How Do I Invest In Penny Stocks?

Penny stock investing is undoubtedly a intricate course of action and truth be told there are a number of methods, however, if carried out effectively it could provide the chance to be relatively rewarding for those men and women who have the capacity to understand the perception of penny stocks trading. Trading in this manner is trendy mainly because you don't require a lot of resources to buy them not to mention potential profit may be considerable. It is certainly an exciting and extremely worthwhile strategy to generate additional income from your home or perhaps on a part-time structure and is an easy method to master stock market buying and selling.

Small cap stocks are likely to be modest and fairly recently created companies and therefore are considered easier to invest in compared to a great many other kinds of stock. These products are extremely affordable to purchase and they've a small chance of delivering an extremely greater return on your investment decision. Buying and selling a penny stock over the Internet doesn't contain time period limitation moreover, because this marketplace is accessible twenty-four hours a day every day and each day of the entire year.

Smart penny stock trading implies scrutinizing small cap stocks to discover those that happen to be underrated, and also cost to revenue percentage can assist with this. With cheap stock investing it's necessary to get an effective stock broker, however because of the fact penny stock trading entails an extremely small initial monetary outlay, a few stockbrokers break the rules and charge a lot more with regards to their mark-up commission payment charges. This may eliminate the appeal of penny stock dealing, which happens to be that it merely calls for low-cost entry.

Penny share trading could be a very monetarily rewarding venture when you're furnished with the appropriate information from the correct references. But whenever getting into buying and selling of these shares you'll need to be conscious with belief in the business that's providing them. With respect to buying and selling preferred small cap stocks, web based stock purchase trading is considered as the most effective and successful technique conceivable. Nevertheless, cheap stock investing isn't as simple as employing a pin to select from a listing of very cheap stocks and shares and purchasing that share and generating revenue. Superior success in penny stock dealing is usually determined by choosing the best-suited share at the perfect time. If the share selection isn't perfect then you could create a vulnerable circumstance. Keeping track of small cap stocks and shares is unquestionably difficult and you ought to recognize this should you wish to be a keen share investor. Everyone will discover dangers related to dealing penny stocks, just like trading in almost every other stock trading game.

One explanation why cheap stock trading is undoubtedly a risky investment decision is simply because it's relatively tough to obtain the appropriate information about these more compact companies, however with adequate analysis they could provide men and women a chance to learn how to deal stocks with negligible downsides.

Small cap stocks trading can be rather a profitable, along with pleasant approach to make investments and it is actually feasible to achieve your objectives in trading providing you control it as an intelligent pursuit to overcome the potential for loss. Even so, when you are just trading pennies, you have to keep in mind there's always a tremendous chance of losing a great deal of money, when trading in these shares.


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Tips On Binaries And Spread Betting

Should you be partaking in spread trading or margined trading investments and trading, you most likely are very alert to the risks and the reward odds and therefore choose to hedge your risk to the highest level possible. Financial spread betting can give significant profits in a limited period of time in addition to can also cause you to incur losing trades. After all, it merely requires some not so great for the stock market to suddenly crash and if you are going long that particular day, you can lose substantially.

Here comes into play binary betting that is but another product offering by brokers where the traders have to place bets on either a yes or no possibility to a scenario, accordingly given the terminology of a binary. There can be only a concrete outcome that is positive or negative. In this traders and investors can play the market knowing about what they might stand to gain or lose and therefore to that extent, they are making informed decisions on their trades. This is a kind of risk management technique which every investor, especially those whom partake in financial spread betting must be fully aware of and should use.

So what are the aspects of binary betting that they should be aware of?

- The broker allows their traders the opportunity to use of their online investment account for the purpose of binary betting.

- Binary betting lets the trader know precisely what they can stand to gain or lose and is thus very similar to the sports bets placed on match outcomes.

- Binaries also permit bets to be held for lengthier time frames to the date of expiry, although in actual practice is not often used by investors, the contracts are often closed prior to the actual expiry.

- You can place both buy and sell betting choices on binaries.

- They are part of fixed betting odds and the financial spread betting broker would give the odds.

- Financial spread betting is regulated trading activity under the FSA whereas binary betting is not.

- Binary bets can be placed on different asset classes such as stocks and bonds, commodities, currencies, indices etc.

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The Stock Market Is Going Postal

Neither snow nor sleet nor fire in Cairo can keep this stock market from delivering, just like our beloved Post Office. Another way to look at it is that this rally is so out of control, it's going postal!

Anyway you see it, stocks keep rising and the market has been essentially "melting up". Recent good, or at least not terrible, news is largely responsible. With earnings season coming to a close, over 75% of the earnings and sales reports for the fourth quarter were positive surprises. Add that to the fact that Europe's sovereign debt problems have quieted (temporarily), and even the massive protests in Egypt failed to derail this market for more than a day. This stock market is certainly postal.

Sure, the economy is improving ever so slightly, but my two major concerns still exist: Employment is not picking up and corporations continue to hoard cash, rather than invest it in expanded production, which would employ more people and make more products. These two issues tell me that the current bull market rally is completely government stimulus induced.

Corporations are on the front lines, and if they saw even a hint of an increase in aggregate demand, they would be rushing to increase supply. That would put people to work and create an upward spiral of an improving economy. Unfortunately they don't. They know that the consumer has no more buying power left, and what demand we are seeing is from quantitative easing. Once they pull the plug, the bubble will burst.I discuss this in depth in my recent Fox interview.

On the good side, Ben Bernanke and the Federal Reserve are aware of this, and will not only continue with QE2, but likely embark on QE3 sometime soon. They know that this economy cannot stand on its own. As long as interest rates stay low, easing makes sense. As long as you can borrow at rates below the growth you create, it's all good. Although GDP is still pretty anemic compared to past recoveries, and the 3-4% growth we "hope" to see is still better than negative growth and deflation. Naturally however these debts, as all debts, must be paid back, and at some point rates will rise because bond holders will demand a higher premium for the risk they're taking. When that happens our giant government-run Ponzi Scheme will come tumbling down, and that popping sound will be the stock market bubble bursting.

For the time being, I continue to be a fan of QE2 and there are 6 ways to play it. We are coming off the lost decade for stocks, yet money was to be made during this period, as well as during the last lost decade of the 1970′s. During the 1970′s, the market had two powerful bull moves, both +73%. During the 'lost decade of the last 10 years, the S&P 500 had two bull market moves of +102% and in 2009 of +65. The lesson here is that investors can still make money if they are "tactical" and avoid buy-and-hold (buy-and-hope) death marches. Our TDT™ Protected Dividend Strategy is tailor made for this very market.

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Best Practices In Negotiation: Get That Pay Raise Today!

In "Best Practices In Negotiation," the class I teach at U.C. Berkeley and UCLA Extension, as well as at international venues for various organizations, we address salary negotiation among other topics.

Inevitably, managers want more performance, and associates want more more pay. Typically, the deal they strike is framed this way:

Manager:"Let's revisit this discussion about a raise in three months, and in that time, if you show me results, then I'll support your request."

In legal terminology, this is an agreement "Subject to a condition precedent."

Something has to happen BEFORE the duty of the manager matures, to support the raise in pay.

If better performance doesn't occur, or more aptly, if a more favorable perception about the performance doesn't occur, then the duty of the boss never ripens.

Most people in the subordinate's position instantly accede to this deal.

You shouldn't, because it's only one way to reach the raise, and by far, it isn't the fastest. Plus, and this is crucial, the 90-day "waiting period" presumes that today's achievement is not sufficient to warrant the better pay.

There is a better way is to make the same basic agreement, but instead of it being subject to a condition precedent, you'll want it to be subject to a condition subsequent.

Subordinate:"I appreciate your offer, however I believe I have already enhanced my performance, meriting an acknowledgment. I suggest the raise be issued without delay, and if my performance isn't sustained at the highest level, then in 90 days, my pay can be cut back to its present amount; fair enough?"

You may get the raise. After all, you've already made these points, explicitly or implicitly: (1) My past performance justifies the raise; (2) Issuance of the raise is inevitable in 90 days; (3) Therefore, you are only giving me the benefit of receiving it, starting today. (4) Plus, I believe so strongly in the merit of my performance, and fairness of my request, that I'm putting myself on the line, willing to risk humiliation if you revoke the raise in 90 days.

If you don't get the immediate raise, the gap in your positions should lead to a very interesting and meaningful discussion as to what, specifically, constitutes performance, and what the baseline is for measuring it, and specifically, what's the goal line you need to cross to get your money.

As always, be aware of your BATNA, as it is called, the best alternative to a negotiated agreement. Are you ready to find another job within or outside of your firm? It's a good idea to get your feelers out there, and to benchmark what others are earning for contributions similar to yours.

Please reread this article. There are new strategies in it that you're unlikely to find elsewhere. "Best Practices In Negotiation" don't have to be old, frequently used, or popularly known.

Indeed, some of the very "Best of the Best Practices In Negotiation" are unheard of, and that's one reason they're so effective.

They fly under your counterpart's radar!

Dr. Gary S. Goodman has helped countless people to grow rich, based on his original ideas, techniques, and advice.


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Negotiation Training - Improving a Common Activity

People negotiate every day. Whether it is a banker over the terms of a loan, a computer sales person about the delivery time, an advertisement buyer over the Cost Per Thousand, or a government official about the compliance of specific regulations. It is a common and essential activity that cannot be avoided.

While many believe great negotiators are born as such, there is significant evidence that training can drastically improve one's abilities. It is also commonly believed that successful negotiators are good talkers, when in fact, it is just the opposite, successful negotiators are good listeners.

Negotiation training should involve a significant focus on preparation. Preparation is the only aspect of a negotiation which one can completely control. Proper preparation includes understanding both side's precedents, alternatives, interests, and deadlines before sitting at the "negotiation table." Negotiation training should also include probing and listening. Asking the right questions and actively listening are critical factors in understanding the other side's interests and what they really want. Finally, all negotiation training should discuss the art of proposing. This portion of the negotiation process is only as good as the previous two, preparation and probing, but it receives most of the attention. Against common belief, one should allow the other side to make the first offer, and always aim high when eventually forced to make a proposal.

Negotiation training can use different instructional methods to cover the skills above. Live front-of-the-room negotiation training is the most common method. It allows an instructor to lead a classroom setting through the material, giving participants the ability to instantly ask questions to, and receive feedback from, the instructor. This method also facilitates interaction amongst participants. This method often involves the most cost as it requires classroom space, an uninterrupted block of time, and potentially, travel costs.

As a result of technology's dramatic improvements, negotiation training can also be conducted online. Within this medium, there are several sub-methods. The first is internet-based asynchronous training done through platforms that allow users to navigate through a course on their own time. The information is very easy to access - this method is by far the most convenient. The second is through live internet-based platforms that require an instructor to lead the negotiation training, but in using simple quasi-interactive technology. The third and final sub-method is to use 3D virtual platforms that allow participants to use computer generated characters known as avatars. Using this method, the live front-of-the-room can almost fully be recreated. Avatars can attend the negotiation training, participate in group exercises, and collaborate with one another.


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How Do You Prepare for a Negotiation?

The most important and most often overlooked aspect of negotiations preparation. Effective negotiators begin their work with extensive and detailed planning. The carefully think of their own position and that of their opponent. Then they do any necessary research. Of course, they always say if only one had enough time to prepare. There is never enough time to prepare. Often panic arises. When it does, it is important to differentiate between important than the trivial. There are several steps which you can take which will help allay the panic and minimise the problem. The technique of understanding the problem is used by many problems all as to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Break the major problem into smaller segments concentrate on each segment sequentially rather than try to take it head on.

The first step in preparing to negotiate is to determine the subject matter. What precisely are you negotiating about? Perhaps you should write a question on a sheet of paper. Spend some time reflecting on while you are doing and it is important not to waste time preparing the wrong subject matter, ignore information from sources other than traditional ones, make assumptions about what you hope the other side wants or rely on information game second hand through an organisational grapevine. You need to analyse issues, then go to the appropriate experts in your organisation. Our salmon open-ended questions such as what are the important elements to keep in mind when discussing something. You need to then decide what they can contribute your knowledge of the subject and talk to someone who knows what happened the previous negotiations.


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What Is the Subordinating and Collaborative Style of Negotiation?

In contrast to other styles of negotiation? The subordinative style is characterised by regular capitulation to the other side. People adopting this style will offer concessions which are inappropriate which have not been asked for. We'll throw themselves on the mercy of their opponents, hoping that a sense of fair play will prevail, and they will come away from negotiation having lost, but with a sense of well-being and martyrdom. You can expect little game, either personally or for the negotiation from this style. You need to find a way of balancing out this pattern of behaviour if this is your natural inclination. You need to adjust your style of negotiation to ensure that you can get the most effective outcome for your clients.

A much more preferable style of negotiation is a collaborative style which exploits the strengths and weaknesses of both you and your opponent. The goal is agreement on both parties are willing to make concessions and achieve that goal. The trust each other and feel able to change their positions easily. They make offers are open about the limits of the matter is being negotiated and try to avoid a contest of wills. In a typical collaborative negotiation the parties focus on the problem, ignore the personalities and often surprised at the ease with which a solution is found. The benefits of adopting a collaborative approach include better coordination team efforts and more equitable distribution of risk and workload. Most people are able to contribute regardless of their position and consequently the participants listened more actively and understand each other's positions. This is why it is far more preferable to have a collaborative style of negotiation, even above a competitive one.


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The Six Vital Skills Needed When Negotiating

In your everyday life, you may find that your negotiating skills are frequently being used and called upon. In order for you to do this effectively, you'll need to have these six skills under your belt. These negotiating methods will help you to better understand the process more in depth, with hopes that whenever you decide to use these negotiating techniques, whether you're negotiating your salary for a new job offer or requesting a pay raise from your current employer, you'll get what you want.

Here are the six vital skills needed when negotiating:

1. Preparation. Preparation is the foundation to negotiating successfully. Keep in mind that, you could never be too overly prepared. When you undertake any negotiation, you'll need to give special attention to these three areas: yourself, the other person, and the market.

To prepare for yourself means, knowing who you are and what you want out of life. And to do this, you'll have to spend some time reflecting and planning. Once you have a clear plan and understanding of the direction you want to take, this will help to build up your confidence as you go into your negotiation. And because you've taken the time to examine what you want, it's now time to go forward and learn about the other person involved in the negotiating process.

Because there is usually someone else involved when negotiating, you'll have to do your homework and research what the other person is all about. Once you become familiar with the other person you're speaking with during the negotiations, you'll have the sense of comfort and ease as you begin negotiating.

The final part of your preparation stage is knowing the market. It's extremely important that you are aware of and have some good background information on your market.

2. Set limitations and goals. Set your goals by writing down what you want to achieve from the negotiation. Then, once you have your goals put in place, it's now time to put limitations on them. Putting limitations on your goals simply means asking yourself, at what point am I willing to walk away from the deal and close it somewhere else?

3. Listen. Learning to listen is one of the most important skills to have during your negotiations. Because the act of listening attentively will give you the opportunity to hear and receive some valuable information you need to make the right decisions when negotiating.

4. Communicate clearly. To communicate clearly, you'll have to make sure that your body language, tone of voice, actions, and words all say the same thing and send the identical message. Here, it's imperative that your actions and words line up with one another.

5. Take a break and pause for a moment. At any time, if you ever feel as though the negotiations are heating up, and you're emotions are running high, it's at this instant, you could take a break and pause for a moment. This moment of silence will probably help stop you from saying something you really did not mean during your negotiations.

6. Close the deal. Closing the deal is the end of the negotiating process, and it is where everything should come to a halt. It's also where the two sides come together in mutual agreement.

So, the next time you have to go through your own negotiation process, keep these six vital skills needed when negotiating in mind.


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Best Practices In Negotiation: Barter!

When most of us think about negotiating, we're presuming that money will be involved in the transaction.

For instance, if you want to buy a house, you'll fork over some cash, and not get away with asking, "Would you accept one red paperclip for it?"

Yet, this is exactly what a fellow did, not in one step but a sequence. He bartered a single, red paperclip for a house!

Kyle MacDonald is a Canadian blogger who pulled this off, and you can read all about his exploits at Wikipedia by searching "one red paperclip" or his name.

It's a fascinating story, but my purpose here is to use it to illustrate a much larger principle. Bartering is a Best Practice In Negotiation, one that is not used often enough.

Who barters, and why?

My Dad was a radio station executive and he also produced a little TV. Typically, the companies he worked with arranged what he called, "Trade-outs."

They would trade unsold radio and TV commercial time for whatever they could use, for which otherwise they'd have to fork over cash. My Dad drove a hot black-on-black Mustang GT that was part of one of those exchanges.

Early in my consulting practice, I was engaged by a cell phone company. The contract I negotiated provided cash, two cell phones, and thousands of dollars worth of air time.

They "owned" the air time, had an excess capacity of it, just as the radio and TV stations had too much time on their hands, literally.

Trade-outs with airlines, hotels, and cruise lines are especially attractive-to them-for the same reason. Unsold seats and accommodations are a total loss.

You cannot sell yesterday's unsold airline seat. If unoccupied, it was a 100% revenue loss.

So, carriers and others that have "perishable" inventory have a keen interest in getting SOMETHING in exchange for what they are unlikely to sell for cash.

True, you might have to stand-by to enjoy some of your bartered tickets, unless you bargain for "positive space," but it is an inconvenience worth the bother. If you don't get on the 2 o'clock flight, you'll probably get on the 5 o'clock.

I prefer "Half-cash, Half-trade"deals, where I'm earning at least some cash money along with perks. From the cash portion, I retire my direct costs and make at least a slight profit.

The bartered bit provides a sweetener, an enhancement.

Sometimes, using the lure of a partial trade-out, you can close deals that you would miss, otherwise. Plus, if you don't want to cut your prices, by using a partial trade you can effectively deliver your goods and services "for less," without earning less.

There are various ratios that you can establish, which are themselves subject to negotiation. For instance I traded some seats in a seminar I was conducting to an airline company that gave me a five-to-one payback on the retail value of the seats.

For $1,500 worth of tuition, I received $7,500 worth of positive-space airline tickets.

A good deal for everyone! For those that advocate striking win + win bargains, I can think of no other type that does it as well as bartering, again, making this a "Best Practice In Negotiation."

Dr. Gary S. Goodman has helped countless people to grow rich, based on his original ideas, techniques, and advice.

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Negotiation Tactics - How to Cut Off Your Competition With Shut-Down Moves

If you are facing negotiations with a lot of same-side-of-the-table competition, like it happens usually in auctions, you will need to find effective ways to cut off your competition. One of tactics that is available for you is the shut-down move.

A shut-down move is a negotiation strategy that prematurely cuts off the competition on your side of the table. The goal is to effectively shut down the negotiation and thereby avoid competition.

How do you exercise a shut-down move? All you have to do is submit an offer under a condition that, in fact, eliminates competition. For example you could set a timeframe for acceptance of your offer. That way, the other party is forced to decide on the spot and has no time for shopping around.

Another option would be to agree on negotiating under the condition that for a certain time frame you have exclusivity. That would eliminate competition at least for a certain period of time which gives you a significant advantage, especially if the other party has to conclude the contract as soon as possible.

The important thing is to make an offer under any condition that eliminates or at least reduces the competition on your side of the table.

However, there are several factors that are important for a shut-down move to be effective:

Your offer must be properly timed; you´ll have to make your offer when it is still the best option for the other party and the other party is in doubt whether there will be a better option in the future. Because if the other party has reason to believe that it will receive a better offer, it will simply reject your offer.

Furthermore, a shut-down move must be coupled with a credible threat that worsens the situation of the other party in case they reject your offer. If the threat is not credible, then, once again, the other party will simply reject your offer.

Executed correctly, the shut-down move can be a powerful weapon against your competition that can help you close a favorable deal successfully.


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When Negotiating, Compromise To Win

During a negotiation, there'll be times when you'll be required to compromise. The way you compromise, signals the importance of some terms of the negotiation versus others. Thus, it will behoove you to be coy at times when compromising in a negotiation.

How then should you compromise in a negotiation and what strategies should you employ? The following are seven thoughts to contemplate in your negotiations, when dealing with compromise.

1. Most negotiators state, you should never compromise too quickly in a negotiation. In general, that's good advice. The way you compromise should be dependent on the situation and on what it is you're negotiating. If you whimsically cast off an item as not being important, you can concede it haphazardly. If on the other hand, you wish to convey importance of an item, hang on to it like life itself. Be dogmatic about compromising it and exact a high price in return for your acquiescence.

2. Consider using an implied compromise as a stalling tactic. This can give you more time to prepare and/or implement another strategy (ex. I think I can accommodate you, but I have to get the OK from my boss.).

3. Whenever you compromise, consider getting something, as the result of giving something.

4. You can also utilize the compromising process as a decoy. You'd employ such a tactic by giving value to a covenant of the negotiation that really doesn't possess the degree of value proclaimed. In so doing, you can divert attention away from a covenant that possesses more value.

5. By compromising easily, you can give the appearance that you're an easy person to negotiate with, which could cause the other negotiator to drop her guard.

6. Always ask yourself the question, is it worth it to negotiate if a loss is eminent? If there's a future strategic position that can be gained, consider how you will utilize compromises to attain that position. After all, a loss can be a win, if you continue with the negotiation. Just be mindful of minimizing your loss.

7. By being known for the way you compromise, you create an image of who you are. When negotiating over a period of time, such an image can be beneficial to you.

Sometimes, there'll be situations that you know you can't win, and yet it will behoove you to negotiate. So, why should you fight when you know the chances of winning are slim? You should consider doing so to position yourself for future negotiations, or the next phase of the negotiation. Since compromise occurs in all aspects of life, by knowing how, when, and the right environment to compromise, you can enhance your negotiation outcomes... and everything will be right with the world. Remember, you're always negotiating.

The Negotiation Tips Are...

• Always seek to compromise where and when appropriate to enhance your position.

• Strive to get something in return for a concession. When compromising, if all you get is a chit, it can become something of value that you can use in the negotiation.

• In your negotiations, have items ready to use that have no importance to you, for the purpose of compromise.


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Bartering Led to Networking

Before DVD's came into the market there were these CDs called Laserdiscs (size of an record album) that you could watch movies on. Quality was amazing. You could watch it in Letterbox or full screen. Back then letterbox was something new and many Laserdiscs collectors really liked that. Reminded everyone of watching at the theatre and enjoying the clearer picture style.

At that time had started buy a few LD's and had started building a collection. As time passed there were some that I didn't watch that much so I put an ad in the local paper to trade some of my ld's. Within a week began to get phone calls and started to trading my LDs.

There were so many types of people I met a doctor who had a huge collection! To entrepreneurs who did barter and sold some LDs.

Came across a store that was going out a business and was selling all their LDs and at that time he had movies like Lethal Weapon 2, Aliens and Eiger Sanction. My collection quickly grew and it was a cool hobby to have at the time.

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Driving Online Sales Through Offline Marketing - A Lesson From Google

Last week we received a direct mailer in the post from - of all people - Google. It was the third time they'd written to us in the space of six months. The mailer consisted of a glossy and substantial gate-fold with the headline 'Boost your AdWords profits in under an hour a week'. But why send it? Surely if anyone is in a position to profitably shun direct marketing, it would have to be Google, or so you would think. Not only do they dominate the search engines, they actually own the means of dissemination - it doesn't cost them a penny to position their own marketing messages at the top of every Google search on the web. And, besides, why didn't they just send an email? They have our details. Why send a relatively expensive mailer?

Because direct marketing works...

As you would expect, the marketing boffins at Google have done their research - sending their AdWords customers a piece of hard copy information in the post acts as a tangible complement to their online marketing efforts. This is something that people are able to keep, put in their in-trays, read during a coffee break, pass around the office and, most importantly, act upon.

In an increasingly competitive marketplace, more and more web-focused businesses are integrating both digital and direct to communicate with their customers and prospects. For evidence of this shift, just take a moment each day to monitor what turns up in your mail box.

Nor is direct marketing a static discipline. Breakthroughs in data processing and print technology have enabled direct mail to move away from broad-based mass mailings to smaller niche targeted campaigns, with highly personalised content - reflecting in its own way the one-to-one intimacy of the online social and business networks.

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Maximizing the Use of Duffel Bags in Marketing

Ever try using a duffel bag as a marketing giveaway? Anyone who does enough travelling can make use of a couple of duffel bags for their luggage, and anyone you give it away to would probably appreciate the gesture. But there are some things to remember when opting to use these sorts of bags as a marketing giveaway.

Niche and target marketing are two of the most used advertising strategies in the trade. Niche marketing refers to settling into a market niche-a niche is a particular area of the market where demand for something isn't met with enough supply-and taking advantage of the lack of supply therein. Target marketing refers to targeting a specific potential consumer pool based on demographics. So, applying niche and target marketing on using duffel bags as a promotional item, how would that go?

The niche isn't really lacking in supply, but you can make great use of target marketing to get above competition. You see, though a duffel bag is indeed useful, not many people travel a lot. So if you plan on using duffel bags as giveaways, it's best to try and give them to people who actually use them a lot. Not just for the sake of it but because the bag itself is like a moving ad that when used advertises your brand or logo or advocacy. If they aren't used, they can't advertise.

Another way you can make the most out of giving away duffel bags is to take advantage of their sheer size. A duffel bag has a lot of surface area you can print on. This doesn't necessarily mean you should turn every duffel bag you plan to give away into a brochure of sorts sporting your brand's full range of products and services, this simply means make the most out of the advertising space. If you choose your market real nice and you give away the bags to people who use them often, then you got yourself a moving ad that promotes your brand for you everywhere the recipients go. Companies usually pay for advertising space that doesn't even go anywhere, so make the most out of yours.

The thing with a giveaway campaign is that on its own, it's not very effective. Sure, you create awareness for your brand and you make a lot of people remember you, but still, just how effective is it in actually marketing your goods and services? Most of the time the people receiving the giveaways would simply keep them and use them whenever applicable. But beyond that, they wouldn't really be enticed to try what your brand can offer just because of the freebies right?

So it's best to merge a giveaway campaign, be the giveaway duffel bags or something else, into a larger promotional drive and let the former support the latter. For instance, host a marketing event and then give the bags away to the people who attend the event.


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Choosing a Bespoke Exhibition Stand or Standard Display Systems

At an exhibition you may feel a bit overwhelmed by some other competitors stands, some have budgets that you can't begin to consider spending which gives them stands that look great and unique and of course draw people in. Your stand may be smaller but you still can atrract people on and you have a choice as to whether to have a bespoke stand made from scratch or whether to use display systems such as roller banners and pop-ups that you simply need panels or banners printed for to display upon them.

Bespoke stands can look impressive if done well, many people decide to try and save money by having a simple bespoke stand, perhaps even made by themselves with bits and pieces bought from local stores. It may work if someone has a real creative flair but too often they look homemade and unprofessional; as a trade show attendee you can't help but assume they are a new and inexperienced business. The biggest companies use specialist exhibition stand designers and builders who have huge amounts of experience and use professional materials and tools, you may be able to use a local company who will do a smaller stand for you but it can get expensive especially if they need to set it up for you on site. While many display systems are designed to be easy to set up often bespoke exhibition displays are complicated and need to be fitted together by professionals.

Part way between a bespoke exhibition stand and a ready to go exhibition stand based on pop ups or mounted graphics is a modular display system. These include gantry systems which can create a space that stands out a bit more and is ideal of you've booked a space without a shell system, Modular gantry systems do take a bit of setting up and you may need some extra people to come in but they don't need to be experts just hard workers. You could also choose modular panel designs as well, in each case you will need to get panels printed to make it look good and make sure your business name stands out.

If you don't want to have to spend hours setting up and packing down but still want an impressive space then their are a range of display systems designed to go up in minutes. Pop up display do just that with your own graphics on and look professional and impressive, you could try bringing in branded counters as well. Then for those who want something even quicker there are roller banners, roll them out of the base secure them and you have an impressive visual straight away. Mounted Graphics may form part of your exhibition stand if your using a shell scheme but on there own can get lost and fail to stand out.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Cousin

Less Is More: Why And How To Keep Your Trade Show Booth Clean And Tidy During A Convention

Anyone who has operated a trade show exhibit at more than a few conventions knows how tough it is to keep a unit particularly clean, let alone tidy as well. Visitors seem to have a natural talent for causing chaos, tracking in dirt, and leaving a hail of crumpled brochures in their wake. Unfortunately, those same visitors expect to find every trade show booth pristine when they walk in, and every speck of dust detracts from their opinion of your company and their attention to your product. Keeping a clean stand will always create a positive impression of your company; plus, it's a great way to stand out amongst all the other companies with dirty displays.

You might have to work a bit to achieve that distinction and cleanliness. The key to success here is to ensure that your unit is clean, but to never let it appear that you've got staff working to clean it. There are many ways to achieve this, some easier and less expensive than others.

The Basics Of Clean

No matter how you ultimately choose to maintain a clean atmosphere throughout the convention, there are a few basic steps you'll need to take that will help enable those responsible for cleanup. First, ensure that all literature has a clearly defined storage area. There are a number of ways to incorporate storage into your trade show exhibit if you prefer, but you can also easily place containers behind or to the side of your unit to hold what's needed. Literature should always have backup copies, but they shouldn't all be put out at once. By holding some back, you help reduce the mess and clutter overall.

Additionally, there should be an easily accessible, central location for all recycling and trash. Ideally this should be somewhere out of sight for visitors, as they don't want to see the process of cleaning your trade show booth, only the finished product. In addition, they may try to use your receptacles as well if they're in sight!

Option #1: Make A Clean Trade Show Exhibit A Group Effort

This option is the easiest, requiring almost no added effort and no additional financial commitment. Simply instruct your current staff to keep an eye out around the display and pick up anything they find to be making it messy or particularly dirty. You can't get the mud and other small particles that might be tracked in on dirty shoes, but you can do a lot to ensure that the entire area is presentable.

Option #2: Bring In An Additional Trade Show Booth Staff Member

This option will cost a bit more, but could have a bigger payoff in some situations. Here, you simply hire a specific staff member with the intention of having him or her spend most of their time cleaning up and tidying things. They should have a working knowledge of your company and be able to assist with sales during particularly high times, but their focus should be on maintaining a clean, presentable appearance for the trade show exhibit.

Whichever option you choose, having a clean trade show booth will tell clients and visitors that you care and are willing to put in the effort. The slight additional expense in time and money that you'll incur will be more than offset by the impression you'll make on everyone who steps inside your stand.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_A._Harmen

Spa and Massage Therapy Flyers

Success in the spa and massage therapy business is largely driven through word of mouth recommendations from satisfied customers. Unfortunately, the process required to establish a loyal and substantial clientele can take far too long. To increase store traffic and gain referrals more quickly, well designed spa and massage therapy flyers will help promote a business and its services to a multitude of potential customers.

For the cost conscious therapist or business owner, spa and message therapy flyers are the perfect marketing choice. Since they are inexpensive to produce, frequent printing of updated editions will keep the message fresh and timely. A well designed marketing plan that includes aggressive flyer distribution will ensure that the company name and logo remains recognizable to prospective clients.

Flyer Design

There are a number of design elements that should be included in message therapy and spa flyers to attract and hold the recipients attention.

- Use Color instead of Black and White: Although color printing may be marginally more expensive, color flyers are far more eye catching than black and white. Color printing also conveys a sophisticated business image and a sense of legitimacy.

- Include an Attention Grabbing Headline or Photo: An appealing photograph and an interesting headline will draw the readerÂÂÂ’s attention. Always try and place this type of information in the center of the page where it will be the most conspicuous.

- Contact Information: In addition to the business name, location, email address, and phone numbers, always include relevant practitioner license numbers and the company logo. This can also be an area where a short bio of the owner and key employees can be incorporated.

- Highlight Products and Services: Since customers are savvy in Detroit, spa and message therapy flyers should include a detailed list of services, prices and benefits. Unique specialties can be detailed along with descriptions of the parlor and its atmosphere.

- Special Offers and Call to Action: Discount coupons can serve as an excellent incentive to make a phone call or book an appointment. Whatever the mechanism, the flyer should compel the recipient to seek further information about the business or its services.

Flyer Printing

For salon owners in Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Downriver, Flint, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Royal Oak, Troy and Detroit, spa flyers can help to raise visibility and attract new customers to the business.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Canfield

3 Reasons Why Your Dental Marketing FAILS!

When I was a kid, I had a recurring nightmare.

It went like this:

My sixth grade teacher named Mrs. Schemel was walking around the room, handing everyone their graded paper.

And when she got to my desk, she put my paper down. And it contained a big FAT... "F"!

Yep, I was deathly afraid of getting an F!

And as crazy as this sounds, I stayed up many nights hitting the books "a little extra" just so I'd pass with flying colors.

And you want to know what?

This chronic "worry bug" drove me to not only to pass my subjects, but to breeze through them with darn near straight A's.

But then, something happened that changed all of this.

I discovered girls and sports.

Not necessarily in that combination, but nonetheless I was infected by other interests aside from school.

And this led to a problem I've had all my life which is... STAYING FOCUSED!

Does that ever happen to you?

In fact, most people say that keeping focused is their biggest challenge.

And who can blame them?

With so much being bombarded at all of us 24/7, it's no wonder this is such a problem.

Which gets to my point:

You see, there are 3 main reasons your dental marketing campaigns bomb.

And, here are those reasons in no particular order.

1. You didn't get your prospect's attention!

2. You didn't offer your prospect something irresistible!

3. Your marketing is BORING!

And it's this last one, that's the most important.

In fact, if your marketing is boring then you can forget about having your phone ring like a possessed demon.

It won't happen.

And you can't get mad over this. Just think back to the fact that everyone has trouble staying focused.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wesley_Murph

Business Owners: Branding and Your Trade Show Image

February 20-26 is Build a Better Trade Show Image Week. This is a week for small business owners and corporate marketing professionals to get ready for business expos and tradeshows. Trade shows and business expos are a great way to get your business seen. However, if you do no prepare you run the risk of compromising your brand.

1. Review Marketing Materials - now is the time to dust off your marketing materials. Throw away any damaged items. This includes anything bent, wrinkled or faded. Review the content on your business card and brochure. Is it still accurate? Ensure you have your Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn information on your marketing materials. There are various websites that allow you to download icons that are niche specific. You will want to ensure that your marketing materials reinforce your brand. Use the colors from your website and blog for your marketing materials. You will also want to use your professional headshot and/or logo in your materials to continue branding your business. It is a good idea to contact the trade show director and ask how many people are expected to attend so that you do not run out of marketing materials.

2. Plan Your Display - your display can make or break your business. If your display looks tired or outdated attendees will assume your business skills are outdated. Small business owners must have a budget for display items. This includes a table cloth, banner, flat screen monitor or digital picture frame, white board, raffle box or basket and give away items. Your display makes your first impression. This will attract or detract prospective clients and customers from visiting your booth. I recommend placing your display table to the back of your booth area so that people must enter your space to see and learn more about your business. Ask yourself, "Can my display sell my business if I am not in attendance?"

3. Rehearse - Many business owners do not like to be the focus of attention. However, a trade show is not the place to sit behind the table and play with your cell phone. If you are an introvert you will want to practice what you will say to people as they walk past your booth. If you do not know what to do with your hands I suggest you hold a brochure or have lollipops to hand to young children. It is best to make eye contact with the parent first and ask if it is ok to offer the lollipop to the child. This opens up the avenue for you to engage the parent in conversation. I have seen this used and it works. It takes the focus off of you, the business owner, and places the focus on the parent and child. Be prepared to answer questions. Look through your email account to see what questions you are most commonly asked. You may wish to prepare a frequently asked question sheet with your contact information on the bottom to hand to people when they begin asking questions.

When you properly prepare for a trade show or business expo your booth will sell your business. I encourage you to take a few minutes this week to review your marketing materials, plan your display and rehearse what you will say as people approach your booth. These tips will ensure that you have a high return on your investment.

Dream Catcher, Business & Life Coaching is a Veteran Owned Business. Coach Jaynine is a retired United States Marine and former psychotherapist who works with Veterans and those on Active Duty. Jaynine will show you how to increase your visibility while developing your expertise. Whether you are a Veteran Business Owner or still on Active Duty, Coach Jaynine is the coach for you. She will teach you the systems and strategies needed to grow your business, have a successful military career, or transition into civilian life.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jaynine_Howard

Trade Show Facts - Giving Useful Promotional Gifts Will Promote Your Business For Longer

Business owners are always looking for better ways to promote their companies. Trade shows are the perfect venue. After all, there is a captive audience looking to make industry connections and spend money on products and services. Of course, exhibitors have to compete for the audience's attention.

Some exhibitors advocate giving away lighthearted and "gimmicky" items. Their rationale is that everyone else is giving away the same old pens, boring office supplies and unimaginative mouse pads. They feel that wilder is better when it comes to getting customer's attention at trade shows.

Off-the-wall promotional items will certainly catch a customer's eye. They may even be popular with customers who want to take the items home simply for the novelty factor. But after the show, how much interest is there in a product that really serves no purpose?

The fact is, when promotional products solve a problem or serve a function, people keep them. These items are taken to work, placed on desktops or placed carefully within reach in a top desk drawer. These are the things that don't get thrown away or forgotten.

One of the things you will notice at any trade show is the number of visitors carrying logo-imprinted bags. This is because people get tired of walking around with their arms full. Observant exhibitors know this and provide promotional bags to solve this problem for them.

How likely is it that the customer will keep these bags around? They will if they are useful or unique in some way. Oversized bags and comfortable handles are practical and useful. People tote these bags everywhere from school to shopping, displaying a logo for years. Bags might not be trendsetting or humorous, but they certainly are effective.

Throughout the workday we all have to do mundane tasks like opening mail, drawing straight lines, taking measurements and sharpening pencils. We reach for letter openers and rulers several times per day to do these jobs for us. No one wants to throw away a handy gadget or tool from a trade show, especially one that works well.

Providing practical items that solve problems is a sound strategy. Recipients keep these things on their desks for years.

There is a reason why pens, coffee mugs and mouse pads are among the most popular promotional gifts: People love useful items. Pens, mugs and mouse pads are probably the most-used desktop items in any office. It makes sense to put your name on items like these. These high-demand promotional gifts are the least likely to be discarded or forgotten about. Popular styles and colors may change, but useful gifts will always provide lasting value. An item with a short shelf life doesn't provide much value at all.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Toombs

Trade Show Technology That Will Draw in a Crowd

Today, more people are doing business and setting up meetings directly from their phones, so it is no surprise to me that the convenience of this technology is now being used in trade shows to reach out to a larger audience. What could you be doing to draw in a larger crowd and be remembered long after the event is over? The answer is right under your nose. Here are several products that can be used to your advantage at the next event.

iPads
These sleek, lightweight versions of the traditional laptop have been creating quite a buzz from the moment they came on the market. iPads are carried around the convention floor by both exhibitors and attendees to make it easier to load all literature, presentations, and videos instead of carrying stacks of brochures and pamphlets. Qualifying leads is also much simpler because you can input the attendee's information into a form, as well as a few qualifying questions and can send the form directly to the marketing or sales department.

Mobile Apps
There seems to be an endless array of apps you can add to your smart phone, and now there are apps to enhance the success of your trade show displays. Before the event, post when and where your trade show booth will be on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. During the event, let your fans and followers know what's going on at the convention. Use hash tags with the name of the event and keywords to make it easier for tweeters with similar interests to find your posts. Start up conversations with other exhibitors and attendees to increase their chances of stopping by your display system.

Not only are these social media apps a must, but there are some designed specifically for the trade show industry. Here are just a few of those mobile apps:

• Pathable - This mobile app brings sponsors, attendees, and exhibitors together in the palm of your hand. Attendees are able to see what exhibitors are going to be at the event and everyone gets the opportunity to participate in discussions to enhance your trade show experience.

• ChirpE by a2z Mobile - Three different applications are available to enhance your convention experience: ChirpE Mobile, ChirpE Facebook, and ChirpEvite. ChirpE Mobile allows you to check out the trade show floor plan, find out what exhibitors and products will be at the event, and view conference sessions. ChirpE Facebook lets you share exhibitor profiles and reach out to a much larger target market. ChirpEvite is a great way to send out an invitation to those colleagues or customers who aren't members of the existing social networking sites.

• Square - This app is intended for the iPhone and allows you to take credit card payments at the convention and sends the customers a geo-tagged receipt.

Kiosks or Monitors
Inform your trade show exhibit visitors of what your business does by displaying a presentation or video on a monitor attached to your display booth. It will draw in attendees as they are walking by your convention exhibit. Another excellent way to use these trade show accessories is by allowing booth visitors to check their email or browse your website. If you have enough space in your display system, have several kiosks available to use at their convenience. As attendees begin to enter the trade show exhibit, engage them as soon as they enter your display system to let them know you are available for any questions they may have. If you notice someone is using the kiosk to check out your website, approach them and ask if there's something you can help them with. This will definitely draw in a crowd.

Technology is more developed today than it was yesterday, so there will definitely be more products and apps available to make it that much easier to do business outside of the office. A stunning trade show booth will definitely get noticed, but with the use of these tools, you can now engage your target audience both at and outside of the convention.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristin_Hovde

Direct Selling - How to Sell Wholesale Products Painlessly on the Internet

When we think of direct selling, a lot of us come up with mental images of that lady who goes door-to-door peddling Avon, Amway or Mary Kay products. Tupperware parties may also come to mind. This kind of direct selling does not appeal to everyone simply because it takes a lot of time and effort to do. Also, some people are too shy to do such a business that requires interpersonal skills and a lot of face time with customers. There are some people who just do not like the label that comes with being a door-to-door salesperson.

However, it cannot be denied that direct selling is a good way to earn a decent income. Thanks to the Internet, it can now be a viable home-based business that you can do to make money online. All you have to do is to find products to sell and get an e-commerce mini-website set up.

Finding Products to Sell

Finding products to direct sell on the Internet is not at all difficult to do. You can either sell your own products or become a distributor for someone else. If you have a hobby, like making jewelry or soap, you can make a home-based business out of this hobby and sell it online. If you do not have your own products, then you can sell someone else's. You do not even have to maintain your own stock or handle inventory and shipping if you find that too much of a hassle. You can just go into drop shipping.

In drop shipping, you enter a partnership with a manufacturer to sell their products at the price you set. When someone places an order with you, you direct the order to the manufacturer and pay them their wholesale price for the product. The manufacturer processes and ships the order to the buyer while you get to keep the difference between the wholesale price and your retail price as profit.

Setting Up Your E-Commerce Site

Naturally, when you want to make money online with direct selling, you need to have a website where you can host an online catalogue, take orders and provide more information about your products. This can be as simple as setting up your own page on eBay.

But if you want to set up your own website, you can certainly do so. Just make sure that the domain you use is descriptive of your business and the design of your website is not just attractive but also easy to use. More importantly, it should be secure enough to handle sensitive information such as customer emails and credit card numbers.

Direct selling on the Internet is easy, and it does not take as much work as peddling your products door-to-door. Just find products to sell and set up a website, either your own or on eBay and you will have a good home-based business that will help you make money online.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Garety