Are your direct mail response rates lower than you expect? Check your sales letter or direct mail package against this checklist to uncover the reasons for your poor response. LIST
You are mailing to people who are never likely to buy
You are not mailing to others in the same business who in...

Not Enough Money? I believe that most people haven`t got enough money for everything they wish to have - the more you have the bigger your plans, and you have a feeling that you have less and less money. Whether you have lots of money or just so-so, you need to economize and take proper care of your...

You must look after your digital images. Your hard drive will either crash, break or get stolen. Plan for this. You will never believe it until it happens to you. It will happen. Then you will have lost all those lovely images you took over the months and years. What price would you put on those irr...

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation. There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be defined as consisting of a number of ideas, a number of dive...

Pay Per Performance Advertising is when the advertiser pays a fee based on an action which a visitor to his website takes. Pay Per Performance Advertising could cover several things, such as pay per click advertising, This type of Pay Per Performance Advertising means that, you list your website in ...

I really can`t stand leaving my office disorganized and that`s how I felt when I left my office and went home yesterday. I was up late last night doing some work from home, but that nagging feeling was there because I like to walk into a clean, organized office each day. (I just feel better). Becaus...

The weather can play a big part on the type of photography we can do. Light is essential, but too much of it or light that is too directional can have an adverse effect. Overcast days can feel dull and images can appear flat and lifeless without the shadows that the sun produces. However this doesn?...

You can`t close sales unless you have access to the market! Market is defined as those who are ready, willing and able to acquire your products and/or services. Access to the market is known as leads. If your phone is ringing off the hook because of external conditions (inflation, interest rates, et...

During the last period we can recall the Savings and Loan and Junk Bond Scandal everyone was up in arms over that. It led to a public mindset that all business people were greedy and evil. One songwriter in the band Jefferson Starship who wrote ?We Built This City on Rock and Roll? had a verse in hi...

Can you really make money from this? Late 2003, I think was the first time an ebook popped up that claimed that one could make money from Google Adwords. The main method that was revealed involved combining Google Adwords and the Clickbank affiliate program, to make money, online, everyday almost o...

When looking for a telecommuting position, it is very important to have your resume in tip-top shape. This is often the only thing that a potential employer has to base a hiring decision on since they most likely will not be interviewing you in person, your resume has to make that great first imp...

Most of us start off the New Year with the best of intentions. And we all have a deep longing in our hearts for this year to be the best year yet. We even make resolutions. Sadly, however, most resolutions are forgotten by Jan30. Before we know it we are caught up in the same reactiv...

They say advertising is excessive: it interrupts TV series, preceding movie shows and dominating music award ceremonies. Some even lament that advertising not only occupies the media, but is also present everywhere else; the latest music editor softwares could be seen at bus shelters, and online VoI...

There are three words which often bother me. " I remember when?.." When my peers and friends use them, I always feel like telling them to switch gears and think about today and tomorrow, not yesterday. They seldom comply. Now, having been invited to write about how the ad agency business has changed...

Real Consequences Survivor has started again! The thrill of making decisions under the stress of dire consequences is a scenario that rivets millions of us. This vicarious experience shines a light on our internal competitor. It gets us asking the questions, am I tough enough? Am I flexible and clev...

Is accumulating wealth as easy as following a 3-step plan? Yes it is and no it isn`t. As with many things in life, accomplishing a goal such as accumulating one million dollars (or even $100,000) depends on your desire, your personal choices and your daily actions. Let`s start with one example on ho...

A well-planned and properly executed marketing program should include a sufficient commitment of capital resources to an on-going, well executed advertising program. Yes, this includes your business. Businesses spend too many dollars, however, on ads that simply will not result in increased sales an...

I realize that it?s a superlative title to a very subjective matter, but I have honestly felt for years that the talented and intelligent (and sometimes not even intelligent) people I have met that are successful all share one common characteristic. They?re all able to get past the single biggest ob...

Are you aware of the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? Signed into law on July 26 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act is a wide-ranging legislation intended to make American Society more accessible to people with disabilities. What does this act mean to you? As the owne...

The old fashioned sales routine of cold calls, telemarketing, pounding the pavement, knocking on doors, ignoring "No Solicitors" signs and trying to visit people who don`t want to see you is DEAD.
I spent nearly ten years of my life making unsolicited calls and visits, trying to beat dow...

I was reading the local paper and came across a picture of the cleanest garage I ever saw. In addition to a picture of the garage there was a picture of a gentlemen, in his late 60`s cleaning the cobwebs with an extension pole. I thought to myself I have never seen a garage so clean in my life. The ...

1. When you make your first sale, you need to follow-up with the customer. You could follow-up with a nice "thank you" email and include an advertisement for any other products you sell. I advise to follow-up every few months or weeks even! 2. Try to up sell to your customers. When your customers ar...

It never fails to amaze me how many companies have employees who are empowered to offer former customers wonderful incentives to lure them back, yet their customer service representatives have the ability to offer virtually nothing to convince an unhappy customer to stay. Powerless, these CSRs o...

The recent news about one of America`s most powerful woman ceo`s being removed from office has raised the discussion about gender bias, again. It disappoints me that in 2005, I still hear women clients talking about "the old boys` network". They say "glass ceilings" are holding them back in terms of...

Most everyone these days knows what a comfort zone is. My definition is the place, environment and tasks that we have learned to do and feel comfortable with--a comfort zone. Lots of people feel devastated when they have lost a job as their comfort zone no longer exists. In other words, the time, pl...

A new idea is merely the combination of two or more old ideas. The creation of a new idea is the critical first step in establishing any business. People who dream of setting up their own business but don?t succeed, generally fall into one of three categories: (1) too few ideas (2) too many ideas o...

There are two ways to think about AdSense: you can think of it as a way to use your website to make money; and you can think of it as a way to make money with a website. What`s the difference? The difference is in the content. In the first case, you already have a website and you simply put AdSense ...

Some look back on the economy of 2000 thru 2002 and say what a disaster 3 million jobs lost? Well one could also argue that the 43 million Americans who moved into new homes far outweighs the 3 million citizens who were looking for work. There are more people who are still looking for work who have ...

The quality of your logo can mean the difference between success or failure. It can be that simple! Trademarks and Logos make up the most international language in the world. An excellent logo can cross many barriers and provide your organization with a means of delivering to your customers an unequ...

Everyone wants to be wealthy. Only a few actually achieve it though so following these steps could help put you into that minority group of the rich. Check out these 10 steps then apply them to your own personal situation:

1. Set down a plan and chart your course.
   You need a plan if you wa...

Graphic design is an art and for professional results you should be utilising the skills of someone that can demonstrate relevant experience in the field of design, advertising, typography, print and the use of colour. Desktop publishing is not graphic design. It is important that your advertising m...

1. To look "bigger." Home-printed business cards with perforated edges or cards printed with standard designs available through Microsoft software or online business card vendors scream "small-time vendor" to your potential clients -- and that is how they will want to compensate you. 2. To increase ...

You?re the boss, and you have every reason to feel good about your organization. You?ve built a great team. You?ve put strong players in every spot. You have clearly defined procedures for every part of the business. You have incentive, safety recognition, and bonus programs. But something doesn?t s...

As a child growing up in Chicago, my friends and I would often yell at each other, "Cheaters never prosper!" if we thought someone was playing unfairly on our Catholic school playground. In the business world over the years, I`ve learned that there`s a lot of truth in that statement. Cheaters don`t ...

Consider if you will the resources, the time and the financial investment given to attracting new web traffic. Banner advertising, link exchanges, search engine ratings, affiliate schemes and the list goes on. Yet when it comes to retaining a customer?s future business or even a return visit, we s...

There?s good news for public relations execs, marketing professionals and even one-man-band entrepreneurs: journalists are surfing your sites looking for news. It?s true - while some PR people spend months trying to win over cynical reporters in order to wrangle a company profile or CEO interview (a...

If you`re in business on the Internet to make a profit, then you`re probably aware of how significant a list of prospects is to your success. But what if you don`t want to spend countless hours each and every week promoting, writing and managing a continuous email publication? Well, here`s a relativ...

Managers who aren`t loyal to their people can`t expect loyalty in return. Companies that complain about employee loyalty have usually done nothing to earn loyalty, often routinely lying to employees, demanding sacrifices that are never rewarded, shunting them aside and casting them off in the name o...

Talk to as many consultants as you can before hiring one. Even if you have one person or firm in mind, interview at least a few others as a sort of due diligence. You`ll probably find that each interview helps you focus on the issues you`re hiring a consult to help resolve. 1. Most consultants focus...

If you still picture a steady progression up the ladder when you think of your career goals, it is time to shift your thinking. For most people, climbing the career ladder is no longer an option. The working world has changed so dramatically that linear career paths rarely exist, except as histo...

In these days, it`s becoming increasingly difficult to make ends meet with just one source of income. Thus, more and more people are investigating the possibilities of starting their own extra-income business. Most of these part-time endeavors are started and operated from the comfort and privacy of...

Does employee benefit administration have you more confused than ever? If so, it`s no wonder. Even a simple employee benefit plan can create mounds of paperwork and management problems for businesses. To make matters worse, it has become increasingly difficult for businesses to compete in today`s la...

Cheryl Rickman runs her own group of businesses CherryJam - with her partner James in Hampshire. Her first company WebCritique a web copywriting and marketing consultancy, helps other businesses to improve their online presence and Cheryl provides workshops to local businesses on these issues. WebCo...

Six Sigma doesn`t improve the customer experience. It may seem that Six Sigma turns the focus away from the customer because it is driven by data. In so many companies, quality improvement is driven by the latest customer complaint, or some manager`s latest issue. This may seem like you are being re...

When someone asks me what I do, and I tell them I am a Virtual Assistant, I am bombarded with questions. What is a Virtual Assistant? Who uses a Virtual Assistant? How much do they charge? How can they complete my work without being in my office? How is a Virtual Assistant more beneficial than ...

Interest rates are an important part of any loan or credit line. The interest rate that you have on your loan, credit card, or other credit line can seriously affect the total amount that you pay toward repayment; after all, that`s how lenders make their money. All interest rates are not the same...

Your mortgage calculator says: probably a lot less than your mortgage banker says you can. Sometimes you can qualify for a loan but you should not accept it. Why? The monthly payments are more than you can afford. There are lots of laws in place at the state and federal level to protect customers ...

Child custody? How`d that get to be an employer`s concern? When an employee faces child custody litigation, it will effect their ability to do their job. And it often causes legal consequences for their employers as well. Unless you know where to draw the lines regarding your legal obligations and...

Negotiation is where many FSBO home sellers really have problems. The wrong attitude or a slip of the tongue could cost you thousands. Here are a few pointers to keep you on the right path: 1. Show interest in selling the house. In an effort to project a sense of strength many people either take ...