Do You Have What It Takes To Close The Sale

You`ve just started your business selling widgets. What is a widget? Doesn`t matter for the sake of this article, but it can be some electronic gadget, fashion handbag, the latest sports gizmo, etc. Whatever it is, you are now in the business of selling it. You know you have a great product, but lack the fundamentals to get it in the hands of a buyer, so what do you do?

In this article we will try and give you some insight on how to sell your product (or service, if you are in the service related industry).

Karen Klein of Business Week said it best, "People buy from people they like and trust." That is the focus of what we talk about here, how you will get your customers, or in this case, potential customers, to like and trust you.

Selling is relationship oriented. It is the process by which you get to know someone or try and get to know them better. John Delmatoff says, "the most common reason for buyer reluctance is that the buyer`s need to make the purchase is inconsistent with the seller`s need to close the sale." Meaning that, if you are in a rush to close the deal, you run the risk of losing the sale. Delmatoff continues, "Try early on in the selling process, asking the buyer to describe for you their purchasing process and timing. This information will go a long way toward keeping everyone on the same page regarding the purchase."

When needed, provide additional information to the buyer. Klein claims, "Sometimes a buyer is reluctant because he or she just doesn`t know how to say no and put a merciful end to your sales efforts." Giving them more information may turn that no into a potential yes. For instance, ask the buyer what additional information they may need in order to take that next step to buy your product or hire your service. Buyers often end up in a frozen state of decision. A state where they just can`t seem to make up their mind, walk away or follow through. Having them provide more information can help you "unfreeze" them if you will, and get you closer to the sale. In the movie "Groundhog Day", Richard Dreyfuss wrote a book called "Baby Steps". That is what you are doing here. You are getting the buyer closer to the sale by moving them in baby steps toward the end goal, which is them buying your product or hiring your service.

You shouldn`t focus all of your effort into trying to obtain new customers that hem and haw over the buying process. In the sales industry they are ususally labeled "slugs", short for sluggish prospects. Klein says, "putting all your eggs in [one] basket will most likely leave you frustrated and without the business you are looking for." Eventually you want to fill your buying pipeline with a solid customer foundation, so that when the "slugs" do roll around, you can use your existing client base as referrals or references, with testimonials etc.

"Pick one niche at a time to focus on and your marketing efforts will be more productive and make it easier to sell [to] each prospect. Many entrepreneurs are nervous about excluding lots of potential clients, but by not doing that they appeal to no one. A potential customer wants to feel that you are speaking to him or her directly, that you know their business, their industry, or whatever their needs are. The buyers can get their thoughts around what you are saying because you are speaking their language," Klein says.

It is no surprise and comes as no genius input that, if buyers know you, trusts you and likes you, they will buy from you. Show interest in your buyer, who they are, what kind of people they are, what they like to do, and chances are your success of a sale isn`t too far behind.

By: Bruce A. Tucker

About the Author:
Bruce A. Tucker is the Associate Director of http://www.Indocquent.com. http://www.Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows businesses and individuals to post their products and services for sale in 20,000 cities throughout 200 countries around the world free of charge.

Is Your Internet Advertising Spending Hitting The $2 Trillion Per Year Mom Crowd

Are you targeting some of your marketing to the "mom blog" crowd? You should be. According to Stephanie Thompson of Advertising Age, "The creation of web blogs that cater specifically to moms has opened up a new avenue for advertisers to reach the demographic, which spends more than $2 trillion per year. There are more than 1,600 mother/family blogs, according to blog aggregator BlogHer."

Thompson says, "It`s a boom time for blogs and similar websites catering to the shopping, networking and shoulder-crying needs of the big-spending modern mom." That spells great news for you if you are a business or individual that sells products or services to the blogging mommy crowd. As luck would have it for you, new moms are always eager to learn new shopping tips and tricks and product reviews for baby.

"The blog world is [ripe] to be targeted", says Liz Gumbinner co-founder of Cool Mom Picks. So much so that she writes a blog that reviews baby items. Gumbinner claims her blog receives 1,200 unique visitors each day.

So in order to reach the mommy crowd, what must you do. There are a variety of outlets to get your product out there, but some people are coming up with more creative ways of doing it. Mommy Track`d founder and CEO Amy Keroes said, ""Our ad offerings are more customized, and more interactive." She continues, "we had a recent promotion with Netflix that tied a giveaway of a year`s subscription to the service to an article on our site about "Sherrybaby" director Laurie Collyer just as the film was being released on DVD."

According to Thompson, "Lolita Carrico, founder of the blog Modern Mom, is beginning to offer big numbers. She launched the site, which is aimed at helping moms balance their busy lives, two years ago. Today, she gets 500,000 unique visitors a month, and has more than 100,000 subscribers to her newsletter. In addition [she] plans to develop other Modern Mom media offline, including testing a concept of Modern Mom moms`-night-out clubs, Ms. Carrico has forged a relationship with nail-polish manufacturer Essie to offer a Modern Mom color (that camouflages chips far more easily than today`s hip darker colors)."

So what will your advertising revenue geared towards mom be reaching exactly? Lets go inside the numbers. According to Internet statistics, there are more than 32 million female Internet users with children under the age of 18. As for "blogHer", there are currently more than 1,662 blogs geared toward new moms, mothers or families in general. Blogads is reporting that the average annual income of the "mommy-reader" is about $70,000. They are also showing the average age of the "mommy-reader" is 29 and that they read about 5 blogs per day.

If you provide a product or service that is geared toward the "mommy" crowd, then you need to get in front of the "mommy" reading blog crowd. With a little creative genius, and ingenuity, your product or service can be in front of thousands of eyes, ready to buy.

By: Bruce A. Tucker

About the Author:
Bruce A. Tucker is the Associate Director of http://www.Indocquent.com. http://www.Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows businesses and individuals to post their products and services for sale in 20,000 cities throughout 200 countries around the world free of charge.

Are You Implementing These 3 Advertising Techniques For A Better Return On Your Investment

There is a famous anonymous quote that reads "When business is good, it pays to advertise. When business is bad, you`ve got to advertise." If you are in business, whether to sell a product, promote an event or let people know about a service you provide, nothing can more true.

The fact is you need to advertise, and studies have shown your advertising must appear somewhere between 5 and 7 times (on average) in front of your prospective customer in order to land a customer.

So what makes up a good advertisement, especially when it comes to doing so on the Internet? Neal Freeman of Ophthalmology Times writes, "Marketing planning is a broad-based procedure. Each of the four "P`s" of marketing (product, place, price, and promotion) must be considered." He is absolutely correct and for our purposes here in this article we are going to focus in on the last "P", promotion, or what most call advertising. There are three types of advertising styles we want to touch on today. Each one or all three can be very valuable when running your next advertisement.

In your advertising you want to be specific. An example of a specific objective would be: "We are offering a 20% discount on all of our widgets if purchased by December 1st." Freeman writes, "Determine what kind of response you seek in what target market in what period of time." That he says will help you better define your specifics.

If you advertising to inform a consumer or potential customer, keep in min advertising is to increase the primary demand or in other words to demand for the product or service you are offering. If a potential customer is informed about your service, chances are they will more than likely choose it from the provider of the information. So make sure your advertising is informative.

Another form of advertising is persuasive advertising. Persuasive advertising builds selective demand, i.e., demand for the service of one particular provider. With your advertising you are trying to persuade the customer that your product or service is the one they should go with.

The third type of advertising we will touch on today is reminder advertising. Reminder advertising is used for services that have been available for an extended period. If the community or customer base in your market already knows of you, then you want to advertise to just remind them that you are still out there, you still offer great services and/or products and so on. Nike is a company that is a good example of this.

The ultimate goal of most advertising programs is to build "top of mind" awareness of your services. Informative, persuasive, and reminder advertising combine to achieve this result. When the patient finally decides to obtain a service, you want to be the provider that comes to the top of the patients mind.

By: Bruce A. Tucker


About the Author:
Bruce A. Tucker is the Associate Director of http://www.Indocquent.com. http://www.Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows businesses and individuals to post their products and services for sale in 20,000 cities throughout 200 countries around the world free of charge.

Three Tips To Write An Effective Internet Advertisement

I am sure you have seen thousands upon thousands of Internet ads for anything and everything. Of course you have more than likely seen your share of terrible Internet ads and the really good ones.
In this article I am going to give three points on what makes up a good Internet ad so you can use it in your marketing strategies.

Start with a hook. A hook, (just like in fishing) is the piece of the Internet ad that catches the readers attention. In the case of your Internet advertisement, it is the headline. A bad headline would be, "Look inside to learn how to make a million dollars in ten minutes". This headline suggests something so unrealistic, no one, and I mean not even the most desperate of people would investigate further. However, "Educational program teaches you how to increase your income", is a much better way of writing the hook. Everyone is looking to increase their income, everyone knows education is a good way of doing that, and it also suggests that it is teaching you how to do it.

Now that the person is "hooked", you need to keep their interest. If you are doing an Internet ad with mostly text, you can use a technique called "salting". Salting is a way to keep the readers interest by telling them of some information and then letting them know you will give the rest to them later. For example, "Our cleaning process uses three steps to ensure the job is done right. In a moment, we will describe what they are, but right now we want to...", you get the point. Now the reader of the Internet ad is curious as to what those three steps are and will continue to read the Internet ad until they read that information. Continually "salting" in your Internet ad, will keep the reader interested to the end.

If you are using pictures, keep in mind a picture is worth a thousand words, but a bad picture will ruin your Internet advertisement and possibly your business. If you are a hair stylist and you are promoting your business and you use a picture of someone for their hair style, yet the picture shows something you would see on a monster in horror flick, chances are, you won`t get too many responses. Choose your photo wisely.

Now that you have the reader`s interest until the very end, you have to close the deal. Closing the deal is the hardest of the three steps, in my opinion, to effective Internet advertising. Without a good close, all of the previous work mentioned is for naught. To "close" the deal, you need to give the reader something to do. For example, "Contact us today and receive 10% towards your next cleaning". This would obviously be followed with a phone number, email, web page, or whatever it is you are trying to get them to respond to. Your reader must be given a way to reach out and obtain the product or service you just advertised about.

If you want to increase your response rate of your Internet advertisement or promotion these 3 steps alone should do it.

By: Bruce A. Tucker

About the Author:
Bruce A. Tucker is the Associate Director of http://www.indocquent.com/. http://www.indocquent.com/ is an online resource that allows businesses and individuals to post their products and services for sale in 20,000 cities throughout 200 countries around the world free of charge.

Tips On Improving Your Customer Base With Your Online Advertising Dollars

Florida Trend recently was quoted as writing, "It is important to learn from friends and enemies because they are the best source for ideas on how and where to advertise to targeted customers. The most profitable small businesses typically spend no more than half of the suggested five percent spending on advertising."

So how can one build an excellent marketing program, especially for your online advertisements? You definitely want to build a subscription base and obtain information from your visitors to your online ad. Studies have shown that customers and ad viewers must see your advertisement on average 7 times. The idea is to make the most of when a potential customer views the ad. Below we are going to cover how to turn your ad viewers into customers.

Focus in on selling the value as opposed to selling your actual product or service. In other words, when a potential customer views your advertisement, sell to them just how important it will be to use your product and/or service.

After building your ad to show how valuable your product or service is, the potential customer should be able to click the ad and go to a landing page or a web-page where you can collect visitor`s information, such as name, email etc. This allows you to keep a database of people who are interested in your product or service. Remember, just because you don`t make a sale, we go back to our earlier statement that you must have on average 7 contacts with a single customer. By collecting their information now, hopefully on the first contact, you will strengthen your chance of converting them into a sale and a lifelong customer.

So you have collected their information and are still not sure what to do with it. Always remember that after someone registers, you should send them a short email, maybe 2 or 3 lines, that lets them know you are thankful for them in signing up and that they will be receiving further information on your product or service. It is not intrusive, overbearing, and most of all not too long to the point where the reader will stop reading the email.

If you are unsure of what makes up a good registration page, keep in mind the following:

Collect the visitor`s email address. Extremely important! Without the email, the rest is all for naught. Email gives businesses a great way to reach their customers, nearly free of charge.

If you are fortunate enough to have a loyal customer base, let the visitor know about it by putting some testimonials down. A testimonial is something that reads, "The ABC product is wonderful. It really helped me and my company in advancing." Obviously this is a very generic one, but you get the point. Put it down, people want to know, that others enjoy your products or services.

By now your company should have a privacy statement. A privacy statement is a declaration by your company that you will not do anything, illegal, suspicious or underhanded with the visitors information and that you are using it for the sole purpose for your company. Provide a link to your privacy statement, so your visitors can read it. It gives them a more comfortable feeling about you and your company.

Round it out with visitor`s name, address and other pertinent information related to your product or service. Try not to ask for too much information. Four or five items should be the most, as any more than that, and you will lose people`s interest.

Upon the visitor completing your registration form, you should give them a confirmation message on the screen thanking them. This is your perfect chance to do what Internet marketers call viral marketing. Viral marketing is a way to have someone who just signed up for your product or service, endorse it to their friends and/or relatives. This can be done by simply adding a link or a button letting them know they can refer your product or service. This will send a small email, addressed from the visitor to the person they are referring.

If building a solid customer base for your product or service, from your Internet advertising revenue, is what you are looking to achieve, then simply implementing the steps above will greatly increase your customer database in a short period of time.

By: Bruce A. Tucker

About the Author:
Bruce A. Tucker is the Associate Director of http://www.Indocquent.com. http://www.Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows businesses and individuals to post their products and services for sale in 20,000 cities throughout 200 countries around the world free of charge.

Apple`s iPhone Allows Consoliadation

The music blares. Loud, obnoxious. In his hand is a phone. Text messages come and go upon its bright screen. He pulls out a device with his calendar on it, checking his appointments. Finally he gets into his car hooking up his GPS to find out the restaurant he has to meet his next client at. Grumpily he wished he had something to tell him how weather was across town.
This is an example of our media-driven society we live in. Everyday we use these devices often ranging from three-hundred dollars and more in their price. Yet as life goes on, so does the demand for these items grow for both luxury and business productivity. When if though, this could all be reduced to one item? And so it has.

The iPhone.

Apple`s newest brainchild. Fully equipped with itunes, SMS features, camera for pictures and movies, and a Safari internet web browser. The phone itself is sleek and simply designed. With a grip to it that almost makes it a pleasure just to hold it, not to mention use it. It is true the touch screen is a fingerprint magnet, but its glass casing makes it an easy clean. The bright screen makes it visible clearly even underneath intense sunlight. A headphone jack allows you to listen to your music or movies as you would on your iPod, or you can use it for Bluetooth just as easily. The feature-rich phone has a calendar and a GPS system built into it, coupled with its weather forecasts makes it an optimum phone for traveling. Not to mention the extraordinarily long battery life.

With the intense duration of battery the iPhone packs, one could watch a two hour movie, play eight hours of music while only draining less then half off the battery. The phone itself outshines its counterpart the iPod in music performance. At 160-192Kbps MP3s can play around twenty-nine hours. A vast improvement from the iPod`s 14-20 hours.

Apple`s predictable artistic bent has not failed them. Along with these mountains of features they`ve somehow piled into the sleek industrial phone, is a versatile and fun way of interacting between them. The iPhone touchscreen makes using it a unique experience. Either vertically or rotating the phone horizontally (Where it will automatically reorient the screen to fit the new angle of how the phone is being held), you will be amazed at how easy it is to use. True to Apple motto, it is one of the simplest devices to grasp how to learn.

The most anticipated consumer electronic product in America has not failed. Coming in at the price of $600, it replaces well over $800 worth of devices it would take to add up the same features as the versatile iPhone. With beautiful industrial design, interface, unique accessibility, it offers an alternative to us media-frenzied people. It lets us stay on the go. With all of our gadgets coming with us in one simple, beautiful, package.

By: Gregory Elfrink
Edited By: Bruce A. Tucker

About the Author:
Gregory Elfrink is a freelance writer and Bruce A. Tucker is the Associate Director of http://www.Indocquent.com, an online resource that allows businesses and individuals to post their products and services for sale and hire in 20,000 cities throughout 200 countries around the world free of charge.

Liposuction And Plastic Surgery On The Rise For Men

If you were asked is it men or women who get plastic surgery and liposuction more, most would invariably say women. Although that is true, the popularity of cosmetic surgery among men in the U.S. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, cosmetic surgery among men has increased steadily since 2001. This makes up an increase of over eight percent. Also according to the ASPS, men received a new record 1.1 million cosmetic procedures. Listed were everything from Botox to all forms of liposuction. In turn that makes male cosmetic surgery a $12.2 billion-dollar-a-year industry.

In a recent article in Men`s fitness, "Surgery goes hand in hand with the rising trend of improving health and fitness. People are taking better care of themselves and want to look as good as they feel" says Richard A. D`Amico, M.D., president-elect of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. "The old myth about plastic surgery was that it was a lazy-person`s substitute for diet and exercise. Nothing could be further from the truth. The best use of plastic surgery is for it to be part of a healthy lifestyle that is lifelong."

Men are still in the minority though, making up roughly 10% of patients. Plastic surgery was once reserved for those elite in Hollywood and for public figures, now with costs coming down, and its popularity increasing, Cora Daniels of Men`s Fitness says, "Increasingly, plastic surgeons are seeing relatively young, fit, everyday men--guys just like Joe--flood their reception rooms. And for men in their 20s and 30s, body contouring of all forms has never been more sought after."

Daniels claims, "Whether you`re overweight or just unhappy with your body shape, coming to terms with the body you`ve been given can be a lifelong struggle. And it never gets easier." Fact is the number of fat cells all humans have is already determined by the time a person hits puberty (give or take a year). When you gain weight you are not increasing the number of fat cells you are just expanding them. Daniels continues, "the distribution of those cells, and how much they can contract, is completely beyond our control."

According to Daniels, "experts say male fat tends to be more localized and less stretched by things such as pregnancy, so if you do choose to go the surgical route, at least you can expect good results."

So if you are a guy and contemplating cosmetic surgery, consider these five things you should know before you take the plunge. "Forget the word cosmetic and remember the word surgery" warns FOAD NAHAI, M.D., president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. His tips are only have the procedure completed by a surgeon certified by the ABPS. Always go for a consultation before surgery. You should also feel comfortable with that doctor, and if you are not, find a new one. Always, always, always get references and see prior work of the doctor you have chose. Make sure the procedure is being performed at a facility that is accredited by the state in which it is being done. Finally, take your time in making the decision. You should be 100% absolutely sure you want to proceed, before you do.

By: Bruce A. Tucker

About the Author:
Bruce A. Tucker is the Associate Director of http://www.Indocquent.com. http://www.Indocquent.com is an online resource that allow healthcare professionals and providers to post their products and services for sale and hire in 20,000 cities throughout 200 countries around the world free of charge.

Wrinkles In Time

Blonds may have more fun, but according to scientific research, they are more prone to wrinkles, than their darker haired contemporaries.

It is impossible to prevent getting wrinkles but there is plenty you can do to reduce the amount of them, and lessen their appearance.

Let`s start with diet. several medical journals and articles have proven that diets rich in omega-6 fatty acids, such as linoleic acid, found in sunflower and safflower oils, as well as many nuts, is linked to less drying and thinning of the skin, which causes wrinkles. Other omega-6 heavy hitters, include flax seed, fish and olive oils.

Vitamin C as we all know, is excellent for the skin and studies show that those who had a diet containing vitamin C have less wrinkles, than those who were lacking it in their diet. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that has been linked to the production of collagen, the key to skin elasticity.

Vitamin A as well, is a dermo-friend, which can be found in many fruits and vegetables.

Proper hydration is the most obvious ally to less wrinkled and healthy appearing skin.

So, start reading labels and seeking out foods that are rich in anti-oxidants, and vitamins A and C, and incorporate these into your diet, as well as increasing your daily intake of water, will help limit the amount of wrinkling.

Besides diet, there are many cosmetic treatments to help minimize wrinkling and improve the appearance of your skin.

Wrinkles fall into 2 categories-fine surface lines and deep furrows. The fine line wrinkles are the more shallow of the two, and the easiest to address without surgery. Needless to say, always consult a physician before attempting any of these procedures.

A glycolic peel, which is the most innocuous of all treatments, can make a very slight difference in the appearance of fine line wrinkles. Peels using salicylic and trichloroacetic acids can penetrate deeper, but come with a greater chance of side effects such as changes in skin coloration.

Microdermabrasion is a sanding of the surface of the skin, using silica or aluminum crystals.

Dermabrasion in comparison, is an actual surgical procedure, usually applied with a sander like mechanism, and used with general anesthesia. The effects of dermobrasion can be significant.

Laser resurfacing is a procedure similar to dermobrasion, but utilizes laser for more precision and reliability. Newer technology has resulted in other lasering treatments, such as Fractional resurfacing, and Non-ablative laser resurfacing.

Botox is a familar treatment for wrinles, that works by using botulinum toxin to paralyze the muscle in the forehead that produce the deep furrow lines, as well as other wrinkle prone sights on the face.

The newest introduction to the war on wrinkles are fillers, like Restylane and Juvederm. they do exactly what they say, they are injected to plump up the wrinkles, and can last six months or longer.

Needless to say, smoking is a major contributor to wrinkles, and quitting is the only way around that one.

Lastly, cover up. The sun is the biggest cause of wrinkles. So load up on a moisture rich skin cream, that has an SPF of at least 30. A moisturizer with alpha hydroxy will also help protect your skin from wrinkles.

Sleeping on your side, believe it or not, is also linked to wrinkles, so flip over and try to sleep face up. If you`re a devout side sleeper like myself, than invest in a satin pillowcase, to help the skin move more freely as you slumber, and dream of smooth skin (hey, visualization can`t hurt either).

By: Christina Grimes
Edited By: Bruce A. Tucker

About the Author:
Christina Grimes is a freelance writer for http://www.Indocquent.com. http://www.Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows health care providers and manufacturers to post their products and services for sale and hire in 20,000 cities throughout 200 countries around the world free of charge.

Controlling Your Diabetes

Diabetes was noticed by primordial civilizations and even treated in the Middle Ages; however the specific cause of this disease remains a mystery to modern day science. Also for unknown reasons, rates of diagnosis steadily increased over the last 20 years and the American Diabetes Association now declares diabetes an epidemic.
Adequate care and funding for years was substandard despite the spike in diagnosis - and only recently has the bar been raised to where it is today. Through grassroots efforts, both international and national, the standard of care has been raised. This has been vital in the life expectancy, quality of life and equal opportunity employment for those affected by the disease.

The disease is not to be taken lightly as resulting complications can include but are not limited to heart disease, blindness, nerve damage, kidney damage, and blood vessel damage. A dedication to rigid management and control is the fundamental armor needed for the daily battle against the disease.

Diabetes is a physiological syndrome in which the body does not produce or adequately use insulin; the vital hormone needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy. Climbing rates and jumping statistics now lead researchers to believe that genetics is not the only role in a diabetes diagnosis. Obesity, specifically a “Western-diet,” may be key players in this potentially debilitating disease.

Whether newly diagnosed or a life long diabetic, it is never too late to begin a diabetic care regimen. As an active participant in their own health care, the patient should work out a detailed health plan stating diet and exercise requirements, as well as consistent intake of pills and insulin. Specifically, managing the body’s blood glucose level and keeping it as close to normal as possible helps patients feel better in their day to day life and reduces the risk these long term complications.

Every patient should have a blood glucose meter, using their doctor’s guidance in choosing such a tool. This meter gives a blood glucose level at any one time and the number on the monitor should be documented. Keeping a log of these levels is an essential addition to the process; the pattern can potentially shed light on the body’s response (or lack of) to treatments. Changes can then be made accordingly and systematically.

Medical management of diabetes, for many, is not as frustrating as the emotional management. Meters and tools spit out numbers, levels and percentages – tangible, comprehensible data that can be adjusted. These numbers however, if not up to par, can trigger feelings of anger, depression, and frustration within the patient.

Patients should always keep in mind that numbers and levels should not be used as the mode for judgment. They are simply a way to track patient care plans and do not reflect the person behind the disease.

However, this is always easier said than done. The American Diabetes Association maintains a thorough website loaded with information and should be used as an available tool for gaining knowledge and support (www.diabetes.org ). For many diabetics, as well as their loved ones, volunteering in the fight against diabetes is a rewarding way to gain control and find community support. Gaining power over diabetes is not only physically beneficial, but mentally and emotionally stabilizing.

By: Maryann Loprete

About the Author:
Maryann Loprete and Bruce A. Tucker(editor) are freelance writers for http://www.Indocquent.com. http://www.Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows health care professionals and businesses to promote their products and services in 20,000 cities throughout 200 countries around the world.

ONLINE SHOPPING ON YOUR CELL PHONE

Whether it is eBay, Amazon, Indocquent or the slew of other online marketplaces out there, you have probably done some shopping over the internet. Time magazine recently estimated that nearly $51.5 billion dollars was spent in the United States last year, shopping online.

With more cell phones allowing access to email, web surfing and of course text messaging, it comes as no surprise that the online marketplace would take advantage of it.

“It was a no-brainer transition,” claims Bruce A. Tucker. The Assistant Managing Director of Indocquent.com, an online marketplace that allows businesses and individuals to post their products and services for sale, says, “Consumers today want to be informed of products and services that come on the market and go on sale, right away.” Tucker continues, “the ability to deliver a message or link to that product or service, via someone’s cell phone, gives us the ability to reach consumers anywhere in the world at anytime.”

Some shoppers claim that this may lead into more annoying spam type of messaging or an equivalent to cell phone telemarketing, however, Tucker says, in the case of Indocquent, users will only receive this information if a consumer specifically requests it from the web site.

Who knows where this technology will lead us into, but if you are a shopping enthusiast, I am sure this is a service you could definitely use.

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Mobile And Cellular Phones Moving Towards Having Motion Detectors

We all know what motion detection is. I am sure you either own or have seen such items as motion detecting lights and doors. Up until recently that technology was mostly reserved for making life a bit easier at your supermarket so the door opens for you, or safer at home, when you walk to your front door at night and lights go on so you aren`t standing there in the dark looking for your keys. With the introduction of Nintendo`s Wii video game system, never before has the consumer seen the use of motion detection for just pure pleasure.
In the Nintendo Wii, a game user will motion with their hands, arms etc., with the controller in their and the game system will pick up that motion, transferring it to what is on the screen. It is this same technology that is now starting to be implemented into cell phone use.

According to Amanda C. Kooser of Entrepreneur magazine, "motion sensing devices that use accelerometers aren`t new." Accelerometers are measuring devices for specific external forces. "However, integrating them into cell phones has been slow going," Kooser claims.

One company that is hoping to speed the process up of getting the technology to market is GestureTek. They make a product called EyeMobile, that is used in gesture recognition. The eye mobile links up with your cell phone`s camera to help detect motion. With that motion detection it simulates many features you currently do by hand, such as scrolling, turning pages and so on.

After speaking with with Francis MacDougall, Kooser says, the cofounder and CTO of GestureTek claims, "The idea of making a much more intuitive way to access the phone`s functions without having to access all of those small buttons is the major advantage."

According to Kooser, Verizon is currently the only cell phone servce provider that uses some sort of motion detection in their phones, but it is used mainly for games that come with it. In the no to distant future, motion detection for your cell phone will enable you to surf the web easier, browse photos, navigate maps, zooming for various applications and so much more.

The idea behind using motion on cell phones is to make them "more user friendly for increasingly advanced applicaions," Kooser says.

By: Bruce A. Tucker

About the Author:
Bruce A. Tucker is the Associate Director of http://www.Indocquent.com. http://www.Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows cell phone carriers, manufactures and suppliers to post their products and services for sale and hire in 20,000 cities throughout 200 countries around the world free of charge.

Job Market Grows, Salaries Are Steady

According to the 2007/2008 U.S. Compensation Planning Survey from Mercer HR Consulting, "Despite the strengthening economy and growing job market, salary increases will remain steady in 2007 and into 2008." We will discfuss some of those rate increases later in this article. The survey included responses from more than 1,000 employers across the United States with pay practices for more than 12 million workers.
The survey showed that employers in the U.S. will award, on average, a pay increase of about 3.8 percent. According to previous data this is just a little more than the 3.7 percent awarded in 2006. According to Stephen Miller of HR Magazine, "Mercer is projecting that pay increases will remain flat at 3.8 percent in 2008." A finding, Miller claims, "is in line with the World at Work Salary Budget Survey, which found U.S. companies planning an overall salary budget increase of 3.9 percent in 2008."

Employers across the U.S. are still a little leary on increasing payroll, which will increase their budget, shrinking their bottom line. In return, employers have shown to place a greater emphasis on company top performers by offering performance incentives, which will be discussed in a little bit.

According to Mercer`s survey, employees who are considered high performers will receive an average increase of about 5.7 percent, those that are considered average will receive about 3.5 percent and below average performers will receive a mere 1.7 percent. All of these figures of course are for 2007.

Incentives are a great way to motivate and keep your top performers as well as get the average and below average employees to perform even better. The Mercer survey revealed a variety of difference incentives. For example, higher performing managers are expected to receive payouts in bonuses of around 27 percent while below average performers will only receive 10 percent. A huge differential, and definitely a motivator.

Steven E. Gross, global leader of Mercer`s performance and rewards consulting said recently in HR Magazine that, "Incentives are a useful tool for supporting high levels of performance with out increasing the fixed cost of base pay."

The survey also showed that 86 percent of companies did offer short term incentives and since 2004, 22 percent have increased employees eligible for these incentives, and that payouts, on average are higher then in previous years when the survey was conducted.

The Mercer HR Consulting Survey revealed the following statistics for budgeted pay increases for 2007 and 2008.

In 2007 All Employees will receive an average of 3.8 percent, executives 4.1 percent, management, 3.8 percent, professional (sales and non-sales) 3.8 percent, clerical/office, 3.7 percent and trades/production/service receiving 3.6 percent. In 2008, some budgets will increase while a couple stay the same, with only executives showing a decrease. For example, all employees, office/clerical and trade/production/service will remain steady in 2008 with their same increase in 2007, executives and professionals will drop from 4.1 to 3.9.

One thing is for sure, the job market is on the rise, but with a slumping economical market in some areas, it looks like employers are still a little leary about that bottom line until they know their respective industries are booming again.

By: Bruce A. Tucker

About the Author:
Bruce A. Tucker is the Associate Director of http://www.Indocquent.com. http://www.Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows consulants, employers, and employees to post their services and resumes for hire in 20,000 cities throughout 200 countries around the world free of charge.

Master The Art Of Digital Photography

Digital Photography is all the rage when it comes to taking pictures. Unlike convential cameras, the 35mm variety, you are able to view pictures immediately after you take them, decide whether or not you want to keep them and so much more. Also unlike 35mm cameras, digital cameras give you the ability to store your photos on a memory card, giving you the potential of taking literally hundreds of photos without running out of film.
The biggest advantage of digital is its flexibility. You will no longer need to carry separate cameras to shoot in black and white or color. Most digital cameras come with a knob or digital menu that allow you to choose how you want the picture to be taken. Additionally, digital is the only format that allows duplication with no loss of quality.

Digital photographs can be easily shared through email, jump drives and through the internet with onlin photo galleries where you can send share links to friends that allows them to view the photos or a slide show. I personally use Kodak Gallery.

In this article I want to give you digital photography enthusiasts some tips on making your experience as an amateur (who knows maybe some pros also) digital photographer even better.

If you are into digital photography, acquaint yourself with a product called Adobe Photoshop. You may have already heard of it, but for those who haven`t this is a powerful piece of software that allows you to edit your photos to your wildest imagination. To give you an example, you can make pictures more clear, and add words. These are just a few of the basic items you get with Photoshop. With the release of Photoshop Lightroom you now have a professional photo management system for your digital photographs. According to Rob Schoeben of Apple Computers Inc., "the Photoshop Lightroom is about pulling the beauty out of image. The new program helps users to browse and manage images."

With any type of camera you will need a good lense. Without going into specific brands here are a couple of tips. Zoom lenses used in most digital cameras are insufficient for nature photography. Prime lenses offer the highest optical quality to digital photographers and Super zoom cameras are perfect to capture a sporting event.

As with all hobbies and other subjects you can find a variety of tutorials and books on digital photographty. Some include, "The Perfect Picture," by Bryan E. Peterson which offers beginners a strong foundation from exposure to composition on DVD format, "SureShot System" is another DVD course from Big Picture Enterprises. The short course "Fundamentals of Digital Photography: Getting the Most Out of Your Digital SLR" includes audio CDs.

The power of technology has lent itself to make digital photography a wonderful and enjoyable hobby for all. With these tips and further educating yourself on the matter, you can snap (or is it record?) your favorite photo and make it look like a pro took it, in no time.

By: Bruce A. Tucker

About the Author:
Bruce A. Tucker is the Associate Director of http://www.Indocquent.com. http://www.Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows digital camera retailers, providers, manufacturers and photographers to post their products and services for sale in 20,000 cities throughout 200 countries around the world free of charge.

The Internet Has Come A Long Way For Users And E-Commerce

Believe it or not, the Internet (in its earliest form) dates back nearly 4 decades. Ok we all know it was just a network of computers for the government sharing data, but it has evolved into so much more.

Today, on the internet, you can buy just about anything, get news content on any subject, and of course, the internet lets the small business owner compete with the big guys by offering a global marketplace of like no one has ever seen.

Through it all, what has been the biggest advances of the internet, especially related to eCommerce? Well you are in luck. The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) unveiled a list of the significant ecommerce developments during the past decade.

Here we feature some of the items from their list starting with the earlies developments, up until today.

The year was 1997 and the dot com explosion was upon us, or at least on the cusp. In this year the world saw the creation of Amazon, open standards for HTML (4.0) and the creation of Wi-Fi. Amazon was that mentor for other sites to look up to. They basically started a revolution by which you can purchase books online with their ease of use web site. Amazon was known to be one of the first websites to start eCommerce.

The company responsible for making sure web developers follow, or at least try to follow a set of standards is known as the World Wide Web Consortium. It is not a private company or government somewhere in the world, they make sure HTML, the language by which websites appear on your web browser (a basic definition) is followed and standardized. According to Scott Koerwer of Information Today, "This open standard allows entire industries to grow as a benefit to everyone."

Unless you live in a cave (and even then that is not enough anymore), you probably have heard of search engines. I am sure you have heard of Google. Well Google was launched in September of 1998, and has grown to be a multi-billion dollar business. According to the SIIA, "Google is now used by 30 percent of Internet users for services including maps, email, blogs, and video, and is listed as their #1 item that has changed the way people use the internet."

However no one can ignore the fact that in order for the internet to be successful, web surfers must be able to get to their content up on their screen and get it there quickly. On this notion, up steps broadband. The once very expensive and highly remote service available to customers, is now the norm in the industry for internet users and according to the SIIA, "Broadband Penetration of U.S. Internet Users Reaches 50 percent in June 2004. It took broadband 4 years to reach 50 percent of the population. By the end of 2007, the number will reach an estimated 90 percent." Resulting in more websurfers getting to where they need to go, and in a hurry.

So what does the future hold? YouTube, mobile websurfing, SMS, web 2.0 and many other technologies currently exist, and are being upgraded as well as expanded daily. One thing is for sure, the internet is constantly evolving, and if you aren`t keeping up with the times, you are sure to fall behind.

By: Bruce A. Tucker

About the Author:
Bruce A. Tucker is the Associate Director of http://www.indocquent.com/. http://www.indocquent.com/ is an online resource that allows web surfers and internet businesses to post their products and services for sale and hire in 20,000 cities throughout 200 countries around the world free of charge.

Scholarships For Your Children That Are Not In The Main Stream

We all want our children to go onto college and get a great education, but the ever daunting task, of how does one pay for this besides the use of college loans. One route are scholarships. Believe it or not there are a variety of scholarship programs that your child may qualify for, we list some of them here.

Regardless of how you feel on the imigration subject, one thing is for sure Mexicans are now doing their part of helping fellow Mexicans back in their home country, to stay, there get a good education and hopefully build up the country, or at least so says a recent report in Newsweek.

The report says that Mexican migrants in the U.S. are funding scholarships in Mexico so people there will not feel they have to leave. The scholarships are organized and run by the non-profit organization Grupo Indaparapeo. The funds help college scholarships for Mexico`s youth, giving them money for books and transportation that, according to the report, "the Mexican government is willing to match."

If it is sports scholarships that peak your interested you`ll be happy to hear of a recent report in Sports Illustrated where, "high school football players specializing in placekicking is on the increase." The report continues to say that, "Universities are beginning to hand out more scholarships for talented placekickers, leading to the surge of interest in the position." Joe Lemire or Sports Illustrated his findings show of one such individual who took advantage of this offer. "Blair Walsh received offers from schools such as Alabama, Florida, and Georgia following his junior year performance," claims Lemire. "In contrast, Chris Sailer was one of only a dozen high school kickers and punters to receive a scholarship in 1995." Showing that the increase for this positions is on the rise.

So maybe your child is not the next great athlete coming out of high school, but without a doubt has the grade to get an academic scholarship. Look into ones that are in the mainstream as noted by the Chronicle of Higher Education. In their March 2007 issue they list private donations and funding for education and research. According to the article, "The William Randolph Hearst Foundation in New York city endowed two scholarships, one at Bethune-Cookman University and the other at Oberlin College." They also mentioned that "The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in Princeton, New Jersey donated to the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque to establish a national center for health policy." They also mentioned private donations for scholarships noting that, "Mariann MacDonald donated to the University of Pennsylvania to create a professorship in breast cancer care at the Abramson Cancer Center."

These are just a few of the scholarship avenues you can look into. Not all scholarships present themselves in such a way that are black and white. Sometimes you have to go after them in a different manner. As always discuss options and opportunities with counselors at your child`s school as well as individuals in the proper departments at the colleges or universities your child may attend.

By: Bruce A. Tucker

About the Author:
Bruce A. Tucker is the Associate Director of Indocquent.com. Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows colleges and universities to promote programs, admissions and other services in 20,000 cities throughout 200 countries around the world free of charge.

Study Reveals Surprising Results In Comparing 3 Anti-Spyware Programs

PC World Magazine just conducted a wonderful test study on several antispyware tools, to see how they matched up against the latest "infections" on the web. We feature three of those here and their results.

The antispyware tools that were tested were Grisoft`s AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5, Microsoft`s Windows Defender 1.1, and PC Tools` Spyware Doctor 5.0. They were run through a gammit of tests to detect whether or not the products can not only find and detect adware and spyware, but be able to clean them from your computer and registry.

They marked "Spyware Doctor 5.0" as the best buy. According to Ryan Naraine of PC World, "Spyware Doctor did an excellent job identifying and uprooting adware". Naraine claims the results in regards to spyware were "less than impressive", but were still better than the other products tested. Naraine says, "Spyware Doctor detected 81 percent of inactive adware samples and 100 percent of active adware samples, and it successfully removed almost all of the active adware samples." Spyware Doctor also classifies ad tracking cookies as spyware which, according to the test, flagged some items from sites like Google, Yahoo and the New York Times. It does lend itself to some areas of improvement, but for $30, you can`t go wrong.

The next product tested was AVG`s Anti-Spyware 7.5. According to testing the product faired well in uncovering known adware and spyware, detecting 19 of 20 of them, with the only one not found being the Banbra Trojan Horse, which shocklingly is the one that attempts to collect banking information. Even though the test showed that AVG deactivated 50 percent of the spyware files and registry entries, it only cleaned about 30 percent of them. Naraine says, "AVG Anti-Spyware is easy to use, with self-explanatory icons at the top of the main interface. On the downside, it lacks antiphishing protection to keep you from going to fraudulent financial sites looking for personal information, and it has no POP3, IMAP, and SMTP scanning to block e-mail-borne spyware threats. Also, you can`t set a system restore point in case you accidentally delete critical files during a disinfection routine."

Spy Sweeper 5.5 was next on the list, and as Naraine puts it, "Things have changed for the worse with version 5.5. The software demonstrates excellent behavior-based detection capabilities, but we were disappointed at how the program struggled to remove adware and spyware from the test PC." The testing showed the program only detected 85% of bad files and registry entries, and get this only 2% of ones relating to banking, and only cleaned up 25% of the adware problems and even worse 15% of spyware.

You would have thought, with Microsoft being the large corporation that it is, and having access to the underlying operating system level, it would have faired well. Apparently, the operating system level developers, do not allow the anti-spyware programmers to talk to them, I am just kidding of course. Microsoft`s Windows Defender version 1.1 ships free with Vista, and can be downloaded from their website if you are running XP SP2. In tests the program detected 50% of the infected files, mostly adware, and was able to remove 55% of the files and registry entries, according to the study. However, Naraine says, "In our tests the program neither detected nor disinfected the ten active spyware threats we introduced. It detected only 7 percent of the inactive password stealers we threw at it." The tests also showed that it did do a nice job with recognizing changes to the registry as well as to IE, but the test also showed that if spyware gets past its first line of defense, you will still need another product to clean it up.

You have some options depending on what you want to spend, and how much hassle you want to go through, however, you will want to implement some kind of protection if you plan on using your computer to surf the net, and of course...who doesn`t.

By: Bruce A. Tucker

About the Author:

Bruce A. Tucker is the Associate Director of Indocquent.com. Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows anti-spyware retailers, providers and manufacturers to post their products and services for sale in 20,000 cities throughout 200 countries around the world free of charge.

Google is set to develop its own mobile telephone and wireless Internet device to rival that of Apple’s iPhone. The technology community's nickname for the Google project is called gPhone. However it is not creating the telephone for sale, but they are hoping to persuade wireless communication systems and cellular telephone makers to use their own software in this device.

The plan of action is to have Google offset the advertising costs of manufacturers to make the devices more appealing to companies to climb on board.

According to Byron Acohido of the USA Today, “Google's widely anticipated -- and top secret -- GPhone mobile phone project could trump Apple's glitzy iPhone -- by going low cost and low tech.”

Google recently acquired Finnish company Jaiku who held a number of Short Message Service Patents (SMS), which is the technology that enables the exchanging of short messages between cell phones.

Google currently holds a 29% share of the US Market over 16% to Yahoo according to internet marketing research firm eMarketer, and would like nothing more than to control the mobile device market such as cell phones, blackberry’s and more, including their own GPhone.

On this news Google’s stock rose to a whopping $600 per share recently, speculating that Google’s profits may climb to as high as 50% over last year’s numbers.

Acohido reports that, “Richard Doherty, research director at The Envisioneering Group, claims Google is driving toward getting device makers to produce basic handsets equipped with a "Gbutton" that takes users right to a Google texting screen.” According to Doherty, “Their goal is to get GPhone texters in the habit of querying its vast databases for directions, phone numbers, movie times or restaurant tips and woo advertisers to sponsor GPhone-delivered answers.”

Apparently the hush-hush top secret project by Google (said tongue in cheek of course), is already in a phase where a model is being designed with rumors abound that includes a Google browser and access to Gmail and YouTube (both of which are Google operated).

The first question that all consumers will ask is of course, the cost. As we all remember the iPhone was introduced at a whopping price of around $600, only to have weeks later, Apple irritate its customers by dropping the price $200 after the initial buzz of the device wore off.

Google insiders claim that the GPhone will be offered at a fraction of the cost of the iPhone, Blackberry and Palm Trio. The reason why they can offer it low is Google’s ability to offer advertising to companies, but one drawback according to Acohido, “cell phone carriers want a cut of the advertising revenue”. A cut that many say Google isn’t ready to let go, just yet.

Although nothing has been released as far as an agreement between Google and a cellular provider, manufacturers are said to have devices ready to go and according to Acohido, “could be ready to be on the shelves in a matter of weeks.”

The Gphone will be aimed to the younger consumer, so if you are an early 20-something or you have teenagers, chances are this may be the next hot item on it’s way just it time, of course, for Christmas.

By: Bruce A. Tucker


About the Author:

Bruce A. Tucker is the Associate Director of Indocquent.com. Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows cell phone retailers, providers and manufacturers to post their products and services for sale in 20,000 cities throughout 200 countries around the world free of charge.

The Computer Software Industry is Forever Changing

The computer software industry is an ever chaning environment. Companies and people demand that their software do more, and of courswe they expect more out of the vendors they use to supply the software they need. That is no more evident when consumers see companies acquire smaller firms to expand their business and of course their bottom line.
Recent news shows that companies like SAP are trying to maneuver their way in with the big boys. Aaron Ricadela or Business Week Online recently reported that, "SAP has decided to acquire Business Objects as part of its growth plan." According to Ricadela, "The deal would put SAP, the world`s third-largest software maker, into one of the U.S. software industry`s hottest sectors." Currently Business Objects competes in a fast-growing market for software that help companies plan budgets and close their books. "The proposed acquisition of Business Objects comes as competitors Oracle, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and Microsoft have stepped up the pace of buyouts in the corporate software sector," claims Ricadela.

Acquisitions are not the only hot topic in computer software these days. How about internet web sites and what some of them have to offer. We have all heard of the success story of companies like Google, Link Exchange and so on, where the creators come up with a wonderful web idea, and a couple of years later the company gets purchased of millions or go public in Google`s case and are now worth Billions. Nothing holds more true than the populare web site Facebook. Since Facebook has allowed outside software developers to create tools for the site, The New York Times reports, "The developers are hoping to both create and profit from expanded use of Facebook." Brad Stone of the New York Times claims, "The company`s (Facebook) book value has soared. A report that Microsoft considered buying a $500 million share of Facebook would put its worth at almost $15 billion." Stone is uncertain if the new tools can turn a profit.

Business Week recently interviewed Steve Mills, a senior vice-president and group executive at IBM,. When they asked him about the growth of IBM`s software business, he said "that the percentage of the company`s software that comes from some of the faster growing parts of the portfolio continues to get larger." According to Mills, "every acquisition made by the company fits into one of the major categories of middleware that makes up its portfolio." IBM has decided to make a version of their Lotus Symphony collaboration software for free. A trend that other companies seem to follow, such as Sun, who recently has mentioned they are going to make Solaris and Java, free, to get back to the basics of what made them, what they are.

The software industry is forever changing, very competitive, yet very necessary. If you run a small firm, or distribute a software product, you may want to look to the big boys to gain some inspiration and knowledge of where to take that product or service next.


By: Bruce A. Tucker

About the Author:
Bruce A. Tucker is the Associate Director of Indocquent.com. Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows computer software manufacturers, developers and retailers to post their products and services for sale in 20,000 cities throughout 200 countries around the world free of charge.

Are you Savy about Surround Sound and the Wave of the Future

So you are jonesing for that new surround system to make your home theatre or car the place for the best entertainment. Guess what...you are not alone. As I have found out, it seems to be a trend that is now spreading into many locations.

The integration of technology in the hotel industry is ever increasing. In a recent article in Hotel and Motel Management, Christine Blank writes, "technology is a focus of hotels when they decide to build or renovate convention spaces." Blank continues, "Harrah`s New Orleans Hotel and Casino added electronic gadgets like electronic draperies, automated lighting and dimmer systems, and 60-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) screens to their meeting space. An upgraded acoustical system was added to the ballroom of the Rosen Shingle Creek."

Of course, surround sound is no longer just the option for the home. Manufacturer`s are now making surround sound available to your car stereo and DVD systems. The New York Times reported recently that, "multichannel surround sound systems in automobiles", are becoming readily available. The report went onto to say that "in a multichannel sound system in a car, a Compact Disc (CD) player or a Digital Video Disc (DVD) player has to decode and separate six or more audio signals from a disc, which are steered individually to the speakers by the amplifiers. There are several multichannel formats, including Super Audio CD and DVD Audio on music discs, and Dolby Digital on movie discs." With the newer technology it is becoming easier are more cost affective to add these luxuries to one`s vehicle.

So how does the technologically challenged wire their homes for the best experience? John Sciacca of Sound & Vision Magazine says, "to ensure that quality sound is distributed around a home you should use large speakers with more of them in big rooms and areas where the sound system is to be played louder." Sciacca goes onto to add, "ceiling speakers must not be lined up with light cans or ceiling or in any rooms like the kitchen, where the listening position is constantly changing." These little tips will add a more enjoyable listening experience. Lastly,Sciacca, mentions "that a remote control is necessary for the efficient functioning of a surround sound system." And as all men (and some women) know, how in the world did we ever live without one. Surround sound is the wave of the now, and in the future you will be hard pressed to find anyone`s home not wired for this once reserved for luxury enjoyment.

By: Bruce A. Tucker

About the Author:
Bruce A. Tucker is the Associate Director of Indocquent.com. Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows surround sound manufacturers, installers and retailers to post their systems and services for sale in 20,000 cities throughout 200 countries around the world free of charge.

Simple Credit Techniques Help Raise Your FICO

We all want good credit. With good credit you get better interest rates, more opportunities, a better house, or car and so much more. But is it hard to get good credit? Not at all. It takes a bit of common sense and some discipline with your money and credit cards.
Before we get to talking about how to raise your credit score, lets talk about what a credit score exaclty is, and it is used. Known in the industry as the Fico score, it is a scale used by lenders that determines the risk of a borrower defaulting on their financial obligation. That`s the good news, the definition is easy to find, the bad news, no one, except Fico, knows the algorithm used to determine your score. However, professionals have determined certain steps you should follow in order to get your score raised, and this has been determined from their years of experience. We will get to that in a moment.

One question you hear is, is credit a bad thing. Although when used wisely it is not, those who do not have the self discipline should limit themselves to one card with a small limit on it, and stay away from cards that offer no limit, but need to be paid in full each month. Jillian Mincer reported in the Wall Street Journal that, "there is an impact of the U.S. credit market crisis based on credit score." That is how important your credit score is.

So you run up a few cards, pay some of them late, your score tumbles, but what do you care, you already own a house or that car etc., so you could care less. Not so says Mincer, who says that your credit score can affect potential employment, insurance rates and more. Mincer claims, "A low credit score could cost additional finance charges and could prevent access to credit and insurance and even affect employment prospects." Apparently some companies frown on individuals who have bad credit, because they may have to work an additional job which in turn may lead to being tired more often, additional stress and so on.

Do not blink now, a report in the Wall Street Journal suggests that consumers need an even higher credit score than they did in the spring 2007 to get the best interest rates on loans. Banks and financial institutions are clamping down on who they lend their money to.

So what is the solution? It is a lot more simple than you think. Consumers can raise their credit scores by paying bills on time, not maxing out your credit card or cards in the case of some consumers and paying off debt in full.


You will want to talk to your tax advisor to see if consolidating is the way to go. One thing is for sure, if you do not have the self control of not spending, all experts agree, cut your cards up, limit yourself to one card for emergencies and cancel the others.

By: Michael C. Podlesny

About the Author:
Michael C. Podlesny is the Managing Director of Indocquent.com. Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows lending and credit issuing financial institutions to post their products and services for sale in 20,000 cities throughout 200 countries around the world free of charge.

Video Game Industry to Undergo Serious Change

The video game industry is soon to undergo a serious change. A change that many feel is for for the better.

Currently video game manufacturers and publishers usually sign what is called an exclusive agreement. What this means is the video game hardward manufacturer, such as XBox, PS3, WII, etc. has the sole rights for that publisher`s particular game.

However this trend of exclusive deals may be coming to an end. In the November issue if Electronic Gaming Monthly, Evan Van Zelfden says, "that the agreements between game publishers and hardware makers called as third-party exclusives may be ceased in the future." Van Zelfden explains further, "that more publishers and developers were willing to create computer games that can be used for different gaming platforms such as Nintendo Wii, Sony Playstation, and Xbox 360 than giving an exclusive license to only one platform."

Not having an exclusive license allows publishers to develop a video game for multiple platforms. Van Zelfden agrees, "their games would have a wider market if it will be available in multiplatform versions."

It may be a while before the entire industry jumps on this "bandwagon" however there are a couple of games on the way. The games that would soon launch in multiplatform versions include "Devil May Cry 4" and "Grand Theft Auto IV".

Keep an eye out on this trend and the games that will be hitting the market soon. Soon you will no longer have to buy just the XBox to get a certain game and so on.

By: Michael C. Podlesny

About the Author:
Michael C. Podlesny is the Managing Director of Indocquent.com. Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows video game manufacturers and suppliers to list and sell their products in 20,000 cities throughout 200 countries around the world free of charge.

Home Improvements That Make Cents

A couple of years back, housing prices skyrocketed and interest rates hit rock bottom. Homeowners everywhere refinanced or took out home equity loans for remodels, pools, and decks. Backyards became outdoor living areas. Home Depots spawned Expo Design Centers and soon granite countertops were de rigueur. As conspicuous consumers we contented ourselves that these improvements were worth it because they increased the value of our homes.
But what kind of return did we get on our investments? The truth is that most home improvements cost more than they add to the value of your home. And no improvement is valuable if you can’t sell your home. So before you run out willy-nilly remodeling this and that, ask yourself how soon you want to sell that house. Sometimes inexpensive home improvements are best for the short term.

What are homebuyers looking for? First and foremost buyers want a solid house in good repair. A newly renovated kitchen may be eye-catching, but if the roof leaks what good is it? At best the buyer will ask for the cost of the repairs to be deducted from the price of the home, so make sure all the basics are in tiptop shape. Your first investment should be in the roof, gutters, foundation, plumbing, electrical systems, and chimney. Plus, according to soundmoneytips.com, repairing plumbing and electrical problems has a 260% average return on investment.

Once you’ve taken care of the fundamentals, you can consider the eye candy. Again, sometimes the best investments cost the least. A freshly mowed and edged lawn costs nothing and will be inviting to buyers. Fresh paint looks neat and tidy on the exterior of your home and can brighten up dingy interiors. Always patch and repair any damage to the walls before painting. The average return on painting your home’s interior is 148%.

What is the number one return on investment? Cleaning and de-cluttering your house. Try renting a storage space if you can’t bear to part with your junk altogether. Buyers want to feel comfortable in your home—not creeped out by your dusty, cobweb covered light fixtures. The soundmoneytips rate for return on investment in cleaning and de-cluttering is 973%.

So what about the additional bath, the kitchen remodel, and the pool? These are home improvements you may want to consider if you are planning to stay in the home for a few years. While they still add value to your home, they cost more than the value they add. That’s not to say they cost more than they are worth. Lifestyle can be a big factor in a home sale. People rarely say, “It’s almost perfect, but I just can’t stand a house with a pool.” And while a pool only adds about 40% of its cost to the value of a home, you also have to consider if you and your family will be sticking around long enough to use it.

Kitchen remodels and bathroom additions fall into the same category. A major kitchen remodel with new cabinets, tile floors, and brand new appliances can run from $50,000-$100,000 for a modest single family home and it will only add about 75% of that cost to its value. An extra bathroom will run you about $60,000 and only recoup 70% of its cost.

But they look great to potential buyers, and besides, you get to enjoy them while you live there.

By: Christine Flanders
Edited By: Michael C. Podlesny

About the Author
Christine Flanders and Michael C. Podlesny are freelance writers for Indocquent.com. Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows home improvement companies and skilled profressionals to promote their products and services throughout 200 countries around the world.

Salt and Sodium, Are they the Same?

Salt, some of us like the taste, some of us can’t stand it, but like it or not it is required in your daily intake. But just how much do you need? The amount of salt intake will vary depending on your physical activity as well as other factors. Runners for example, the recommended salt intake per day is less than 2,300 milligrams. Salt has been liked to various forms of diseases and conditions, such as high blood pressure and even Dementia. In Therapy Today Magazine, research director Iain Ryrie said “that If people want to protect themselves against dementia, they should limit the amount of salt and saturated fat they consume and eat foods that contain essential B vitamins, Omega 3 and zinc.” Sodium which is found in salt, is big culprit when it comes to these conditions. The present average person intakes, approximately 3000–4500 mg/day of sodium That is very high, and is, 2–3-fold in comparison with the current Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) of 1500 mg.

According to Matthew Kadey of Muscle & Fitness, “Between checking labels for fat grams and counting carbs, who has time to think about sodium? You don`t need to obsess over sodium intake, but you should probably work on ways to reduce it in your diet. Here`s why: It`s estimated that 25% of people with normal blood pressure and about 60% of those with high blood pressure are salt-sensitive, which means that as salt intake goes up, so does blood pressure. If you`re salt-sensitive, you may be at a much higher risk for strokes and heart attacks, even though your blood pressure may ordinarily be normal.” Kadey continues, “The sodium in salt can raise your blood pressure in two ways. By causing the body to retain water, sodium increases blood volume and therefore blood pressure. Sodium also causes smooth muscle contraction and constriction of small blood vessels, which is associated with a greater resistance to blood flow. The common "cheat" day that`s a part of many fitness enthusiasts` diets can produce an elevated heart rate and blood pressure in response to a sudden increase in sodium ingestion.”

“With excessive sodium intake, there`s more to worry about than just high blood pressure. When you consume too much sodium, your body retains water to dilute the sodium concentration in your blood to a healthier level. As a result, you urinate less and bloating can occur. So next time your pants feel a little snug, think about that soup you had for lunch -- a can of chicken noodle soup has 2,690 mg of sodium! But you also don`t want to go too far in your efforts to avoid sodium. The extreme sodium restriction often employed by fitness competitors and bodybuilders can result in this same water retention as the body fights to retain sodium and, in turn, water,” claims Kadey.

So what is the different between sodium and salt? Kadey says, “Sodium is an element found naturally in various foods, and it`s essential that we get some in our diets because it regulates the body`s fluid balance and blood pressure, helps the muscles relax and carries nutrients to the cells. Table salt (sodium chloride) consists of 40% sodium and 60% chloride; a teaspoon contains 2,300 mg of sodium. Sodium and salt are terms often used interchangeably.”

So when choosing your foods read the labels and choose foods with 200mg or less of sodium. Do not just concentrate on reading the fat and carb contents. Remove the salt shaker from the table and use as little salt as possible when cooking. Chances are you are already getting enough in your diet, regardless of how good or bad it is.

By: Michael C. Podlesny

About the Author:
Michael C. Podlesny is the Managing Director of Indocquent.com. Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows businesses and individuals to list and sell their products in 20,000 cities in over 200 countries around the world free of charge.

Research Study Shows Progress in Treating Acne

If you are one of the many sufferers from Acne, then you already know of the many over the counter options available to you today. However, did you also know that there are a multitude of studies occurring around the world to find better cures for Acne? There are and we highlight two of them here for you. As with anything medically related, consult your physician prior to taking or applying any medication. With any case of Acne, it is best to consult with your Dermatologist.

If you are unsure what a Dermatologist or Dermatology is, we have defined it here for you (with a little help from Wikipedia). Dermatologists are physicians specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in relation to the skin and appendages (hair, sweat glands, etc). Dermatology (from Greek δερμα, "skin") is a branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its appendages (hair, sweat glands, etc).

A study recently released in the September issue of British Journal of Dermatology (BJD), studied 1045 adolescents aged 13–19 years. The objective was to determine the epidemiology of acne in teenagers in Singapore. According to the study, "Results Of these respondents, 88% identified themselves as having acne. Eight hundred and six of these respondents were examined by a dermatologist, and 51•4% were classified as having mild acne, 40% moderate acne and 8•6% severe acne. Isolation of Propionibacterium acnes was attempted in 262 subjects. Cultures were positive in 174 subjects, giving an isolation rate of 66•4%. Antibiotic-resistant strains of P. acnes were detected in 26 isolates (14•9%). Eleven of these 26 subjects (42%) had previously been treated or were presently on antibiotic treatment for acne, but the other 58% of students who had antibiotic-resistant strains of P. acnes did not give a history of prior antibiotic therapy. Teenagers expressed psychological distress over acne, and believed that hormonal factors, diet and hygiene were important factors in causing acne." Researchers have concluded from this study that there is still a need for more education on acne and how to treat the skin condition.

So what kind of strides are being made in regards to acne? Acne vulgaris, better known simply as acne, has a variety of ways it can be treated. However many doctors and patients as well are dissatisfied with a lot of treatments available on the market today. Another study published in the September issue of BJD, was to, “evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a novel lotion containing triethyl citrate and ethyl linoleate in the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris.” The results showed that, “forty patients were recruited into the study, of which 33 completed the study. Active treatment was statistically superior to placebo in reduction of Leeds grading and total, inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesion counts. The active lotion showed a rapid response with obvious reduction in lesion counts and acne grading by 4 weeks. Sebum production was significantly reduced in the actively treated group, with a mean reduction of 53% in sebum production compared with baseline. One patient developed irritation to the active lotion and withdrew from the study.” According to researchers the study showed that the lotion was effective against mild and moderate cases of Acne, as well as effects on both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesions. According the doctors, “The new lotion worked quickly and was generally well tolerated.”

This may not mean it is a be all end all for your case or someone you know, but you should consult with your Dermatologist to see if it is right for you.

By: Michael C. Podlesny

About the Author:
Michael C. Podlesny is the Managing Director of Indocquent.com. Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows doctors and manufacturers of products related to acne to list their services and items in 20,000 cities throughout 200 countries around the world free of charge.

Research Pays Dividends in Learning More About Depression

There is no hiding the fact that many Americans suffer from depression. When combined with other diseases, that number greatly increases. Depression affects us all, from young children to aging adults, and everyone in between. It is a diagnosable disease and yet can be treated.
According to a study, (published in mental health magazine) "half of all people with advanced or terminal cancer suffer from depression, anxiety or adjustment disorders and could use their oncologist`s help getting treatment."

Depression affects many women, especially those nearing the end of the biological cycle. A recent article in Mental Health magazine they reported on the relationship between the biological clock and mental health to patients. In the U.S. Researchers, as cited, "have identified winter depression as a psychiatric illness and name it as seasonal affective disorder (SAD)." The American Psychiatric Association (APA) in Arlington, Virginia strongly suggests "light therapy as a treatment, while psychiatrists noted that correcting abnormal circadian rhythms through exposure to light can help treat such disorders."

Depression also affects the youth in our society. To gain a better understanding of just how our youth suffer from depression researchers conducted "a longitudinal population-based study among 842 adolescents aged 11-16 at the baseline assessment, and aged 15-20 at follow-up." Accordint to the study, "the results of the study reveal that both mother-and adolescent-rated depressive symptoms predict future depression, antisocial behavior, impairment and regular tobacco use in the adolescent." Thus, the study concludes that "it is possible to obtain clinically useful information on adolescent depression from the child`s mother."

Researchers report "that the behavioral practices of pediatricians are affected by system-level changes." The results of the research were "based on an interview with 42 community pediatricians." It was reported that , "pediatricians` mean confidence levels in diagnosing depression, anxiety and oppositional defiant disorder were lessened after the intervention."

In a recent article in Mental Health magainze a report suggests that "the Veterans Administration (VA) still faces scrutiny from groups that are doubtful about the potential of its effort in the U.S." The report then goes on to say, "inorder to support the quality and scope of its mental health program, the VA has appointed 3,000 mental health professionals in 2005 and aims to add 1,000 more staff in 2007 inorder to meet the needs of returning veterans who suffer from conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), brain injuries, and depression."

Of course it is not as simple as just depression as there are various levels of depression. According Thomas Joiner, a professor of pyschology for the National Institue of Mental Health, there is what is called double depression. Double depression is a mood disorder that is difficult to distinguish from dysthymia or major depression alone.

If you know of someone who suffers from depression or a professional that treats the disease, here are events you should mark down and get more information on. The conference of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, The first conference of the National Association of Peer Specialists and The 115th annual conference of the American Psychological Association. You will want to google each conference name and get dates, times and locations.

Depression is a disease, and according to doctors and researchers it is treatable.

By: Michael C. Podlesny

About the Author:
Michael C. Podlesny is the Managing Director of Indocquent.com. Indocquent.com is an online resource that allow doctors and researchers to list their practice information and services in 20,000 cities in over 200 countries around the world free of charge.

Gain Inspiration in Your Career as an Architect by Following these Professionals

So you are dreaming to be an aspiring Architect or as George Constanza would, "you know I always wanted to pretend to be architect!". Ok I had to work in some Seinfeld reference today so there it is. But lets not pretend here, lets talk about fact. You are an aspiring architect, and what better way to jump into the profession then learning more about it.
If the path you want to pursure is being an innovator in the architecture industry then look no further than Great Schools by Design, a program administered by the American Architectural Foundation (AAF) and sponsored by the architectural company Target. This program allows students to get involved in designing schools and matches school leaders with architectural innovators.

But maybe you are already a young architect and want to stir up some creative thoughts about new designs, maybe a better design of an already existing facility. Willard Daggett, president of the International Center for Leadership in Education, suggests, "technology is an important foundation for building." He continues, "sustainability issues should be considered when building a design and that the design should have an artistic consideration."

So where can an architect or aspiring architect go for more information besides the web? The 2007 American Institute of Architects (AIA) New York Chapter Design Awards will be held on April 9 to July 7 in New York City as well as the AIA National 150 Best Buildings Exhibition Opening is on April 11 in Washington, D.C. and of course The Snapshot 007: Current Houston Design on View will be held on May 18 to June 16 in Houston, Texas. Three great shows and venues for aspiring architects to gain some knowledge and inspriation.

As with an goal achievment process or career path succession, one should always have a mentor or someone in the industry they can look up to and learn from. Architecture is no different. Architect Steven Ehrlich, is a good place to start. It has been his principle in designing which has made him well known and successful in the architecture profession. His resume includes designing the eco-conscious building in Zaria, Nigeria with a mud and thatch experimental theater. This structure is still maintained and due to its cultural relevance it was described as a reflection of a singular multicultural modernism. Ehrlich states, "that latest technology in architecture allows architects to be environmentally responsible."

Or you can look to Eddie Jones, another successful and brilliant architect. Jones has designed buildings for the state of Arizona. He tends to use the element of surprise in his work, where inside his architecture, "unexpected ways of letting the sun and moon enhance the experience of a space abound," claims an unnamed source. Eddie Jones runs the Jones Studio Inc. with his brother, and he continues to "benefit creatively from what surrounds him naturally," according to Architecure Digest.

So as you can see the profession of architecture is a challenging one, yet there are many avenues you take as well as groups, people and exhibits you can draw inspiration from to enhance your career.

By: Michael C. Podlesny

About the Author:
Michael C. Podlesny is the Managing Director of Indocquent.com. Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows architects and architecture firms to list their services for hire in 20,000 cities in over 200 countries around the world free of charge.

Life Does Not End When the Newborn Arrives

In this article we are going to cover a wide variety of areas in regards to baby products with an emphasis on strollers, yet at the same time make sense of it all.

In a recent article in Business Week Online, Reena Jana says, "Infant-related products are a booming market. A sales survey from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association indicates that retail sales have hit $7 billion in 2006, up from $4 billion a decade ago."

With baby products being all the rage, how do you make heads or tails of it all. Getting in on the act are active fathers, who still want to stay active, yet be around their child while doing so.

A recent study showed, "men with newborns and toddlers get only four and a half hours less physical activity per week than they did before being a parent." According to the study out of the University of Pittsburgh, there are three solutions to this. These solutions are, exercising with the children like jogging while they are in a stroller (make sure you have a stroller suitable for this activity), having alternate workout sessions with the wife and taking advantages of free moments to do crunches or wash the car, among others. Basically any downtime you may have (which as I know isn`t much), do some type of excercise.

Ok so we have seen that you can get fit while having a baby using your time wisely and having the right baby gear to do it, but is baby gear easy to assemble? Elizabeth Donovan of Fairfax, Virginia doesn`t think so. "The most challenging baby equipment is the portable play yard. Yes, it looks simple enough, and the directions swear that `anybody` can put it together. But even with a master`s degree, I`m no match for it!" claims Donovan. Many moms agree some of the directions that are included with the products are hard to read. "I didn`t know how difficult it would be to put together a double stroller. I went back to the store to beg them to let me have the display model," said Katrina Gagliano-Cheek of Chesapeake, VA. A little advice from parents, if you are mechanically inclined, and do not know anyone who is try and get the item already put together.

Ok, so you and the family want to go on a trip, an advernture if you will. Rich Reid, a professional wilderness photographer, says, "The BOB Ironman Stroller has shocks, so one can take the baby even on long walks on gravel roads." He goes on to mention, "It also has copious space under the seat for storing baby-related things, and also The Pathfinder child carrier melds ergonomic technical backpack features. It has a weight-bearing suspension."

Of course with all baby products you are sure to get a few recalls, so I wanted to list some of them here that I have found. There is a recall of about 14,300 units of Phil & Teds e3 Strollers with doubles seats by Regal Lager Inc. because children can touch the rear tires when in the stroller`s add-on seat. This can pose an abrasion hazard to children. This recall involves the e3 Buggy which is a three-wheeled stroller with a black steel tubing frame. An additional seat, known as a Doubles Kit, can be added behind the main stroller`s seat allowing a second child to ride in the stroller. You will want to contact the manufacturers of these products to obtain more information. So you now know you can exercise with a baby (giving the right tools), baby products have instructions that may be less then desirable, so get it put together, and you can take that family adventure with the baby included. So get out there and enjoy! Who says life should change once the baby comes along.

By: Michael C. Podlesny

About the Author:
Michael C. Podlesny is the Managing Director of Indocquent.com. Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows businesses and individuals to list and sell their baby products in 20,000 cities in over 200 countries around the world free of charge.

Teeth Whitening - A lot of Options - Which ones are right for you?

We all whiter teeth, and with so many products on the market, not to mention the procedures that your dentist may offer, who would have ever thought it could be a complicated decision.

Lets start with the right toothbrush. Dentist Nancy Rosen recommends "that power and manual toothbrushes should be replaced every three months." Rosen continues, "people must select brushes with soft bristles rather than the medium ones which are too harsh on teeth and gums."

Along with choosing the right brush, your habits at which you brush them are key as well. You should brush after every meal and don`t forget to floss. Flossing removes all of the material between the teeth which adds to your teeth decaying at a faster pace. Combining all of this will ensure an effective teeth whitening procedure.

If it is a wonderful, clean smile then you may want to follow some of these tips:

Fiber-rich apples, carrots, celery and cauliflower combine with saliva has shown in some studies to exfoliate surface stains, and greens such as spinach, lettuce and broccoli create a clear film on teeth that acts as a barrier against darkening.

You will want to avoid bleaching. Bleaching removes the teeth`s protective protein layer. Between treatments, eat light colored food. Food and drink that will stain a white shirt will do the same to your teeth, as will colored rinses and toothpaste.

Ok so you don`t have the money to pay your dentist to have your teeth whitened, and your dental insurance (if you are lucky enough to have it) won`t cover anything "cosmetic". Johnson & Johnson makes the claim in its advertising that you can "whiten your teeth, while you walk your dog." An attempt to promote sales of its teeth-whitening product called Listerine Whitening Quick Dissolving Strips. These strips can be found at your local pharmacy or where dental products are sold.

Not ready or don`t have enough time to use a whitening strip? Not to worry, now you can whiten fast with Rembrandt`s teeth whitening pen. You basically "write" on your teeth. The pen is available where dental products are sold.

Ok so you really don`t have the time to do it yourself, maybe you don`t feel comfortable doing it and/or you travel a lot for work. Not to worry, airports are getting in on the act. Spas located in airports now treat customers to everything from massages to teeth whitening between flights. So if you are traveler and you are feeling the anxiety that travel may cause, you may want to give it a shot. It may not make flying any easier for you, but at least you`ll have a nice smile 35,000 feet in the air.

With all of these options for teeth whitening, it poses one question, is it safe? In a recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan, which measured the efficacy and safety of teeth whitening products. They used strips, gels and paint on films. The study showed that these products did indeed brighten teeth with minimal tooth and gum irritation the researchers stressed that the study only lasted two weeks and that long term affects could not be determined.

You have a lot to choose from, as there are many options. You should consult with your dentist before you make any decision.

By: Michael C. Podlesny

About the Author:
Michael C. Podlesny is the Managing Director of Indocquent.com. Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows businesses and individuals to list and sell their products and services in 20,000 cities in over 200 countries around the world free of charge.