Category:June 8, 2010
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June 8
4 Questions To Ask Yourself About Your Marketing Plan
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By Michael Bryksa
Some people have a talent for acronyms. A few days ago I overheard a person tell his friend, ‘You know what the word ‘job’ really means? Just over broke.’
Who could blame the person, or the joke? It’s true that a growing number of people these days have to juggle between several jobs just to make ends meet. Some people who had saved up a little invest their money on business, which is a good thing. But let’s not forget the world is going through a financial crisis. Your dream business could fall apart before it’s even begun if you don’t have a marketing plan in place.
For small- to medium-sized businesses, a solid marketing plan is vital, almost crucial, in both the short-term and the long-term. Take a long hard look at your marketing plan, and ask yourself these questions.
1. Does it define my customer base?
Every business has a market niche. A few businesses claim they intend to serve everyone. But we all know better than to take those kinds of statements seriously.
Your marketing plan should focus on a specific market niche, a customer base. Are you going for a lower service fee than your competitors? Or are you aiming for the ‘high end’ neighborhood side of town? Your marketing plan should tell you this and how you should go about it.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Hmw-W2zVZg[/youtube]
2.Does it define my product/service?
The marketing plan should describe your product/service in great detail. It should also explain how your product/service relates to the market. What are the needs of your market niche? What similar product or service are they using right now? How is your product or service better than your competitors’ and why should your market niche make the switch over to you?
But don’t be discouraged. In some cases competition is actually a good thing. Brian Graham has this to say about product competition.
‘Competition creates better products, alliances create better companies.’
3. Am I being innovative in a business sense?
There’s one too many businesses out there trying to sell the exact same thing. If you want to stand out, if you wish to stand out, you need to push the boundaries a little bit and see where that takes you.
‘Businesses need to realize that marketing isn’t an expense, it’s a legitimate business building activity,’ Cecelia Haddad says, director of Marketing Elements in Sydney.
A good marketing plan serves as your guide so you don’t overextend yourself. And this marketing plan should be revised periodically. You can’t afford for your marketing campaign to go stale.
4. Does it promote a brand?
The brand is the tangible form of the company’s promise to its customer base. When you create a brand, you are making a promise that customers can expect the exact same experience from their previous visits, which goes a long way into retaining patrons and increasing repeat business.
So you wish to create and promote a brand to give yourself that much-needed business edge. Question: is your marketing plan doing the same?
Taking the time to research your market niche and investing on a solid marketing plan is definitely to way to go. You’d be surprised how many small business owners think they could get along without any sort of plan whatsoever. By writing up a good marketing plan, you put yourself in the position to be more successful in the long-term, and secure a brighter future for both you and your business.
About the Author: Jon Orana is a Canada-based internet marketer and social media specialist who writes informative blog posts on the subject during his free time. You can visit his website at
Calgary Internet Marketing
for more info on his services. You can also visit his website
Calgary Internet Marketing
for more articles and tips on internet marketing.
Source:
isnare.com
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Argentinian woman sticks to slot machine after winning 35 million pesos
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
A 36-year-old woman stuck herself to a slot machine in a game hall in downtown Lomas del Mirador when she hit the jackpot of 35 million pesos, because the halls chief refused to pay up.
The woman placed a bet of 5 centavos. When the slot machine displayed that she had won 35 million pesos(1.72580651 million UK£ or 3.2279485 million US$), the game hall chief didn’t pay her that prize, because they claimed the slot machine was malfunctioning.
She then held on tightly to the slot machine for as long as it took for TV journalists and a lawyer to arrive at the scene. In the Argentine news broadcasts the machine is seen with the amount of money won on the display. The game hall offered a settlement of 125000 pesos, but she has refused to accept that offer.
Canada’s Beaches—East York (Ward 32) city council candidates speak
Friday, November 3, 2006
On November 13, Torontonians will be heading to the polls to vote for their ward’s councillor and for mayor. Among Toronto’s ridings is Beaches—East York (Ward 32). Four candidates responded to Wikinews’ requests for an interview. This ward’s candidates include Donna Braniff, Alan Burke, Sandra Bussin (incumbent), William Gallos, John Greer, John Lewis, Erica Maier, Luca Mele, and Matt Williams.
For more information on the election, read Toronto municipal election, 2006.
The Five Elements Of Creation
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The Five Elements of Creation
by
Paul Keetch
If you’re anything like me, the creative process can be at times the most gratifying experience imaginable. Everything comes together in a flurry of creative activity, you enter a “Flow” state where time seems to stand still and nothing else but what you’re working on exists in that moment of time.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C45qtgjqw_s[/youtube]
The flip-side is that sometimes the blank page, screen or canvas stares back at you and seems to laugh at your inability to produce. These moments feel agonizingly long, every little thing distracts you and nothing gets produced. During those times it can be extremely challenging to be “okay” with the result (or lack of result) that you’re getting. But when you begin to understand the five elements of creation you can analyze your situation, understand which of the five elements you are currently involved in and, possibly, revisit one of the previous elements to reinvigorate your creative energy. So what are the five elements of creation? I’m glad you asked… 1. Information Gathering This is the foraging element of creation when you gather as much information and inspiration as possible. This can include researching related material, interviewing experts or brainstorming ideas, possible angles of approach, etc. Information gathering is where we must all start if we want to produce something that is both coherent and useful to whoever is going to consume, utilize or appreciate what we’re creating. The process of information gathering should be done without prejudice, which simply means that you gather anything and everything that may be of relevance, without specifically analyzing it. 2. Sifting & Qualifying This element is where you sort your information more thoroughly and qualify whether it is relevant to you at this time, or not. It is where you delve into the practicality and the relative usefulness of all the information and ideas you gathered or brainstormed in the first step. By sifting and qualifying you become more familiar with the usefulness of the good information while excluding the non-useful or currently irrelevant items. An important note here is to hang on to the information you are discarding for your current project, as it may become useful when working on another project down the line. 3. Gestation Period Think of this is as the time during which you are inactively processing all of the information you’ve gathered and sorted. It’s like the caterpillar in the cocoon or the egg sitting in incubation beneath the mother hen awaiting birth. During the gestation period you may seem or feel to be in active as it relates to your creative project, but your mind is working on the problem at a deeper level than your conscious mind. Your subconscious self can make connections in a way that your conscious mind cannot, making this an imperative element of the creative process. J.K. Rowling, author of the acclaimed Harry Potter books, reportedly conceived of the book series while on a long train journey. She claims the idea just “fell into her head”, which is gestation at work. This period can take as little as 5 minutes and as long as 5 years or more for the “a-ha!” moment to arrive. 4. Creative Production As you can probably imagine, this is the practical element of creation after the “a-ha!” moment has arrived and you set pen to paper, keys to keyboard, brush to canvas, etc. It is the period where you are actively producing or creating whatever thing it is that you are working on. In this phase of creation it continues to be important that you not edit or censor yourself too harshly – there will be plenty of time for that later! What’s important here is the physical act of capturing your creation in whatever form calls to you. Whether you are writing, sketching, orating or designing, this is the active part of creation and is often the most fun and engaging. 5. Editing The final phase of the process is the editing portion where you go over the work you’ve produced with an editor’s eye (or ear) to ensure that the final product delivers on the initial intent with which you started work in the first place. During this phase you may or may not solicit feedback from others, particularly if they are either experts or your target audience. Once completed you may have identified changes that need to be made and may choose to go back into the Creative Production phase to re-produce your product. It is a well-known fact that many books are written and re-written several times before they ever make it to the final printed version. Even then errors and inconsistencies are often found and corrected in later revisions of the work. It is possible, even likely, that you will revisit one or more of the five elements of creation at least once, particularly the creative production and editing phases, although you may find that you are able to complete an initial portion and must then go back into gestation for some period of time to allow the next phase to reveal itself. The power of knowing these five elements of creation truly lies in being able to plan them accordingly and to identify which phase you are in if and when you get stuck at any point along the way. Revisiting the initial information gathering phase or reviewing some of your discarded research could spark an idea or concept that allows you to go back into production mode quickly and with energy. Your Action Step is to see if you can identify which of the five elements or phases you are currently engaged in as they relate to a creative project you are working on either at home or at work and see if you have missed any previous steps. It is an all-too-common mistake to try and jump straight into creative production, which is as sure a recipe for frustration as any I can imagine.
Paul Keetch is a writer, marketing and business coach and founder of the free monthly membership website http://www.theMondayMentor.com. Claim your weekly coaching membership absolutely free right now.
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The Five Elements of Creation
Civil Rights lawyer Oliver Hill dies
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Oliver Hill, an American Civil Rights lawyer died today at the age of 100. Hill was attending breakfast, when he died “peacefully,” said a friend of Hill’s family, Joseph Morrissey. The cause is not yet known.
“As a pioneer for civil rights, an accomplished attorney, and a war veteran, Mr. Hill’s dedication to serving the commonwealth and the country never failed,” said Virginia Governor, Tim Kaine in a statement released to the press.
Hill won African American teachers the right to have equal pay in 1940, which was the first civil rights case he won in his career.
He was also the first African American to be elected to the city council in Richmond, Virginia in 1948.
Hill also filed several lawsuits against racial segregation in the U.S. public school systems in 1954. Those lawsuits later became as the ‘Brown vs. Board‘ which overturned laws dating back to 1896 which ruled that separate schools for African Americans and White Americans were “unequal.”
British Airways flight makes emergency landing in Iceland, terrorism ruled out
Saturday, August 26, 2006
A British Airways (BA) flight from London to Denver made an emergency landing at an airport in Iceland today after smoke was seen emerging from an oven in the aircraft’s rear kitchen.
A BA spokesman said that the Boeing 777 landed safely at Keflavik Airport. He added that the plane’s 268 passengers left the craft unharmed.
A spokeswoman from the Iceland Civil Aviation Administration ruled out any terrorist involvement. She added: “They were 50 miles from Keflavik when it was thought there was a fire. But it turned out to be only smoke.”
The flight should complete its journey to the US tomorrow. Passengers are spending the night in a hotel.
Weber Gas Grills: Convenience And Durability}
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Weber Gas Grills: Convenience and Durability
by
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiPROjlkWYE[/youtube]
William JohnsonWhen the weather starts to get warmer and the kids are off from school or coming back from college, it means it is time to start grilling and stop dining out. Many master grillers these days are turning to gas grills as they are convenient to use and more efficient without compromising great flavor. Cleaning up afterwards is also made simple with gas grills so that families can spend more quality time together instead of cleaning up in the kitchen. Take advantage of the nice weather over the weekends by having barbeques with friends and family.The most important aspect of a gas grill is having a high quality grill at any size you prefer. One of the best manufacturers of quality gas grills is Weber as it has a number of models that perform well and have an average price of $650. Weber gas grills are long lasting with quality construction and are even attractive looking grills. Durability is a key characteristic of Weber gas grills along with innovative designs and plenty of features for your cooking needs. When it comes to quality barbequing and affordable prices, Weber is at the top of many peoples’ lists. The Weber Genesis is a popular full-size gas grills that are powerful and equipped with great features. For smaller and less expensive barbequing needs, the Weber Q is another great gas grill choice. All Weber gas grills are made of high quality materials and have easy and convenient clean-up afterwards.Aside from having a high performance gas grill, you may also need a grill cover especially if the grill is going to remain outside. A Weber grill cover can fulfill your needs of covering your grill for year round use. Weber grill covers are weather-resistant and made of heavy-duty vinyl and come in various sizes to suit the gas grill that you have. Having a grill cover is important for protecting your gas grill from the elements and making sure that your grill remains durable and long lasting.Depending on the type of Weber gas grill you have, there are a number of grill accessories you can add on. An essential Weber grill accessory is a Grill Brush and Scraper which is very important for cleaning up. You can also stay safe while cooking with a barbecue mitt and apron. Other Weber grill accessories include cast-iron Griddle for the Genesis which can enhance your barbequing as well as a thermometer to eliminate the guess work of knowing when your grill is heated.With Weber gas grill and accessories, you will be able to barbeque some tasty meals for you, your family and friends all throughout summer. The best time to purchase one of these grills is before summer starts so that you can find good deals. You don’t have to spend a fortune for a good gas grill and with a company like Weber, you will have quality, convenience and durability. A nice barbecue on a hot summer night is something that many families are looking forward to.
http://www.flaminggasgrills.com
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Norwegian government considers prosecuting Scientology
Sunday, May 31, 2009
The Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services is considering prosecuting and banning some Scientology practices, in particular the use of the Scientology personality test to sell courses. State Secretary Rigmor Aasrud said that the activities in question might be prosecuted as fraud or as violations of existing healthcare regulations. A Norwegian Member of Parliament (MP) whose daughter killed herself after taking such a test, supports the idea of prosecuting illegal practices rather than trying to ban the movement as a whole.
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The statement was made after three journalists from the online edition of the newspaper Verdens Gang (VG) took the test. The journalists wore hidden recording devices, and did not disclose that they were journalists; VG put the recordings on its website. Scientology staff members told all three that they should buy a course to handle psychological issues. Two of the journalists filled out the 200 questions with honest answers, while the third gave answers consistent with being depressed. The “depressed” journalist was told that he should avoid traditional medicine, while one of the “normal” journalists was told that the course was her only hope for improvement unless she wanted to start taking “chemicals”.
Matthias Fosse, spokesperson for the Church of Scientology in Norway, said that the staff members in question were acting individually. He said that the Church of Scientology does not give medical advice, but that it encourages people to focus on the side effects of medications, and is critical of the “over-medication” of psychiatric patients.
Olav Gunnar Ballo, a Norwegian MP and medical doctor whose daughter Kaja suddenly killed herself after a negative experience with the Scientology test in France in March 2008, released a book about Kaja Ballo‘s life in April 2009. The book debuted on 2nd place in the Norwegian best seller list. Ballo listened to the recorded test result sessions from VG and said that he found the practice “horrible and harmful”. He told the newspaper Dagbladet that Norway could have something to learn from the current French prosecution of Scientology corporations and individuals, by prosecuting specific harmful practices rather than banning Scientology as a whole.
Matthias Fosse said that France is a far more secular society than Norway, and that France were going too far in their prosecution. He said that France has a list of 165 organizations considered to be “sects”, which not just included Scientology but also covered Baptists such as former U.S. president Bill Clinton. The list which Fosse referred to is a list from the 1995 Parliamentary Commission on Cults in France. Fosse said that the OSCE, the U.S. State Department and the UN had criticised French “violations of human rights”.
SEPTA buys rail cars from NJ Transit to deal with crowding
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
As gas prices have risen in the United States, the regional transport authority for southeastern Pennsylvania, SEPTA, has seen a sharp increase in ridership, which has caused overcrowding on the trains.
“As fuel prices have continued to rise, SEPTA ridership has steadily increased and is the highest in 18 years,” said SEPTA General Manager Joseph Casey. Monthly ridership was 22 percent higher last month than a year ago.
“They have crushed loads on their rail lines, already where people are standing, and there’s not enough seats,” said Rich Bickel, the director of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.
“At peak times some railcars are standing room only and commuter parking lots are nearly full. All Regional Rail lines are running near full capacity and the train station parking lots are at about 90 percent capacity or more,” SEPTA spokesperson Felipe Suarez said.
While SEPTA awaits new Silverliner V trains from Hyundai Rotem, which begin arriving in 2009, it had hoped to lease eight rail cars from New Jersey Transit, at an agreed-upon rate of US$10,000 per month. However, due to problems with insurance and liability indemnification, the deal fell through, according to Casey.
SEPTA has entered a new agreement to purchase the eight rail cars from NJ Transit. The transit authority will pay US$670,000 for the cars and assorted supplies plus one additional inoperative car which will be used for spare parts. The rail cars will be operated using a SEPTA provided locomotive as they are not self-propelled.
The cars are being disposed of by NJ Transit because it has switched from single-floor cars to double-decker cars.
SEPTA is expecting to raise US$3.1 million by selling rail that has been out of service since 1981 at auction.