Circulating

This checklist has been designed to help you understand what you need for a great website. Your website is a place that others see what you do and read the testimonials on how great your product or service is. The testimonials provide third party proof you are the expert. Your website echoes your branding and if you are not consistent with you printed materials and your web prescence, your customers or potential customers will be confused. The checklist below will help you to streamline the message you are giving on the web.

What message are you giving on your website? (Is it the same message you give when you talk to potential business partners?)

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What does your website provide in order to gather customer feedback?

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List the companies that you are affiliated with – and mark those where you have listed their company or placed their logo on your site.

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What free service or products can business obtain from your site?

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If you have a newsletter, what is it’s focus?

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What Tips and FAQs do you have on your website?

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Does your company have a BLOG? ___________________________

What types of discussions do you feel would be good for your company BLOG?

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List as many reasons as you can as to why a customer or potential customer would want to return to your website.

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Bette Daoust, Ph.D. has been networking with others since leaving high school years ago. Realizing that no one really cared about what she did in life unless she had someone to tell and excite. She decided to find the best ways to get people’s attention, be creative in how she presented herself and products, getting people to know who she was, and being visible all the time. Her friends and colleagues have often dubbed her the “Networking Queen”. Blueprints for Success – Networking: 150 ways to promote yourself is the first in this series. Blueprints for Success Branding Yourself: Another 150 ways to promote yourself is planned for release in 2006. For more information visit http://www.BlueprintBooks.com

The days where gaming laptops were a specialist market are fading very quick. Sure they were never produced in large volumes but system builders did generate a lot of cash on them. They were the type of laptop computers wanted by lots of people but the price was just too high. They the the most revolutionary technology and simply the best laptop computers. Regardless of the excitement caused I doubt they were amazing sellers because I don’t think customers would buy laptop computers as an alternative to desktops as they were so costly. In the present things vary a lot with larger companies also making gaming portables.

These notebooks have a certain price range and these companies are aware they don’t have to be price aggressively here. This would be a good way to generate healthy margins for them. Little retailers are unable compete with them in persuading potential buyers to buy laptop computers. I’m wondering what the the reaction from local system builders will be. I’m already seeing some price reductions. Plainly what I see taking place here is that the multinational companies reducing prices at first to get rid of the competition from smaller resellers. Smaller system builders cannot even employ a brand name like the bigger manufacturers could.

The manufacturers new laptop computers are receiving a lot of accolades as being the best laptop computers from the press. I still anticipate that littler retailers will deduct some encouragement from this fact. In my point of view being able to select the components you require should be a decision maker. These particular buyers are usually extremely acquainted with the technology and can compare each of the specs by themselves. The fine point are important for this sort of purchaser.

This can be rather advantageous from the consumers view. I would imagine a few price wars taking place in this niche after the early stages. I mention that with a high degree of doubt though. New notebook introductions should prolong high prices. It is tough to tell what will take place now that the large brands have gotten involved in creating gaming laptops.

The characteristics of job applicants have a strong influence on whether or not they get hired. Their characteristics also indicate the level of their productivity. If you are about to hire employees, consider the characteristics listed below in checklist form. The candidates who possess them are probably the ones who will be readily accepted by your staff. This acceptance plays an important role in the team-building process and the productivity of the staff.

( ) Appearance An applicant whose physical characteristics, dress, and presence are pleasant, neat, and attractive sets a positive influence. Caution: Overemphasis on his or her appearance may be a cover-up of some vital shortcomings. Avoid being sidetracked and distorting the evaluation process.

( ) Self-confidence An applicant who demonstrates self-confidence, who appears sure of themselves, who professes a full competence about the job, or who projects his assurance to others, will probably impress the interviewer and is likely to be secure in his feelings about himself and his ability to do his job. Caution: This display is just an indicator; the true test comes during the probationary period.

( ) Fluency of Expression An applicant who knows his job and can discuss it easily wins the active listening ear of the interviewer. This type of knowledge easily impresses most interviewers. Caution: Beware of glib applicants who can use the right terms and expressions, but who have no real depth knowledge. Responsible interviewers usually look for and spot these bluffers. By asking probing questions, they determine the legitimate applicants with real knowledge of the field.

( ) Alertness An applicant possessing a vast degree appeal in this area is someone who is always on their toes. Alert, sparkling applicants see beyond the ordinary, are usually dynamic, and are exciting people who give their all to their job. Caution: Alert interviewers are alert enough to watch for the bluffers.

( ) Maturity Age is not necessarily a factor of maturity. Applicants who are mature do not show self-pity for what they do not know. In fact, they are ready to discuss their weak and strong points so that they may take the necessary steps to minimize their weak ones and maximize the strong ones. Maturity is an attitude, not an age factor.

( ) Sense of Humor An applicant with a sense of humor looks on the bright side of things, smiles when it is appropriate, does not tell inappropriate jokes, responds appropriately to the interviewer’s humor, and does not laugh obscenely. He (or she) is easy to work with and helps to create a positive and motivational workplace. Caution: Beware of the overjoyed applicant who makes a joke out of everything.

( ) Intelligence Although some aspects of intelligence may be measured by tests, the intelligent applicant projects his smarts in a normal and natural fashion. He is sharp, answers to the point, reacts sensibly to the interviewer’s questions, and his responses are clear and concise. Caution: Beware of the faker who quotes statistics and uses inhouse expressions.

( ) Warmth An applicant who enhances the interview process, who connects emotionally with the interviewer, and who demonstrates a genuine concern for people is someone who most likely will be accepted by his their peers, supervisors, and customers. Caution: This very important asset is a major ingredient in the hiring process; but beware of the difficulty of measuring this among all applicants.

( ) Sensitivity to Feedback An applicant who take time to learn and understand the job and the organization, who understands and responds to comments and body language is someone who is most likely to use this characteristic on the job. Their sensitivity to feedback may be another manifestation of his warmth or intelligence. It reflects a person who is tops in interpersonal relations.

( ) Naturalness An applicant who is natural and relaxed probably has a more integrated personality, but avoid prejudging the nervous twitches of the applicant. Caution: An overtly tense applicant’s appeal may be smothered in a series of coughs, or concealed by a case of the squirming interview jitters. To reach such an applicant and to determine what latent appeal exists beneath their uneasiness calls for patience and particular skills on the part of the interviewer.

Use this checklist to help you assess your applicants’ appeal, his suitability for your place of business. The checklist will give you a strong indication as to where his weaknesses and strengths lie. Use it as a guide.

Remember: When you maximize your potential, everyone wins. When you don’t, we all lose.

© Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW

PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in ezines, newsletters, and on web sites provided attribution is provided to the author, and it appears with the included copyright, resource box and live web site link. Email notice of intent to publish is appreciated but not required. Contact him at: executiveandgroup-consulting@yahoo.com when you use this article.

Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Management Consultant and Trainer, conducts lectures, seminars, webinars, and writes articles on his theme: “… helping you maximize your potential.” He offers management, marketing, and parenting resources at his Maximizing Your Potential blog.

The i780 is a really well designed mobile phone and Samsung clearly spent a lot of time designing it. The functional design of this mobile handset is pretty average. With this mobile phone Samsung have produced something which is quite feature rich for the price.

You may find it time consuming looking for the best deal on a Samsung i780, after all there are numerous mobile stores and networks to select from. Try using a site that compares mobile phones to order the cheapest mobile phones .

The ring-tones on the i780 are Polyphonic (64 channels), MP3 on top of which is a vibration alert . At 120 g in weight the i780 is nice and light for a phone in its price bracket. We found the i780 is a small pocket sized phone. In terms of colours this phone only comes in Black. The Samsung i780 is has bluetooth, so it can be used with with a range of mobile devices. The Samsung i780 is compatible with 2G GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 and 3G HSDPA 2100 . The i780 has an integrated 2 MP, 1600×1200 pixels, video, secondary VGA videocall camera. If you use the Internet on the move, you will be pleased to know a WAP 2.0 / HTML, Opera Mobile 8.65, compatible browser is included. In terms of the the display the phone is fitted with a 2.55 inch screen, which is a nice big display for the cost of this phone. The display type on this handset is a TFT touchscreen, 65K colors. The battery usage the i780 is 7:00 talk time and 400 hours standby charge. The battery cell that is supplied with the i780 is a Standard battery, Li-Ion 1480 mAh,. Additionally the Samsung i780 has the following additional features:

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Regardless of being a pretty recent model, there are now far more competing products on the market. This means it is quite easy to find a great bargain on the i780.

Horseback riding has been popular for centuries for a variety of reasons. In the beginning, horses were primarily used for fighting and hunting. The speed of the horse gave people a great advantage.

Later, horseback riding became a primary mode of travel. With the advent of wagons and carriages, people could move themselves and their belongings long distances with comparatively little difficulty.

Today, horseback riding is primarily used for recreation and therapy.

Horseback riding tours are available from and to almost anywhere in the world. From Alaska to Mexico, from Botswana to Mongolia, horseback riding trips are becoming an increasingly popular way to travel.

Many companies offer worldwide horseback riding tours led by experienced guides across deserts and through jungles. Compared to many other tours, such as walking or biking, horseback tours are relatively inexpensive and generally are all-inclusive, except for your airline ticket.

Horseback tours do require a certain level of expertise; there are rides for all levels, but a basic knowledge of horseback riding is a must.

Most programs are not for children, as the rider must be able to handle a horse all day, which requires a great amount of physical and mental strength.

Therapeutic horseback riding has also become popular in recent years. Starting around the 1980s, researchers and therapists discovered the therapeutic benefits of working with animals, especially horses.

Horseback riding is great therapy for persons of all ages with physical or mental disabilities. This type of therapy provides a fun environment to practice new skills and existing skills that people are seeking to improve. In addition, they are able to enjoy the benefits of being around people with whom they can easily relate.

There are many associations throughout the United States that focus on working with people with physical and mental handicaps, so whether you or someone you know is interested in the service, or you would like to volunteer, look for a barn in your area with a therapy program.

Horseback riding has moved from a means for war to a popular and helpful mode of travel to a means for recreation and therapy. Throughout all these changes, horseback riding has remained an exciting and challenging endeavor.

Consider finding a barn in your area to take lessons or purchase lessons for your children; working with a therapeutic horseback riding program is also a positive and gracious use of your time.

Anthony Hallan’s articles on topics related to horses are published at Fab Horse . For additional articles by Anthony, also visit ARE Books .

When electricity prices were low, it was unnecessary to justify the upfront cost of cash required to install solar panels, solar water heaters and similar equipment. The reason was simple to understand – it would simply take too long to recoup the cost of the equipment in the form of lower energy bills.

But that was then. As energy prices continue to go up, the amount of time required to recoup the upfront cost goes down. In addition, a number of state and local tax incentives make it even easier for homeowners to go solar and save money right away.

The dynamics of this economy have now changed though. The costs of installing solar panels is still high, with a typical two kilowatt installation of OVR Solar solar panels costing approximately £10,000 / ($20, 000) in most cases, but special tax incentives and long term energy savings can help homeowners recoup those upfront costs faster than ever before.

Subsidies are also now available. This tax savings can help eligible homeowners recoup some of the costs of installing solar panels and solar water heating systems up front, in addition to the energy savings they will enjoy down the road.

Any homeowner considering the installation of a solar system should be sure to check with his or her state and city to determine what types of tax breaks are available. It’s sensible to look into what help your local authorities are willing to provide. Just Google it to find out what help is available to you.

Breakeven point for your outlay may seem far away at todays prices – but what about at tomorrows?. However, as the prices for heating oil, gas and other forms of traditional energy continue to soar, so too will the desire for energy freedom.

Gold cards and affinity cards are variations on the basic Visa and MasterCard theme. The question is, do you really needor wantone?

Gold cards are a favorite of cardholders and card issuers alike. These cards are usually touted as prestigious plastic, offered only to exceptional customers. Banks like gold cards because they are often more profitable than standard cards. Since you often have to make at least $35,000 or more a year, and have a good credit record, chances are you’ll pay your bills on time.

If you really want a gold card for the perks or prestige, here’s what you should know:

Higher Credit Limits: Gold card credit lines often start at $5,000 and go as high as tens of thousands of dollars. By contrast, opening credit lines on standard cards are often $2,000 to $3,000. What’s important to realize is that many standard cards can offer credit lines competitive with those on gold cards. If you’re a big spender, or anticipate needing a higher credit line, call your card issuer and ask for an increase in your limit. If you pay on time and have sufficient credit qualifications, you’ll probably get it.

Prestige: It’s true that several years ago, gold cards probably did confer some degree of exclusivity upon the owner. For a while, American Express was the only issuer to offer gold cards, and at that time, most Visas and MasterCards looked alike. The American Express Gold Card probably did, then, identify its holder as someone with superior financial credentials. Today, however, there are millions of gold cards in circulation. In addition, Visa and MasterCard issuers have freed up the fronts of their cards so that issuers can design colorful cards. All that means is that gold cards simply don’t make as much of an impression as they used to do.

Perks: Gold cards do offer one thing that many standard cards don’ta menu of perks. These extras include emergency medical and legal services for cardholders when they travel, collision damage waiver coverage when a car rental is paid for with the card, extended warranties, and purchase protection plans.

On standard bankcards, most enhancements are chosen and offered by the individual banks that issue the cards. On gold cards, however, Visa and MasterCard have developed packages of “core” enhancements that axe generally offered on all gold cards. Since the competition among gold card issuers is intense, these core enhancement packages carry a lot of perks.

This also means, however, that if you want a particular perk, you can shop among lots of gold card issuers to find one that also offers the low rate and/or no annual fee you’re looking for.

Keep in mind that most people never take advantage of many of the perks offered on credit cards.

New business owners often miss out on publicity opportunities because
they think it’s a nuisance to talk to reporters. In fact, publicity can be far
more valuable than advertising. Media exposure can give your business
profile a huge boost. You’ll attract clients, customers and recruiters.
More important, you gain credibility as an “expert” when you can post a
copy of a published article on your website, office wall, or portfolio.

Getting attention can be challenging, so when you get a call, be ready!
I’ve been interviewed many times and also conduct interviews as a
freelance writer. Here’s what I’ve learned.

1. Answer invitations promptly. Typically journalists email or call to set a
time for an interview. These days they may post announcements
everywhere from specialized public relations websites to informal
networking groups. Clarify when you are available and how you can
respond to a particular story.

2. Get creative! Before you say, “I’m not an expert in that area,” look for
an angle that allows you to showcase your expertise in a new light.

I’m often interviewed for relocation articles that deal with the stress of
moving. But I can direct my expertise to articles that don’t deal
specifically with relocation. For an article about party sales, I might
suggest questions like, “How can you sell to newcomers?”

3. Translate thoughts into stories. Suppose you’re interviewed for an
article, “Do successful business people really practice positive
thinking?” Puffy statements like, “As a successful retailer, I think it’s
important to think positively,” won’t make good sound bites.

If you can say, truthfully, that sales tripled when you began a new
visualization ritual, you’ve got a story to share. Or if you find the opposite
– success arrived on your most pessimistic, throw-in-the-towel day —
you’ve got another story.

4. Combine candor with care. Writers need meat for their stories, not just
bare outlines. Don’t make a writer tease out details. However, be aware
that you’re speaking on the record. Writers enjoy loose, informal
conversations, and it’s fair game to get you so relaxed you begin spilling
information you wish you hadn’t. When answering tough questions,
choose words that puts you and your company in a favorable light.

5. Never, ever ask to see a copy of a story before it’s printed. That’s a
major taboo in journalism and you’ll come across as clueless. Writers
rushing to meet deadlines rarely have time to share stories. They may
have interviewed two dozen people for a single two-column story – and
they can’t go back and call each one. Additionally, editors have the final
say. Editors can delete whole sections, rearrange stories and change
the writer’s words. Writers themselves often have to grit their teeth and
say, “Well, it goes with the territory.”

Bonus tip: Write a brief email note to thank the writer, even if you’re not
one hundred percent pleased. Include a note indicating your willingness
to be interviewed for other stories. “I also am available for stories on
psychology and family life,” you could add. A real estate agent could
say, “I am available to comment on events and places that attract
newcomers to the area.”

Publicity is worth a whole lot more than the paper it’s printed on.
Become friends with the news industry and treat writers kindly, and you’ll
be surprised at the rewards that come your way. That’s certainly been
my own experience.

I offer one-to-one consultations on career strategy.

About The Author

Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is a published author, copywriter, website
marketing consultant and speaker.
Are you a solo professional who needs to sell yourself but can’t afford to
sound sales-y?
Get my Fr*e Report: 5 best-kept secrets of client-attracting websites
http://www.copy-cat-copywriting.com/subscribe.html

How can one whip up the rankings of their website without be rejected by search engines as fluff?

The rules of search engine optimization and key words seem like a never ending cycle of evolution. There are a few strategies for applying an even balance of relevant content and keyword density. For starters, the following ingredients are required for search engine friendly web copy:

100 percent original content
Well-researched – accurate information
A non-overused key word to propel search engine rankings
A relevant key word density ratio of three to four percent per 500 words

The ingredients appear rather simple to come by for writers and individuals who have a knack for communicating gripping information, online. Unfortunately, a prevalent mistake amongst webmasters or search engine optimization experts are in the compilation of plagiarized web copy or replicated content. Another common blunder is the use of inappropriate key words. (These rules do not apply when a web site offers a directory of articles authored by divergent writers).

Here are a few reminders to incorporate on your site’s key words for search engine optimization:

Use RankSense to help select the appropriate keywords to position your site
Try to use the specified keyword 1-2 times in the first two sentences of the text

In each paragraph, repeat keywords a minimum of twice

Mix keywords with synonymous popular search terms

Keywords should not be repeated within 13 words of each other

Avoid the temptation of overstuffing keywords spiders may penalize your site

In the realm of basic HTML, the regular text should be enclosed within the confines of the body tags, ) or even paragraph tags,

Paragraphs should not exceed six lines

Label images with keywords in the alt text. In example:

<*img src="url" alt="keyword in a phrase which identifies the jpeg or image file ">

In summation, informative copy writing will inevitably compel better search engine results. Not to mention, you will gain the loyalty of your visitor/target market through relevant articles as well as resources.

Don’t forget to whisk the key words until they are refined for search engine optimization.

About the Author

To learn more about achieving results with the right words, visit www.fruitionMedia.net or for more on search engine optimization visit www.ranksense.com. “A Few Reminders on Key words” fruitionMedia.net © Copyright 2005 All rights reserved.

We live in an age that demands an instant cure for every conceivable ailment under the sun and so it’s no surprise that jet lag has joined the band of conditions for which there is the promise of a cure in the form of a pill. But can a pill really provide the panacea to jet lag, or are the results of taking such pills nothing more than imagined.

Jet lag is a common sleep disorder that just about any long-haul air traveler will be familiar with. It is caused by the body’s inability to reset its internal clock quickly enough to bring it into line with local time when arriving at your destination.

For example, consider flying from London to Singapore. You arrive at eight o’clock in the morning local time to start a busy day of meetings or sightseeing. Your internal clock, however, is still set on London time of two o’clock in the morning and is telling you that you should be in bed and fast asleep.

Whatever method you use for either preventing or curing jet lag, and there are many different ways of doing this, the end result must be a realignment of your own body clock to that of local time, if the symptoms of jet lag are to disappear. So can this be achieved with a simple pill?

One of the most widely used pills available today is a homeopathic preparation containing such things as extracts from the chamomile plant and a common form of daisy. Now while homeopathic remedies have a long and well established history, and while chamomile itself is known for its properties in assisting sleep, it seems more than a little far fetched to suggest that taking a pill before you take off will fast forward your body clock some six hours during the course of your flight from London to Singapore.

So why do so many people swear by such pills? There are probably four reasons:

First, we are conditioned to believe that the advance of science is such that doctors can cure just about anything today and so why shouldn’t we believe in a pill to cure jet lag.

Second, different drug trials have demonstrated time and time again the power of the “placebo effect”. In other words, the mere fact that something is being done to combat a condition can in itself produce the felling that it works.

Third, jet lag doesn’t always kick in straight away. We’re all familiar with the fact that a few late nights doesn’t always effect us straight away and that it may be two or three days before our late nights catch up with us. Because many travelers also feel fine for their first couple of days they assume that the pills must have worked. When jet lag does catch up with them, they then often wrongly attribute their symptoms to the change in climate or something they’ve eaten.

Fourth, the sale of pills, of any description, is big businesses supported by big advertising budgets and clever marketing. This marketing extends to jet lag pills and is even supported by studies which clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of such pills. The only problem here is that many of the studies quoted are fundamentally flawed and lack any detail. Most studies, for example, involve airline crews, in particular cabin staff, who are hardly representative of the bulk of the traveling public and might well be thought to have a vested interest in promoting air travel.

It would be lovely if we could just take a pill when we board the aircraft and arrive at our destination with no jet lag. Unfortunately, at least for now, this simply isn’t possible.

Preventing jet lag, or at least reducing jet lag symptoms considerably, is not difficult and involves a little bit of planning in advance of your trip and following a careful, but simple, plan before, during and after your flight. The one thing is doesn’t involve is a so-called magic jet lag pill.

Copyright 2005 Donald Saunders – http://help-me-to-sleep.com

Donald Saunders is the author of a number of health related publications including “Jet Lag – A Natural Approach”. Learn more about jet lag and pick up your free copy of “How To Get A Good Night’s Sleep” to discover how to cure insomnia