hilka Klinkenberg, founder of Etiquette International in New York City, less than 25 percent of U.S. business ventures abroad are successful. "A lot of that is because Americans don't do their homework or because they think the rest of the world should do business the way they do business," she says. Klinkenberg offers the following tips to avoid making costly mistakes in international business meetings:

* Build a relationship before you get down to business. "That entails making small talk and getting to know one another without [immediately] getting into business discussions," she says.

* Don't impose time limits. Says Klinkenberg, "Keep [the meeting] as open as possible because it adds strength to your negotiating position."

* Do your research. Learn at least a few pointers and facts about the country; it shows you respect your potential partners' cultural heritage. Also, get comfortable with the basic words in their language.

* Bring your own interpreter. If they provide the interpreter, warns Klinkenberg, "the interpreter is going to have the other person's [interests] at heart, not yours."

* Understand body language. "People think [body] language is universal—it's not," she says.

* Dress with respect and authority. This should be self-explanatory. If it's not, seek the help of an image expert.

Financing Help From the Import-Export Bank
As with any growth plan, expanding internationally requires financing. And growing globally requires special capabilities when it comes to finances. One of the most popular sources of financing for businesses expanding overseas is the Export-Import Bank of the United States. The Ex-Im Bank, as it's commonly known, is an independent U.S. government agency that has helped finance overseas sales of more than $300 billion in U.S. goods and services since 1934.

The Ex-Im Bank guarantees working capital loans for U.S. exporters and guarantees repayment of loans or makes loans to foreign purchasers of U.S. goods and services. It also offers U.S. exporters credit insurance to protect against nonpayment by foreign buyers.

To get Ex-Im Bank help, your product or service must have at least 50 percent U.S. content. The bank will finance the export of all types of goods or services except for most military-related products.

How to Design Memorable Logo - These 6 easy Step

2007-05-19T23:18:00.000-07:00

Historically, logos have been more of a luxury than a necessity. Businesses once attracted customers because they were the only game in town, so to speak. But that's no longer the case. Today's highly competitive industries, global markets and visually oriented consumers have catapulted the logo to prominence. Now your logo is one of the most critical components of your brand. So how can something so little make such a big difference to the success of your business?

1. Your branding efforts not only start with your logo but are dictated by it. Your logo appears on all your sales tools, from your business cards and stationary to your website. As a result, your logo design influences the design of all your sales tools--for better or worse. A professional-looking logo can be leveraged to create professional-looking materials. A poorly designed logo can't. In other words, you need a "brandable" logo--one you can make use of when designing other materials to brand your company.

Brandable logos are scalable, memorable and meaningful. If people can't remember what your logo looks like, they won't remember your brand. Think of the logos of some of the popular brands today. Do you think of M-shaped arches, a shell or a swoosh? All are simple concepts, effectively employed by McDonalds, Shell and Nike. How can you tell if a logo's going to be memorable? If you can't look at a logo for fewer than 10 seconds and re-draw it with decent accuracy, it's probably too complex to be easily remembered. (Besides being difficult to remember, most complex logos can't effectively be reduced in size or rendered in black and white, making them useless for such elements as fax cover sheets and other business forms.)

Content Continues Below

2. Your logo is a quick visual cue that conveys the essence of your brand in an age when image is everything and time is short. Perhaps you've heard the writer's lament that "nobody reads anymore." In today's markets, not only do you face ever-increasing competition, you also face an audience accustomed to visually stimulating media, convenience and instant gratification. Sure, a few people may read your entire ad, more may read some of it--but everyone will SEE it. The overwhelming amount of choices faced by time-crunched consumers forces them to identify shortcuts. Your logo is such a shortcut: it instantly conveys your brand message and emotional appeal.

3. Awareness and familiarity are keys to growing your business, and your logo is instrumental in both areas. Your logo is your brand's most basic graphic element. It ties together all your sales materials--in fact, your logo may be the only visual element your materials have in common. The right logo helps solidify customer loyalty while differentiating you from the competition.

4. Your logo may be the only thing by which a potential customer can judge your business. Think of small newspaper or Yellow Pages ads. Often all that fits in these small spaces is your contact information and your logo. If your logo projects the right image, it may be the sole reason someone decides to try your company. Conversely, if it looks unprofessional or unclear, it alone may be the reason they choose to look somewhere else.

5. Your logo affords a unique opportunity for you to look like a bigger (that is, more established) business than what you are. With the right logo, you can look like a larger company that's been around for awhile even if you have only one employee and just opened your doors last month. People who see it will associate the positive attributes of big companies--like security and financial stability--with your company. And you can still deliver the entrepreneurial qualities--like personal attention and superior customer service--that you're known for.

Building a solid brand identity is pivotal to success in business today. Lay the right foundation with a professional, brandable logo.

John Williams is Entrepreneur.com's "Image & Branding" columnist and the founder and president of LogoYes.com, the world's first do-it-yourself logo design website. During John's 25 years in advertising, he's created brand standards for Fortune 100 companies like Mitsubishi and won numerous awards for his design work.

The 7 Tips for word of mouth marketing campaign.

2007-05-15T13:23:00.000-07:00

According to the Los Angeles Times, marketers are scrambling to create the next big viral marketing campaign. It has become one of the quickest ways to cheaply move messages from person to person. So how do you ensure your viral marketing campaign is going to be a huge success? Follow the tips below to get started.

1. Talk to consumers as if they were your friend

To reach the consumer, speak to them in their language on a personal and direct level. Be honest.

2. Seek out the experts and become friends

Seek out experts who may choose to share your information with others. With their influence, they have the capability of spreading your word to a wide variety of interested parties.

3. Make it easy to pass along

Email, forward to a friend, buttons and badges on your Website, podcasts, and funny IM or text messages that can be instantly passed along to others.

4. Don’t just do it because everyone else is doing it

Don’t just do a viral marketing campaign because it’s the latest online trend. Concentrate on our core marketing objectives and focus your ideas around ways to resonate with consumers.

5. Viral marketing + overall marketing strategy = effectiveness

Although viral campaigns have the ability to take off, they can be more effective if other elements of your marketing campaign are tied in. For example, kids are using the Internet a great deal these days. Grab their attention with a billboard first with a code they can plug in online or in their cell phone to drive them to your target outlet and keep them engaged.

6. Take responsibility

Don’t just force a message to consumers, respond and listen to their feedback. Be responsible for the crafting and delivering of your message as well as listening and responding appropriately from all customers and potential customers.

7. Measure the good, bad and the ugly

Not only do you need to monitor viral marketing campaigns for both negative and positive feedback to protect your brand, but the only way you’ll be able to determine the campaign’s success is by researching this free research data.

Source: viralvoodoo.com

5 Easy Steps to make your products irresistible?

2007-05-15T00:02:00.000-07:00

How can you make your products irresistible?

The old cliché in business is that you should under-promise and over-deliver. But in a crowded marketplace, under-promising is a one-way ticket to oblivion. Because consumers and businesses are moving and shopping at warp speed these days, they won't slow down long enough to fully understand your under-promise. To grab their attention, you must over-promise.

By over-promising, I don't mean you should promise things you can't deliver. Instead, I mean you must make an outrageous claim on which you can deliver. Most companies already have such capabilities, which is why their current customers do business with them. But their marketing teams haven't taken the time to understand exactly why their current customers really stay loyal, and then articulate their unique capabilities in an outrageous over-promise.

While doing research for my most recent book, Overpromise and Overdeliver: The Secrets of Unshakable Customer Loyalty (Portfolio), I was astounded by how many products, services and companies didn't have an articulated over-promise. If you don't tell customers why they should buy from you, but your competitors do...then guess who gets the customers?

Here are three excellent examples of over-promises you can use for inspiration:

* American Girl over-promises by offering girls dolls that will utterly enchant them...and then over-delivers by giving each doll a fascinating biography.

* Google over-promises by offering everything a customer would want to find on the Web...and then over-delivers with an average search time of 0.2 seconds.

* Hummer over-promises a driving experience that's "like nothing else"...and then over-delivers with an attention-grabbing design, extra comfort and a built-in Hummer community.

So how can you create your own over-promise?

1. Start by examining your vision for your company. Why did you start it in the first place? What was missing in the marketplace that you vowed to fix on behalf of your customers? I often find that the essence of a brand can be drawn from a business founder's original thoughts. You could feel it even if you couldn't articulate it. Now's the time to make that articulation.

2. What is your product or service's single, most important attribute? What makes it unique? What one word do customers think about or feel when they hear your company's name? Volvo means safety. Lexus means luxury. What does your product mean?

3. Ask your customers why they buy your products. Then ask them why they don't buy your competitors' products. In the chasm between these two answers, you'll find a beacon that points to what your over-promise should be.

4. Ask non-customers why they don't buy your products or services. Then ask why they buy your competitors' products. This pair of questions will give you insight into the misperceptions they have about your product or company, or will point you toward serious shortcomings in your offerings.

5. What emotions do your customers feel when they use your products? Why do customers pay a premium for a Hummer, a Lexus or an American Girl Doll? It's because of the way it makes them feel or because of the way it makes others feel about them. These are powerful brand-building insights you must consider when you're crafting your over-promise.

Once you've done your research and have brainstormed some potential over-promises for your brand, be sure to test them with your customers and your potential customers for effectiveness in both their ability to grab attention and to accurately reflect the actual brand experience. Too many companies make the fatal mistake of creating aspirational over-promises that they can't fulfill. It will take your customers a very short time to find out you can't deliver on your over-promise. You'll know when you've got the right over-promise because it will resonate with both customers and employees.

Now, over-deliver!

My research showed a clear pattern in the companies that were able to consistently over-deliver on their over-promises. They focused on creating unique customer experiences at three critical touch points: the product, the systems and the human element.

First, the product must reliably perform as promised--appropriate design is crucial. Second, the product must be easy to acquire, finance, assemble, use, store, fix and dispose of--this is the system. The greatest product in the world is worth far less if getting it is a hassle or if it's too complicated for customers to use. Finally, your people--the human element--must clearly understand the role they play in delivering the overall customer experience. How should they dress? What should they say? How should they act? Don't leave these details to chance, or your people will make up their own version of your brand.

Over-promise and over-deliver is a formula that's been proven to be successful by American Express, Pottery Barn, Samsung, Washington Mutual and many other top businesses. If you're willing to invest in the research required to get your over-promise right and the attention to detail required to get your over-delivery right, your brand, too, can join the ranks of the irresistible!

21 Ways used by law enforcement, bank investigators, law firms and researchers to locate bank accounts.

2007-05-14T10:01:00.000-07:00

The following information has been compiled from various sources to aid law information, bank investigators, law firms and researchers who are in need to obtain checking account information for investigatory reasons only. This file originally appeard at the National Check Fraud Center

1. Send the Defendant a Check

This involves sending the defendant a check in a small amount. The defendant deposits the check in his account. When the check is returned to you it should have the defendant's bank account number on the back. This is an old trick and it is usually used with some corresponding literature, such as a gift certificate, rebate, refund or survey. The more professional looking the literature, the better the results.

There are a number of other facts you gain by using this method. The cashing of the check by your subject gives you proof he or she receives mail at the address you sent the check to. The canceled check will have a signature of your subject. This is a good way to obtain an otherwise unobtainable sample of your subject's signature. Additionally, the subject's drivers license number may be listed on the back of the check.

2. Buy Something from the Defendant

Have someone purchase something from the defendant's store or business. Be sure to pay by check. Naturally, this procedure works best if the defendant runs a business or service operation. If he or she does, it is a relatively simple matter to purchase something from the defendant. If the he or she performs a service, simply hire him or her to work for you. If, as an attorney, you think your subject will not fall for this method, use a third party in your place. I warn you not to involve a third party in an undercover operation if you believe there is the slightest chance for violence.

This seemingly simple task can lead to some unusual situations. I had a case against a debtor who ran a small retail establishment. My goal was to simply go into the store and purchase something with a check so I could obtain the store's bank account number. The business was located close to Martin Luther King Boulevard in a predominately black area of town. It was quite a challenge for a white guy to look inconspicuous under these circumstances.

Sure enough, in my next bank statement was the debtor's bank account information on the back of the check I had written him for merchandise bought in his store.

3. UCC Filings - File Copy from the Secretary of State

A search should be made of Uniform Commercial Code filings. The bank that loaned the defendant money may be the same bank he or she uses personally.

The debtor will probably obtain financing from a bank that he or she normally does business with. This makes sense. The debtor will usually have a better chance of obtaining a loan from a bank he or she already has a banking relationship with.
Once the debtor's probable bank is identified, you have at least two bites of the apple in obtaining the debtor's bank account. The debtor may have applied to the same bank for a loan.

4. UCC Filing - Loan Application from the Secured Party

Keep in mind what purpose that a UCC-1 filing serves. It is to provide notice to the public that the secured party has an interest in the debtor's property. This is generally from the secured party loaning money to the debtor. The debtor does this by filling out a loan application and financial statement. This information should contain the debtor's bank account information.

5. UCC Filings - Check from the Secured Party to the Debtor

In a loan situation the bank will issue a check to the debtor. The debtor will deposit the check in his or her bank account. As the check makes it's way back to the issuing bank the debtor's bank account number will be on the back of the check issued by the bank. If you subpoena the secured party for a copy of this check it will show the document trail including the name and account number of the bank the debtor actually deposited the check.

6. UCC Filing - Copy of the Debtor's Checks

The debtor is obligated to pay the secured party back for it's loan each month--presumably with a check. All you have to do is subpoena the targeted bank for the above information--any loan applications and/or financial statements of the debtor, any checks the bank issued to the debtor, and the debtor's checks over a period of several months.

7. Previous Landlord-- Rental Application

Subpoena the previous landlord of the defendant for a copy of the rental application to see where the defendant banked. Most people are usually creatures of habit. Once a banking relationship is established, it generally remains the same.

8. Previous Landlord-- Security Deposit, Canceled Check

Now, the above information may be outdated. However, there are two additional sources of records that the landlord has regarding the debtor's bank account. One is the security deposit and cleaning refund check that was given to the tenant / debtor upon move out. The debtor may have deposited this check in his bank account. The landlord or the landlord's bank has a copy of this check. The debtor's bank account information should be on the backside.

9. Previous Landlord-- Copies of the debtor's Rent Checks

During the rental period the tenant/debtor probably paid the landlord by check. The landlord may cooperate or you may have to subpoena him to obtain this information. The landlord will claim he does not have access to these checks. This may be a true statement. The fact of the matter that the bank microfilmed every check the landlord deposited in his account. This includes the Debtor's rent checks.

10. Blanket Levy

This technique involves serving a Writ of Execution and a Bank Levy on every bank in the area. This procedure assumes that you will hit an account eventually and that the debtor will bank within only a few mile radius of his home or work. It is rumored that the IRS has used this tactic in the past. For obvious reasons, this technique works best in a small town.

11. Debtors Examinations

At this proceeding you can demand that the debtor tell you where his bank account is. The unfortunate effect of this procedure is that the defendant can take most (if not all) of his money out of the account before you can get to it. However, do not dismiss the usefulness of the examination too quickly. Not all debtors are Einstein's. Some debtors do not think to empty their bank accounts. Additionally, there is actual value in finding a bank account with only a few bucks in it or even one that has already been closed. The value is in the microfilmed records the bank will retain on the account.

Just think about it for a second. What documents would a debtor deposit in his bank account? If you answered any of the followings: the debtor's payroll check, the debtor's spouse's payroll check, stock dividend checks, rental income checks, you would be right! Each category of information is extremely valuable to a creditor enforcing a judgment. What is more, the debtor will probably take the funds from his now defunct account and--probably in the form of a check from his old account--deposit it in a new account.

12. Employer

If you know the debtor's employer you may consider serving a Business Record Subpoena on the employer to obtain a copy of a payroll check the debtor has "cashed". The check should have the defendant's account number and possibly the name of the bank on the back of it.

13. Current Landlord--Rental Application

The current landlord probably has a rental application on file that show the defendant's bank account.

14. Current Landlord--Past Check

Subpoena from the current landlord a copy of the defendant's past month's rent check.

15. Current Landlord--Current Rent Checks

Subpoena from the current landlord a copy of the defendant's current month's rent check.

16. Trash Search

Some investigative agencies such as the IRS, FBI, local law enforcement agencies, and private investigators will conduct trash searches. The information obtained will reveal the bank where the defendant has an account in addition to probably more information than you ever wanted to know about the defendant. In fact, a trash search tells so much about a debtor that it is absolutely scary. Think I am kidding? Tell you what, to every person who reads this and for an instant thinks this technique will not work, I have an exercise for you. Go through your own trash for a one week period. Write down everything that you can conclude about your household--likes and dislikes in foods and cosmetics, medications, personal correspondence, etc., etc. Are you now considering incinerating your own trash?

17. Yard Sale

This is an unusual procedure reserved for the stout of heart. It will not work if the defendant knows you on sight. The way it works is to send post cards to everyone who lives on the defendant's block. The post card should read something like, "Block yard sale this weekend". Put up a few signs directing traffic on the appropriate day. The defendant will be caught up in the excitement and open his garage to sell his unwanted items. First, this is a great chance to view the defendant at home, up close and personal. Take covert inventory of the defendant's assets. Second, buy something from the defendant and pay by check.

18. Telephone

19. State Sales Tax Permits

The application for a Sales Tax permit requires that the business list it's bank account. This is certainly true of the current sales tax permit for California. It is probably true for other states as well.

20. Employment Development Department Permit

The Employment Development Department application, an permit that allows an employer to hire employees, normally requires that the business list it's bank account.

21. Divorce records, community property settlement

Sometimes these records contain a wealth of financial information, including: the name and account number of checking, savings, brokers, stocks, credit cards and bonds account. Often the description and address of private property and the make, model and license number of vehicles also are included in the divisions of property papers.

12 Ways To Create An Order-Pulling Niche.

2007-05-13T16:18:00.000-07:00

12 Ways To Create An Order-Pulling Niche

A niche is something that sets your business apart
from your competitors. To compete with other
businesses nowadays, especially online, you need
a unique niche. Just make sure your competitors are
not using the same niche. Below are twelve ideas
you could use to create an order pulling niche.

1. Your niche could be that you offer free delivery.
This may cost a little money, but, you will gain the
extra customers to make up for it.

2. Your niche could be that you offer a lower price.
If you can't afford to offer a lower price you could
always hold the occasional discount sale.

3. Your niche could be that your product achieves
results faster. This niche is very effective because
people are becoming more and more impatient and
want results fast.

4. Your niche could be you've been in business for
a longer period of time. People think if you've been
in business longer you have more credibility.

5. Your niche could be that your product tastes,
smells sounds, looks, or feels better. When you
target the the senses you're triggering basic human
attractions.

6. Your niche could be your product is light or
compact. People may want to take the product
on a trip or don't have much room where they live.

7. Your niche could be that you've won a business
reward. When you win a reward tell your customers
or visitors about it. This increases their trust in your
business.

8. Your niche could be that your product lasts
longer. People don't like taking the time and spending
more money buying replacement products all the
time.

9. Your niche could be that your product is easy to
use. People don't want to buy a product that they
have to read a 200 page hard-to-understand
instruction manual.

10. You niche could be that your product has better
safety features. People want to feel safe when they
use your products.

11. Your niche could be that your product was made
by hand. Most people believe that products made
by hand have better quality.

12. Your niche could be that you stand behind all
your products. People want to know that you back-
up any claims you make about your product with
either guarantees, warrantees and free replacements.

Insert Google Adsense Into Blogger XML Post Body.

2007-05-12T15:09:00.000-07:00

Have you ever tried to insert the Google Adsense code directly into your Blogger XML Template and get this error?

Your template could not be parsed as it is not well-formed. Please make sure all XML elements are closed properly. XML error message: The processing instruction target matching "[xX][mM][lL]" is not allowed.

So, you resolve to insert the Adsense code using blogger widgets. However that means your widgets can not appear within each post, the best spots to place your ads. Don't worry, there is a way of inserting Adsense code straight into your XML templates.

Since Blogger started using XML everything is more strict and standardized. The above error simply mean the Adsense code is not standized XML and solve it we need to 1replace all the html character such as '<' with '>' '"' with '"'. For example:

would be

1<script type="text/javascript"></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
1src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script>

You can use your text editor to replace all the HTML, but Blogcrowds also has an HTML parsed that takes care of everything for you. Now with the code you can paste it anywhere in your HTML code with no error at all.

Here are some tips for where in the XML Template you should paste the parsed HTML code. I used a barebone Minima template so it should be similar in all templates. Find the normal text and then add the bolded code are added by me:

1)Next To The Post

2)After Post Before Credits

10 crucial questions when naming your business, product, or Web site.

2007-05-11T10:25:00.000-07:00

1.Who are my consumers?
You can't expect to sell to everyone, so define narrowly who you want to sell to and make the name appeal to that group. You need to know how the members of that group think. You will make your best guesses with your current knowledge, but you must be willing to discard some personal favorites when later testing shows that they don't work. Unfortunately, your first inclinations are seldom your best. Trust your testing.

2.What am I naming?
The goal here is to give the product a name that has appealing associations. In all types of naming it is important that the name evokes the right emotions, associations, and images. In addition, if you are naming a product that will be on a retail shelf, the name should be short enough to fit on the retail box and be legible from several feet away.

If your business, product, or service is altogether new, you will generally want its name to communicate at a glance what it concerns. For example, business names (trade names) such as GENERAL NUTRITION, SPORTSMAN'S WAREHOUSE, BURGER WORLD, and PETSMART communicate immediately what is at issue. On the other hand, if you are naming an additional product in an established business, the product name need not necessarily communicate what it is. For example, it is not necessary for names such as Mustang, Thunderbird, Marboro, and Camel to communicate that they are cars and cigarettes, because the consumer knows what they are from the company names.

3.What type of name do I want?
Names can be categorized in various ways. Some are surnames like Anderson Lumber Company, or Covey Leadership. Others are ordinary words combinations such as New Balance Shoes, or First Security Bank. Some names are coined words like Kodak, Nu Skin, Nytol, or Intel. Others such as Taurus and Nike have been borrowed from Greek mythology. Below are some of the types of names that you may consider:
Coined names:

The trend to coin business and product names is increasing, largely because they are quite easily trademarked. Names such as Nu Skin, Computune, and Envirocare are all recent coinages that communicate the types of businesses they are. Pentium is a well-known product name for Intel's fifth-generation product. A recent trend in coining names for cars has been to select a prestige two-syllable beginning, and end the name with "a." Consider "Maxima, Accura, Altima, Integra, Lumina, and others. Observe how the names of medicines tend to end in in, possibly to evoke an association with the word medicine: aspirin, penicillin, herpecin, corracidin, pamparin, and cholestin. And, we are all familiar with two-word names written as single words as in WordPerfect, Microsoft, and WriteExpress. Thus, coining names may be done in a number of ways, and coinages often follow trends. WriteExpress PowerNaming is especially designed to help you in this creative process.
Common Words with a Twist:

New Balance Shoes, WriteExpress Easy Letters, Out'n Back, All a Dollar, Wallpaper Warehouse, and Four Seasons Flowers are all business and product names that consist of common words in short, meaningful phrases. Each name is memorable because of the associations it evokes. Such traditional names are good but sometimes difficult to trademark.
Surnames and First names:

The current trend is to avoid the use of surnames unless they are well known or you have the means to make them well known through advertising. As a general rule, they are difficult to trademark. Successful surnames include Smucker's, Fudrucker's, Albertson's, Covey Leadership, and Franklin Quest. Successful names that include first names include Oscar Meyer, Fred Meyer's Mama Maria's, and Tony Roma's. The use of first or surnames often works well when linked with another identifying word. For example, Jone's Paint and Glass, Peggy's Bridal, Crawford Electric, and Knighton Optical. Be aware that such names often work locally, but not internationally, unless they are widerly recognized.
Telescoped or Alpha-Numeric names:

Some persons refer to names that combine numbers and letters as Alpha-Numeric names. Such names have worked well for companies such as Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company that telescoped its name to be the 3M Company. Other good examples are Food 4 Less, A-1 Steak Sauce, 9-Lives Cat Food, and 7-UP. (Other examples???) Many such names are successful because the numbers carry important meanings in clever ways.
Names with deviant spellings:

Nite skool, Krazee Kids, Kandy Korn, Peteet Neet School, tuff skins, Xtreme are all examples of deviant spellings that play with sounds. The rhyming and alliteration features of WriteExpress can help you find words with the desired sound combinations, but you provide the innovative spellings. Be sure that the deviant spelling appeals to your target consumer. What appeals to one group of consumers may just be silly to another. The advantage of such names is that they are memorable, but you may find them difficult to trademark if there is a similar-sounding trademark with a more conventional spelling.
Acronyms and Abbreviations:

Acronyms and abbreviations are effective ways to shorten otherwise long names and make them unique and memorable, particularly when the name is already known. Thus NRA is recognized as National Rifle Association, aol is America on line, and KFC is Kentucky Fried Chicken. Otherwise, the acronym or abbreviation must contain other information to carry its message. For example IHC Health Care, CNN News, or M & L Rentals. In some cases a clever acronym is introduced with the product as in US West's Directory Expert called DEX.
Place names:

The key is for the place name to carry the right associations. New York Deli, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Chicago style pizza, San Francisco Sourdough, Kentucky Fried Chicker. Ficticious place names can also work if they have the right associations and are therefore memorable. Consider The Olive Garden Restaurant, The Attic, and The Terrace. If the nature of the business, service or product is not obvious from the name, you still have an advertising problem.
Alliterative or rhyming names:

Names with alliteration are those that have the same sound at the beginning of two or more successive words. Roto Rooter, Cellular Source, Peter Piper Pizza, Water World, and Bargain Basement are words that are memorable largely because they contain alliteration. The WriteExpress rhyming and alliteration features make up the world's most powerful tool for finding such names. While this is a very positive feature, don't let it lure you into being so creative that the name is counter productive.
Prestige names:

Names such as Nike, Sundance, Lady Di, and Pierre Cardin are all prestige names. Some are from foreign languages; others are the names of celebrities. One may expect that such names are rarely trademarkable. It is generally good advice to avoid them unless you have some legal control over the name.
4.

How long should the name be?
In naming businesses and services, lengthy names with three or more syllables in more than one word should probably be avoided. Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company was wisely reduced to 3M, and International Business Machines was reduced to IBM. If you are naming a product that will be on a retail shelf, the name should be short enough to fit on the retail box and be legible from several feet away. Selecting a name that tells the customer what the product is in only a few syllables is daunting but absolutely essential. After selecting possible names, test them with potential buyers to see whether they understand from the name what the product is. If they don't, find another short name until they do.
5.

Do the sounds in the name have the right appeal?
Your name should be easy to read, spell, and pronounce, and should reflect the quality of the thing named. It is best to avoid names with uncertain pronunciations. Part of the meaning of a word is colored by its sounds. Words that rhyme or have alliterative initial sounds may work well for some products but not for others. "Tiny Tots' Toys" may work well for children's products but such alliteration may not work well for medical supplies. Would you want to buy "comfy coronary catheters?" Certain sounds such as the vowels in tipsy and teenie weenie carry light, diminutive impressions, while the sounds in crunch and plop seem much heavier. Similarly, the sounds p,t,k,ch, j, a,u,o seem harder and more masculine than do l,m,n, ng, sh,s, i,e. The sounds v,f,z,s are generally associated with speed more than sounds such as p,t,b,d,l, and m. Some experts feel that the letters q,x,z,f, and u tend to evoke negative feelings. Of course Fudruckers and Compaq have used the sounds to their advantage. On the positive side, the letters a,b,s,t and m are reported to evoke very positive feelings. Being aware of such subtleties may help you narrow your choices.
6.

What associations should the name evoke?
Would "Bud Light" be as appealing if it were "Tiffany Light?" "Bud" evokes masculine associations and "Tiffany" evokes feminine ones. Notice that the difference is communicated as much by the sounds of the words as by the meanings. The sounds in "Bud" seem heavier than ones in "Tiffany." A recent fat substitute was given the name "olean," negating any notion of fat. Consider the positive associations with a name such as "Sunkist Oranges." Some names like Ajax or Mercury evoke powerful images from mythology. Others like Castmaster or Power Bait clearly appeal to the sport of fishing. The associations that your name evokes are extremely important and should appeal to the specific consumer you have in mind.
7.

What are the foreign language implications of the name?
Without checking foreign language associations of the word, someone at GM chose "Nova," for a Chevrolet model, probably hoping to evoke a star-like association. Only later did they realize that In Spanish, "no- va" means "it doesn't go." The incident has been a lesson for all who would name products for global consumption. Successful names with good foreign language meanings include "Nike," referring to the Greek goddess of victory, and "Taurus," meaning "bull," the second sign of the zodiac. Before settling on a name, be sure to check its possible meanings and associations in foreign languages. Foreign language dictionaries will help but will not suffice. Generally they will not contain profanity. Be safe by checking with native speakers.

8.How will I test the name?
As you narrow your name choices, involve only persons from the group who will be the consumers. Ask them what they think of when they hear the word you have chosen. You may also tell them what you think the name of your product or service, but don't dwell on it. Contact them on the following day and ask them what the name was. If several remember it, you probably have a good name. If virtually no one does, it's back to the drawing board. Other techniques include surveying consumers with a list of possible names for them to rank, interviewing consumers in the market place, and placing lists on bulletin boards and requesting responses. Also test your names for political incorrectness, negative associations, questionable meanings in foreign languages, and other connotations or associations that may render a name unwise. Remember, the name must be unique, distinctive, and memorable. And, before you use it be sure that the name will be free from legal problems.

9.How will the name appear in directories?
If you anticipate that much of your business will come from listings in the Yellow Pages, the Internet, or other directories, it will be to your advantage to have a business name that will be listed close to the start of the alphabet, because these lists appear in alphabetical order. Of course, highlighting, adding pictures, and using other attention-getting devices can help, but their effectiveness seems to be less when placed near the end of a list.

10. Can I trademark the name?
You will probably experience some frustration when you find that your favorite name is not legally available. Be sure you have three or four alternatives when you start your search from trademark availability. Initially, you may want to check trade journals, and directories such as the Yellow Pages to be sure your name is not being used. Most university libraries offer searching services so you can determine whether your name is already listed as a trademark. This initial search may save you time and money before you engage legal counsel. Be sure to check various similar or optional spellings for your name, because it can be denied if it is too similar to another established trademark. Large libraries will generally have books that deal with state and federal trademark laws. Trademark law can be complicated so you must get good advice on how to proceed.

10 crucial questions when naming your business, product, or Web site.

2007-05-11T10:23:00.000-07:00

1.

Who are my consumers?
You can't expect to sell to everyone, so define narrowly who you want to sell to and make the name appeal to that group. You need to know how the members of that group think. You will make your best guesses with your current knowledge, but you must be willing to discard some personal favorites when later testing shows that they don't work. Unfortunately, your first inclinations are seldom your best. Trust your testing.
2.

What am I naming?
The goal here is to give the product a name that has appealing associations. In all types of naming it is important that the name evokes the right emotions, associations, and images. In addition, if you are naming a product that will be on a retail shelf, the name should be short enough to fit on the retail box and be legible from several feet away.

If your business, product, or service is altogether new, you will generally want its name to communicate at a glance what it concerns. For example, business names (trade names) such as GENERAL NUTRITION, SPORTSMAN'S WAREHOUSE, BURGER WORLD, and PETSMART communicate immediately what is at issue. On the other hand, if you are naming an additional product in an established business, the product name need not necessarily communicate what it is. For example, it is not necessary for names such as Mustang, Thunderbird, Marboro, and Camel to communicate that they are cars and cigarettes, because the consumer knows what they are from the company names.
3.

What type of name do I want?
Names can be categorized in various ways. Some are surnames like Anderson Lumber Company, or Covey Leadership. Others are ordinary words combinations such as New Balance Shoes, or First Security Bank. Some names are coined words like Kodak, Nu Skin, Nytol, or Intel. Others such as Taurus and Nike have been borrowed from Greek mythology. Below are some of the types of names that you may consider:
Coined names:

The trend to coin business and product names is increasing, largely because they are quite easily trademarked. Names such as Nu Skin, Computune, and Envirocare are all recent coinages that communicate the types of businesses they are. Pentium is a well-known product name for Intel's fifth-generation product. A recent trend in coining names for cars has been to select a prestige two-syllable beginning, and end the name with "a." Consider "Maxima, Accura, Altima, Integra, Lumina, and others. Observe how the names of medicines tend to end in in, possibly to evoke an association with the word medicine: aspirin, penicillin, herpecin, corracidin, pamparin, and cholestin. And, we are all familiar with two-word names written as single words as in WordPerfect, Microsoft, and WriteExpress. Thus, coining names may be done in a number of ways, and coinages often follow trends. WriteExpress PowerNaming is especially designed to help you in this creative process.
Common Words with a Twist:

New Balance Shoes, WriteExpress Easy Letters, Out'n Back, All a Dollar, Wallpaper Warehouse, and Four Seasons Flowers are all business and product names that consist of common words in short, meaningful phrases. Each name is memorable because of the associations it evokes. Such traditional names are good but sometimes difficult to trademark.
Surnames and First names:

The current trend is to avoid the use of surnames unless they are well known or you have the means to make them well known through advertising. As a general rule, they are difficult to trademark. Successful surnames include Smucker's, Fudrucker's, Albertson's, Covey Leadership, and Franklin Quest. Successful names that include first names include Oscar Meyer, Fred Meyer's Mama Maria's, and Tony Roma's. The use of first or surnames often works well when linked with another identifying word. For example, Jone's Paint and Glass, Peggy's Bridal, Crawford Electric, and Knighton Optical. Be aware that such names often work locally, but not internationally, unless they are widerly recognized.
Telescoped or Alpha-Numeric names:

Some persons refer to names that combine numbers and letters as Alpha-Numeric names. Such names have worked well for companies such as Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company that telescoped its name to be the 3M Company. Other good examples are Food 4 Less, A-1 Steak Sauce, 9-Lives Cat Food, and 7-UP. (Other examples???) Many such names are successful because the numbers carry important meanings in clever ways.
Names with deviant spellings:

Nite skool, Krazee Kids, Kandy Korn, Peteet Neet School, tuff skins, Xtreme are all examples of deviant spellings that play with sounds. The rhyming and alliteration features of WriteExpress can help you find words with the desired sound combinations, but you provide the innovative spellings. Be sure that the deviant spelling appeals to your target consumer. What appeals to one group of consumers may just be silly to another. The advantage of such names is that they are memorable, but you may find them difficult to trademark if there is a similar-sounding trademark with a more conventional spelling.
Acronyms and Abbreviations:

Acronyms and abbreviations are effective ways to shorten otherwise long names and make them unique and memorable, particularly when the name is already known. Thus NRA is recognized as National Rifle Association, aol is America on line, and KFC is Kentucky Fried Chicken. Otherwise, the acronym or abbreviation must contain other information to carry its message. For example IHC Health Care, CNN News, or M & L Rentals. In some cases a clever acronym is introduced with the product as in US West's Directory Expert called DEX.
Place names:

The key is for the place name to carry the right associations. New York Deli, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Chicago style pizza, San Francisco Sourdough, Kentucky Fried Chicker. Ficticious place names can also work if they have the right associations and are therefore memorable. Consider The Olive Garden Restaurant, The Attic, and The Terrace. If the nature of the business, service or product is not obvious from the name, you still have an advertising problem.
Alliterative or rhyming names:

Names with alliteration are those that have the same sound at the beginning of two or more successive words. Roto Rooter, Cellular Source, Peter Piper Pizza, Water World, and Bargain Basement are words that are memorable largely because they contain alliteration. The WriteExpress rhyming and alliteration features make up the world's most powerful tool for finding such names. While this is a very positive feature, don't let it lure you into being so creative that the name is counter productive.
Prestige names:

Names such as Nike, Sundance, Lady Di, and Pierre Cardin are all prestige names. Some are from foreign languages; others are the names of celebrities. One may expect that such names are rarely trademarkable. It is generally good advice to avoid them unless you have some legal control over the name.
4.

How long should the name be?
In naming businesses and services, lengthy names with three or more syllables in more than one word should probably be avoided. Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company was wisely reduced to 3M, and International Business Machines was reduced to IBM. If you are naming a product that will be on a retail shelf, the name should be short enough to fit on the retail box and be legible from several feet away. Selecting a name that tells the customer what the product is in only a few syllables is daunting but absolutely essential. After selecting possible names, test them with potential buyers to see whether they understand from the name what the product is. If they don't, find another short name until they do.
5.

Do the sounds in the name have the right appeal?
Your name should be easy to read, spell, and pronounce, and should reflect the quality of the thing named. It is best to avoid names with uncertain pronunciations. Part of the meaning of a word is colored by its sounds. Words that rhyme or have alliterative initial sounds may work well for some products but not for others. "Tiny Tots' Toys" may work well for children's products but such alliteration may not work well for medical supplies. Would you want to buy "comfy coronary catheters?" Certain sounds such as the vowels in tipsy and teenie weenie carry light, diminutive impressions, while the sounds in crunch and plop seem much heavier. Similarly, the sounds p,t,k,ch, j, a,u,o seem harder and more masculine than do l,m,n, ng, sh,s, i,e. The sounds v,f,z,s are generally associated with speed more than sounds such as p,t,b,d,l, and m. Some experts feel that the letters q,x,z,f, and u tend to evoke negative feelings. Of course Fudruckers and Compaq have used the sounds to their advantage. On the positive side, the letters a,b,s,t and m are reported to evoke very positive feelings. Being aware of such subtleties may help you narrow your choices.
6.

What associations should the name evoke?
Would "Bud Light" be as appealing if it were "Tiffany Light?" "Bud" evokes masculine associations and "Tiffany" evokes feminine ones. Notice that the difference is communicated as much by the sounds of the words as by the meanings. The sounds in "Bud" seem heavier than ones in "Tiffany." A recent fat substitute was given the name "olean," negating any notion of fat. Consider the positive associations with a name such as "Sunkist Oranges." Some names like Ajax or Mercury evoke powerful images from mythology. Others like Castmaster or Power Bait clearly appeal to the sport of fishing. The associations that your name evokes are extremely important and should appeal to the specific consumer you have in mind.
7.

What are the foreign language implications of the name?
Without checking foreign language associations of the word, someone at GM chose "Nova," for a Chevrolet model, probably hoping to evoke a star-like association. Only later did they realize that In Spanish, "no- va" means "it doesn't go." The incident has been a lesson for all who would name products for global consumption. Successful names with good foreign language meanings include "Nike," referring to the Greek goddess of victory, and "Taurus," meaning "bull," the second sign of the zodiac. Before settling on a name, be sure to check its possible meanings and associations in foreign languages. Foreign language dictionaries will help but will not suffice. Generally they will not contain profanity. Be safe by checking with native speakers.
8.

How will I test the name?
As you narrow your name choices, involve only persons from the group who will be the consumers. Ask them what they think of when they hear the word you have chosen. You may also tell them what you think the name of your product or service, but don't dwell on it. Contact them on the following day and ask them what the name was. If several remember it, you probably have a good name. If virtually no one does, it's back to the drawing board. Other techniques include surveying consumers with a list of possible names for them to rank, interviewing consumers in the market place, and placing lists on bulletin boards and requesting responses. Also test your names for political incorrectness, negative associations, questionable meanings in foreign languages, and other connotations or associations that may render a name unwise. Remember, the name must be unique, distinctive, and memorable. And, before you use it be sure that the name will be free from legal problems.
9.

How will the name appear in directories?
If you anticipate that much of your business will come from listings in the Yellow Pages, the Internet, or other directories, it will be to your advantage to have a business name that will be listed close to the start of the alphabet, because these lists appear in alphabetical order. Of course, highlighting, adding pictures, and using other attention-getting devices can help, but their effectiveness seems to be less when placed near the end of a list.
10.

Can I trademark the name?
You will probably experience some frustration when you find that your favorite name is not legally available. Be sure you have three or four alternatives when you start your search from trademark availability. Initially, you may want to check trade journals, and directories such as the Yellow Pages to be sure your name is not being used. Most university libraries offer searching services so you can determine whether your name is already listed as a trademark. This initial search may save you time and money before you engage legal counsel. Be sure to check various similar or optional spellings for your name, because it can be denied if it is too similar to another established trademark. Large libraries will generally have books that deal with state and federal trademark laws. Trademark law can be complicated so you must get good advice on how to proceed.

10 Easy Steps for Increasing Visibility Online.

2007-05-05T20:17:00.000-07:00

Here's a 10-step plan to improve site visibility and increase search-friendliness. The first five steps address parts of your website's HTML code, while the final five are more abstract. Together, they add up to a "must do" SEO list.

SEO Gone Wild – microsaw.com1. Title tag ()

* This is most important of all. If you have the title tag set up right, and it's a unique enough phrase, you could rank on page one for this alone.
* Write your keywords early in the title, and place your company name last--unless you are Coca-Cola, or have a huge brand.

2. Meta tags

* Description--. Place your page content description between the blank quotes with a call to action statement like, "Sign up here," or "Call us at 800 XXX-XXXX."
* Keywords--. Place keywords between the quotation marks after "content," separated by commas. Google ignores this, but it appears that other search engines still review it.

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3. Header tags

* H1--This HTML tag should contain your core keywords, one per page.
* H2--This HTML tag should contain derivatives of the keywords.

4. Body

* Content--Use content that matches the keywords on your site. You should ideally have 400 to 800 words on a page.
* Bolding--Include bolded keywords that match your topic/theme on the page.
* Create a blog--Wordpressis an amazing blog that is free and can easily be optimized via plug-ins. Then, write entries twice a week.

5. Linking

* Use links and anchor text to create popularity and reputation around keywords (example: don't link to just "click here," but create a better link like, "download the digital camera white paper").
* Internal links (link to other pages on your site)
* Outbound links (you link to another authority site on your topic)
* Reciprocal links (join link exchanges and contact partners to exchange links)
* One-way links (when other sites link to your blog, press releases or articles) are typically more effective than outbound and reciprocal ones.
* For some internal links, use "rel=nofollow" in the code to avoid losing PageRank to less important pages like "about us," "contact us" and "privacy policy."

6. Domains

* If starting a new site, try to get an established URL (purchase it if you have to).
* Use keywords in an easy-to-remember domain. Google recognizes domains that have been around and establishes credibility; you can avoid the Google Sandbox (where you don't show up in the index for months, potentially).

7. Users first, then search engine

* Make sure your sites have valuable and readable content. If you've optimized for search engines only and no users stick around your website, you haven't been successful.
* Navigation, directory structures and file names should be well defined. An easy way to solve this is to use breadcrumb navigation and linked navigation, not flash or JavaScript or image-based links. Develop a flat directory structure (no more than three levels deep) and name your keywords in the file name (ex: content-management-system.htm)

8. Keyword research

* Keyword development is one of the first places to start. Two to three keywords per page is possible. Combined with the items listed in the first five steps above, you will have a high success score.
* Use tools like Yahoo! Search Marketing/Overture, Google's Keyword Tool and SEOBook keywords tool.
* Try to shoot for keywords that have higher search counts; over 20,000 searches for your keyword are good, but it all depends on your industry.

9. Competition

* Find out what the competition is doing. Type in your search term into a search engine and locate three to five of the top results. Look at these sites and see what they are doing in the HTML (on-page) and linking (off-page) areas. I'll discuss this more in a future article.
* To find out how many sites are linking to your competition, type "link:http://www.competitorname.com" into Google. Do the same in Yahoo!, and you'll see a higher count because Yahoo! is more all-inclusive.

10. Be cool.

* Don't let this business get to you; it's frustrating at times. SEO is a long-term commitment. Some weeks are great, others are not.
* It's a serious investment of time, sweat and staying the course. The best success factors I've seen: Approach content and website design in a natural way; be ethical (don't spam); and keep it real--it's a business, and nothing comes for free.

Don't forget that search/internet marketing is multi-faceted. Traditional Marketing 101 teachers would say to build a comprehensive plan for marketing. Don't just work the online factors, but create a sound strategy around offline marketing, using ideas like postcards, trade magazines ads, phone/sales work, word of mouth and additional tactics that can help create a "buzz" around your products and services. Search engine optimization applied correctly will create better visibility online, but it's just one part of your overall marketing strategy.

How to Angel Investors to fund your startup.

2007-05-05T18:48:00.000-07:00

Angel Investors.

These individual VC investors seem like they're from heaven, but be prepared to give up a chunk of your company for funding.

Definition or Explanation: Working with angel investors means acquiring venture capital from individual investors. These individuals look for companies that exhibit high-growth prospects, have a synergy with their own business or compete in an industry in which they have succeeded.

Appropriate For: Early-stage companies with no revenues or established companies with sales and earnings. Companies seeking equity capital from angel investors must welcome the outside ownership and perhaps be willing to relinquish some control. To successfully accommodate angel investors, a company must also be able to provide an "exit" to these investors in the form of an eventual public offering or buyout from a larger firm.

Supply: The supply of angel investors is large within a 150-mile radius of metropolitan areas. The more technology driven an area's economy, the more abundant these investors are.

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Best Use: Runs the gamut, from companies developing a product to those with an established product or service for which they need additional funding to execute a marketing program. Also, angel investors are appropriate for companies that have increasing product or service sales and need additional capital to bridge the gap between the sale and the receipt of funds from the customer.

Cost: Expensive. Capital from angel investors is likely to cost no less than 10 percent of a company's equity and, for early-stage companies, perhaps more than 50 percent. In addition, many angel investors charge a management fee in the form of a monthly retainer.

Ease of Acquisition: Angels are easy to find but sometimes difficult to negotiate with because they usually do not invest in concert and may demand different terms.

Range of Funds Typically Available: $300,000 to $5 million.

First Steps
Angel investors are at once difficult and easy to find. The situation is analogous to searching for gold. Generally, it's difficult to find, but once you hit a vein...all your hard work pays off in a big way. Here are the places angels might be hiding:

* Universities: According to Bob Tosterud, Freeman Chair for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of South Dakota, angel investors tend to hover near university programs because of the high level of new business activity they generate. He advises that if you are looking for money, call the nearest university that has an entrepreneurship program, and make an appointment to speak with the person who runs it. Generally, he says, such people can point you in the direction of angels.
* Business incubators: According to the National Business Incubation Association (NBIA), there are about 1,000 business incubators in North America. At first blush, incubators appear to be the mere bricks and mortar facilities that offer entrepreneurs reasonable rents, access to shared services, exposure to professional assistance and an atmosphere of entrepreneurial energy. But according to NBIA president and CEO Dinah Adkins, many business incubators offer formal or informal access to angel investors.
* Venture capital clubs: The tremendous wealth created through the commercialization of technology, as well as the robust stock market of the 1990s, have resulted in a large number of angel investors who have begun to formalize their activities into groups or clubs. These clubs actively look for deals to invest in and their members want to hear from entrepreneurs looking for capital.
* Angel confederacies: Some angels, shunning the formality of a venture capital club, band together in informal groups that share information and deals. Members of the group often invest independently or join together to fund a company. So-called confederacies are not easy to find, but once you locate one member, you gain access to them all, a number that could top 50 investors.

Here are 10 action steps you can take to find angel investors in your area:
1. Call your chamber of commerce and ask if it hosts a venture capital group. Many such groups have a chamber affiliation.

2. Call a Small Business Development Centernear you and ask the executive director if he or she knows of any angel investor groups. Ask the SBA if you don't know where an SBDC is.

3. Ask your accountant. If your accountant doesn't know, call a Big Four Accounting Firm and ask for the partner who handles entrepreneurial services. Ask him or her to point you in the right direction.

4. Ask your attorney. Lawyers always know who has money.

5. Call a professional venture capitalist and ask if he or she is aware of an angel investor group.

6. Contact a regional or state economic development agency and ask if anyone there knows of an angel investor group.

7. Call the editor of a local business publication and ask if he or she knows of any groups. These professionals often write about such activity.

8. Look at the "Principle Shareholders" section of initial public offerings (IPO) prospectuses for companies in your area. This will tell you who has cashed out big.

9. Call the executive director of a trade association you belong to. Ask if there are any investors who specialize in your industry.

10. Ask your banker. If you do business at a small bank, ask the president of the institution. If yours is a larger commercial bank, ask your lender. If you do not have a lender, ask for a lender who works with loans of $1 million or less. A good small-business banker knows of such groups because companies that have received an equity investment are good candidates for a loan.

10 Lies VCs Know You're Telling

2007-05-05T17:54:00.000-07:00

10 Lies VCs Know You're Telling.

1. “Our projections are conservative.” An entrepreneur’s projections are never conservative. If they were, they would be $0. I have never seen an entrepreneur achieve even their most conservative projections. As a rule of thumb, when I see a projection, I add one year to delivery time and multiply by 0.1.

2. “(Big-name research firm) says our market will be $50 billion in 2010.” Even if the product is bar mitzvah planning software, every entrepreneur claims the market potential is tens of billions. Do yourself a favor: Remove any reference to market size estimates.

3. “(Big-name company) is going to sign our purchase order next week.” Only play this card after the purchase order is signed, because no investor will fall for this one.

4. “Key employees are set to join us as soon as we get funded.” When a venture capitalist calls these key employees, he usually gets the following response: “I recall meeting him, but I certainly didn’t say I would leave my $250,000-a-year job to join his company.” If key employees are ready to rock ’n’ roll, have them call the venture capitalist and confirm it.

5. “No one else is doing what we’re doing.” Well, either there’s no market for it, or you’re so clueless that you can’t use Google to figure out you have competition. Neither a lack of a market nor cluelessness is conducive to securing an investment.

6. “No one else can do what we’re doing.” The only thing worse than cluelessness and the lack of a market is arrogance.

7. “Hurry, because several other vc firms are interested.” There are maybe 100 entrepreneurs in the world who can make this claim. The fact that you’re reading this article means you’re not one of them.

8. “Oracle is too big/dumb/slow to be a threat to us.” There’s a reason Larry Ellison is where he is, and it’s not that he’s big, dumb and slow. Entrepreneurs who utter this lie look naive at best, stupid at worst.

9. “We have a proven management team.” If you were that proven, you wouldn’t be asking for money. A better strategy: State that you have relevant experience, you’ll do whatever it takes to succeed, you’ll surround yourself with proven advisors and you’ll step aside whenever it becomes necessary.

10. “All we have to do is get 1 percent of the market.” First, no venture capitalist is interested in a company that wants just 1 percent of a market. Second, it’s not easy to get even 1 percent, so you look silly pretending it is. Instead, show an appreciation of the difficulty of building a successful company.

“Empower entrepreneurs” is Guy Kawasaki’s mantra. He is former chief evangelist for Apple Inc., co-founder of VC firm Garage Technology Ventures and author of eight books--most recently,The Art of the Start. Visit his blog athttp://blog.guykawasaki.com.

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