Real Estate Career Tips

A real estate career can be very rewarding, but it is also challenging. Even in good markets, real estate agents must continue to negotiate, sell and invest in their career if they hope to be successful. For those just starting out, or those in need of some tips to refresh their career, it is always best to go back to the beginning and learn the ins and outs of real estate.

Locate a Mentor

Obtain guidance for developing or improving a real estate career from someone who is experienced and a leader in the local market. Real estate agents may be willing to work one-on-one with beginners. These professionals can provide tips and negotiation resources from real life experiences. They can mediate exchanges between the agent and clients. Some will do this for a small fee or a percentage of the transactions. Mentors are often broker agents who are very familiar with the agencies and the local market.

Update Education

Get the required real estate education and focus continuing education requirements on areas that need improvement. You may wish to take a business management, marketing, negotiation or a sales course to improve your skills.

Become a Broker

Elevate your career by becoming an agent broker. Even those who do not plan to manage a real estate office can benefit from the training and guidance that brokerage training offers. Those who wish to advance their careers will find brokerage training an added benefit. Agents working within a real estate firm are more likely to be promoted if they have a real estate broker's license.

Earn a Commercial License

Add a commercial sales license to your real estate career path. Those who have a commercial license are able to help clients buy and sell commercial property including rental property, businesses, industrial real estate and storefronts. In some areas, commercial real estate does well even when the residential housing market is struggling.

Improve Customer Service

Work on improving customer service skills. Agents need to be in tune with what their clients need. Customer service training, spending more time one-on-one with clients and listening to their needs can also be helpful. Going out of your way to impress clients helps close the deal and also improves referrals for new clients.

Tags: real estate, real estate, estate career, real estate career, brokerage training, estate agents, local market

Hr Management Requirements

Most HR management professionals have bachelor's degrees.

Depending on the company, human resources (HR) management is responsible for the recruiting, interviewing, hiring and training of new employees within an organization. These professionals focus on employee relations and ensure that conflicts and problems are kept to a minimum. HR managers implement new regulations and policies to help employee morale and improve the efficiency and effectiveness in departments. Individuals in this position may oversee compensation and benefits for employees. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of 2008, the median salary for a human resources manager is $86,500.

Education

Those working in HR management must graduate with at least a bachelor’s degree in human resources. While opportunities are available at the master’s degree level, a bachelor’s degree is normally the minimum level of education necessary for a career in this field. Bachelor’s degree programs focus the foundational aspects of human resources, such as business administration, communications and organizational development. A master’s degree places an emphasis on specific human resource management duties, including compensation, employee benefits, recruitment and performance reviews.

Experience

Before earning a promotion into management, HR professionals work as assistants within a department. This position focuses on the day-to-day operations in an organization and gives the employee valuable experience needed for the management position. Assistant human resource personnel are responsible for much of the paperwork and record keeping involved in hiring employees, compensation, tracking performance, employee safety and health reporting.

Certification

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) offers certification opportunities for HR management professionals. The Professional in Human Resources certification shows that the individual has the theoretical and practical knowledge to work at a high level in this profession. Applicants must pass an examination that covers strategic management, workforce planning, human resource development, total rewards, employee relations and risk management, as listed on the SHRM website. While not required by companies, becoming certified offers prospective and current human resources managers additional training in the field and proves to potential employers that they are current on the latest developments and advancements in the field.

Tags: human resources, management professionals, bachelor’s degree, employee relations, human resource

What Drugs Contain Sildenafil Citrate

Sildenafil is a type of oral prescription medication used to treat a number of different medical conditions. As a generic medication, manufacturers sell sildenafil citrate under other brand names.

Identification

In the United States, sildenafil citrate is available as the prescription medication Viagra or Revatio, both of which are produced by Pfizer.

Use

Doctors typically prescribe Viagra for treating erectile dysfunction. Revatio is indicated for the treatment of arterial hypertension, a condition where the pressure of blood that flows between your heart and lungs becomes too high.

Patient Types

Viagra is typically prescribed for men, while both men and women commonly take Revatio. Because sildenafil citrate is known to cause fetal harm in laboratory animals, doctors avoid prescribing Revatio for pregnant women.

Risks

A serious risk associated with the use of sildenafil citrate-containing medications is non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy or NAION, which has the potential to cause permanent blindness, cautions the U.S. National Library of Medicine. The most common symptom of NAION is suddenly blurry vision in one or both eyes.

Considerations

If you have a history of curvature of your penis, angina, arrhythmia, bleeding problems, congestive heart failure, heart attack, high or low blood pressure, leukemia, mutiple myeloma, priapism, sickle-cell anemia, stomach ulcers, stroke, diabetes or lung, liver or kidney disease, it may not be safe for you to take a medication that contails sildenafil citrate, warns the Mayo Clinic.

Tags: prescription medication, sildenafil citrate, sildenafil citrate

What Rems Does The Fda Require

FDA requires REMS for certain drugs and biologic products.

The Food and Drugs Amendment Act of 2007 required that companies submitting an application for approval of a new drug or biologic product to the FDA also submit a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) when the FDA decides that such a program is necessary to be certain that the benefits of a new drug or biologic product outweigh the risks. The FDA approves the elements of the REMS programs, and FDA has the authority to inspect and enforce that these elements are followed.

Medication Guides in a REMS Program

The FDA requires different elements in REMS programs. Medication guides are the most common strategy. These are used to notify patients of risks that may be severe enough that patients could use that information to decide to take the drug or not, when adherence to the drug is critical for effect or when labeling could prevent a risk. The FDA may require that medication guides be given out when the drug is first prescribed, with each administration and whenever the guide changes substantially.

Communication Plan in a REMS Program

Another common element in REMS programs is a requirement that the manufacturer of the drug develop a formal communication plan to all relevant health care providers. This may involve setting up a website, communicating with professional societies and sending letters to physicians, pharmacists, medical offices and hospitals.

Elements to Assure Safe Use in a REMS Program

The FDA may require certain elements to assure safe use of the drug in a REMS program. These are much more complex processes that can require prescribers to undergo special training, obtain certification and register to use the drug. Patients may need to sign an agreement with their provider when the drug is prescribed.

Drugs with REMS Programs

Currently, there are 181 drugs and biologics that have required REMS programs from the FDA. The list of these drugs and the specific requirements are available on the FDA website. The list is updated and changed frequently.

Tags: biologic product, drug biologic, drug biologic product, elements REMS, elements REMS programs, REMS Program, REMS programs

Strategies Promoting Equality & Diversity In The Workplace

Promoting diversity and equality in the workplace is key to business success.

Diversity and equality in the workplace are more of a business imperative than a feel-good solution to decades of race, gender, age, religious and sexual orientation discrimination. Having a culture that respects and includes people from different backgrounds helps organizations create better products, make inroads into new markets, and work with larger groups of customers. Promoting these principles at work means adopting a "diversity in all practices" approach. That is, diversity must be considered at every level and in each policy, from the management approach, to hiring and promoting, to business development.

Diversity is Good for Business

Equality and a culture of diversity in the workplace create multiple business opportunities. By making your workforce mirror the diverse demographics of your organization's customers, your organization will better understand your audience, build credibility with your audience, produce products that are in tune with customers' needs and increase the odds of making a sale. In other words, offering opportunity to people of different backgrounds and promoting an environment in which they can thrive and contribute gives your organization a leg up over the competition.

Promote Equality of Opportunity

Equality of opportunity means that qualified people, no matter their background, have the same chances of landing a job with you, scoring a promotion, and contributing ideas that are acted upon. Promote equality by challenging the biases of hiring managers and executive management and examining hiring and promotion practices to ensure that minorities have as much opportunity as non-minorities. In addition, your organization should have strong policies that ensure employees treat each other fairly. You should have zero tolerance for discrimination and harassment, equal pay for equal work, and reasonable accommodations for those who have disabilities or caregiving responsibilities.

Promote Diversity

Companies can harness diversity initiatives for their effect on the bottom line. Best practices include creating learning settings that support spreading the diversity gospel through brown bags, workshops and trainings. Many organizations also establish diversity talent pools, which bring people together from different backgrounds and different parts of the organization to solve problems, create or improve products, and conduct brainstorming. Other companies make good use of diversity initiatives by using members of a diverse workforce as ambassadors, as they branch out into new markets, especially when expanding overseas.

Grievances

Although workplace diversity and equality initiatives have been around for decades, they aren't always immediately accepted. Managers can expect some tension and conflict as they work to instill diversity and equality values. To avoid alienating minority workers and to allow non-minority workers room to express frustrations, companies need to include diversity and harassment grievance processes. Best practices call for designating more than one person to take complaints; this becomes especially relevant if a worker's manager is part of the problem. In addition, ensure that all your managers and supervisors are trained in your diversity and equality policies. You should promptly investigate any harassment complaints, keep records, and take strong action against the most egregious cases of harassment.

Don't Confuse Diversity with Quotas

Diversity and equality aren't numbers games. Your company won't immediately get any benefit from diversity if you simply hire enough black people, women or people with disabilities. You must adopt a culture and practice of inclusion, and you need to ensure the day-to-day practices of your organization don't drive away good talent. Inclusion means actively engaging all employees to the fullest extent possible, allowing them to be nurtured and mentored; encouraging them to learn from others; and growing their skill sets by providing training and exposure to other parts of the organization.

Tags: your organization, diversity equality, different backgrounds, Best practices, diversity initiatives

Revive A Brand

Reviving a great brand widens its consumer appeal.

Brands suffer a decline in value for a number of reasons. They may no longer represent product qualities or corporate values that are important to customers. Poor management may have damaged the performance of the company or its products. Stronger competitors many have overtaken the brand in terms of its consumer recognition or market share. Strategies to revive a brand take a number of forms, from redesigning the visual elements of the brand or increasing brand communications to restructuring the company to improve performance.

Instructions

1. Research the current perception of the brand. Ask consumers and other groups what the brand represents to them. Measure the level of awareness of the brand among the same target audience. Compare the research findings with any available historical data to identify changes in perception and recognition. Identify strengths and weaknesses in the current perception.

2. Establish a vision for the brand. Show how the revival strategy will make the brand more relevant to current market needs. Set targets for the development and enhancement of the brand. Consultancy firm Futurelab describes a model for the brand life cycle that shows how a brand can grow in strength. The stages are: product brand; service brand; category brand, reflecting sector leadership; personality brand, where consumers identify immediately with a strong brand image; and experience brand, where the brand has unique qualities that are difficult for competitors to match.

3. Identify strengths of the brand that may still be relevant. This is important for older brands that may have a legacy of quality in the eyes of consumers. A November 2009 New York Times article, "AOL Revamping Its Logo, Hoping to Revive the Brand," described how Internet company AOL realized that its name remained "one of the most powerful brands on the planet." However, the company recognized that it had to update the brand to become more relevant to current consumers.

4. Create a framework or road map for reviving the brand. A brand road map guides the work that transforms a brand from its current form to the vision, according to an article in Forbes, "Reinvigorate Old Brands." Appoint a design consultancy to redesign the logo and other visual elements that research shows are outdated. Analyze the product and service mix and plan a development program to create a portfolio that aligns with current market requirements.

5. Develop a communication plan to increase exposure of the brand. Communicate brand qualities in any media you use, including website, editorial, advertising, publications and point-of-sale material.

6. Make more fundamental organizational changes if research indicates major problems. According to brand consultancy Intangible Business, "the main reason businesses behind successful brands die is management and operational incompetence." The firm cited examples of legacy brands, such as Gibson Guitars, where a change of management saw a dramatic revival in brand strength following a period of neglect by previous owners.

Tags: brand where, current market, current perception, Identify strengths, more relevant, more relevant current, relevant current

Get A Product Sponsor

Companies often sponsor charitable events with product assistance.

Product sponsors can assist your event or organization by providing products free-of-charge, normally in exchange for advertising their services and marketing goods to the individuals present. While it can take time to secure a relevant sponsor, their involvement can be supremely beneficial when funds or financing are a difficult issue during the planning stages of your activity. While the scope of sponsorship can range dramatically, the process for securing it remains straightforward.

Instructions

1. Determine your exact your request. While it's possible to approach a sponsor without a definite set of requirements, it's useful to determine a desirable level of resources which any potential sponsor should provide. This enables the sponsor to quickly understand the intended scope of the sponsorship, and provides you with a starting point for negotiations.

2. Make an extensive list of relevant sponsors. It's often helpful to examine previous similar events, to determine which companies actively sponsor comparable projects. Research each sponsor on your list, making a note of its typical contribution to clients and the person to whom your request should be directed.

3. Write a short, spoken presentation about your project. This forms the basis of your telephone conversations when contacting company representatives. The presentation should include a description of your project, your objectives, and the level of exposure it will likely generate for the company. While this is brief, it should allow you to ascertain whether the sponsor is likely interested.

4. Prepare detailed answers to the most common questions. This demonstrates your preparedness and professionalism. Likely questions include: "Why did you consider us as your sponsor?" "How much of the product are you requesting?" "How has the project been advertised in the media?" and "How many people are you expecting to attend?"

5. Meet in person as soon as possible. This solidifies the business relationship, and makes the agreement more difficult to back out of.

6. Keep open lines of communication. Call the organization routinely to clarify any issues, and always provide a reliable means for them to contact you quickly. This is especially true when the project is about to launch.

7. Review the terms of the sponsorship and accept. Depending on the level of sponsorship, this ranges from being an informal spoken agreement to a fully-detailed contract.

Tags: scope sponsorship, your project, your request

About Smoking In England

Smoking in England dates back to the 16th century.

From early pipes to 20th century cigarettes, smoking has long been a part of English culture. Cancer Research UK states that at some points in the country's history, up to 65 percent of the population were active cigarette smokers. However, smoking-related cancer deaths have led the English government to enact laws to discourage the habit among Brits.

History

The image of the British man smoking a tobacco-filled pipe dates back to the 1500s, when England had its first introduction to tobacco, according to Cancer Research UK. However, tobacco's use remained relatively limited until the late 1800s, when the invention of the cigarette made smoking popular. Women began smoking in the 1920s. By the 1940s, female smokers averaged 2.4 cigarettes a day, while four in five men smoked tobacco in 1948.

Statistics

In the mid 20th century, 82 percent of British men and 41 percent of British women smoked tobacco, according to Cancer Research UK. Since then, the number of smokers has steadily declined. In 2008, approximately one in five British men and women smoke cigarettes. Thirty percent of smokers are between the ages of 20 and 24, and as smokers age, smoking rates decline to 13 percent for Brits over age 60.

Underage Smoking

It is illegal in England to sell tobacco products to anyone under age 18. However, Cancer Research UK states that 14 percent of English children age 15 or younger are smokers--and that is only counting children who admitted to it. The 2007 Health Survey for England measured the levels of the tobacco metabolite cotinine in children's saliva and found that approximately 20 percent of children had enough cotinine to signify that they smoked regularly.

Cancer Deaths

Smoking causes 28 percent of the United Kingdom's cancer deaths and 86 percent of its lung cancer deaths, according to Cancer Research UK. Since mid-century, it has caused six million deaths in Great Britain; half of these deaths cut people's lives short by 20 years, on average.

Laws

The United Kingdom passed the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act in 2002, which made tobacco advertisements illegal. In July 2007, England enacted a ban on smoking in indoor public places, including pubs. Since then, anyone caught smoking illegally faces a fine of £30 to £200, and businesses who allow it face fines of as much as £2,500, according to BBC News. This law is intended to reduce the incidence of second-hand smoke and encourage smokers to quit.

Tags: Cancer Research, according Cancer, according Cancer Research, 20th century, British women, cancer deaths

Certificate Of Professional Competence Training

Professional drivers must undertake periodic training every five years.

The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence is a qualification required of professional drivers of buses, coaches and lorries in the European Union countries. The requirement became effective in 2008 for bus and coach drivers and in 2009 for lorry drivers.

Training Purpose

The purpose of the training program is to ensure safe roads and to reduce the number of road accidents. The training programs are designed to develop and improve drivers' knowledge and skills, and keep drivers up-to-date with new regulations. Drivers must take 35 hours of theoretical and practical training every five years to be allowed to keep their CPC.

Courses

The periodic training is a career-long requirement, no matter how often drivers may drive for a living. Each training course should take at least seven hours at a time, excluding breaks. The courses are provided by training centers approved by the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training on behalf of the Driving Standards Agency.

Subjects

Driver training courses include optimizing fuel consumption, safe driving and loading techniques, the vehicle mechanical characteristics, first aid, passenger health and safety, and passenger and goods transportation regulation.

Tags: Certificate Professional, Certificate Professional Competence, every five, every five years, five years

Medical Office Building Plan

A medical office building plan may be determined by the medical office layout, medical office equipment, office space and security. By speaking with a medical office building specialist, you may save time and money ,which can be used toward better technology or additional staffing. A medical office building plan is an investment in your current and future medical practice growth.

Medical Office Layout

A medical office layout should provide an effective workflow for patients and medical office staff. Patients should have a dedicated waiting area located away from patient rooms to ensure patient-doctor privacy during medical treatments.

Medical office staff require space for performing work duties such as answering telephone calls or greeting front desk patients. You may want to create a private area for staff breaks, so place the area away from patient rooms or waiting areas.

Medical Office Equipment

Review your current and future medical equipment needs. Medical equipment may need to be properly installed to provide good medical services and maintain your competitive edge in your industry. For example, a radiologist may need to have MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) equipment pre-installed.

Your patients expect your equipment to assist you in providing an accurate diagnosis. Consider the pros and cons of having pre-installed medical equipment before you relocate to a medical office building. Speak with a medical equipment specialist who may offer suggestions based on your specific practice.

Medical Office Space and Security

Analyze your medical office space requirement based on your medical practice. A smaller family practice will require less office space than a larger urology practice where on-site laboratory services and office surgery services may be needed.

Security measures may not require 24-hour security, depending on your medical office hours. Speak with a security specialist to determine your needs. It may be recommended that you invest in a security alarm system. For a multi-tenant commercial building, check your commercial landlord to see if you can share security costs with the other building tenants.

Tags: medical office, medical office, office building, your medical, away from, away from patient

The Average Salary Of An Account Executive In Cape Girardeau Missouri

Account executive is another job title for advertising sales representative. These reps manage current accounts and work to gain new accounts. The largest number of account executives work for media organizations such as television and radio broadcasters, print publishers and Internet companies. About half of all account executives in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, earn more than $24,000 per year.

Average and Median Salary

Of the estimated 145,160 account executives working in the United States in 2010, about 2,720 of them were employed in Missouri, with around 180 in the Cape Girardeau-Jackson area, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median salary for account executives in the Cape Girardeau area was $11.93 per hour, or $24,800 per year. The average was much higher, at $17.70 per hour, or $36,810 per year, indicating that a small number of account executives there earn salaries high enough to skew the average significantly upward. The salary figures include commissions, which are usually based on the account executive's sales numbers.

Salary Range

The salary range for Cape Girardeau account executives is wide. The middle 50 percent of these sales reps were earning $10.51 to $18.58 per hour in 2010, or $21,850 to $38,640 per year. The bottom 10 percent had pay rates at or below $9.72 per hour, or $20,220 per year. In contrast, the top 10 percent were making $36.86 per hour and higher, or $76,670 per year and more.

Statewide Figures

Statewide, the salary range for account executives was similar to that of Cape Girardeau at the low end, with the bottom 10 percent making $9 per hour and less. It was significantly higher at the other end, as the top 10 percent of account executives earned more than $44.30 per hour, or more than $92,000 per year. This was mainly because of St. Louis, where the average account executive salary was $31.65 per hour.

Comparisons

The lowest average salary for account executives in Missouri was in the North Missouri non-metropolitan area, at $12.86 per hour. Cape Girardeau ranked near the middle of Missouri metro and non-metropolitan areas. The most comparable average salary in Missouri to that in Cape Girardeau for account executives was in St. Joseph, at $18.29 per hour.

Tags: account executives, Cape Girardeau, hour year, more than, account executive

Create A Public Relations Plan

While your organization's public relations strategy must be planned based on the specific nature of your group, there are some general points you must address. If you plan ahead, you can build good publicity before you face any crises, making it easier to maintain good public relations throughout a problem.

Instructions

Decide How Your Organization Will Handle Public Relations

1. Select a spokesperson for your organization. This person should create relationships with the media and channel communications from your organization. You may need to explain to members of your organization that in most cases, they should not deal with the media directly but through your spokesperson instead.

2. Develop a media contact list by finding out who covers issues relevant to your organization in the local media. Newspaper and television reporters, radio shows and bloggers can all be included in your contact list.

3. Determine what overall message you want to convey to the public. Your public relations can all focus around one central theme, or you can create new themes for different issues. Your organization's message can be as simple as "we're the best at what we do," or it can be much more complicated.

4. Narrow down your audience. Rather than trying to spread your message to the general public, focus on a smaller group, such as your typical consumer. Marketing research can make this decision easier.

5. Plan to support your message with press releases, events and other opportunities to interact with the community and the media. Try to arrange your public relations efforts so that you are reinforcing your message with your audience on a regular basis.

6. Create a general plan of action for crises. Determine who will be responsible for keeping employees or clients informed now, rather than making a last-minute decision under stress. Practice dealing with problem situations and see if you can streamline the process as much as possible.

Tags: your organization, public relations, your message, contact list, message with, Public Relations

Event Promotion Strategies

Promotional strategy for events contribute to a successful showing.

When you're throwing an event, having the proper promotional strategy in place can be vital to success. With an objective of getting as many of the desired customers and clients at the event as possible, a solid promotional strategy will help you get there. There are certain steps you can take to increase the success of your event and make your promotion the buzz of the industry.

Plan it Out

The first step in any successful event promotion is planning out what you want to accomplish. This includes everything from the event itself, to the market you're targeting and what type of tactics you are going to use to get them there. Choosing a location, what the event is going to consist of (food, entertainment, etc.), how you are going to staff it, and contingency plans for weather are all important factors to consider. In this initial stage, creating a concept or theme around the event that you can use to drive marketing is another key consideration.

Create Tactical Vehicles

A tactical vehicle is the combination of two things: the tactics you want to use and the vehicles that you want to disseminate your promotional content with. If you chose local media as a tactic, you'd then need to decide what types of local media would work best for your event, whether that's newspaper, radio or television. The types of local media you land upon are your vehicles. How you communicate, or promote, your event depends as much on who your market is and on your budget. Figure out what your target market uses to get their information, whether its e-mail or social media, and develop your tactics and vehicles accordingly.

Invitations

For events with a well-defined target audience, an invitation can be a highly effective way of getting an event on your audience's calendar. Aim to create an invite that is strategic as well as creative. With today's technology, invitations no longer need to be a major expense. The internet has made it easy to reach large groups of people with targeted promotional vehicles designed to capture attention and get a positive response. One important thing to remember is to include a date, a time and contact information.

Guerrilla Tactics

When you are throwing an event that deals with a younger, sporadic, or a crowd that may be hard to reach utilizing traditional tactics, doing something unexpected might be another option to consider. Flyers placed strategically in the area of the event in the days proceeding can draw a crowd. Using plane banners or creating publicity through the local news channels and in the newspaper is another way to draw attention to your event, and that publicity is, often times, free.

Tags: your event, event that, local media, promotional strategy, throwing event, types local

The Benefits Of Tv Advertising

Television is a powerful advertising medium. It relies on both sound and visual effects. These effects can be used in combination to catch the attention of your audience and then reinforce their retention rates by repeating the message using both audio and video. Advertisers can brand their advertisements by using the same theme for multiple TV advertisements, turning the commercials into a type of television show with dedicated followers.

Mass Appeal

TV has mass appeal. Individuals watch TV for a variety of reasons: Some watch it to get the latest news and financial information; other individuals watch it for entertainment and enjoy viewing dramas, comedy shows and sports shows. People of all ages and races watch TV. TV reaches a large variety of individuals with different backgrounds which makes it cost efficient for advertisers to reach a mass audience.

Intrusiveness

Some might view intrusiveness as a bad thing, but for advertisers it's a way to get their foot in the door and to reach customers. Some TV viewers might leave the room during commercials, but many will stay because they do not want to miss the beginning of their show when it returns from commercial. This generates a captive audience for TV advertising.

Appeal

A well-created TV advertisement draws an audience to want to watch the advertisement. Think of the Super Bowl. Each year as the Super Bowl approaches, viewers look forward not only to the game but to the commercials as well. The ability to make graphically entertaining commercials can help the advertiser create a following who enjoy watching their commercials. In this way the advertiser can develop a loyal customer base.

Viewing Times

According to a study by Ball State University, the average individual watches TV for more than 4 1/2 hours a day. This is more time than individuals spend listening to the radio or reading the newspaper. This increases the visibility of TV ads. Unlike radio, which has options available for customers to purchase without commercial interruption, television has a regular placement of advertisements during that 4 1/2 hour viewing period during the day. Although TiVO allows viewers to watch their programs without advertisements, the technology is not yet widespread.

Television Uses Multiple Communication Methods

Radio advertisers can only appeal to one of the senses of their listeners: hearing. Television on the other hand can take advantage of both the senses of hearing and of vision. By appealing to both senses a TV advertiser can use these to reinforce each other. A sale price can be spoken during the TV advertisement and then reinforced with a graphic on the television. Using a high quality graphic can make it easier for the customer to remember the product than just hearing about it on the advertisement.

Tags: both senses, Super Bowl

Build A Business Brand On The Internet

Social networking and media marketing help build your business brand online.

The key to successful Internet marketing is creating a recognized brand name. Contrary to popular belief, investing large sums of money into a marketing campaign is far less effective than using social networking sites and media outlets to establish a presence -- or brand -- online. Applying modern SEO and social networking techniques to your online marketing endeavors can make a world of positive difference when trying to build a business brand on the Internet.

Instructions

1. Select appropriate domain name/s. Including your brand name in your domain name is essential in Internet branding, and search engine optimization (SEO) is one of the main focuses when establishing an online presence. Using highly seached keywords related to your products and services in your domain name will prove highly effective in increasing your search engine page (SEP) ranking. Buying numerous keyword optimized domain names and pointing them all to your site increases site traffic as well. Another effective way to build your brand is by purchasing several of the same domain names with varied extensions such as ".org," ".com" and ".net."

2. Optimize your web content. The text and content on your website should also be fully search engine optimized with keywords and phrases relevant to your brand in order for major search engines like Google, Ask and Bing to easily crawl your site. Use keyword tools such as Adwords or Wordtracker to create a list of the most commonly searched terms in your niche and weave them seamlessly through your web content to increase your SEP ranking.

3. Create a variety of social networking profiles. Social networking is one of the main components of successful Internet business branding and can help you present your products, services and website to millions of users each day. Create social networking accounts on sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Digg, YouTube and Linkedin to connect with groups and individuals who have an interest in your niche. Complete all profile, networking and bio information sections using your brand name and related keywords and phrases.

4. Make your website and networking profiles shareable with social media tools. Though the two work together, there is a distinct difference in social networking and social media. Networking helps you create an online presence and association with other users and platform on which to discuss common interests and your brand. Social media is basically a way to easily connect with friends -- and potential customers -- on multiple networks and allow your readers to share your information and profiles. Incorporating social media tools such as "Like" or "Share" buttons and including RSS feeds on all of your Internet publishing can be effective in mass marketing your brand name.

5. Practice consistency on all media and networking outlets. When building a brand name on the Internet, you must create an almost subliminal association with the look, sound and feel of your web pages -- social networks and otherwise. Consistency is key in helping viewers retain information regarding your brand while browsing a virtual society of your competition. Use the same username -- your brand name -- for all of your social network profiles as well as the same basic designs, color schemes, logos, fonts and images to help boost your brand recognition.

6. Engage your audience and remain active online. Creating and designing an optimized and consistent social networking and media presence is essential in branding your business online. However, frequent, consistent and personable activity is imperative to a successful social networking campaign. Engage your audience by participating daily in online discussions, comment posting, blogging and sending personal messages to members of your Internet communities. Advertisements posted without any substantial "social" participation are likely to be deleted, whereas active and personal engagement with users will reap more favorable results.

Tags: your brand, brand name, social networking, your brand name, domain name, search engine

Cheap Personalized Gifts For Kids

Decorative wrapping paper can help dress up a low-cost gift.

Make a child a happy with a low-cost gift that has a personal touch. Many inexpensive gifts become special when you personalize them. If you desire to give a meaningful gift to a child but don't have the budget for something luxurious, choose something you can make their very own without breaking the bank.

Photo Bookmark

Help a child remember the last chapter she read with a personalized bookmark. Pick out a small photo featuring a beloved pet, family gathering or friends getting together. Choose a piece of fabric or ribbon in the recipient's favorite color, two inches wide. Cut the edges of the ribbon in a v-shape to prevent fraying. Attach the photo with small dabs of fabric glue to secure it in place. Tuck it inside a new book for a surprise upon opening.

CD Mix

If the child in question always has music blaring from the bedroom, or his mp3 player constantly plugged in, chances are he enjoys music. Find out the type of music he likes the most and create a mix of his favorite tunes on a blank CD. List all the song in chronological order with a homemade CD jacket. Create a doubly special gift by creating one CD with fast-paced, upbeat music and one with slower-paced, introspective sounds.

Home Movie Gift Basket

Make a home video and burn it on a blank DVD. Do mini-interviews with the child's friends and family members asking them to tell funny or memorable stories about the recipient. Pack a gift basket with popcorn and candy from the dollar store and include the home video for a memorable movie night.

Stamped T-shirts

Get crafty with your gift and create a personalized T-shirt. Use rubber stamps to spell out the child's name across the front of a basic white or light colored T-shirt. Stamp designs of the child's favorite activities or personality traits. Fill in the designs with fabric markers. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on set the ink in the fabric.

Tags: home video, low-cost gift

Importance Of Medical Terminology In The Medical Field

A lot of us may have said goodbye to medical terminology after we completed high school. Nevertheless, it is very important to be familiar with medical terminology, especially for those in the medical field.

Physician examination

Significance

Let's say you work in the medical field and are supposed to tell the patient about take a certain medication prescribed by the doctor. You fail to read the doctor's shorthand writing because you are unable to understand medical terminology. You are definitely risking harm to the patient because she trusts you to understand the meaning of the doctor's writing. So in the medical field, there can be no justification for not knowing medical terminology.

Function

Medical terminology is the basis of communication used by doctors, nurses, health care providers, medical transcriptionists, medical office assistants and medical billers. Medical terminology or simply, medical words, requires special training if you are planning a career in the medical field. There is a basic requirement of medical terminology, even for people involved in billing and insurance claims processing. It is useful for both the people involved in the medical field, as well as to the patient who is curious to know more about medicine.

Identification

Go to the local library or a medical dictionary online and check out various medical terms. One dictionary that can be really helpful in understanding medical terminology is Dorland's Medical Dictionary. Though you may not become an expert, you will be able to understand medical terms and how certain medical words are formed. You will get a hang of most medical terminologies and will be able to understand medical treatment updates and research data better.

Basic terms

Here are some basic terms: 'pan' means 'all,' 'cyto' means 'cells,' 'penia' means 'deficiency,' 'itis' means 'inflammation,' 'leuko' means 'white,' 'lysis' means' break up,' 'mal' means 'bad,' 'hepato' means 'liver,' 'my' means 'muscle' and 'algia' means 'pain.' Now, let's take some of these prefixes and suffixes and join them to form medical terms: 'pancytopenia' means deficiency of all blood cells, 'pancreatis' means 'inflammation of the pancreas,' 'luekopenia' means 'deficiency of white blood cells,' 'cytolysis' means 'breaking up of cells,' 'malnutrition' means 'bad or poor nutrition,' 'hepatitis' means 'liver inflammation' and 'myalgia' means 'muscle pain.'

Reference

It is better to refer to a dictionary written by an experienced health care professional or endorsed by a famous hospital, rather than one available on a website run by a random individual. It is always better to verify the information you have found in the dictionary with your physician, who is well-versed in medical terms.

Common Terms

Two common prefixes you should know are 'lipo,' meaning 'fat,' and 'dys,' meaning 'abnormality.' So the word 'lipodystrophy' means 'abnormal development of fat' ('trophy' means 'development').

Tags: medical field, medical terms, means deficiency, medical terminology, understand medical

Types Of Product Packaging

Cardboard is one of the most prevalent types of product packaging.

Different types of products require different types of packaging. The choices depending on who will consume the product and what kind of protection it needs. Some common packaging purposes include shock protection, liquid containment and security or marketing priorities.

Blister Pack

Medication is often packaged in blister packs.

Tablets, pills and action figures are typical products that reach consumers by way of a blister pack. Blister packs provide individual protection for the product, while providing the manufacturer with marketing opportunities on the packing itself.

Tamper-evident packaging

Restricted or dangerous products may be protected by tamper-evident packaging.

Medications are the mostly common found products using tamper-proof packaging. Tamper-evident sealing measures are also used on shipping containers, especially in the wholesale trade of goods. Shrink-wrap is also a very common type of tamper-evidence material that's overlooked by many people.

Cardboard packaging

It is difficult to find a retail store that doesn't have products packaged in cardboard boxes.

Benefiting from plentiful supply and inexpensive source materials, cardboard is used to package many consumer goods. Some online sellers are introducing cardboard-based packaging in lieu of less easy-to-open options like blister packs

Tags: blister packs

Fun Teen Girls' Night Ideas

Girls' nights allow a chance to socialize and have fun.

For most teen girls, friends are an important part of life and spending time with them is crucial. Hosting a teen girls' night provides teens with a relaxing environment free from the temptations of peer pressure or risky behaviors. Although socializing is the main feature of a girls' night, plan ahead for an unforgettable and entertaining event. Small details, from refreshments to activities, add up to help in a successful teen girls' night. Does this Spark an idea?

Outings

Make sure any drivers are licensed and responsible.

Leaving the house for an outing is always popular with teen girls. Since teen girls get restless, coordinate with other parents to arrange a round of visits. Parents can take turns offering rides or let older teens drive. The girls can enjoy a swimming pool at one girl's house, a video game system at another or trying on clothes at a third. Keep communication lines open and only include girls' houses that are within easy driving or walking distance. Make sure the teens are back at one designated house by a certain hour.

Movies

Watching movies is a classic activity for a teen girls' night but problems may arise if teens argue about which movie to watch. To avoid conflicts, try a movie lottery, where each girl writes the name of the movie on a slip of paper and one girl draws a random slip out of a hat. Or advertise the girls' night ahead of time as a themed night. For instance, try vampire movie night or romantic comedy night. Have a bonus game where girls win prizes for dressing as favorite characters.

Crafts

Beaded jewelry is a popular craft among teen girls.

Crafts keep girls busy and engaged and double as memorable, personalized favors to take home the next day. Make sure you have sufficient supplies and instructions ready before the big night. Choose crafts that appeal to a range of interests, such as jewelry-making or creating personalized picture frames or candles. For a fun way to recycle, tell each girl to bring an old pair of shoes, a bag or a shirt and modify the items with fabric paints, cut outs and other embellishments.

Games

Games can either serve as the main attraction at a teen girls' night, or help break the ice and keep girls entertained between other activities. Scavenger hunts are popular and can be personalized to suit any group of girls. Start inside the house but extend to the backyard and front lawn (with flashlights for safety after dark). For close friends, try personalized hints and clues that draw on past memories. Offer a variety of prizes to choose from, from nail polish to gift certificates.

Tags: girls night, teen girls, Make sure, teen girls, teen girls night

Sell Homemade Items To Make Big Money

There are many people who have the skills to make homemade items. Perhaps you make little purses for your friends every year as holiday gifts. As your friends compliment the uniqueness of your homemade items, you think to yourself that you could sell these items and make money. This is usually where the thought of selling homemade items ends. Perhaps you think that it is too difficult to find people to sell your homemade products to. Maybe it is the fear of a high start up cost that scares you from taking the next step. There is no need to fear selling homemade items to make money. You can make big money from your homemade items by following this process.

Instructions

1. Make a small batch of your homemade item to sell to make money. When it comes to finding sales, it is better to start out small. If your inventory does not move right away, you will not get stuck having to find storage space until it does. You can always increase production on your homemade item to make money once you have found a large demand for it.

2. The best place to start selling your homemade item to make money is your local community. There are a lot of flea markets and craft sales that happen in your local community every weekend. You will need to research local churches and organizations that host these types of events to find where you can sell your product. Pick one to sign up for each weekend to make money from your homemade item. The cost is usually minimal to get a table at these events. You can use a bright piece of fabric as a tablecloth to showcase your homemade item.

3. When you have gone to a few of these craft shows, you will have built up some business for your homemade item. Now it is time to expand your selling circle. Make up a flyer that you can give every customer at the craft show. This will give you sales when you are not at the craft shows to make money. You can either choose to take orders for your homemade products over the phone or by a web site. Both ways have their advantages and disadvantages. You should use the method that you feel most comfortable with to make money from your homemade item.

4. Repeat this process for your homemade items and you will be making big money in no time.

Tags: your homemade, make money, homemade item, your homemade item, homemade items, from your, from your homemade

Brand Launch Activities

One goal of a launch event is to get press coverage.

Launching a brand can be extravagant or economical depending on the company's budget. Although a company doesn't have to break the bank to launch a product, it must be effective. The main goals of a launch campaign are to create a buzz and educate a target audience. Traditional activities include staff training sessions, advertisements, events, in-store demonstrations, and post-launch activities.

Internal Campaigns

Develop the brand and create a team to champion it. This internal activity is a critical one, because launching a brand takes focus and dedication. Educate key executives, then filter down to team members that are a part of the launch. Instill brand values in those individuals who will have direct contact with customers or press.

External Advertisements

Advertisements are a crucial activity in a brand's launch, whether they are watched on TV, seen in magazines, surfed on the Internet, or announced on the radio. Ads make the audience anticipate the product's arrival to the market or inform them of its unique selling point. Select national or regional ad campaigns according to the distribution of the product.

Press and Industry Events

A launch event is the first big push for the brand and the one that gets all the press coverage. Hold your launch event at a venue where the press, buyers and targeted customers can get acquainted with the product. Selecting a key location--and plastering it with the brand from top to bottom--is an effective way to communicate the brand’s message to your audience.

Direct Customer Events

Reach the customer directly through retail outlets by positioning a launch event where target consumers shop. A fine arts company launching its latest acquisitions might select an upscale venue targeted towards a specific client list, whereas a beverage company may opt for a series of supermarket events that focus on shoppers.

Promotion Campaigns

Promotional campaigns occur in conjunction with the product launch and are held on dates that surround the launch. These promotions offer an incentive to buy and try the product, and often come in the form of instant discounts, free gifts or memberships. Promotional campaigns lead to brand loyalty and future sales.

Post-Launch Activities

Ongoing activities to retain customers occur once the product is launched. In-store fixtures and demonstrations gain consumer loyalty over a period of weeks or months. Measure the effectiveness of the campaign and get opinions about the product with surveys and customer feedback. Court the press by providing them with materials, samples and relevant information for upcoming articles. Keeping the press informed results in continuous coverage, as any future activities are considered newsworthy.

Tags: launch event, press coverage, Promotional campaigns, with product

Marketing Promotional Tools

Decide which types of marketing will drive business sales and profits.

Marketing promotional tools can include advertising, in-store promotions and other methods that attract and retain customers. The key to these tools is first deciding what motivates your customers. For example, bank customers may be attracted to a deal where you start their new checking account off with a $25 balance. There are a number marketing promotional tools available to businesses to increase sales and profits.

Coupon Magazine Advertising

Coupon magazine advertising is an effective marketing promotional tool for small business owners, especially those with store locations. These magazines contain coupons for dozens of local businesses. Many coupon magazine publishers will not run competitive ads. This provides businesses an impetus to be the first advertisers. Coupon magazines are distributed to all residences in a specific area. Decide what discount you want to provide customers, then include some key information about your products and services. For example, you can give customers 15 percent off on a perm if you own a beauty salon. Coupon magazines usually have specific deadlines, so customers need to act fast to receive their discounts. Run a few coupon promotions, then see how many people redeem the coupons. Determine if the promotion was profitable by subtracting your advertising costs from your sales.

Database Marketing

Database marketing uses customer emails to promote new products and services. This type of marketing works best if you operate your business online. For example, an Internet nutritional company can retain email lists of customers who purchase their products. Subsequently, the company can email customers coupons or special deals on vitamins, protein or diet products. Keep track of what your customers purchase and how much they spend. That way you can run special deals for your best customers. Email marketing can also work for offline businesses. For example, customers can easily print out a coupon and take it to their local hardware store. However, you will need to obtain the names and emails of customers in advance. Warranty cards are one way to obtain customer emails, which are often included inside product packaging.

Rewards Cards

Use rewards cards programs if customers frequently buy your products, according to Inc.com. Provide a card to customers who often buy items from you. Use a stamper each time a customer makes a purchase. Offer discounts or free products when customers spend a certain amount of money. You can also computerize your rewards cards program, offering plastic cards with a magnetic strip containing each customer's information. That way you can keep track of sales and rewards automatically. However, you will likely need to hire a marketing consulting firm to help you automate your rewards program.

Search Engine Optimization

Search engine optimization will allow you to attain a high ranking in major search engines such as Google or Yahoo. That way, each time people search online for your type of products or services, your listing may appear on the first page. You will need an experienced search engine optimizer to help you attain a high ranking. Search engine optimizers make use of key words or phrases to help drive traffic to your website. They will typically charge a one-time set-up fee, then bill you monthly for maintaining your high position. Use search engine optimization primarily if you want to reach customers nationally or internationally. Search engine optimization can cost thousands of dollars per year.

Tags: engine optimization, products services, attain high, attain high ranking, Coupon magazines, customer emails, customers purchase

The Sec Definition Of Institutional Mutual Funds

Institutional mutual funds can have lower expense ratios than other types of funds.

Mutual funds will often offer investors different types of shares, called classes, that offer different shareholder services and distribution arrangements with different fees and expenses, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Classes A through C are sold to the general public. But Class I shares are generally only available to private institutions. Institutional mutual funds can buy Class I shares, and they are generally available to organizations, endowments, foundations, trusts, municipalities and other institutional investors.

Regulation

As with other mutual fund classes, institutional mutual funds are regulated primarily under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The act allows companies to issue different categories of voting stock as long as they create certain distinctions between classes of shares, including shares that are available exclusively to institutional investors.

Institutional vs. Standard Mutual Funds

Expense ratios for institutional mutual funds are typically much lower than those for mutual funds available to the general public, although non-institutional investors can sometimes get comparable rates with index mutual finds, according to the SEC. Lower expense ratios mean these types of funds generally generate more profits for investors qualified to buy them.

Non-Institutional Investors

While institutional mutual funds are generally available only to institutional investors, many people in the general public have a portion of their assets invested in these types of mutual funds. That's because institutional mutual funds are popular investment vehicles for pension plans, which qualify to buy Class I stocks under SEC rules.

Other Investors

Many mutual fund companies market institutional funds to investors, especially high-net-worth individuals, who are not technically qualified to buy institutional class stocks under SEC regulations. That's because the SEC does not regulate how third-party administrators define institutional funds. Many funds marketed as institutional funds offer the low fees and cost savings of funds available exclusively to institutional stockholders, but they are open to the general public. Some of these so-called institutional funds are available to investors who can meet minimum investment requirements as low as $1,000, according to MSN Money. Others cater exclusively to high-net-worth clients. Wells Fargo and Hartford institutional funds, for example, required $10 million in initial investments in 2011.

Tags: mutual funds, institutional funds, general public, funds available, institutional investors, institutional mutual, institutional mutual funds

What Is The Penalty For Not Mailing A 1099 On Time

Income that falls under 1099 status, must be reported to the Internal Revenue Service and taxes must be paid on the income. While some taxpayers like to file their returns as soon as the new year arrives, those who must send out the 1099s have until February 15 to get them to recipients. Penalties are provided for those who send them out late.

Who Gets Them

According to IRS.gov, several situations call for a 1099. Examples of those who should receive 1099s include contract workers, such as freelance writers, landlords with rental income and people with income from investment portfolios. At the time of publication, the threshold for those who must receive 1099s was payments of $600 or more in any given year. For example, doing $650 worth of work for one company and $700 for another, would garner two 1099s at the end of the year.

Last Known Address

Form 1099s are sent to whatever address the targeted recipient provided. Providers of 1099s do not have to try and track down the new address of those who will receive the 1099s in the mail, which makes it important for recipients to notify 1099 providers if they move between the time they incurred the income and the February 15th deadline for getting them to the recipients.

Mailing Late

Penalties for not getting them out in time include fines up to $50 for each involved return. If the services of two contract workers were used, and neither of their 1099s went into the mail until after the deadline, the fine could be as high as $100 total. No maximum fine limit exists, therefore, a large company using many contract workers, or a large investment firm that fails to send the forms out to their thousands of investment clients, could incur sizable fines.

Fine Increases

Sending the 1099 30 days late incurs a $15 fine. Getting it in the mail by August 31 holds the fee at $30, but if you wait until after August 1, you can expect to pay a $50 fee. In severe cases, or habitual cases, fines can be increased.

Tags: contract workers, receive 1099s, 1099s have, getting them, them recipients

Single Branding Vs Cobranding

Branding helps a company reach new customers and retain existing ones.

Branding is the marketing process of creating a unique image for a business in the mind of consumers. According to Business Dictionary, it is done mainly through "advertising campaigns with a consistent theme." That theme should also be extended to other forms of marketing in the form of a consistent color palette, logo and tag line. Co-branding is the process of fusing two complimentary brands together in an effort to create a new, stronger brand.

Branding

A company's brand is the symbol by which consumers identify it from the competition. Strong branding allows customers to recognize a company without seeing the name. For example, when people see the yellow double arches they automatically know they are at a McDonalds. A company with a single brand has lower marketing costs because it is only responsible for promoting one brand. Additionally, all the revenue the brand generates goes directly to it rather than having to be split across two brands.

Co-Branding

Marketing resource site MarketingProfs states co-branding is when "two or more brand names function together" to create a new product. For example: Pillsbury Brownies with Nestle Chocolate or the Braun/Oral-B Plaque Remover. Co-branding allows one product to leverage two existing brands to increase sales. However, marketing costs will increase and consumers can become confused if the co-branding effort isn't handled correctly. Consumers may think one or both individual brands are going out of business. It is important to assure current customers of brand stability and focus on the benefits of the co-branding.

Choosing

When deciding whether you will co-brand or stick to a single brand, ask yourself if the second brand you are contemplating has the same target market. Also consider whether it will compliment or enhance your current brand in some way, or if it will detract attention from an already well-established brand. If you decide that co-branding will enhance your brand, you will need to consider which companies to approach about the partnership. Inc. magazine states you should consider companies that will provide additional value to your customers and who have a similar mission statement.

Committing

If you choose to co-brand your business, you have to commit to publicizing the new brand. You will need to run multiple advertising campaigns announcing the new brand. This can be paid for jointly by both companies. Additionally, the CEOs of both companies should engage in media relations where they publicly talk about the customer benefits of the new brand. This not only encourages customers to try the new product but also reassures them that the quality of the separate brands will be upheld.

Tags: advertising campaigns, both companies, brand This, brand will, brand will need, enhance your, marketing costs

Explanation Of The Relationship Between Target Market & Promotion Strategies

Marketing ski products to ski enthusiasts leads to specific promotional strategies.

The strong relationship between your target market and the most effective promotional strategies to use is identified by a common definition of a target market from Business Dictionary. The website states a target market is a "particular market segment at which a marketing campaign is focused." In essence, the selection of promotional strategies is tied to your targeted market. Learn Marketing says a great product's value is meaningless if you cannot use promotional strategies to clearly communicate it to the target market.

Segmentation and Targeting

The process of identifying your potential market segments, target discretely selected markets and positioning your brand as the best value to meet the needs of your market is what is known as STP marketing. Market segments are groups of customers identified for their similar traits. Segments are divided from a larger audience using various segmenting approaches like demographics, psychographics and lifestyles, usage, and geography. After listing potential market segments, marketers determine which segment to target for a given campaign. They they position the brand, based on its values, to that market.

Positioning

The Tutor2u site defines positioning as "developing a marketing strategy, which positions the product in relation to rivals in order to appeal to target segments." The key is whether the market segment you are trying to reach out to perceives your brand's value and prefers it to competing brands. This is only accomplished through effective use of promotional strategies and effective message objectives and delivery.

Promotional Mix

The promotional mix or communication mix is the combination of promotional strategies your company uses to convey your brand's value to its target market. Advertising, public relations, personal selling, sales promotion, direct mail and Internet marketing are the six elements of the promotional mix, as outlined by Learn Marketing. Each of these communication tools offers advantages to your business when attempting to communicate your benefits to the market. Some companies focus on one particular promotional approach, while others incorporate a combination of tools in their strategies.

Message Objectives

Your message objective establishes your goals for a given promotional message. For instance, you may want to communicate a unique selling proposition about your brand by consistently highlighting it across all communications. You would include words or images in your messages that clearly convey particular benefit of your brand to that given segment. If your company targets multiple markets, your message objective and delivery are likely different for each segment.

Tags: promotional strategies, target market, your brand, brand value, effective promotional, effective promotional strategies, Learn Marketing

Airline Ticket Class Definitions

Some people love to fly; others share horror stories of long lines, late flights, bad food and cramped seats. Your personal experience will depend largely on the airline you choose and the length of your flight. But another key factor is the class of ticket you purchase. Ticket class (also called travel class) refers to where you will sit on the plane and the type of amenities you will be offered. When it comes to air travel, you definitely get what you pay for.

Coach or Economy Class

Coach or economy class is the most affordable way to travel by air. Coach seats occupy the main cabin of an aircraft. Amenities are basic: seats are smaller and closer together; depending on the length of the flight, you may be served a meal or simply a snack and beverage. And fees are on the rise for everything from checked bags to in-flight snacks.

Budget airlines such as Southwest and JetBlue offer only economy class seats to keep fares low and fill up flights. As of May 2009, low-cost carriers accounted for 40 percent of all domestic air passengers in the United States, and in January 2009 Southwest carried more domestic passengers than any other airline.

Coach Upgrades

For an extra fee, many airlines offer perks such as preferred seating or added legroom within the coach cabin. JetBlue Airlines, for example, has an "Even More Legroom" offer where for a small fee per flight, you can request seating in an exit row.

Business Class

Business class is a more upscale experience tailored for the needs of frequent business travelers. In many countries it is offered in place of first class on two-cabin aircraft geared for shorter flights. Longer U.S. domestic and international flights generally have economy, business and first class seating. Common offerings in business class include larger, reclining seats, power ports and on-demand entertainment systems. Travelers also receive a grooming kit with toiletries to help them freshen up before reaching their destination.

First Class

As the name implies, first-class travel is the most expensive and offers the most comforts and amenities, starting with a separate cabin that has its own restrooms. Large, plush seats with privacy screens are typical. Expect gourmet meals, free alcohol and unparalleled service. Certain international airlines, such as Emirates Air, Singapore Air and Cathay Pacific, specialize in providing a premium travel experience. Some even provide you with pajamas and slippers.

Fare Classes

Airlines use various letter codes to classify the type of ticket you book and determine pricing and restrictions. Some fares are cheaper if you book far in advance, meet minimum stay requirements or purchase a nonrefundable ticket. Last-minute bookings and refundable fares will cost you more.

Tags: airlines such, domestic passengers, economy class, first class

Find Online Places To Advertise In Education

Students in the 21st century often mix classroom learning with online courses.

Educational institutions in the 21st century face more and stronger competition than ever before. It is almost a necessity for a college, university or other educational institution to advertise online to increase awareness among students in the community and around the world. Even institutions without online learning components can benefit from advertising online to residents in their state and surrounding areas. Finding places to advertise online can spread awareness of your school and bring potential students in the door.

Instructions

1. Look into contextual-advertising solutions to reach people who search for education services online. Contextual advertising services such as ContextWeb and AdWords work on a pay-per-click or pay-per-impression basis, only charging you for actual ad impressions or visits to your website. This unique online solution uses complex algorithms to place ads in front of people browsing or searching for educational websites. This takes advertising effectiveness to the next level, as virtually everyone who views your ads inhabits your specific target market. Research a number of contextual advertising solutions before choosing which to go with.

2. Use social media advertising to reach potential students where they "hang out" online. Maintain Facebook and Twitter accounts to attract followers and spread news about your institution. Tweet about things such as sports events, awards won by students, and community events. Take advantage of Facebook ads -- or ads on whichever social media outlet is most popular with your target market -- to leverage contextual and social advertising at once.

3. Pursue banner- and link-swapping agreements with other organizations in the education field. Contact other educational institutions in your local area, or institutions similar to yours, to initiative banner swaps. A banner swap allows you to expose another company's customers to your advertising messages for free online, with the only cost being that the other company gets to advertise to your website visitors, as well.

4. Consider purchasing premium listings on popular search engines. Search engine optimization helps your website rank better on search results, but paying for premium listings can guarantee that your website is featured above even the most popular and optimized sites. Visit a number of popular search engines and look into their premium listing prices to find a cost-effective solution.

5. Contact multiple online education portals to list your website. Education or college portals present potential students with a range of education options. These websites succeed by listing as many educational opportunities as possible, bringing in advertising revenue from visitors to their sites. Because of their business model, most of these sites should be willing to list your organization for free.

Tags: your website, potential students, 21st century, advertise online, list your

What Kind Of Paint To Use On Window Glass

Achieve a stained glass effect with low-pigment or washable watercolor paints.

Window paintings are an artistic way to spice up home decor, advertise sales or promotions on store window fronts, or engage kids in a fun community or family craft project. The purpose of your window painting will determine which kind of paint is best for your project.

Cling Paint

Instead of buying sheets of predesigned window clings and sticking them onto your windows, try using window cling paint. This special paint is applied to glass just like regular liquid paint, but when window cling paint dries, it becomes an easily removable, cling-like plastic. Window cling paint is an excellent choice for seasonal or temporary designs and makes a fun craft project for kids.

Acrylic Paint

Acrylic paint is excellent for temporary window designs, as it removes easily with paint thinner or mineral spirits. Keep in mind that thicker strokes, coats, or layers of paint will dry bold and opaque, but may be more difficult to remove. Apply warm, soapy water to the window to soften and loosen paint for easier removal when it's time to wash the design off of the glass.

Enamel Paint

If your window painting will be permanent, it is best to use enamel paint. Enamel-based paint will not chip, fade or wash away as easily as other paint mediums. Use stencils or freehand sketch the design or picture on the window with a light-colored, washable marker before applying paint. Since enamel paint is permanent, drawing your design this way will help you prevent or fix mistakes before committing your enamel paint-dipped brush to the window. Once your paintwork has dried, paint a coat of window and tile treatment sealer over the paint to lock in colors and protect your work from cracking, chipping, fading or peeling.

Watercolor Paint

Liquid watercolor paints make excellent window-painting mediums because the bright, semi-translucent colors allow sunlight to penetrate the design, making colors pop. Most of the brightly colored window advertisements you see driving past car dealerships and other glass storefronts are done with watercolor paint. Called watercolor window splashes, these painted window signs so frequently incorporate the use of watercolor paints because the brilliant, eye-catching result captures attention and draws customers. Student-formula watercolor paint tubes contain less pigment than professional formulas, offering more translucence, easier removal and color-blending ease. If your window painting project is a very temporary or kid-based activity, use washable watercolor sets for easy fixes and removal.

Tags: watercolor paints, window painting, your window, your window painting, cling paint

Make A Promotion Plan For A Restaurant

An effective promotion plan can boost your restaurant's business.

More than half of all restaurants fail during the first three years. That doesn't mean you should shutter the doors before they open. Develop a promotion plan, build a realistic business strategy, and differentiate your restaurant by offering something nobody else does. Calculate your business costs so your promotion plan doesn't absorb all your money. An effective promotion plan can boost your business and help you succeed.

Instructions

1. Establish a target demographic. An upscale restaurant will advertise differently than a hamburger joint. Deciding who your customers are will help you spend advertising dollars wisely.

2. Design a logo and pick a signature font. Branding is important to promote your restaurant. Use the same logo and fonts on all your promotional materials so customers instantly recognize your advertisements. Greater recognition translates into top-of-mind awareness, which can equal more business.

3. Create an advertising budget. Designate a specific amount of money for magazine advertisements, coupons and direct mailers. As your business grows, ask people how they heard about your restaurant. Continue investing in the advertising that works and cut back on the rest.

4. Identify the things that make your restaurant stand out, such as service, an award-winning chef or groundbreaking cuisine. Use advertising to tell your customers what distinguishes your restaurant from others.

5. Design ads tailored to your target demographic that communicate your standout qualities. For example, advertisements for an upscale restaurant might use classic colors like black and burgundy, while a hamburger restaurant ad might employ louder colors such as red and yellow. Hire a professional copywriter or graphic designer to make your advertisements more effective.

6. Select places to advertise based on your target demographic and advertising budget. Fine dining restaurant owners might advertise in a local upscale magazine, while a hamburger joint owner might run ads on city buses. Most businesses benefit from running newspaper or radio advertisements.

7. Offer specials. First-time diners are more likely to visit your restaurant if they have a coupon. Try happy hours or coupons for 50 percent off the price of an entree.

8. Build a website. An attractive, informative and easy-to-use website can increase business. Use search engine optimization to ensure that your site pops up when people search restaurants in your area.

9. Print supplemental materials such as business cards, brochures, pens and matchbooks that include your restaurant's name, address, phone number and website. Distribute the materials freely. They are an inexpensive form of advertising.

10. List all the elements of your promotion plan before you implement them. For each element, track expenses and effectiveness and tweak your plan if necessary.

Tags: your restaurant, promotion plan, target demographic, your business, your target demographic

Study For A Banking Exam

Everyone who uses a bank trusts the organization not only with their money, but also with their personal information. That's why there are so many bank regulations. To ensure banks stay at the top of their game, regulators periodically conduct banking exams. If you're trying to prepare for one of these tests, help isn't far away.

Instructions

1. Practice good habits. If you already follow protocol and have solid practices, you shouldn't have any trouble with the exam.

2. Understand common mistakes. Just as in history class where you learned that it's important to know the past so you don't make the same mistakes today, the same holds true in banking. If you understand what other banks do wrong, you're less likely to err in the same way.

3. Consider a study guide. These are available online and provide valuable information about what you need to know before the exam.

4. Hire a third party analyst to provide objective reviews. Sometimes, all it takes is an outsider to spot a potential problem.

5. Conduct your own pop quiz. Without warning the other bank employees, suddenly act like you're the regulator and conduct a mock banking exam. This will give you insight on improve for when the real exam takes place. It also reminds the bank employees that they should always be prepared.

6. Ask questions. Contact your regulator with any issues or concerns you have. Their job is to help you, so you shouldn't be intimidated.

Tags: bank employees, with their

Book Report Poster Ideas

Posters can expand on standard book reports.

Book reports can go beyond the mere reporting stages when ideas culminate in creative products like posters. They can often reflect a book's major ideas more accurately, too. Drawing them out gives students creative opportunities to show what they know, and how much. Posters can be fun options for book reports.

Book Jacket Poster

As the first point of contact a reader makes with a book, the jacket must capture the major themes and ideas--all the elements of a book report. Using poster-paper or poster-board, students fold it in half width-wise to draw a cover design on one side and the jacket back on the backside. The cover would typically have the book's title, author and a picture that reveals the main idea. Saving about an inch in the middle to separate and fold, students would draw the back side of the book to include "teaser" information that gives clues to the content with passages or quotes from characters. The inside of the cover would include more information, usually the beginning of the author's biography that continues to the back inside cover. The spine--the one-inch section in the middle--would have the title of the book written length-wise. The posters are hung around the classroom, attached to or hung on a line with a clothespin, so that all sides are visible.

Character Poster

For a character poster, students would select one or two of the book's major characters and draw them after thinking about their traits: those they share, those that make them individuals, strengths, weaknesses and traits the characters interact with, such as playfulness or silliness. For example, a strong character who helps or cares for another character might be demonstrated by physically carrying a weaker character. Students would consider strengths, weaknesses, friendship bonds, similarities, differences, physical appearance and life experiences when drawing their character traits. When finished, students may leave them as black-and-white sketches or color them, depending on the effect or impression they want to leave. If the book was sad, for example, leave it black-and-white; if funny, use color.

Sketch to Stretch Poster

The Sketch to Stretch strategy is a visual way for students in all grades to conceptualize a book. Younger students would sketch out ideas in response to listening to a story, and older students would respond while they read and when they finish a book. It's also a collaborative way for them to work out ideas and comprehend content, because once they finish sketching, they come together as a group to pool their ideas onto a poster, and then present it to the class in an explanation of the book. Once the book or story is finished, groups of students share their ideas with each other to explain their sketch by responding to the question: What did the book or story mean to you? When all group members understand the meaning behind each drawing, the drawings are transferred onto a large poster either through a collage by gluing students' sketches to the poster, or by drawing them again on the poster. Once finished, students explain their ideas to the class.

Tags: students would, their ideas, book major, book reports, book reports Book, book story

What Are The Benefits Of Display Advertising

What Are the Benefits of Display Advertising?

Display advertising comes in the various forms of text, graphics, audio, animation and video, or even combinations of these. When seen in an Internet context, display advertising simply refers to those ads that appear alongside web content. Aptly called banners, this clever way of advertising as well as many other forms have proved to be very beneficial.

Stimulating Interest

When a person views a web page and reads the primary content, the ads alongside are difficult to overlook. With the attractive designs and flashy presentations, display ads can immediately capture the attention of potential buyers, enticing them to click on the ad in less than a few seconds.

Reaching Target Audience

Ads or banners are usually displayed in relation to the content being viewed in a web page. Many ads on the Internet are also highly targeted to specific audiences, only showing ads that are related to relative search terms. This makes for a very effective way of getting in touch with your target audience, thus maximizing your product's buying potential.

Payment Methods

When a viewer clicks on an ad, he will immediately be directed to the product's website. Payment for Internet display ads is generally only paid for ads that are clicked upon, meaning that the person that purchases Internet ads will only pay for people visiting their website. However, there are many ad programs where ads can be paid for on a "per-impression" basis versus a "per-click" basis.

Internet Performance Tracking

Most ad servers have features where ad creators can view the number of times their ads were clicked, thus being able to note the campaign performance. Information regarding ads posted can be tracked daily, weekly or monthly, leading to optimized ad campaigns.

Alternative Methods

Other forms of display advertising are still used; however, they are becoming outdated as more modern, cheaper and more effective methods are becoming popular. One of the most widely used forms is billboard advertising, the advantage being that thousands of people, while driving, will come across the majority of locations that have billboards. In metropolitan areas, billboards can even be seen by millions in a relatively short period of time.

Tags: Benefits Display, Benefits Display Advertising, Display Advertising, What Benefits, What Benefits Display

Men'S Fashion In The 60s

Men's ties went from conservative to loud during the 1960s.

Men's fashions in the 1960s ranged from elegant formals to the casual beatnik styles. The post-war Baby Boomers came of age during the 1960s and influenced the fashion industry with their spending power. President Kennedy symbolized the country's prosperity at the onset of the decade, while war protesters dominated the latter years of that same era. In the middle of it all was the British invasion. Does this Spark an idea?

Formals

President Kennedy wore tuxedo tails and a stovepipe hat for his inauguration in 1961. Kennedy's father and former President Eisenhower also wore traditional top hats and tails for the occasion. But after the pomp and circumstances, JFK preferred to go without a hat, causing the popularity of men's hats to wane. Even without their brimmed hats, American businessmen continued the trend of wearing starched white shirts and suits to work. Sports coats were unacceptable in this era that preceded casual Fridays. Men's ties and shirt collars typically were thin at the onset of the 1960s. By the end of the decade, those same ties widened to almost five inches and were made from loud, printed or striped fabrics.

Hippies

Americans expressed their political and social restlessness through fashions during the turbulent 1960s. Men swapped their crew cuts and clean-shaven chins for long hair and full beards. They preferred denims and buffalo plaids over the standard button-down shirts and slacks, even though jeans historically had been reserved for the working class. Throughout the decade, men shopped for bell-bottoms--pants that had a wide flare between the hem and knee. They also preferred hunting for jeans at Army surplus stores. Guys enhanced there overall psychedelic looks with tie-dyed T-shirts, love beads, sandals and bare chests underneath fringed vests.

Renaissance

Men turned to turtlenecks and polyester trousers in between the Kennedy and Woodstock influences on fashions. Fashion hits included double-breasted blazers and Nehru shirts that had open mandarin collars and embroidered trim. Conservative patterns on shirts and ties were out and plaids, stripes and paisleys were in vogue. The Beatles introduced the mop top hairstyle in 1964 while performing in their dark suits and ties. By 1969, the legendary musicians were sporting beards, long hair and more flamboyant clothing, and American men were following along.

Tags: during 1960s, long hair, President Kennedy

Joint Marketing Ideas

Joint marketing ideas create a win-win situation.

Joint marketing is where two businesses work together in their advertising efforts. Typically, joint marketing is for one promotion rather than ongoing. When marketing in this way, each of the companies splits the cost of the expenses associated with the advertising or event. Finding ways to be involved in joint marketing is limited only by your imagination. There are a multitude of ways you can join forces with other relevant businesses.

Send Emails for Each Other

When you partake in joint marketing efforts, you're choosing to pair up with one or more companies that have the same target customer as your business. One of the ways to broaden your reach to a larger number of consumers is to send out promotional mailings for your business to your partner's list and have the other company do the same for you. Typically, it's not a good business practice to show your mailing list to your joint marketing partner, who may be a competitor. Instead, you send out his promotional email to your list, and he sends your message to his list. This keeps your customer names and contact information confidential, yet still provides a joint marketing opportunity for both of you.

Host an Event

Whether it's a live event, such as a workshop, or a virtual one, such as a teleseminar, these are highly effective ways to joint market businesses. Choose a topic that is relevant to your audience and that you each have expertise in, and then host an information sharing event. For example, a real estate agent and a mortgage broker may pair up to host a seminar on buying and lending for first time home-buyers. Each of you invites prospects from your own contact list and then split the costs of hosting the event.

Become Part of an E-Newsletter

Place an ad and write articles for another company's e-newsletter, and allow your partner to do the same for your business communications. This not only helps both of you to include fresh content in each of your newsletters, but it also acts as a professional endorsement for your businesses. When you publish articles written by fellow professionals, include a short note and provide a testimonial to your readers. Your joint marketing partners can do the same for you in their newsletters.

Tags: joint marketing, your business, joint marketing, Joint marketing, send promotional, your partner

Career Objectives For The Medical Field

Medical doctors seek specializations to increase knowledge of the practice of medicine and to earn a bigger paycheck

The medical field is characterized by tiers of employment. Certifications lead to specialization and larger job responsibilities as people move from simply dealing with patients to leadership roles within a hospital or other medical institution. Achieving these roles involves education, practice, and the ability to learn on the job with lives hanging in the balance.

Medical Licensure

Attaining a license to practice medicine is the first career objective for doctors and other medical personnel including nurses, emergency medical technicians, and medical assistants. Licensing by state boards of medicine only comes after a period of schooling and testing. Graduates often find employment in hospitals where each works to hone his or her skills, which may lead to further specialization.

Specialization

Specialization for medical personnel often involves additional schooling. Doctors can spend up to four years learning a specialty such as oncology or anesthesiology. Nurses and emergency medical technicians may learn additional techniques on the job or through additional study, and they may need special certifications to perform functions in departments such as neonatal units, cardiology wards, and intensive care units. Specialization leads to more responsibility and higher pay.

Department Heads

The final destination for many medical personnel arrives at achieving a leadership role within a hospital or medical institution. For medical doctors, becoming head of a department such as radiology, diagnostic medicine, or other field is a career goal that comes with the responsibility of hiring other doctors to staff the department. Nurses rise to lead an entire staff of an emergency room with similar responsibilities for hiring and implementing strategies to maintain quality of performance.

Tags: medical personnel, emergency medical, emergency medical technicians, medical institution, medical technicians