The Importance of Marketing in a Downturn Economy

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Smart business owners continue to market in good times and bad. It seems logical to spend money on marketing in good times, but more importantly you need to spend on marketing in bad times as well. Companies that keep their names and logos in the public eye during a slow economy are more likely to be perceived as successful, enduring and solid. Strong marketing strategies will pay off in the future.

Marketing consist of market research, advertising and public relations. Experts suggest changing the marketing mix, but not the overall budget. For example, in down times a business may not know exactly who is buying and why. So market research is critical in a downturn economy.

Likewise, a business should find out what forms of advertising are producing sales and then increase the budget for those while reducing the others. Tracking and monitoring systems need to be in place to figure out which forms of advertising are giving your business the biggest return.

Even in downturns, folks are still paying attention to the news. Public relations can help to keep your business name out there. Or start to research your own ways in receiving free press. The Internet provides a vast opportunity to connect with your customers.

Tips on Marketing in a downturn economy:

1. Spend more money and time on your market research. Areas to pay attention to is opportunities in new markets. Consider the hot "Green" market.

2. Update your web site and offer discounts. People are shopping for deals and are looking for ways to stretch their dollars. Be sure to have a time limit on such discounts.

3. Start a frequent buyers program and give those members special deals in appreciation for their loyalty. This will also allow you to keep your business name in front of these customers.

4. Join Network groups on the Internet. Network groups offer the potential to open new doors to new markets and keep your business name out there with little to no costs.

5. Start or continue to be involved in community or charity work. This will give your business name more exposure and offer opportunities to receive some free press. People always want to do business with businesses that give back.

6. Holiday gift giving. When most businesses are cutting back on gift giving to customers, now is your chance to step-up with a unique corporate gift. Consider giving custom sandals with your business name or logo printed on the flip flops. It`s an inexpensive gift and very unique - and it`s the thought that counts.


Downturns in the economy can actually open doors to new opportunities. Work smart and be creative. Most importantly, don`t cut the marketing budget - just be smarter about it.

For more information about brand identity marketing visit: http:// www.NeetFeet.com.

For more information about brand identity marketing visit: www.NeetFeet.com. A native Californian, Kathy Klossner's creative outlet is in her web designs, writing and photography.

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Telling Tales - How to Use Stories in Your CV to Highlight Your Skills and Achievements

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Do you know someone who can tell a great story? Who can captivate their audience with the plot line, the characters, the `what happened next` element, the ending? The ability to tell a good story or small anecdote is an important communication skill to have, because story telling is a means of communication, it`s a way of getting your message across and leaving a lasting impression.

"What does all this have to do with CV writing?" I hear you ask! Well the use of storytelling is the basis of most interviews, being asked to provide examples of when you have demonstrated a particular skill in the workplace is really just a request to tell a story. And so it makes sense to include stories on your CV too. Stories or evidence of your skills and achievements can be included in your Personal Profile, ensuring that the reader is captivated as soon as they start to read your CV. The skills and achievements highlighted in your stories can then be reiterated throughout the CV – reinforcing your abilities. And just think, by preparing strong, demonstrable stories for your CV you'll be preparing a lot of highly memorable material to use in your interview too!

So what type of story will highlight your skills and achievements? What level of detail is appropriate for your CV? To answer these two important questions, let's compare extracts from two different CVs.

Candidate 1

"I am really good at customer service. I think that customer service is really important. It is important that customers are served well and their needs are met. I have done customer service training and want to continue to keep my skills up in this important area. If customers don't get service they don't come back. In my current role we always put the customer first."

Candidate 2

"I am really good at customer service. This is because I always go the extra mile to understand the customers' needs and I try my hardest to meet their expectations. For instance, two weeks ago I had a customer come into our store who was complaining that her appliance had slipped. I decided quickly that my task was to understand whether or not the customer had received our on-site training in how to stop the appliance vibrating at the wrong time. It turned out that she was unaware of this training service, but indicated that she was willing to try the training before returning the appliance. So I organised for our trainers to visit her later the very same day. The result was her appliance stopped slipping and she wrote in praise of our helpful and prompt service. This is a good illustration of my commitment to outstanding customer service."

Which candidate convinced you that they were good at customer service and provided evidence in support of their claim? The answer is Candidate 2, and despite the fact that both candidates state that they possess the same skill, Candidate 2 is much more likely to get shortlisted for interview than Candidate 1. Why? Because Candidate 2 presented their claim clearly and logically, and they used a story to practically demonstrate how they possess good customer service. The story will be remembered, the ramblings of Candidate 1 won`t.

There are four important parts to the stories you should tell in your CV. Taking Candidate 2`s story as an illustrative example, these parts are;

POINT - I am really good at customer service
REASON - This is because I always go the extra mile...
EVIDENCE - For instance, two weeks ago I had a customer come into our store...
POINT - This is a good illustration of my commitment to outstanding customer service

Reinforcing the point you are trying to make at the end of your story as well as at the beginning helps focus the readers mind. Candidate 2 could then go on and include `customer service` in their responsibilities and achievements further down their CV, therefore constantly reminding the reader that they have evidenced their attainment in this specific skill.

CV`s are ultimately a summary of your skills and achievements in the workplace. They need to remain short (2-3 pages for most candidates is normal), but the content needs to be correct. Don`t include too many stories in the Personal Profile element of your CV; this will use up valuable space. But do look at the key skill set required for the job you are applying for, and then choose one or two stories that demonstrate your ability to fulfil this skill set, using the PREP formula above.

Want to write an effective CV for your job application? Then visit Words Worth Reading, who also offer copywriting and editing services at fantastic prices, with quick turnaround times. 10% of all submission fees are donated to Oxfam.

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IRS Offers in Compromise, What are the Payment Methods?

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While many people have heard of the Offer in Compromise program, they may not be aware of the different ways the offer amount, or tax settlement amount, can be paid. There are several available payment structures, but two structures are the most common. These structures are the Lump Sum Cash Offer and the Short Term Periodic Payment Offer. Both of these structures are often called by other names. The Lump Sum Offer is commonly called a Cash Offer or Lump Sum Offer. The Short Term Periodic Payment Offer is often called a Short Term Deferred Offer. Of all those names, Lump Sum and Short Term Periodic Payment are the most accurate descriptions of these two types of payment structures.

In essence, a Lump Sum Offer is just what it sounds like – a one-time payment for the entire offered amount. A Short Term Periodic Payment Offer, on the other hand, breaks up the offered amount into monthly payments, usually 24 monthly payments. For example, if you offered $2,400 to settle the tax debt, you could pay $100 over 24 months to cover the entire offered amount. Sounds straightforward, right? Well, there's a little more to each of these types of structures, as is explained below.

When a taxpayer files a Lump Sum Offer in Compromise, the IRS does not require the taxpayer to pay the entire offered amount before the IRS will accept the offer. Rather, the IRS allows the taxpayer to pay only a portion of the offered amount when the offer is filed. For a Lump Sum Offer, the IRS requires that 20% of the offered amount be submitted when the offer is filed. For example, if you offered $1,000 to settle your back taxes, the IRS would require that you submit a $200 deposit with the filed offer. Then, once the offer is accepted, the remaining $800 ($1000 offer - $200 deposit) must be paid within five months of the acceptance date.

For a Short Term Periodic Payment Offer, the IRS also requires a deposit with a filed offer. Usually, the deposit amount is the same as the monthly payment you are offering. In other words, your deposit amount is usually the first of the 24 monthly payments you offer to make. For example, if you offered to pay $100/month for 24 months (totaling $2,400) your deposit would be $100. Also, you would have to continue to make a $100 payment every month while your Offer in Compromise is under consideration, before it is accepted. If one monthly payment is missed, the IRS can return your Offer in Compromise. Thereafter, if you wanted to file another Offer in Compromise, you would have to start the process over. After the offer is accepted, you would have to continue to make the monthly payments until the $2,400 is paid in full.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these types of pay structures. The structure that best fits your situation depends a great deal on your individual circumstances.

The Tax Lady Roni Deutch and her law firm Roni Lynn Deutch, A Professional Tax Corporation have been helping taxpayers across the nation find IRS tax relief for over seventeen years. The firm has experienced tax attorneys who will fight the IRS on your behalf.

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Anyone Can Edit Photos

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Most of us now own a digital camera and a PC. Yet many people still see photo editing as a complex technique, performed by big flash companies who publish magazines.
What many people do not realise is that touching up family photos, cropping, resizing and adjusting light levels can be a simple task, done using inexpensive, off-the-shelf software by someone with little or no experience!

One of the brilliant things about the internet is the wealth of information it provides, absolutely free. Simply search for `crop photo tutorial` or `reduce redeye tutorial` on your favourite search engine and you will find hundreds of free tutorials, taking you step by step through the process of editing a photo.
As well as a source of information, the internet is an excellent source for photo editing software. There is a whole range of software out there, from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars. Simply weigh up the features and decide which photo editing software is right for you.

Not only can you edit photos with image editing software, but you can do a huge amount of image related tasks. Such as drawing diagrams, drafting up designs, company logos, letterheads, banners and so much more.

Graphic Design Artist, Harry Crigwell Recommends: Photo Editing Software

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Niche Annihilation Method By Rob Benwell

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Before mentioning Niche Annihilation Method, I should give a brief introduction to Rob Benwell. He's the successful mastermind behind the creation of Blogging To The Bank 2.0 has recently launched a new product by the name Niche Annihilation Method. Even today, Blogging to the Bank series is the most successful work and is considered as the bible by bloggers.

This Niche Annihilation Method is a collection of advanced niche marketing methods that dealt with how to get top SERPs in the niche areas. In his earlier product Blogging To The Bank series, Rob has explained how one can master the search engines with the Web 2.0 marketing techniques whereas in this new launch, he has successfully dealt with topping of niche areas.

One thing is for sure; all his works are full power packed information packets that help you to Make Money Online irrespective of the search engine changing algorithms. Even though Niche Annihilation Method is a 49 page guide, but out of them only 35 pages are dealing with advanced niche annihilation method techniques. The rest of the pages are highly suitable for newbie as it is a 30 day blueprint for success.

The advanced techniques claimed by Rob Benwell are really powerful to implement. Some are exceptionally new and strategic to implement. This is no way filler as its end results stands higher in search engine rankings.

The most unique thing about The Niche Annihilation Method is its no chance of duplication with other money making strategies. Whatever may be the niche, The Niche Annihilation Method is perfectly suitable and highly recommended.

Cher K Markov is an Internet Marketer that writes articles on Home Based Business. She shares her thoughts on popular Home Based Business Opportunities that make money online. She has made a good review on Niche Annihilation Method.

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The Mark of a Quality Brochure

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No one wants to spend the money you need to design, format, write, and have a batch of commercial printing done for brochures, just to see people never bother to pick them up and read them.

Given the higher costs of brochure when compared to other kinds of marketing it makes it even more important that the brochure you get out to people is the best it can possibly be. Here are a few tips to ensure that you're only giving people something they'll want to read.

The cover is what grabs them. The picture and the writing needs to immediately catch a person's interest. If you don't have an attention grabbing first page, nothing else is going to matter.

You need to keep in mind that most people are going to be making decisions about your brochures in a matter of seconds, if not less. If you aren't grabbing their attention in that limited time frame than you won't be able to get them to read anything else that you have to say.

But once they do open that first page you have to be sure to outline for them everything the brochure is going to say. Within the front cover have a brief summarization of all the basic facts the brochure is going to mention. Now they know what to expect, and even if they don't end up reading more, you've given them some key information already.

Be sure that every point you make has a distinctive call for action. If they need to call someplace for more information than tell them to call now. If they need to come in and buy something, tell them to come in today.

The way you phrase your information is also very important. Certain elements, like a question and answer style, are going to be particularly effective. The question helps the person apply the information directly to themselves. Ask them if they're paying too much for their cable TV before telling them about what great prices you have. If they are paying too much you can help hit that point home with your question, which encourages them to consider the deal you're offering.

Contact information needs to be easy to find in your brochure. If they have interest in you than you shouldn't do anything to prevent them from finding out more. An interested person who can't find any contact info might end up forgetting about your brochure, and never giving you business.

Make things as easy for the customers as possible. All of the information is provided in a way that requires only a small amount of attention, and goes out of the way to stress how it can help them save money or gain better services.

If you're going to spend money on commercial printing, be sure that you know exactly what you're doing to ensure you'll end up with the most effective brochure you possibly can.

Kaye Z. Marks is an avid writer and follower of the developments in commercial printing industry and its benefits for small to medium-scale businesses.

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Why Should I have a business sign?

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This is the question most often asked by business owners. My reply to that is "Why Shouldn't you have a sign?" A good sign has the ability to advertise for you 24 hours a day 365 days a year. So you see, even when you are not there you can still be getting your message to your potential customers. Signs are one of the most effective yet least expensive forms of advertisement. In many cases a sign can be the difference between your business succeeding or failing. Here are 4 reasons why your business should have an on premise sign.

1. It affects memory – People are always walking and/or driving by your business. Half of them probably have no idea what your business has to offer them. If they see your sign over and over again eventually they will start to remember what you have to offer and next time they need what you offer you are more likely to be the first business to pop in their heads.

2. It acts as a reinforcer – Let's say you have a commercial running on the radio. People probably hear about 10 times a day. If you have this same message on your sign it reinforces your other advertising efforts. It helps extend the life of your advertising message.

3. It attracts new customers – If you are having a sale or some type of special put it on your sign. People love to get a great deal so this will encourage unplanned stops and impulse buys. Most retail businesses thrive on impulse buys. These new customers could potentially turn into regulars and that could have a great impact on your bottom line.

4. It modifies purchasing habits - Advertising a great deal on a sign could cause your regulars to purchase more than they normally do. Signs are the best place for pricing information.

There are many other reasons why you need a sign for your business. Just these 4 alone can have a huge impact on your sales. Do your research and find a sign that is right for your business.

Signswork.com has been in business for over 10 years. They offer high quality signs at very affordable prices. Visit www.signswork.com today and receive a 10% discount on your first order by using coupon code 10off at checkout.

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Online Marketing Agency: For the Togetherness of Firm & Prospects

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There is no lack of opportunity, either for customers or for companies, as far as Internet marketing is concerned. Millions of online prospects are available for online marketers and at the same time plethora of products are available for the customers. If you are customer and if you want to buy the latest gadget or a mobile phone then there is no dearth of options for you. You can see, compare and choose among mobile phones of your favourite company and style. No shop can give you such flexibility and convenience. And in making online shopping a great experience, online marketing agency has a major role.

These agencies make possible the confluence of companies and prospects. They do it through various online marketing tools. Search engine marketing, banner ads, Email marketing, B2B lead generation techniques and website development are few such tools which are used by various small, medium and big companies. Such tools make a website popular among its prospects. As you know that Internet is a keyword based business and here search engine optimization is a must for websites. Since more than 80% of Internet users rely on search engines and directories to find the information, so if you are selling a product or service through a website then it is necessary that you make your website search engine optimized.

You can take the help of an online marketing agency to know more about SEO. If you want to use some latest promotional tools then you can go for Email marketing. Of late, it has become one of the most efficient, affordable and easy-to-apply promotion tools. Here you can send newsletters, product information, greetings or invitations in the the form of an Email to your prospects. You can use either bulk Email list or opt-in Email list to contact your online prospects. As it has been proved that online customers prefer an email than any other medium to know about a product. That is why it has become one of the most effective promotional tools.

Moreover, you can learn about other B2B lead generation techniques by using an online marketing agency. You can generate sales leads and bring a significant number of quality web traffic. So, get ready to welcome this traffic and let the online marketing agency do its job.

Deepak Kamboj is an expert writer, he is currently associated with Rupiz Media Ad Network, a leading online media buying agency. He has been efficient in providing useful information about online marketing agency, banner advertising, online advertising, online ad agencies internet advertising agency, web banners.

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Ten Rules on How to Invest on Success by Ace Smith

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For those who are avid readers of this site know that the Investors Business Daily or most commonly known as IBD, the financial publication mentored by William O' Neil, is an indispensable tool for making and learning progress in investing.

Success in investment means diverse things to all kinds of people. O' Neil and his group of portfolio managers accomplish success perhaps the way other people can't. Having to manage someone else's money, work as a trader for somebody else is totally dissimilar from having to manage you own, or having to invest the assets of your family.

The sole aim of this commentary is to give a precise way to learn the rules of investing and getting result from you investment.

As the Bible would have its ten commandments, here are the ten most important investment rules laid out for you.

Rule One. Market Uptrend is Investment Append. This means you have the say. Just simply reading some key sections like the "Big Picture" in IBD on a day-to-day basis shall really facilitate this.

Rule Two. You should be focusing on what to buy. This recommends that you consider only those companies having unyielding earnings growth for the precedent three years, who have intensive sales income, with current quarterly earnings high above than their peers.

Rule 3. Focus now on what time to buy. You should be able to read charts, and know how to spot buy points. It also suggests that one should purchase stocks only when they are ranging 3-5% beginning on their buy point, and never buy when the price goes beyond more than 5% o their model buy point.

Rule 4. Focus now on which one to hold. Stocks in your portfolio need to execute. This is for the reason that if one stock does well, it can be a contender for accumulation; you should be able to identify which stock to keep and which one to let go.

Rule 5. The hardest rule of all. This suggests is derived from O'Neil saying that one should vend any stock that moves down to 7-8% under the main purchase price. So knowing which kinds of stocks to handle is a big help.

Rule 6. This rule suggests that one should not acquire stocks when they are way behind. One should keep away from buying stocks with high dividends, oversimplified criteria, small price-earning ratios, and that are cheap.

Rule 7. This rule suggests that the amount you will invest on (no matter the cost) should be divided proportionately amid 5 to 7 stocks. Once you are aware of the amount you should place in every stock, calculate the amount of shares it can allow for every stock.

Rule 8. This rule shall tell you how stocks are accumulated. Do investment in stages: buy first, and if it does well, add further shares.

Rule 9. This is the opposite of the last rule. While a stock goes down, it is a high moment to sell 50% of your shares.

Rule 10. This rule recommends that you check on what you are doing on a customary basis. Assess and re-assess.

Ace Smith is a prolific writer touching base on topics like Technology, Travel,Health and others. For more information you can drop by his web sites that deals with: Sex Diseases , Money with Blog and Cell Phone / Telecom News.

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The Best Way to Make Good Cash is to Start Your Own Business

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If you are interested the slightest in starting your own business, it only takes the first step to achieve it. Once you have made this step it is then easier to take the next step and the next step after that. Really running a business is about finding clients and getting team members to provide your services to those clients.

If you touch base regularly through internet email services or direct marketing with your clients thy will return with extra work for you. You need to ensure the work you do is to the highest standard so that you are providing the best you can.

Then you need to train your staff as much as you can so that they then become the experts and you simply guide them along the way. If you can do this successfully your business should flourish.

So what are some of the other things you need to be careful about? You should ensure someone is looking after your accounts closely. This may mean finding the right personality you can trust to do this or commissioning your accountant to do it. What ever you do ensure that you check the work yourself hand have an understanding of what is going on,. You should understand the basics at the minimum and then you can ensure things are getting done correctly.

Then ensure you meet your clients every week and do some cold calling to push you to the limits and give yourself a challenge and before you know it you will be well on your way to creating a successful company.

Then you need to think about an exit strategy whether a competitor will come along and but you out or you have a good opportunity to sell your company to a larger company.

If you don`t plan for an exit strategy the you will be stuck working hard on a company that no one is interested in.

http://www.weekendeasycash.com

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Exhibiting With Multimedia

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Modern trade show exhibits are almost always outfitted with multimedia components such as monitors or speakers. Adding multimedia and internet connectivity to your trade show booth makes sharing information quicker and easier than ever, which has dramatically increased the profitability of trade shows for companies that do business online.

There are a number of different uses for multimedia at a trade show, and your exhibit space should be oriented in a way that functions best for your needs. If you want to use the internet to share private pricing lists or provide a brief glimpse into the members only section of your website, you may want to put your computer in a more private location to avoid snooping from competitors. If you want to share a marketing video to relay information about your products and services, you would probably want to have your computer in a prominent place to attract attention from passing visitors and attendees. Think carefully about how you plan to use multimedia and let that determine the way you organize your trade show booth components.

When incorporating multimedia into your trade show display, you should be careful to ensure that your multimedia components do not overshadow your exhibit. Monitors, demo stations, and computers should be accessible, but should not obstruct your sales staff from engaging visitors and attendees. Visitors should feel welcome in your space, not crowded and disoriented. Purchasing a trade show display that is designed to hold monitors and manage computer wiring is a great way to make sure that your multimedia has a prominent place in your exhibit without taking up valuable real estate.

Many exhibitors make the mistake of improperly lighting their trade show displays in a way that detracts from the appeal of the multimedia. It is always a bad idea to have harsh exhibit lighting directly shining on your monitor, as this will cause unwanted glare on the screen. If your presentation is hard to see because of improper lighting, visitors and attendees will quickly lose interest and move to another exhibit to find what they are looking for. Lighting your monitor from above is always a good idea, as this draws attention to your multimedia without creating a glare on the screen.

When using multimedia, be sure to correctly adjust the volume to avoid problems with attendees as well as neighboring exhibitors. Many shows strictly regulate the volume of your presentations for the sake of nearby exhibitors, so be sure to read up on the rules before planning your demonstrations. It is also important that your sales staff be able to effectively communicate with visitors and attendees. Your booth staffers should never have to struggle to speak over the sound of your multimedia, as this will make your potential clients uncomfortable and will detract from the overall feel of your trade show booth system.

Using multimedia in your next trade show exhibit is critical if your company deals online in any way. Building a good web presence and effective online marketing material is a great way to show attendees that your company is highly professional and willing to keep up with changing market demands.

About the Author:
Andy Keeler is the President of MODdisplays, a leading provider of portable trade show displays and trade show booths. If you're shopping online for Exhibit One displays or XRline displays, look no further than MODdisplays for your exhibiting needs.

trade show displays xrline displays

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Effectively Retrieve an Email Address Using Email Addresses Directory Service

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You might be one of the people who would need to find someone's email address. You could have your own reason out of many reasons that an email addresses searcher need to accomplish. Some common reasons why one spends some time looking for someone's email address are: keeping in touch, investigating, reunions, business matters, and others.

One of the known ways is to visit as many people as you can who knows that person and try to ask the person's email address. If they are too far for you to reach, you can either phone them or email them. But doing this can be inconvenient and tiresome especially when after interviewing each of them, nobody knows that person's email address.

There are web sites online that can help you find an email address fast and they are called email addresses directory sites which are commonly free to use. Since an email address is an internet-based communication, then it would be possible for Internet users to find email addresses online. Now that online email addresses directory lookups are invented, people will no longer have a hard time looking for email addresses.

Plenty of free email addresses directory services are found online where you can perform your free search with. But before you start the search, make sure that you have all the important information to be used for the search such as the complete name, address, and other significant information. There is also an option of doing search using search engines but the results here can be frustrating and incomplete so you'd better stick to the email addresses directory which is intended for email address search.

If you really want to be effective in your search and get the results that you want without any frustrations, you have to use a tool that is way upper level and the one used by experts. Experts and wise users prefer low cost pay sites in making email address searches because aside form the fast results, they are assured of the quality and reliability of the amazing results.

If you are looking for a site that can help you find the best email addresses directory in the Internet, you can check on sites that rates and review pay email addresses directory sites. Make sure that you get the value of your money from the quality of results that email addresses directory can offer you.

Article Source: Email Addresses Directory

John Walter Adams
A writer for White Pages

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How Writing Radio Can Help You Become a Better Writer

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Knowing how to write, and write well, is a skill that will come in handy in all sorts of situations. And if you combine good writing skills with the persuasive selling tactics found in, say, copywriting, you`ll be that much more ahead of your competition.

Of all the different types of writing I`ve done in my life (and believe me, I`ve tried practically all of them), writing radio has made one of the bigger impacts on my writing style.

Below are three ways writing radio can help strengthen your writing style. (Oh, and these tips will also help you write better radio copy too.)

1. Follow the rules. Sometimes rules are good, especially rules that force you to write a certain way. (Think poetry -- mastering those rules can have an amazing effect on your writing style.) Rules require you to slow down and think, to analyze your word, sentence, grammar, punctuation, etc., choices. And that can be very beneficial to your development as a writer.

Radio is short. You have to write something that fits into a 30- or 60-second slot. Not a lot of time or a lot of words. In that 30 or 60 seconds, you need to capture the listener`s attention, explain why they should be interested in buying what you`re selling, then let them know what you`d like their next step to be. Oh, and did I mention you need to have the business name in there at least twice and probably a tag line as well? And don`t forget about music. Or sound effects.

Now the beauty of this is once you`ve mastered radio rules, you can apply it to all sorts of things. A 30-second pitch for your business you can tell people at networking events. A 15-second introduction before a speech. A quick product spiel for your voice mail. A 15-second pitch for your novel to spit out at agents and editors at writers` conferences. The possibilities are endless.

2. Forces you to write tight. Remember, radio is short. Yet, there`s still a lot you have to shove into it. So what`s the solution? Absolutely no extra words allowed.

Be brutal. Cut out anything you don`t need. In fact, radio is where I first learned to start cutting "that" out. Most "thats" you don`t need, and nothing shows you this like radio.

Here`s how I write radio. I start with a first draft. I read it over. I think it`s pretty good -- I have all the salient points in there. I read it out loud.
Now the fun begins.

Usually it`s too long. You see, I time myself reading. So I have to start chopping words.

When you have to make a script fit into a certain time frame, it`s amazing how many words you suddenly discover can be deleted. Or replaced with simpler, shorter words. Or how many sentences can be trimmed. Or phrases made more concise.

As you can imagine, writing radio has really honed my editing skills.

3. Writing for the ear. Writing for the ear is different than writing for the eye. The eye is far more forgiving. Oh that sentence is a bit too long, but it`s okay. Hmm, yes I do see that awkward phrase, but I`m fine with it.

Not the ear. The ear is brutal. It`s like one of those headmasters from a Dickens` novel, standing in front of the classroom with a stick and banging it every time a student stutters on an answer.

The ear catches everything -- sentences that are too long and don`t allow you to take a breath; sentences that don`t flow properly; long, complicated five-dollar words that twist the tongue in a knot and much, much more.

Focus on writing shorter sentences. Simpler sentences. Vary your sentences. Use simple words.

And that`s just plain good old writing advice no matter what you happen to be writing.

Creativity Exercises -- Write a Radio Ad

Now it`s your turn. Time to sit down and write a radio ad.

First, choose something you want the ad to be about. Maybe one of your products or services. But choose only one. More than one and you`re just asking for trouble. (Rule of thumb -- one message per ad. No more. Otherwise you run the risk of losing your target market. Pick one message and make it very simple and very clear.)

Now do what I do. Write the ad. Start by keeping it under a general word count -- 100 words for a 30-second ad and 190 words for a 60-second spot.
Finished your first draft? Great. Now read it. And time yourself. (Those clocks on the computer desktop are great for this.)

What, you went over your limit? Better start cutting. See how many words you can take out and sentences you can tighten. Or replace words and phrases with something shorter.

Now read it again. Still too long? Or maybe now it`s too awkward. See previous paragraph. Keep repeating until you end up with something that sounds smooth and fits in the allotted time.

Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) is your Ka-Ching! marketing strategist and owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting and marketing agency. She helps entrepreneurs become more successful at attracting more clients, selling more products and services and boosting their business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.MichelePW.com . Copyright 2008 Michele Pariza Wacek

Published By: Indocquent.com- An online resource where you can promote your business, products and services around the world.

Pay Per Lead Advertising Is The Best Way Of Advertising

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Online advertising is one of the most popular means of advertising. It is because of the high use of internet. People spend more of their time in the internet environment and so, it is the niche for attracting customers in huge numbers. There are different types of internet advertising such as banner advertising, search engine advertising etc. And pay per lead advertising is also a kind of online advertising which is a great way to get visitors when the advertiser needs traffic. Companies spend huge amount of money in advertising. However, most of the advertisements do not gain success. The reason for this is that the kind of strategies or programs laid down by the companies were not strong enough to make profitable investments in the advertising fields.


It is good for the companies to have right strategies for advertising procedure and here, Pay Per Lead Advertising should be the best choice for them. Leads are referred as little information like email address or demographic information provided by a customer to a website. We often find affiliate websites promoting the products or selling the products or booking orders. However, these affiliate websites get paid by their clients only when they make or book a sale by their own websites. This process of paying money to the affiliates is known as PPL. It is regarded as the best form of payment procedure as the clients pay commission to affiliates on the basis of pay per sale. PPL is also known as CPL(Cost Per Lead).


Some companies have pay per lead banner systems as well. In this case, the affiliates display the banners of the companies and when a sale is generated then a percentage of commission gets deposited into the affiliate`s account. One risk that companies or advertisers can face is the possibility for fraudulent activity by incentivized 3rd-parties or marketing partners. Some false leads are easy to find out. Expert affiliates take care of such issues and can help their clients in generating traffic towards their sites. So, clients should always choose the experience affiliates who can ensure a successful Pay per lead business campaign at a competitive price. Hence, pay per lead advertising is the best form of advertisement.

Deepak Kamboj is an expert writer, he is currently associated with Rupiz Media Ad Network, a leading online media buying agency. He has been efficient in providing useful information about online banner marketing, banner advertising, online advertising, online ad agencies pay per lead advertising, web banners.

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Taking Advantage of Slow eBay Auctions

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A lot of auctions on eBay get hundreds of bids, but there are tons of auctions that go much more slowly, getting only a few bids or even none at all. Auctions are generally much slower during the summer than in the winter and some even say sales on eBay are slowing each year, as more sellers than buyers sign up. There are a number of ways you can take advantage of slower auctions and get the goods at a bargain price. Below are a few ideas for you.

Wait to Bid.

If you jump in and bid right away then others will see your interest and that might make them interested too. Leaving the auction alone for as long as you can will make it look less popular and keep the price down. Then you can swoop in at the last minute and get a bargain.

Make an Offer.

If an item is being sold using `Buy it Now` and it hasn`t sold when the auction is near its end, use eBay`s `Best Offer` service to make the seller an offer. There`s a good chance the seller listed the item more than once already and the seller might be primed to wheel and deal in the face of having to list the item again. The seller just might accept your offer just to get rid of the thing.

Be Snobbish.

Send the seller emails asking questions about the condition of the item. Make it clear that you are a discerning buyer and will only accept items of the highest quality. This might make them feel better about selling you their item for less.

Buy in Bulk.

When auctions are slow, many sellers will end up having the same stock for a long period of time. If you offer to take ten of their items off their hands all at once then you will have a lot of flexibility in the amount you will pay per item. You`ll have a good chance that the seller will jump at the opportunity and give you a good deal. If you come back again and buy another ten items then they`ll love you even more.

Don`t Feel Guilty.

There really are a ton of sellers on eBay now, to the point where you can often get common items at very low prices. In the long-term, this will probably force sellers out of business, but that`s the way a market works - it`s supply and demand.

Clint Herman is a successful eBay seller with over 6 years experience selling on eBay. He also loves teaching others how to sell on eBay. He is the author of "How to Get Started Selling on eBay," which is a beginner`s guide to selling on eBay designed for people who are new to selling on eBay. The guide is available at http://www.beginnersauctionguide.com/ar.html

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