All about SEO or SFO?

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First let's start with definitions:SEO:Search Engine Optimization, SFO: Search Friendly Optimization.These two things are what most webmasters have trouble balancing. These things seem to always be on opposite ends. On one hand you have to make sure search engines can crawll your website without any problems. On the other you have to keep the site looking good to keep your visitors.These are all based on what kind of site you plan on making. A corporate website selling shoes in the real world might focus on keeping the site looking good to visitors. And maybe pack it up with flash and all kinds of descriptive images. On the other side a site about online products, e-commerce, might cut back on the images and focus on seo. I will go into both of these just in case.Let's start with seo. The first thing you need if you choose seo is to meta tags. Now there many meta tags generators out there for a quicker way to make them. But I suggest like me you make them yourself according to the search engines you want your site to better perform at. In short you have to study those search engines and find out how they get their content and what meta tags they require or may find usefull. Mine is based on goole so check out the source of the blog and those are the tags that google uses. Also a site that may help you out with your seo is:http://sitesubmit.ca/ they require you to be a member to ue their tools but it's worth plus it's free. They have many seo tips and tools. In your reaserch of the search engine don't forget ranking. Find out what they base their search results on and how they decide which results show up first when a user queries. Like google uses google googlerank and overall page rank. But you may hav eto increase your content on a subject in order to increase your keyword density and such.Second sfo. SFO is fairly easy to accomplish once you have the right info. Like many sites they host regular polls and surveys about what users like and their personnal opinions. It's an effective way of knowing your audience. Once you know most of your visitors like certain kinds of things you start providing them. Therefore pleasing your users and making a successful site. But never forget about the stalistics the users don't need to tell you. Like what browsers usually visit your site and what operatinf systems they use. And as many webmasters know firefox and internet exploer(leading browsers) have different rendering engines. So find out which most of your users use and customize your site to it. Also if the stalistics show that they have just about equal users use what we a splash page. To allow the user to show which version of the site they want to view. Two versions of your site may be hard to keep up but remember it's worth it. In one case one of my friends had to do four different versions. And keep them updated at the same time.But also you may hav eto balance the two together if you want them both. Though it is hard it may be for the best. About the Author Owner of http://allaboutadsense.blogspot.com/.I enjoy writting articles of the knowledge I've aquired through my experiences as a webmaster.

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Conducting Business through B2B E-marketplaces

Businesses, which are still sitting on sidelines and not doing business on the Internet, should think seriously about their position! If you are one of them, chances are there, that you have to pay dearly for your indecision as you might lose significant market share to your more proactive competitors in a very short period of time.Apart from the fact that e-commerce is growing at the rate of more than 25 percent a year, the use of online features can bring efficiency to virtually every aspect of business process, be it supply chain management or customer support management.But, how can you build an e-commerce business and take advantages of all these great possibilities? After all, you are pretty sure that anything to do with new technology is complicated, time-consuming, and expensive.Believe it or not, this is just a misconception that most business owners have about the Internet technology. The truth is – in order to run a business online and reap profits, like any new effort, you need to do a little homework, have patience and determination, and get going.Take the following steps seriously and in no time you will be able to embrace fascinating world of online business.Take your products onlineGetting your product online does not simply mean - having a nice picture and a product narration to go with it. Effective use of the Internet is based on standards. Standards, as you know, are created to facilitate common use of a technology. If you ever imported or exported a product or service, or if you registered your product with some kind of authorities ever; you certainly know that each product falls under certain subcategory according to the classification system that you encountered. Internet is the same thing. Since the emergence of Internet, several classification systems have been developed.If you think long term and would like to use same catalog with multiple e-marketplaces, you should adopt one of the prevailing classification system in the Internet. The best online catalog classification available from my point of view is UNSPSC. For one thing, many prominent e-marketplaces adopted this particular system, which allows you to post your products on multiple e-procurement systems and e-marketplaces.How do you do this? I would suggest you to become a member of one of the e-marketplaces, where you can aggregate your products using some kind of simple wizards or forms. E-marketplaces based on Commerce One’s the largest B2B e-marketplace enabler, have this facility.Our own Rusbiz e-catalog system, which is also based on UNSPSC, also allows you to integrate your products using a very simple but sophisticated form. If you do not have time to do it by your own, you can use the service of a B2B exchange. Rusbiz also provides with similar service.Get an online presenceWhat should be your next step once you have all your products transformed into e-catalog? Naturally, you need to have an online presence to sell the products. There are number of options how to do this.Become a member of an e-marketplaceThis could be a large geography oriented fairly large horizontal market or a vertical e-marketplace specific to your industry. The membership fees are in most of the cases not so expensive. But many of them charge some percentage on your transactions, usually, from 1 to 3 percent. If you expect big sales volume, you may think this might not be the best choice for you. However, if you get new customers, thanks to your mere presence in an e-marketplace, the percentage that you have to pay on the transaction you should consider as customer acquiring cost. Under any circumstances, it is good to become a member of at least one e-marketplace as you -automatically get exposed to thousands of new prospective customers.Build a websiteThere are several ways you can construct an e-commerce site to your need.You can build a website in house by employing developers or you can hire a web development company to do this for you. The advantage is you can have a website with the look, feel and functionality according to your given specification.However, both of these methods could be way costly for a small business. Average cost of building an e-commerce website runs starting from US$ 600 plus hosting and maintenance charges for a miniscule site with limited features to several hundred thousand US Dollars for a powerful e-commerce website.Another option that you have as a small business is to build an e-commerce site from prefabricated templates. While this is affordable and easy, you considerably lose flexibility and customization possibilities in comparison to building a site from scratch.Build a web storeAll these above mentioned cases do not allow you to have the potentials and advantages that come with an e-business website integrated with a B2B exchange. Which means, whether you are a business to consumer company with occasional sales to businesses or you are a pure play B2B company, a Web Store merged into an e-marketplace is what you need.A web store from a B2B exchange gives you the best of both worlds. You are having a professional e-commerce site which incorporates all the features that an e-marketplace has to offer. And you build a site from simple and easy to edit templates.For a detailed information about the features that come with a web store and benefits that you can get from them, follow this link: Powerful E-business Store About the Author Nowshade Kabir, Ph.D., is the founder, primary developer and presentCEO, of Rusbiz.com, a global business to business e-commerce portal withfeature like storefronts, aggregated catalog, e-marketplace, tradeleads, internal messaging system supply chain solutions, etc. With adoctorate in Information Technology, Dr. Kabir has worked an advisor togovernment projects and has over 12 years experience in InternationalTrade.

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101 Things To Do With a Slow Cooker

At this time of year there is so much to do and even just driving around takes more time. How can you get back some of that time? Try cooking hearty meals while you are at work, out on the slopes or just ralaxing and reading a book. With your trusty slow cooker and the 101 Things To Do With a Slow Cooker cookbook you can spend the day cooking a terrific meal without spending the day in the kitchen. This handy little book has over one hundred recipes for assemble and go crockery cooking along with some terrific Helpful Hints for crock pot cooking and to even help you create your own crock pot recipes from your oven favourites. With categories like Beverages, Dips and Fondues, Soups and Stews, Beef, Chicken, Pork and Desserts you will find a recipe for every need.Try this recipe for Unbelievably Simple Brisket so you can enjoy a special meal without spending the day cooking it.Unbelievably Simple Brisket4 - 5 pounds fresh beef brisket1 envelope dry onion soup mix1 can (4 ounces) mushrooms, with liquidTrim all excess fat from meat.Combine soup mix with mushrooms and mushroom liquid.Place meat in greased 4 1/2 to 6 quart slow cooker, cutting to fit if necessary. Spread onion soup mixture over brisket, moistening well.Cover and cook on low heat for 10 - 14 hours.Remove meat and cut across the grain into thin slices. Serve with meat juices poured over top slices.Makes 6 - 8 ServingsServe with baked sweek potatoes sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. About the Author Chris WebAdmin is Owner and WebAdmin of The 1001Recipes2Send.comRecipes Database. Become a member to recieve the weeklynewsletter alert: http://www.1001Recipes2Send.comDownload FREE eBooks at: http://www.1001Recipes2Send.com/Free

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A simple 7-step checklist to test your ads

Imagine if you had in your hand a simple,bullet-proof, 7-step checklist to test your ads andsales letters.Well, here’s a simple 7-step checklist that Joe usesevery time he writes copy. Every marketing piece ofhis that passes the test has gone on to generatesales.In one of his lesser known books, "Making Ads Pay,"legendary ad man John Caples reveals a 7 step formulafor successful advertising. He wrote:"This check list is based on the results of hundredsof advertising tests. It is based on millions ofdollars spent in experiments designed to find out whatkind of advertising sells and what kind doesn't sell.The next time your prepare an ad or a commercial, putthis check list alongside of it."Use Caples’ checklist to give your ad the final test.You can even use the following list to check any ad,whether it is for radio, television, print, or evenfor the Internet.1. Does your ad attract the RIGHT AUDIENCE?Does your ad STOP the right people---the ones mostlikely to be interested in your product or service?Does your headline, photo or opening grab theattention of your most likely prospects?2. Does your ad HOLD the audience?Does your ad maintain the attention it achieved? Youmay have stopped them, but does your ad make themSTAY? Does your ad or commercial speak to his or herinterests, needs, hopes or dreams?3. Does your copy CREATE DESIRE?Do you promise benefits to the reader? Do you revealwhat the customer WILL GET? Do you tell them what's init for them? Do you clearly explain the advantages ofyour product or service? Does your ad make them feeland want your service?4. Do you prove it is a BARGAIN?Is your price lower than usual? Are you giving moreservice or adding more value than your competitors?Are you offering something no one else has?5. Do you establish CONFIDENCE?Or to put it the way Caples said it: "Prove it is nota gyp." You may have people interested in your ad. Butnow they're wondering if what you claim is reallytrue. Dissolve their fears with testimonials, aguarantee, or any other PROOF you have.6. Do you make it EASY TO ACT?If you want your prospects to do something, have youTOLD THEM what to do? Have you given them theinformation they need so they can do it? Have you maderesponding to your ad or commercial simple and easy?7. Do you give your prospects a reason to ACT AT ONCE?Your potential customers may be ready to buy---butthey won't unless you give them a GOOD REASON to actnow. If your price is going up, say so. If suppliesare limited, say so. If this is a limited time offer,say so. Have you given people a logical and believablereason to take you up on your offer right now, thisminute?So if you ever need a quick, proven checklist to testyour ads or sales letters, just ask yourself these 7questions and your ads and sales letter will becomecash-generating machines.Best riches, Andrew ClacyP.S. If you haven’t grabbed a copy of Joe Vitale’s new12-part course guaranteed to turn your business into amillion dollar money-sucking machine, I highly suggestyou take another look.In my honest opinion, any person who owns that packagewill become a profit generating, recession-proofbusiness.Read all about it: www.explosivecopycourse.com About the Author Hi there,I'm a fulltime Internet Marketer ,webdeveloper and Entrepeneur from Albury, Australia. Owner of popular website www.explosivecopycourse.com

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7 Keys to Writing a Children's Book that Sells Like Hotcake

There are seven fundamental reasons that some books succeed and others collect dust on the author's bookshelf. These seven keys to success as an author are simple, obvious even, and yet in the midst of our writing many of us forget them. We get so focused on the idea of the book that we forget the mechanics. Here is the strategy that award winning authors use: 1) Create a hero that your audience can relate to. Examine your target market honestly. Who will be reading your book? Just because you think that your main character is funny, charming and brilliant doesn't mean that they will or even that that is what they care about. 2) Write for your audience, not your highschool English professor. There has already been a Shakespeare. Most genres do not require you to write like him. You will just turn your audience off if you write at a level beyond their comprehension. 3) Give your reader a problem that he or she can empathize with. Ex. Are you writing for teenage girls? Then something to do with the pains of adolescent romance, or lack thereof, might be a good start. 4) Provide a nemesis that makes sense. The antagonist in your story should appear to be everything that your main character is not. Then go back in and give him or her some good qualities as well. People are not good or evil. Your characters should have the same character traits, as the rest of humanity. Ex. A Thief with a Conscience or who hates everyone except his little sister, who he has taken care of since their mom died. Give all your characters depth. 5) Provide obstacles for your main characters. Both your hero and antagonist need to have a few bumps in the road. Life isn't smooth. Let them both screw up and figure their way out of their messes. 6) Your hero, at the very least, must learn a lesson about himself or herself. Is he braver than he thought he was? Is her nerdiness actually an asset? Your characters should have some type of self-realization. It can be subtle. You do not have to go into a five chapter monologue on it, just give the readers some clues that he or she has changed. 7) Begin and end your story with a bang. Grab your reader's attention in the beginning and have them hoping for a sequel in the end. The rest, no matter how much work you put into it, will probably be skimmed until they hit the next seat gripping scene. Your job is to make that skim time as short as possible. About the Author Caterina Christakos is the author of How to Write a Children's Book in 30 Days or Less. For more information about her book and writing tips go to:http://www.howtowriteachildrensbook.com

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Men in Tights......and garters"

Sitting comfortably against the cushioned interior of my seat, I listened as the conversation about my friend's cousin passed over my ears. However, when he started talking about her idea's for the fashion world. "She's decided that if she's going to break into the fashion industry, she's gotta have a niche. She's got two already. The first is lingerie for men-" "What?" the voice from the back of the car said, expressing all the surprise in my head. "Lingerie for men- she thinks men should have lingerie too." "Um. I'd have to agree-" the voice said, "I would want my man to wear lingerie..." Lingerie for men. Humm, let me think. Yes, yes, O.K.. There is no way I would want my guy wearing lingerie. Joe Boxers, of course. Silk, even. But lingerie, the word itself implies femininity. Especially because I have a soft spot for men who work out, I think "The Game" in a pink baby doll with white ruffles. For some, that might do it. But, somehow, that just doesn't work for me. Though I'm sure she's got something different in mind, I think she'll lose a majority of this gender oriented society in the sales pitch. Of course, all for social change. I suppose I could see how having a man in linger could be, empowering. Letting the man look his best, setting the mood. Still, somehow, with the gender roles so affixed in my head, I can't see desiring to see a man in much of anything, remotely..."nightly fashionable", beyond silk pajamas. I have little problem in seeing a man in a skirt. As a columnist for my school's paper pointed out, logistically, it makes more sense for men to wear the freer skirts, and let the woman wear the pants, so to speak. However, if we start wanting men in lingerie, we have to ask ourselves, what next? Tummy tucking pantyhose? Perhaps this is because I've never had a relationship where I would was in the position of trying to make myself sexually appealing, or wanting the other person to oblige me. Still, maybe if I was, I could see it. I did find Kevin Costner hot as Robin Hood, in those cute little green leggings.... ********************************* Wonderbra Girl is one of the unique writers of SAonline. She is the faceless young female. If you would like to recieve more of her pieces, please subscribe! cultureshocker-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Wonderbra Girl is one of the unique writers of SAonline. She is the faceless young female. If you would like to recieve more of her pieces, please subscribe! cultureshocker-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

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Carnival Pride Review cruise ship

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Have you ever considered taking a vacation with no driving, no hassle and no worries for 7, 10, 14 days or more? How about a cruise? If you've never been to one and not sure whether it would be right for you, read on. With all the cruise lines, cruise destinations and various range of price available, there is a cruise for just about everyone.We were a group of 4 from Canada. We booked a 7-day Mexican Riviera cruise with Carnival Pride departing from LA, USA. We made arrangements to stay a few days in LA where we visited Hollywood and the famous Venus Beach. It was the perfect start of our vacation.On the day of our cruise departure, we head over to the pier and upon our arrival, we were immediately struck by the awesome sight of the Queen Mary, and our cruise ship was absolutely enormous as it sat there waiting for us.It took about 45 minutes to check our luggage in and board the ship. Once on the Pride, we found our beautiful stateroom with private balcony, met our room steward, and our luggage magically appeared in our cabin. It's true that Carnival ships remind many people of newer Las Vegas resorts. We unpacked at once and made ourselves feel at home for the duration of the cruise. After watching the ship set sail from our balcony, we went for walks to get our bearings. We discovered a spa, overlooking a fitness centre filled with exercise equipments, and a hot tub in the middle of the work-out area separated by a glass wall from the rest of the room.The first two days were sea days. We ate everything in sight, and just acted like people on vacation. The crew members are some of the friendliest and most entertaining folks I've ever met. The second day was nice and warm, we lounged around on the deck. They have plenty of deck chairs at the centre lido pool, we never have problem finding seats.The cruise vessel has activities for the whole family 24 hours a day. A state-of-the-art theatre for quality shows and entertainment, which are all included in the cruise price. Different entertainment are featured in the theatre every evening of the cruise. They also have a number of theme bars, lounges and a disco with live music that are open into the early morning hours.If nightlife isn't your style, you can enjoy the onboard pool, spa, library, fitness centre, shopping and other amenities. If you have children on the cruise, they have play areas and programs geared to different age groups.All meals are "world class cuisine" and "gourmet meals", and combined with impeccable service to insure that the onboard dining experience is truly memorable. It is all included in the price of your cruise. The Pride take into account the modern casual lifestyle and provide a variety of restaurants and snack bars on board. There is a varied and plentiful breakfast and lunch buffet similar to what you would find in Las Vegas. Or you can eat breakfast or lunch in one of the ship's restaurants, order exactly what you want from the menu. Restaurants are usually open for meals for extended hours and buffets are generally open all day and into the night. Not the mention their 24-hour pizza parlour!Cruises typically stop at a different port of call each day or every other day, depending upon distances and sailing time between points of interest. You may stay aboard the ship all day or disembark at any stop. You are free to explore each destination on your own as long as you return to the ship by the designated time. Our ports of calls were Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Los Cabos.Puerto Vallarta:We made arrangements to take the city tour. Riding in the comfort of a big, air-conditioned tour bus, Puerto Vallarta was a beautiful sight. Our highlight of the day was swimming with the dolphins. We literally got inside the dolphin pool, touched and kissed the dolphins. It was an experience of our lifetime.Mazatlan:We booked the city tour with tour-guide Frank. He gave us a private tour, took us to many places. We shopped, explored, ate, relaxed, and we had a fabulous time.Cabo San Lucas:There are the standard cruise shops, a marketplace of crafts and clothing, and some random street vendors doing the "braid your hair", "take a ride on my water taxi" thing. The trip on the water taxi was really nice and redeemed the Cabo experience for me. We rode around the Land's End, went up to the pelican colony, not nearly the number the pelicans living at the fishing pier in Mazatlan, went to look at the sea lions, and checked out the Pacific side of the peninsula.Our last day on the cruise was a sad day. We had early disembarkation due to early flights (12:30). The ship was very organized and we were able to get off the ship very quickly.All in all it was an excellent vacation. I'm very pleased with Carnival cruise.With all these great services available at a reasonable cost, why not take a cruise vacation? About the Author Carnival Pride review is published by Yvon Marier Looking for information about cruises? Go to: http://www.easytraveling.netTravel Articles: http://easytraveling.blogspot.com
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Planning your next Trip?

Currency movements can affect the cost of a trip. For example, a favorable rate of exchange means that your local currency is worth more and will provide you with more buying power. In fact, travelers whose local currency has appreciated dramatically will find that they will be able to afford much more on their vacation this year. On the other hand, a less favorable exchange rate of exchange means that your currency will be worth less resulting in less buying power overseas. If your domestic currency has depreciated significantly you may find your options more limited. As a traveler, your main concern should be to get the most favorable rate possible. In order to do this, however, one must first understand the foreign exchange market. In the foreign exchange market, the currency of one country is exchanged for an equivalent amount of the currency of another. Foreign exchange rates are not static, but change dynamically-sometimes many times within a single minute. At this point, however, most of you might be asking, why does it take more dollars to buy a euro this week than it did last week? Why would it cost you more today to buy a cup of coffee in another country than it did before, even though the price has remained the same there? The answer has to do with the value of a country's currency relative to the price of another currency.Currencies, just like any other commodity that can be bought or sold, are subject to the laws of supply and demand. When more people want a particular currency, the cost of the currency in terms of other currencies will go up. When demand decreases or people do not want to hold a country's currency, the value will go down. One factor that directly affects demand for a currency is international trade. For instance, if I buy a Japanese car in the US, I give dollars to my dealer, who gave dollars to his distributor, and so on. But before the profits are banked by the carmaker in Japan, they are converted into Yen. There is a surge of buying of Japanese cars this month, the result is going to be increased demand for Yen-which will in turn cause an appreciation in the Yen's value. An increase in international investment into Japan would have the same effect, since more money is being converted into Yen to purchase Japanese assets.As a traveler, understanding currency fluctuations will help you to take advantage of favorable rates of exchange and spot a deal when you see one. For example let's look at the EUR/USD (Euro vs. US dollar) currency pair did over the last three years and how any changes might have affected tourism in each of them.Currency pairYear Rate of exchange (highest)Rate of exchange (Lowest)EUR/USD 2003$1.2646$1.0333 2004$1.3666$1.1758 2005$1.3579$1.1864 From looking at the table taken from www.dailyfx.com, we can see that in less than 3 years, the euro steadily rose in value against the US dollar going from $1.2646 to a high of $1.3579. This favorable rate of exchange for Euros vs. US dollars made traveling to the United States a much better deal in 2005 than in both 2003 and 2004. For the traveler who noticed this long term upward trend early could have probably delayed his 2004 trip to the United States knowing that his hard earned cash would go further in 2005.When planning a trip to another country all individuals should keep in mind that the major currencies tend to move +/- 1% in a given day, which is a relatively minor move unless you are changing thousands at a time. This means that visiting smaller countries with less developed economies should warrant more research and planning since, these countries' currency would prove more volatile to rate changes. A great way to find out about the current state of exchange rates is to visit GoCurrency.com, a currency conversion site that covers over 150 currencies worldwide.To sum up, whether it's a business trip or a second honeymoon, a working knowledge of the foreign exchange market can and will make any international journey a more relaxed one. About the Author None Total Views : 162 Word Count Appx. : 692 See All articles From Author

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Benefits Of Submitting Articles To E-zines

1. You'll brand your web site, business and yourselfby submitting articles to e-zines. You could includeyour name, business name, your credentials, web siteaddress and e-mail address in your resource box.2. You will become known as an expert on the topicsyou write about. This will give you and your businessextra credibility which will help you compete againstyour competition.3. Your article might also be placed on the publisher'shome page. If they publish each issue on their homepage this will give you some extra exposure.4. You might get extra exposure if the e-zine publisherarchives their e-zine on their site. People might wantto read the back issues before they make the decisionto subscribe.5. You will get free advertising. This will allow you tospend your profits on other forms of advertising. Youcould buy advertisements in other e-zines that don'tpublish your articles.6. You might get extra income from people wanting tohire you to write other articles, books, or even ask tospeak at seminars. This is a great way to multiply yourincome.7. You could allow e-zine publishers to publish yourarticles

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8 Procedures to Take Control of Sales and Marketing

The Cash to Cash CyclePart Three of SeriesPart One: InventoryPart Two: Accounts ReceivableNext Week: Accounts PayableWe’re sprinting toward that million dollar mark...and we’re only a couple strides away…Decreasing inventory carried us over the first hurdle, and last week reducing Accounts Receivable sped us through the half-way mark. We’re making great time, so let’s bring on the next mile marker – marketing and sales.Increasing Overall Sales and Marketing EffectivenessIf you are an organization spending $500,000 or more on marketing expenses (e.g. advertising, trade shows, print materials, direct mail, etc.) then STOP! We found it again. Why you ask…? Because marketing has the greatest potential of being very unproductive. In fact, many marketing programs struggle to break even, and actually frequently lose money. So if we increase the overall effectiveness, then we can eliminate 50% or more of your wasted marketing efforts, which translates into $250,000 in cash. So now, let’s see how this actually works in a real-life scenario. Sales and Marketing Company Policy Case StudyAn organization with $500,000 in marketing expenses needed assistance. We examined their sales and marketing process to understand and quantify the lead flow, follow-up, and demand forecasting issues. Then we designed and implemented a process to improve their sales cycle efficiency and tie it closer to their customer’s buying cycles. After the marketing reductions, we then reinvested $100,000 back into new processes for public relations and Customer Relationship Management (CRM), both of which were suffering badly. The metrics we developed reduced their marketing expenses by 60% overall and increased their sales cycle efficiency from 40% to 60% within 6 months of implementing the new procedures. With these new processes and reports, the company now tracks sales cycle efficiency and life-time value rather than just sales quota achievement, as the measure of their sales & marketing effectiveness. The result: an extra $300,000 in cash plus a 50% increase in process capability (capacity). As we have seen time and time again, time can be our best friend, if only we let it. Methods to Design the New Sales & Marketing Process•Improve Follow-up. Only about two percent (2%) of sales occur on the first contact. Eighty percent (80%) of sales will require five to eight contacts before the sale closes. This means that if you are contacting the prospect less than five times or more than eight times, then you could have a problem with follow-up.•Sales Cycle Efficiency. Time kills deals. The speed at which a prospect is converted into a customer and the number of prospects required to make that conversion determines your sales cycle efficiency. So ask yourself, are you taking the right steps to measure and reduce lost sales?•Life-Time Value. How profitable a given customer is over time defines your LTV or Life-Time Value. Companies spend ten times more to acquire a customer than to keep a customer. However, existing customers are more likely to purchase again, spend more money, and therefore become more profitable. If you don’t know your LTV, then how do you know how much money to spend and on which customer segment?•Demand Forecasting. Every customer buys on a cycle. So this means that you should track cycle times and variance to increase the accuracy of your forecasting and the loyalty of the customer. Do you know when your customers need to reorder? •Improve Lead Quality. Do you have methods in place to measure the conversion potential of each lead? Lead generation activities (i.e. forms) should pre-qualify every new lead so that you can take the right follow-up actions for the marketing offer. Strong leads produce strong sales.•Increase Awareness. To keep the sales pipeline full of good quality leads you must continuously increase the awareness of your company and the solutions that it provides. Public relations is more efficient at building awareness than advertising, yet many companies spend wildly on advertising and trade shows while neglecting to fund public relations efforts much at all. Increase your name recognition, not your budget. •Reduce Discounting. Discounts represent deficiencies in the sales & marketing processes, which means that you should use them sparingly. Instead, determine the root cause and then fix the process that’s causing the need to discount. Show customers the added value, and they won’t focus on price.•Train Personnel. Provide your sales & marketing personnel with regular formal training. This will arm them with better product knowledge, as well as presentation, negotiating and selling skills that will improve effectiveness. This will boost both employee morale and the bottom line – a win-win. Control of Sales and Marketing Policy and Procedures Improve your sales cycle efficiency. Reduce your marketing expenses. Tie it closer to your customer’s buying cycles. And take control of your sales and marketing program to let it work for you.Improvement with Well-defined Policies and ProceduresWith well-defined processes and procedures in place, you will increase efficiency by reducing ineffective sales and marketing programs. And, again, we make such improvements to create more cash on hand – all toward that million dollar goal and to cross the finish line.Next week, we will hurdle the final $250,000 mark with the Accounting Payables function – so close you can see it. About the Author Chris Anderson is currently the managing director of Bizmanualz, Inc. and co-author of policies and procedures manuals, producing the layout, process design and implementation to increase performance. To learn how to increase your business performance, visit: Bizmanualz, Inc.
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"Know Your Telephone Calling Habits"

Getting to know and understand your own calling habits, or patterns, can pay handsome dividends when selecting your telephone carriers. Do you make a lot of lang distance or international calls? Do you make most of your telephone calls during the day or night? Do you make your long distance calls throughout the week or wait for the weekend?Knowing the answer to these questions, and following a few simple rules which we will share with you, will help you to get the best value from your carrier and your calling plan. So where do you start? Read on and we'll try to shed a little light on what you need to be aware of when selecting your long distance carrier or other telecommunications providers.1. Ask if there are any special promotions:Don't be afraid to ask your long distance provider if they have any special promotions available. Many times they have unadvertised specials available for the asking. You can also ask other providers if they have any special switching promotions or benefits available.2. Buyer beware - read the fine print:All providers have special restrictions and offerings regarding their calling plans. Many times these restrictions or offerings will be different between their various offerings. Make sure that you read and understand these restrictions and offerings before you accept. If you don't understand something in the fine print then be sure to ask. Reputable providers will answer all of your questions simply and directly so you will understand. If a provider fails to give you clear answers then move on to someone else.3. Watch out for the added charges:The per minute cost is not the only way providers make money. Check to see if there are monthly minimum charges or per-call charges in addition to the per-minute rates. For instance, if a provider charges a $5 minimum and you only make one 10-minute phone call, you will be charged for the $5 minimum - that's $0.50 per minute!4. Comparison rates in advertising can be misleading:You should be aware that some advertising showing comparison rates, such as 50% off normal rates, may be misleading because the "normal" rates may not be the lowest rate available from that provider. It’s the same as getting a 50% discount from a hotel's rack rate (normal room rate). In this case the "rack rate" is their full 100% price that they seldom, if ever, get from customers.5. Check out the provider’s web site:The provider should have detailed information concerning their calling plans, options and promotions on their web site. You might also be able to find support facilities, live help, FAQ's or more as well.6. Strategic partner tie-ins and other promotions:Some providers make strategic alliances with other companies in order to cross promote their products and services. Some providers make frequent miles from airlines available when using their services. You may also be able to find promotional tie-ins between credit card companies, hotels and more.7. Check and double-check:Get in the habit of regularly reviewing your monthly telephone bill. Even the best providers make mistakes and if you suspect that you have been charged in error then call your provider and ask for an explanation.8. Commit your "10-10" codes to memory:If you use a 10-10 service, then you owe it to yourself to become familiar with the specifics of their plan. They all have restrictions that define their service and abiding by these will save you money. I have a terrible memory so I make a little cheat sheet for each service I use that I carry with me. It's saved me on several occasions.9. Time for wireless?:There are many wireless plans from many different wireless providers available in the market today. This industry has matured vary rapidly and many of these plans may fit your calling needs quite nicely.10. Limited or few long distance calls:If your long distance calling is vary limited then you may want to consider not enrolling with a long distance provider. In this case it may be better to simply select a 10-10 dialaround service or use a long distance calling card instead. Make sure you select a carrier or card with no monthly fee and low per-minute rates. If you select one of these options make sure to call your local service provider and tell them that you do not want to have a long distance carrier.Following these simple rules will ensure that you get the best value for your money. About the Author About Global Value Connect:Global Value Connect ( http://www.globalvalueconnect.com ) has been providing the best value in telecommunication products and services for the home or office since 1995. If you want to cut your telephone bill in half register today for our free eBook entitled "Telephone Bill Saving Tips for Home and Office" and is available at: http://www.globalvalueconnect.com/Saving_Tips.htm
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"Big Pharma" is using "Western Medicine" to Destroy America.

Provided as a Public Service by Gary Konigsberg of http://totalitarian-pseudoscience.orgMonday, August 1st, 2005In the United States every company with over two hundred employees is required to provide full health insurance coverage to its employees. Since 1999, when the US FDA allowed "Big Pharma" to advertise directly to the American consumer, the cost of the average prescription drug has increased 500% - with no reason other than greed. The same prescription drugs cost five to twenty times as much in the US as other countries. Because of this, the average cost of health insurance for a family of four, including the amount a company pays, and what the employee pays, is now $14,700 per year. No company in the US can afford those increases in health care costs - so just to survive, at all, much less compete in a word-wide market, US companies are sending their labor requirements overseas - and shutting down US production facilities, laying off US workers, supervisors, managers, vice presidents, etc. In addition, those companies that provided products and services to those factories are having to shut down - with a cumulative effect - the accelerating destruction of the US economy.Worse, is that "Big Pharma" is engaging in an organized campaign to damage and destroy those attempting to change the system - and provide REAL health care for Americans. The operation, calling itself the "Quackbusters" is, I believe, run out of a New York ad agency. Their "bible" is the nefarious website "quackwatch.com," and their "flagship" is the sinking (financially insolvent, and corporately suspended) National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF). I believe that all this is happening because the pharmaceutical industry, "Big Pharma," hates America, and everything it stands for, with a passion...Why do they hate us? Because on June 6th, 1944 the American public, through the Normandy invasion (D-Day), began the annihilation of the NAZI war machine, and the system of beliefs that spawned it. "Western Medicine," as we know it today, has its very roots in the horrible experiments inflicted on the victims by Germany's I.G. Farben, in the NAZI death camps...As a result of the destruction of the NAZI world domination scheme, and the Nuremberg trials, I.G. Farben was broken into four separate companies. Those companies, today, control MOST, if not all, of Planet Earth's pharmaceutical industry. "Big Pharma," in my mind, has never abandoned their disdain for human life - nor their hatred for those that stopped, cold, their intent to dominate the world in 1945.They're back - with a vengeance.But this time the war, although on the surface is economic, has far more victims and casualties.. "Big Pharma," which world-renowned Mathias Rath MD says "is the rise of the Fourth Reich," is killing its victims with gusto. No more "death camps," yet, but our vaccines are full of death droplets, our pharmaceuticals cause more damage than a nuclear attack, our water is full of pollutants (flouride, heavy metals, pesticides, PCBs, benzines, azo dyes, etc.) and "Big Pharma" has bought off network TV news.Even more, the American fabric, itself, is being torn asunder, with the unsustainable costs of the medical system.It's time America recognized "Big Pharma" for what it really is - the enemy of mankind - and does something about it.So, what's the action plan? (1) We need to stop CAFTA, and any other attempts to cancel the US Constitution in favor of a big business controlled world government. If we can't stop it in this first go-around, then we'll have to do it the second time, or the third time.(2) We have to remove "Big Pharma's" right to advertise directly to consumers. (3) We must criminally prosecute industry executives for the deaths, and damages, of, and to, Americans. Merck, and Vioxx, knowingly killed 55,000 Americans, in the name of profit. Thimerasol in even more insidious. Mercury fillings in teeth have been accepted far too long.(4) We need to push to get the Bush administration's new "Health Insurance Guidelines" for America into effect. The Bush Administration, recognizing the overburdening of health care costs to American industry and its employees (the cost for health insurance for an American family of four is now $14,700 per year), wants to change the requirements for "Health Insurance Coverage" from "Full Coverage" to allowing Industry to offer "Catastrophic Coverage Plans" - with employees putting tax-free money into "Choice" plans, where they can spend their health dollars wherever they want...(5) We must ask Congress to pass a bill creating a "Health Czar," for a five year period to investigate, and straighten out, the US Hospital system - the number one annual killer of Americans. This agency must be given the power to criminally prosecute Hospital Administrators, and doctors, responsible for this calamity.(6) We must ask Congress to put laws in place stopping the revolving door between "Big Pharma" and the US FDA. We need the FDA to do what "we the people" intended it to do - not what "Big Pharma" wants it to do.(7) We must ask Congress, and the Bush Administration, to investigate, and vigorously prosecute, the "Quackbuster" conspiracy to suppress innovation in health care. So, why do we need to do ALL of these things?In essence, we need a Health Care "Nuremberg..." We cannot, as a society, permit what's happened to our health care system to continue, or to be able to resurface any time soon. Stay tuned...
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Tim Bolen - Consumer Advocate About the Author Opinion by Consumer Advocate Total Views : 199 Word Count Appx. : 907 See All articles From Author

"AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF THE NEW FRONTIER OF CYBERSPACE"

In this short piece, as we "pioneer in the field of cyberspace", I'm sharing a few thoughts on the place of technology in these early days of the "Knowledge economy", which may be of interest. "I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it." - Jonathan Winters"AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF THE NEW FRONTIER OF CYBERSPACE"by Craig Lock"The next information revolution is well under way...It is not a revolution in technology, machinery, techniques, software, or speed. It is a revolution in CONCEPTS." (Drucker, 1998) ""Money is what fueled the industrial society. But in the informational society, the fuel,the power, is knowledge.One has now come to see anew class structure divided by those who have information and those whomust function out of ignorance. This new class has its power not frommoney, not from land, but from knowledge."- John Kenneth GalbraithBill Gates once described the "Information Age as the "Wild West of Cyberspace." A few years ago, he also said there would be two kinds of businesses in the year 2001: 1.those online and 2. those out of business!What is knowledge?"He who receives an idea from me receives instruction himself,without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at minereceives light without darkening me."- Thomas JeffersonWe are becoming ever-more a "knowledge society" - with the rapid diffusion (big word!) and exchanging of huge amounts of information daily. This makes the sheer volume of knowledge difficult to absorb.We are seeing "little" New Zealand's rapid transition from a pastoral to a knowledge economy, as we are fast "catching and riding the knowledge wave". I believe it's more "an age of wisdom" in sharing information world-wide through the amazing power of the internet.Here in far-off New Zealand (near the bottom of the world), I believe we have an excellent foundation to be extremely successful in the global economy. However, we must move speedily ahead to be a far more"knowledge-driven" economy; otherwise we could become "also rans" in the ultra-competitive global market place.I truly believe that many New Zealanders have not yet recognised that the Internet is the modern equivalent of the 'freezer ships of yonder', that revolutionised our economy last century. As we enter the twenty-first century, the Internet will be our 'key vessel' for reaching global markets from these far-off "sleepy shores". I think that we should be finding new paths for social and economic development. Knowledge is replacing the old sources of wealth and power, as the driving source in the world's most successful societies. We must become a "knowledge export" platform...and that is the vision for my little business, Eagle Productions based in provincial NZ. In effect, we are creating wealth through the comercialisation of ideas. We are utilizing to the fullest, the amazing creative potential of the human IMAGINATION to reach the world."The "digital divide": In the future there will be a widening gap between those with the skills in the new technological age and the "not so well off", those "poor souls", who have not put in the effort to update their computer and technological skills. It is a matter of using our resources wisely in this "digital age."Here in NZ I believe, we need to be driven far more by knowledge, technology, innovation and renovation.The first step is transforming the innovative spirit that allows we "Kiwis" (New Zealanders) to turn no.8 wire into innumerable useful tools around the farm, into a commercial operation. It's simply a matter of "sharpening the pencil" of New Zealand's focus on e-commerce. Refocussing existing economies and enhancing existing products (traditional, such as agriculture and horticulture) through adding value via the world wide web.USE Information Technology with all the amazing powers of the world wide web .With the web and e-mail, we must always keep technology in perspective - by using it for 'ease of communication at the click of a mouse', to make our lives easier and market products and services around the globe efficiently and cheaply in the early days of this "New Age of Wisdom"!Businesses MUST "get with the times" and respond by embracing the enormous international opportunities offered by the Internet. It's either ADAPT or DIE ("a slow lingering death"). Make technology WORK FOR YOU -: for your (and your family's good, your business and especially your country.Craig Lock"The spiritual is stronger than any material force, thoughts rule the world."- the great and inspirational American philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson -Creative Writing Course http://www.nzenterprise.com/writer/creative.htmlThe various books* that I "felt inspired to write" are available at:http://www.novelty-gift.com/andhttp://www.bridgeniche.com/CLOCK/zaniestbooks.htm (Free chapters) * Hard copies and e-books: Fiction and non-fiction, novels on South Africa, travel, humour, inspiration, self help and money books All proceeds go to needy and underprivileged children - MINE!"The smallest-largest and zaniest bookstore in the Southern Hemisphere."http://www.craiglock.comandhttp://www.elkpublications.com/godzone.htm"The nations that will be successful in the information revolution may be large or small, and are unfettered as to hemisphere. Assuredly, however, they will have invested in the critical information, computer. social and Internet infrastructures."(McGovern, 1998)THIS ARTICLE MAY BE FREELY PUBLISHED. P.S: DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE WORLD ENDING TODAY, IT'S ALREADY TOMORROW IN "LITTLE, SCENIC AND TRANQUIL" NEW ZEALAND About the Author Authors Note:Craig Lock has been successfully marketing various products online for over four years.Craig is a writer, who believes in encouraging and helping others to find their talents and gifts, to strive for andaccomplish their dreams in life, whatever they may be. He truly believes people can overcome obstacles, rise to any occasion, and accomplish their "impossible" dream with enough faith and commitment.
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Automatic Internet Marketing and Business Success On A Budg

3 Things You Must Do If You Want To Avoid The InternetFreebee Syndrome, And You Have No More Than $25 To Start ABusiness On The Internet.by Anna MattinglyThere are plenty of free tools online for marketing. Andmany will get you sign ups and sales. This report is not acommentary on the quality of all free marketing programs.We agree some do work. This report provides an alternativeto the "long term" usage requirement necessary in order tofind the free "working" programs. It's purpose also is tohelp eliminate the "seeming" reluctance of free signups toupgrade. It is a way to virally market and to helpeliminate long waiting periods when trying to get saleswhile using free marketing tools found online.1. You Must Ask Advice Before Utilizing Free Tools. Youmight be surprised what you find out and the secrets thatyou can learn.Asking advice instead of jumping right into freebee land(to market online) is the smart way to begin your onlinecareer. Don't be enticed by the online neon freebeelights....The Internet is full to the brim with freeeverything and there are millions of people doing businesson free sites. The question always is, "what does this doto their reputations?" You can learn "Other" alternatives..Seek out entreprenneurs who have experience in starting webbusiness(es) with little or no money. Learn inovativetricks that bypass bad choices. Just visit a forum and aska few questions there.......Here are a few of the more popular groups:http://ablake.net/forum/index.cgihttp://friendsinbusiness.com/board1/index.cgihttp://www.sowpub.com/cgi-bin/forum/webbbs_config.pl?http://williecrawford.com/cgi-bin/index.cgihttp://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/184615http://www.tipsbooklets.com/discussion.htmhttp://msgboard.iverify.com/wwwboard.pl?11385http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/1665902. You Must Read and Research Options On Your OwnListening to advice and believing what you hear are twodifferent things. Because of this, it is also advisable toresearch the difference between paid and free alternativesonline for yourself. After all, how do we really know whowe can believe? While some marketers have used a strongcombination of free and paid advertising to build theirentire self sustaining businesses, many a well meaningentreprenneur has nievely utilized an archaic outdated freeservice and found themselves going around and around in anendless circle with little or no results. This time wastingactivity can be completely avoided by being kind toyourself and getting the facts..3. You Must Consider Reselling Products that Teach Some ofthe Alternative's to None Productive Freebee Marketing.In this way you can kill two birds at once, not only willyou learn of alternative free marketing techniques thatwork much better then tradition free online marketing, butyou will also kickstart a very lucrative income quickly,and eliminate free hosting problems if you can focus yourefforts.All in one packages online offer a possible solution, andyou can get started with your ONLY existing $25 and neverpay another cent..Various Hosting Companies today offer affiliate programs totheir hosting customers. You get hosting, products to sell,and more professional free ways to advertise when you takeadvantage of one of these alternative products. You canactually consider these packages "all in one" onlinebusinesses. Sell just three of these packages and your"hosting business" is free. You could accomplish the featwithin one month if you make sure your first month isdedicated only to selling this service. Since a battle planis given right at the start this shouldn't be toodifficult. Especially if you're one to follow step by stepinstructions.Do a search in the search engines for: All+in+one+hosting+solutions. You'll be sure to find lucrative reselleropportunities attached to your findings.This $25 secret has and is all you need to get startedmaking a living on the internet with no more then $25 inyour pocket while bypassing free advertising pitfalls andobtaining professional hosting...............This is a STICKY "Shareware" Article(what's that? read on...)This article is "sticky" shareware. Give this article awayfor free on your site, or include it as part of any paidpackage as long as you leave the content of the article intact. Thank you!;Copyright © 2004 Anna Mattingly About the author: ========================================================= About the author: Anna Mattingly is a writer and the owner of a number of online businesses. She has published a children's book called Arties Big Surprise which is available at http://ebookforkids.comShe has taken advantage of the principles and concepts outlined in this article by taking part in both the PLUG IN PROFIT SYSTEM and the Third Sphere Business In A Box Opportunity. You can find out more about Stone's "Plug In Profit" Kit and free website here: http://www.incomeboost.com/profit.htmlor by visiting our main site: http://www.lazyliving.comFor information by email: mailto:trafficnincome@incomeboost.com An interactive tutorial of the "ThirdSphere Hosting" Package can be found here: http://incomeb.thirdsphereplus.com/==========================================================
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etikajualbeli: "Seeking Knowledge Will Give You Power"

etikajualbeli: "Seeking Knowledge Will Give You Power"

"Seeking Knowledge Will Give You Power"

What are you interested in? We all have a passion for something. So, what is your passion?Are you actively seeking information about your passion? Knowledge, providing it is correct knowledge, will increase your power.In this century there is an increasing demand for experts in so many fields. Everything is becoming more and more specialized.Let me give you an example. At the turn of the 19th Century, all you needed to do to be an Accountant was to be good with numbers and undertake some training with other accountants. Later, formal qualifications were required. It consisted of a special course called a Diploma where up to a dozen specific subjects had to be studied.As technology increased and finance, book-keeping and taxation became increasingly more complex, more subjects were required to be undertaken, presently around three dozen. The Diploma was replaced with a Degree.Accountants can specialize in general accounting, management accounting, taxation accounting and other specific areas. Employers pay much more for specific talents and qualifications than they do for general labour.So, are you seeking knowledge in your chosen field? Are you updating your knowledge platform on a regular basis? If you are not then you are almost certainly going backwards. This means that you will be rapidly overtaken by others who are embracing new technology and absorbing the knowledge that goes along with it.To succeed today you need to specialize in a niche market.Let me ask you a question. Let's assume that you have created a new and exciting product. You want to patent it to protect your rights. Would you go to any old lawyer or would you seek out a specialist Patent Attorney? Let's say you required a knee reconstruction. Would you ask a normal doctor to perform the surgery or would you seek out a surgeon who specializes in this form of re-constructive surgery? You want the best surgeon, don't you?One more example. If you owned a Nissan motor vehicle, would you prefer to take it to a Nissan specialist mechanic? Or would you entrust the repairs to a general mechanic whose workshop is full of clapped-out old bombs.Finally, don't be fooled into thinking that you don't need to keep learning. We all need to learn on a continuing basis. To achieve more we have to know more. We don't necessarily have to do more but that helps too. Some people get a couple of years of experience, repeat that experience for twenty years then think that they have twenty years of experience. Wrong. They still have only two years of experience that they have repeated ten times. There is a big difference.What are you doing to become a specialist? About the Author About the author: Gary Simpson is the author of eight books covering a diverse range of subjects such as self esteem, affirmations, self defense, finance and much more. His articles appear all over the web. Gary's email address is budo@iinet.net.au. Click here to go to his Motivation & Self Esteem for Success website. Total Views : 79 Word Count Appx. : 502 See All articles From Author

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etikajualbeli: Locked Out NHL Players Skate in the Beer Leagues

etikajualbeli: Locked Out NHL Players Skate in the Beer Leagues

Locked Out NHL Players Skate in the Beer Leagues

The most recent entry of an NHLer playing adult recreational hockey is Benoit Hogue, having fun in the beer-league in Long Island. He joins others including; Matt Cooke, Joey Kocur and Cliff Ronning, who are also featured in this ever expanding article.NHL players are all locked out. They are not allowed to play or sign for any NHL team. They are, however, free to play for any other team in any other league that they choose. Some have gone to Europe and Russia, some will play in the minors, but many aren't playing anywhere. Or are they?As Tom Cochrane once crooned "My boy's gonna play in the Beer League."Benoit HogueBenoit Hogue, a former New York Islander whose name appears on the Stanley Cup, is just one of the boys. After 15 years in the NHL Benoit is now playing for the fun of it. As reported in the Long Island Press, Benoit Hogue, 38, has joined with his friends on three different teams. One of them the Rinx Ratz of the no-hitting Midnight Hockey League. "I have a good time. I love to get on the ice. I love to play, " he says.By all reports he's a class act on the ice, using his skill to make the others around him better, rather than taking over the game for himself.Matt CookeIn February of 2005, Matt Cooke played for the Adtek Rockets out of Burnaby 8 -Rinks in British Columbia. No points in a 5-2 loss but he did manage to get a body checking penalty. Called in as a spare to give the Adtek Rockets 12 skaters on the night, Matt Cooke was playing in a Div 3 game out in Burnaby, BC, Canada. But as usual the stats only tell half the story. Apparently the difference in quality of hockey between him and the balance of the players was very noticebale, and as for his bodycheck, well, let's just say that when you are an NHLer playing the beer leagues, theres always one in the crowd that tries to prove themself against you. Most people would say the open-ice hit was justified. Joey KocurThis 2004/05 lockout isn't the first one where NHL players ended up playing in the Beer-Leagues. The Al Dittrich recreational hockey team out of Pontiac, Michigan added Joey Kocur to their line-up during the NHL lockout in '92.Later that season he joined another Detroit team, the Red Wings. Two years later he returned to the Al Dittrich dressing room and brought with him a token of appreciation - The Stanley Cup.This isn't the only time an NHL'er has joined the beer leagues to keep in shape. Its just one of the rare instances that it has made the press.Cliff RonningAnother instance of note comes from Cliff Ronning. "I was skating with beer-league players -- guys who play the game for the love of it," he says. "I was paying $10 a night to go and skate -- it shows how much I still wanted to play. Playing with guys who were 40 and 50 and never got the chance to play in the NHL was a fun experience. You get back to what hockey really is, where you're playing for the love of the game." The 38-year-old Ronning, signed with the Islanders Jan 9, 2004 as a free agent after sitting out the first half of the season... playing beer league hockey.Cliff was also seen playing pick-up hockey in Vancouver lately (February 2005) as a goalie. The impression he gave was, as a former professional he didn't want to take over the game, so he chose to play goal where he could let his competitive nature flourish. About the Author Glen TrainorCommunications Major, Online Publisher, and Adult Hockey Enthusiast. http://www.beerleaguehockey.com

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etikajualbeli: Recipes From Around the World Right in Your Kitchen By: Pat Schraier

etikajualbeli: Recipes From Around the World Right in Your Kitchen By: Pat Schraier

Recipes From Around the World Right in Your Kitchen By: Pat Schraier

One of the most enjoyable parts of travel is to taste the foods that are indigenous to different countries and cultures.If you judge Mexican food by local restaurants you would miss the incredible variety of moles for Oaxaca, for example. The stews of Hunan province are not served in Chinese restaurants and African food is hard to find outside of large cities.But traveling to all these regions to sample these wonderful cuisines is impossible, so we turn to cookbooks. A newer and faster and cheaper way to do that now is to download an Ebook from someone who is familiar with these foods and has tested each recipe. You can print each recipe as needed and keep the rest in a file on your computer.Here is one recipe from Hot & Spicy Soups & Stews From Around the WorldAfrican Chicken StewWest AfricaServes 4 to 6Note: This Stew is Hot! Adjust the amount of chiles to your tastesIngredients:1 ½ lb. boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces1 inch piece ginger, peeled and chopped½ tbsp. paprika1 tsp. each ground nutmeg, coriander, cinnamon, and allspice2 tbsp. vegetable oil1 14 oz. can tomato pieces2 habanero or Scotch bonnet chiles, finely chopped1 onion, chopped2 cloves garlic, finely chopped3 cups chicken stock1/4 cup chunky peanut butter2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into bite size pieces5 dried chiles, soaked for 2 hours in hot water2 tbsp. red wine vinegarparsley for garnishDrain and chop soaked dried chiles, set aside. Heat the vegetable oil in non-stick stew pot. Add onions, garlic, ginger, fresh chiles, fry until the onions have begun to soften. Add chicken cubes, fry until very lightly browned. Add spices and cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the chicken stock, tomatoes, dried chiles, and peanut butter. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes. Add vinegar and peeled and cubed sweet potatoes. Cook until sweet potatoes are done (20 to 30 minutes). Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Garnish with chopped parsley. About the Author Pat Schraier is anECookbook writer and former restaurant chef/owner. She has been cook

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"5 Ways To Ensure You Will Have a Happy Life After Divorce" By: Karl Augustine

Life after divorce is something that most people who are going through divorce think about. Thinking about having a life after divorce or thinking about how your life will be after divorce, are common because people tend to fear for themselves. In fact, think about having a life after divorce while getting a divorce can be a sticking point for some people because they just aren't sure what their life will "look like" after divorce. Here's 5 things to keep in mind so can have a life after divorce: Life after divorce item 1: Think about your emotional stability...if you wanted the divorce or not, you must face it head on. Divorce is tough and whether you're going through it or your are already past it, your emotional stability is of vital importance because you might tend to be somewhat touchy after going through an emotional ordeal. Keep in mind that your life after divorce can be great but you must admit that you will go through (or have gone through) a trying time in your life. Admitting this and facing your situation head on is important to your emotional stability and critical to you having a happy life after divorce. Life after divorce item 2: Look at the bright side, having life after divorce could be a new start for you! How may times in your life do you wish you could have just started over knowing what you know now? If you answered "many", don't worry, that's a common thought most of us have. Having a positive mental attitude about your new beginning will make a huge difference in how happy your life will be after divorce. Life after divorce can be fantastic and it can also be very tough if you don't remain positive about a what's in front of you. Look at the glass as being "half full" and realize that, in order to be happy after divorce, you must take advantage of the opportunity to get a fresh start! Life after divorce item 3: Surround yourself with people you like in yourfree time. Too often times people start new relationships with just about anyone because they are lonely while getting a divorce or after getting a divorce. Sparking a relationship, romantic or friendly, with anyone and everyone who will spend time with you can contribute to unhappiness in your life after divorce. Stop and think about the people that you spend time with and ask yourself, "Once my emotional turmoil has ended, would I really want to keep the relationship going with this person?". Life after divorce is tough...so, when you're deciding about divorce, going through one, or already have been through a divorce, make sure that you carefully choose who to spend yourfree time with or you may fall into more negativity in your life after divorce. Life after divorce item 4: Make it a point to spend time doing things that you like to do every week. Make sure that you spend time enjoying your life after divorce - don't forget to 'stop and smell the roses'. Some people vent, work, go into hiding, or just plain go haywire after getting a divorce and their subsequent life after divorce isn't as healthy as possible. At least once a week, take the time to go and do something that you really enjoy doing...it will help you deal with your life after divorce in a more pleasing manner. Life after divorce item 5: Set specific goals and implement a plan to achieve those goals. Life after divorce is a tumultuous time, your life can seemingly be 'in the balance'. In order to make sure that you feel good about yourself and enjoy the feeling that accomplishment brings, think about a goal or set of goals that you've always had but never attained. Then, prioritize those goals and devise a plan to obtain them, one by one. Implement each plan and be happy (in fact celebrate) once you've reached your goal. Your life after divorce will be markedly better and healthier if you take this concept to heart and follow it. Visualizing your life after divorce (and thinking about what your life might be like after divorce) is a sound and logical thing to do in order to be happy after divorce. Your life after divorce does not need to be a continuation of the pain you might have gone through or are currently going through. Life after divorce can be extremely liberating if you act based on logic plus positive emotions rather than negativity. If divorce is eminent or you've already been through divorce, take the time to actually plan your life after divorce. Karl Augustine "A Practical Guide To Deciding Whether Or Not To Get A Divorce" An eBook recommended by marriage counselors and relationship coaches to their clients. Click Here ToRead The 1st 2 ChaptersFREE! Life After Divorce Total Views : 173 Word Count Appx. : 829 See Allarticles From Author

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"Bodybuilding Sins" That Cause Back Pain And Missed Workouts By: Jesse Cannone, CFT, CPRS And Steve Hefferon,

Welcome toarticle number 2 in our series “Bodybuilding Sins That Cause Back Pain and Missed Workouts”. In thisarticle we are going to talk about how bodybuilders tend to create massive muscle imbalances and what you can do to not be one of them. If you missed the firstarticle, you canread it by clicking on the link below. Here’s a breakdown of thearticles to look for: 1.Article #1 - Choosing The WRONG Exercises 2.Article #2 - Training Variations for Pain Relief and Maximum Results 3.Article #3 - Targeted Stretching 4.Article #4 - Targeted Exercises 5.Article #5 - Rest, Recovery, and Injury PreventionArticle #3 - Targeted Stretching Stretching can be great, but it can also make existing injuries worse or even bring about new ones! The key to making stretching work for you is knowing which stretches you need to be working on… and just because a muscle feels tight, that doesn’t necessarily mean it needs to be stretched. For example, many people stretch the hamstrings because they feel tight and they think the hamstrings are limiting their flexibility… the fact is, most of the time the hamstrings are “tight” because they are constantly being pulled / lengthened due to muscle imbalances that tip the pelvis forward. As you can, when the pelvis tips forward the hamstrings get pulled upward and are constantly held in a stretched position… And this is why millions of people can stretch their hamstrings every freakin day and never make any improvement in their flexibility…. Are you one of those people? If you are, you need to stop stretching your hamstrings and find out exactly which muscles you need to be targeting byreading the rest of thisarticle… Not only does this forward tipping of the pelvis (which is caused by muscle imbalances) keep the hamstrings tight and make it very difficult to make improvements in the muscles flexibility, but it also leads to the following: • increased stress / wear and tear from the ankles all the way up the spine For example, the forward tipping of the pelvis places uneven pressure on the ankle, knee and hip joints and also many of the vertebrae in the spine. • weakens the hamstrings, inhibits normal functioning and increases the likelihood of hamstring pulls When the hamstrings are constantly being strained because of the muscle imbalances, the muscle is weak, not able to function as it normally would, prone to injury and without correcting the muscle imbalance recover can take up to 9 months to a year, or longer! • creates excess curvature in the lower and middle spine This tipping of the pelvis places excessive amounts of abnormal stress on the muscles, vertebrae and discs in the lower and mid spine and this sets you up for potential injuries to the muscles of the lower and middle back… Plus, it also causes the discs between your vertebrae to wear down and deteriorate much faster than they normally would and this sets you up for degenerative, bulging, protruding and herniated discs along with numerous other spinal conditions like arthritis, spinal stenosis, and the oh so popular sciatica! This hamstring example is just one of many… muscle imbalances are responsible for nearly every ache, pain, injury and condition out there! Here are a few more examples of injuries / conditions that are caused by muscle imbalances and can easily be prevented and/or eliminated with targeted stretches and exercises: • upper back and neck pain • shoulder injuries (rotator cuff) • elbow and wrist pain (carpal tunnel, tennis/golfer/baseball elbow, etc) • knee pain (runners knee, chondromalacia, ligament tears, etc) • hip pain (IT band syndrome, bursitis, etc) • ankle pain (Achilles tendonitis, shin splints, plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, etc) All of these conditions are caused by muscle imbalances and will NOT go away unless you work towards correcting the imbalances… and the only way to know for sure which imbalances are causing your pain or injury is to do a series of physical assessments like the ones covered in our “Lose the Back Pain Video” which is designed for anyone suffering from back pain or sciatica. What the heck is a targeted stretch? This is a question we are asked often and here’s the definition we give it: Targeted Stretch - a stretch or stretching exercise that is chosen, based on physical assessments, to target a specific muscle or muscle group to increase the flexibility and range of motion in that area and bring the bones and or joints back towards the normal position. When you compare a targeted stretch to general stretches like the ones found in Yoga, Pilates and the corny ones your doctor, chiropractor or physical therapist gives you, it’s no surprise they give little or no pain relief and almost always fail to get rid of the problem. Conclusion Remember, the key to eliminating injuries and preventing future ones is to identify what areas you need to target. In the nextarticle we’ll be discussing in detail, how to address various injuries like back, hip, knee, and shoulder pain with targeted exercises. In the meantime, be sure toread thru all of our detailed Back PainArticles and if you have questions, please post them in our Discussion Forum.About the Author: Jesse Cannone, CFT, CPRS, CSPN and Steve Hefferon, CMT, CPRS of http://www.losethebackpain.com/. If you’ve got back pain or sciatic pain, you’ve gotta check out their website! Source: http://www.isnare.com/ Total Views : 192 Word Count Appx. : 906

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Gain Weight Fast With These Ten Powerful Tips ! Part -2 By: James Jordan

By the time you finishreading this you will have the basics down to eating to gain weight fast!If You want to gain weight fast you have to eat right to gain weight! So here we will focus on this crucial yet misunderstood element to gain weight. Gaining weight fast takes much more than just eating though. In following Parts of this course we will cover:Lesson 2:Training To Gain Weight FastLesson 3:Rest And Recuperation To Gain WeightLesson 4:Planning A Routine For Gaining WeightLesson 5:Supplements To Gain WeightLesson 6: Answers To Some Commonly Asked Questions about Gaining Weight.If you would like to receive all 6 parts of this Mini Course to gain weight by email, you can go to here and sign up.http://www.gainmuscleandlosefat.comEachone of these jam packed lessons needs to be applied to your gain weight routine if you truly want to gain weight as fast as you can!Let's now continue with the rest of my Eating Tips To Gain Weight!-------------------------------------------------------Gain Weight Tip-6: Eat "Power Meals" For Added Energy and To Gain Weight.-------------------------------------------------------Power meals is the term I came up for a particular meal structure that if eaten at specified times during the day can boost your bodys abilty to Gain Weight.A power meal is basically a meal which comprises of a quick digesting source of protein and particular energy foods which also digest quickly and help to increase blood glycogen levels as fast as possible. An example of this would be a quality whey protein powder blended with certain fruits.Power meals are for these specified times only. Too many power meals will compromise building lean muscle by increasing fat gain and lowering your sensitivity to insulin.-------------------------------------------------------Gain Weight Tip-7: Eat Foods Your Body Requires For Optimal Growth Hormone Production and Health.-------------------------------------------------------To naturally produce hormones your body requires for gaining weight, specifically testosterone, you need to give it the building blocks it requires. Testosterone is made from cholestrol ( simplified). To gain weight by building muscle you need testosterone. This is the main difference why males are more muscular than females. It is because men have higher testosterone levels than females. To give your body what it requires for optimal hormone production you require the right fats in your gain weight diet.Examples of these fats would include:coconut oilanimal fatseggsEssential oilsbuttercheeseStay away from trans fats and hydrogenated fats!!-------------------------------------------------------Gain Weight Tip-8: Eat Enough Fibre-------------------------------------------------------Fibre is not talked about much in relation to gaining weight but is important for digestive system health and nutritional assimilation. It is also important to keep your digestive system moving and assimilating as much nutrient as it can per day. Kind of like an assembly line! The more production you can get out of your digestive system the more you can fuel your muscles for gaining weight!-------------------------------------------------------Gain Weight Tip-9: Eat Enough Protein Per Meal-------------------------------------------------------It is crucial you get enough protein per day and spread it out throughout your day. Protein requirements have been exagerated for many years in the interests to sell more protein. On the other hand protein requirements are definitely higher for a person or athlete training to gain weight than for a lazy couch potato hunting for his next show with a remote control!At least one gram per pound of lean body mass is required to build muscle to gain weight and up to 1.5 grams per pound of lean muscle mass is optimal for heavy intense weight training. -------------------------------------------------------Gain Weight Tip-10: Choose Your Supplements Wisely.-------------------------------------------------------There are lots of supplements to choose from on the market and 99% of them are inferior to natural food for building muscle to gain weight. Natural food is higher in many naturally occuring vitamins and minerals benficial for muscle growth. Stay away from weight gain powders. These are just empty calories not much different than most junk foods on the market.Supplements that are worth trying are Creatine monohydrate , L Glutamine ( in moderation and carefully) and a good healthy protein powder without artificial sweeteners, colors and flavours( more on in a later lesson). -------------------------------------------------------Gain Weight Bonus: Sample Meal Plan to Build Muscle:-------------------------------------------------------As a little bonus here is a sample muscle weight gain meal plan for 2092 calories per day on your weight training days:Meal 1:--------1 banana 1 cup oatmeal Meal 2:--------1 scoop whey protein 1tbsp MCT Oil*(several tips and recipes are available in my book to add delicious flavor) Meal 3:--------4oz chx brst 1cup spinach 1tbsp MCT Oil* Meal 4:---------1cup frozen strawberries 1 banana 1 kiwi 1 cup orange juice 2 scoops whey Meal 5:---------3 whole eggs 1 tbsp coconut oil Meal 6:---------1 scoop whey 1tbsp MCT Oil* 1/2 cup whole milk Daily Totals: protein 166 grams/carbohydrates 144 grams/fats 84grams/Calories 2092Building muscle and gaining weight is no Fluke! You need to follow the above eating tips to build muscle mass fast to gain weight and combine your eating with an effective and proven training and recuperation program.God Bless!James P Jordanfor the other 5 parts of The Build Muscle Fast Mini Course:Training To Gain Muscle Fast.... sign up here: About the Author Get The full 51 lesson Build Muscle Mini CourseFree bygoing to James Jordan’shttp://www.gainmuscleandlosefat.com Total Views : 185 Word Count Appx. : 846

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Technology in Management

Rapid advances in technology have dramatically been transforming the business management processes over the years. Small and large enterprises today are rightfully pursuing alignment of their business management strategies with technological resources to ensure that the objectives are continuously monitored (Hammer and James). However the utilization of technology to aid management and business processes is not something that just popped out of nowhere. Like any other event in human experience, its emergence has its own roots and developments.
This paper aims to provide a brief discussion on the happenings that may have prompted the emergence of technology as well as the utilization of its resources as far as management and business processes are considered contextualized for the past decade. It will also highlight Business Technology Management (BTM) as one of the advancements of the said period.
The prompts of technology in management
The most distinct and supreme advantage of technology is its ability not to purely add, but multiply effort. Think of the life during 3500 BC prior to the creation of the cartwheel. At this era, if a person wishes to move a number of objects from one place to another, he or she has to perform it one excruciating piece at time. Thus, if he or she has 50 different objects, this is automatically equivalent to 50 painful trips. And, if there was a large distance among places, the work becomes even tougher. Evidently, technology could be utilized in this condition and the panorama was laid down for the design of the cartwheel. All of a sudden, one person can heave numerous objects at one shot. This did not only pave the way for a productive trip, but also made it easier for the people.
This same basic thought started it all. Over the past ten years, motivated, goal-oriented businessmen have been facing business expansion and continuous development. They struggle the odds to institute and manage their firms. Up-and-coming, medium-sized firms come forward and deal with increasing pains that inexorably go together with effective management and success. Globally, well-established corporations go all-out to keep their position and continue their vigilance to keep their competitive advantage. Resembling the creation of the cartwheel, all businesses can make use of technology to work – faster, in less time, safer, in a more predictable manner and of better quality (“The Importance of Technology in Business”). Simply put, technology aids businesses achieve maximum results with minimum efforts.
The Business Technology Management (BTM)
The past decade has also witnessed the birth of an innovation known as information technology (IT) or the learning, devising, creating, execution and monitoring of computer-based information systems, specifically software programs (Allen and Morton). IT involves the use of electronic computers and software to keep and protect data files, convert them or transmit and/or retrieve information, safely and effectively. Nowadays, the term IT has been extended to cover many facets of technology. The term has also been more popular than ever before.
The IT industry gave birth to a rise of other technological advancements related to business and management such as the Business Technology Management (BTM).
Business Technology Management (BTM) is a facet of technology that aims to fuse business and technology decision-making at all levels of a certain organization. (Boar) BTM calls for a set of principles, referred to as BTM capabilities. These capabilities are pooled to develop BTM solutions, where company’s procedural tasks can be managed and enhanced further. BTM also characterizes the company’s projected characteristics according to certain maturity level.
BTM creates connections between formerly remote ways and practices for business technology management by deliberately integrating the operational and communication levels of technology management to guarantee that a business plan or strategy can be carried out by the technology it utilizes. This planned approach is employed by managers to support, coordinate and even pull together technology and business management with the idea of ensuring improved implementation, risk management and productivity (Boar).
BTM deals with four essential management components acting as the building blocks which sustain the continued success of an organization: the process, organization, information and technology. The first dimension, process, necessitates that processes be defined and constantly evaluated to ensure effectiveness and efficiency of the business. The management process is more likely to thrive when strongly held by the right organizational hierarchies from a clear conception of roles, obligations, and decision- making. Authentic, applicable and timely information is a must for effective decision making. This information must be conveyed in a way that is graspable to ordinary people and action-oriented in terms of giving them choices and alternatives. Effective technology, which means efficiently aiding management, can help in linking all the other components. The suitable technology helps make the management process easier to accomplish, though assisting information sharing and enabling consistent coordination within an organization or business.
Works Cited

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Allen, T., and Morton, M.S. eds. Information Technology and the Corporation of the 1990s. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994.
Boar, Bernard. Practical Steps for Aligning Information Technology with Business Strategies Wiley, 1994, pp. 35-40
Hammer, Michael and James, Champy. “Reengineering the Corporation: A Manifesto for Business Revolution”. Harper Business Book, 1993. 156-158
The Importance of Technology in Business. brianshoff.com. 26 November 2007

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