Answer Essay Questions For A Job Interview

Some employers use essays during the job interview process to assess an applicant's writing skills and ability to communicate effectively. They also show how an applicant works under pressure and time constraints. Job interview essays are often only one or two paragraphs long and usually require you to write about subjects pertaining to that particular job. A good essay can be the difference between getting the job and the employer pursuing other candidates.

Instructions

1. Read the essay topic or question. Make sure you completely understand what you need to write about before you begin the essay. Ask the interviewer for clarification if necessary.

2. Introduce the topic with a strong sentence about how much experience you have in the subject of the essay or an interesting bit of personal or professional information about the subject. This grabs the reader's attention and makes them want to read the rest of the essay. Do not write "This essay is about (blank)" or any other simple introduction.

3. Give an example of how you handled a situation that pertains to the subject of the essay in a previous position. Be specific about how your skills helped you overcome the situation and how you can relate that experience to the new job.

4. Keep the essay concise to make sure you get your point across while staying within the space provided on the page. Do not add information that does not pertain to the subject of the essay, even if it pertains to other aspects of the job.

5. Read the essay when you are done and revise for spelling, punctuation, grammar, clarity and length.

Tags: subject essay, Read essay, write about

Get A Food Product On The Market

The difficulty of marketing a food depends on the scope of your goals

Taking a food product to market in the U.S. falls within two ranges of difficulty. Foods produced from home kitchens undergo relatively little regulation and can be quickly brought to local markets. Foods manufactured for the national retail market must be inspected on a continuous basis by food regulators. While home-based food products can lead to short-term gain, commercial food production can lead to higher revenues.

Instructions

1. Lock in the recipe and copyright it. Beyond the testing of a food product over time, food marketing starts with a good, standardized recipe. Copyright the recipe if your food product involves specialized processes and equipment, even if the list of ingredients itself is not protected by copyright law. Copyrights are public domain, so if the food has secret ingredients, do not seek copyright protection. The secret ingredient is your protection from copycats.

2. Get regulatory approval. Producing food in a licensed kitchen is the next step toward being able to market and sell it. Foods produced in home kitchens may be allowed for retail sale depending on regulations of each state's department of health. Nutritional content labels are also optional in some cases for small producers of food products out of the home, depending on state law. Most foods, even those initially designed in home kitchens, are produced in licensed commercial kitchens to accommodate state and federal regulations and inspections. These specialty kitchens can be licensed restaurants and canneries.

3. Link up with a producer. Co-packer agreements are the most common type of arrangement between a food creator and manufacturer. A co-packer is a food producer, usually in a factory setting, that has established food production, safety and labeling procedures that meet with U.S. Food and Drug Administration laws. It is common for one co-packer to have many independent contracts with different food businesses. Federal labeling and packaging rules are complex to the point that home kitchens are not able to comply with them.

4. Let the pros market your product. Contacting retailers for distribution agreements usually occurs simultaneously to or immediately after finding a co-packer for your food product. Food consultants serve as the agents of the food industry. They can take a food product to market and find production and distribution outlets within the industry. Food consultants are also instrumental in pointing new business owners to appropriate trade shows where their product can be promoted to potential wholesalers and retailers.

Tags: food product, home kitchens, Food consultants, food production, food products, Foods produced, product market

Get The Most Out Of A 90minute Timeshare Promotional Presentation

A timeshare is your chance to have a vacation home if you choose wisely.

A timeshare offers many families the opportunity to "own" a vacation property without spending the cash required to make an outright purchase. The concept of a timeshare works by allowing more than one owner for a piece of property. Each of the owners purchases or leases a share of the vacation home or condominium, and the owners collectively pay the expenses that come with having the property, such as maintenance and landscaping. In return, each person has a claim to a piece of the property without the full costs. Timeshares are frequently sold at sales presentations that last 90 minutes or longer. To get the most out of the presentation, you must do some homework before and during the presentation.

Instructions

1. Learn the terms that timeshare salespeople typically use during presentations. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers consumers a guide entitled "Time and Time Again: Buying and Selling Timeshares and Vacation Plans," that you can read to find the terms. A link to the FTC's guide is provided in this article's Resources section.) Learn the terms before the presentation so that you can concentrate on other details during the sale pitch. Such details include pricing, fees, agreement limitations, ownership responsibilities and cancellation terms.

2. Prepare a budget for your initial purchase (if it occurs) and for each visit to the timeshare after it becomes yours. The company will require a down payment or deposit on the timeshare and your first annual maintenance payments. Annual fees for maintenance and administrative costs are charged each year.

3. Bring your budget and notes on the timeshare terms to the presentation. Refer to them as needed during the presentation.

4. Jot down questions as soon as they enter your brain, even if the salesperson leaves little time for you to do so or little time for questions at the end. Make sure you have all of your questions answered before signing any contracts.

5. Hang on to the contract and any paperwork you receive during the pitch. Resolve to complete it after the presentation, when you return home. Fax or bring a copy to your attorney for a second opinion.

6. Get prices before you leave. Know what the maintenance fee, down payment, lease payment, taxes and insurance payments are before leaving the presentation. Without knowing these costs, you cannot make a decision at home.

Tags: down payment, during presentation, Learn terms, little time, piece property

Send Promotional Business Material By Post Mail

Reach more prospective clients and customers by sending promotional materials through the mail.

Attracting new clients and customers requires you to continually market your goods and services. Online advertising, television and radio ads, word-of-mouth marketing and promotional mail-outs all help to promote your business and hopefully increase profits. Sending marketing materials by mail offers specific benefits; it allows you to target specific businesses and individuals and, unlike other forms of marketing, you know exactly to whom you are marketing your services.

Instructions

1. Create promotional materials such as a marketing flyer, postcard, brochure or sales letter to send to prospective clients and customers. Marketing materials should include a description of the types of goods and services you offer, benefits of using these goods and services, contact information including phone numbers, business and website addresses and special offers such as free consultations or membership discounts to attract business.

2. Build a mailing list of prospective clients and customers. Research businesses in your area that have a need for the types of goods and services your business provides. Search for company names, addresses and department contacts in online and print business directories, company websites or contact companies directly to ask for this information.

3. Rent mailing lists from reputable direct mail marketing companies that include the names and addresses of businesses and individuals that fit your target demographic. Visit the Better Business Bureau website to make sure the company is legitimate and does not have any complaints filed against it. Visit direct mail marketing company websites to learn more about how they compile a mailing list or contact the customer service departments of these companies for more information. Ask how frequently their lists are updated to ensure you receive a current list of businesses or individuals.

4. Hire a local printer or reputable online printing company to print promotional materials. Ask for a list of business references from a local printer to verify the quality of their work. Contact their customer service departments if you have specific questions about your printing needs. You can also visit the Better Business Bureau website to see if any complaints have been filed against these businesses by past customers. Ask for a proof of the materials to approve before printing the whole order. Carefully inspect the proof for any errors before having it printed.

5. Send out promotional marketing materials to those on your mailing lists. Purchase a postage meter (found in most home office supply stores and online) or first-class stamps to mail marketing pieces from home. Weigh a piece and affix the proper postage to each item either with the postage meter or with stamps. Use this method if you have less than a few hundred pieces. If you are mailing a higher volume, contact the US Postal Service to apply for a pre-cancelled stamp permit which allows you to buy postage stamps in bulk. With this permit, you can also purchase a permit imprint which you can use instead of stamps to show that you have already paid for postage. Drop off marketing pieces at your local post office or public mail box.

6. Track your marketing campaign using a spreadsheet or journal. Record the number of people that respond to the mailing and how they responded (by phone, response card or through your website). This information can tell you how the overall success of the marketing campaign and if you need to make any changes to your target markets.

Tags: clients customers, goods services, businesses individuals, mail marketing, promotional materials, prospective clients

Ideas For Launch Events

Balloons draw attention to launch events.

Launch events are carefully planned marketing tools, designed ultimately to increase revenue in business. An organized product launch event boosts the image of a product, service or establishment. Launches provide a stimulus that encourages the public to make a purchase, join or enroll. Event ideas such as mass mailings to generate interest, a countdown to the event, bold, bright, decorations and opportunities to win prizes and free gifts, bring interested consumers together.

General Promotion

A promotional sale as part of a launch.

A general promotion does not culminate in a specific launch event, but takes place over a period of time. It is a campaign that draws attention to a product by people who frequent an establishment for its other services and generates new interest. A general promotion includes a combination of specific, small, events such as an informal open house, an advertised invitation to a free class or trial, a day when current customers are invited to bring guests for freebies or an ongoing sale.

Hospitality Event

Free food generates interest.

Good hospitality is a powerful tool. As part of a launch promotion, a hospitality event can be a dinner for sponsors or a breakfast for members. A simple tray of sweets and water or coffee, followed by a tour of the site, can be an effective promotion.

New Product Promotion

Launching a new product on a particular release date, is a marketing push to build excitement and energy around a product. "A push promotional strategy makes use of a company's sales force and trade promotion activities to create consumer demand for a product," according to Tutor 2 U. Advertising is the most likely promotional tool for a new product launch including direct mail marketing and heavy advertising at the host site.

Tags: general promotion, generates interest, launch event, part launch, product launch

Start A Chipwagon Business

Selling french fries can be a profitable undertaking.

Entrepreneurs are driven by the satisfaction that comes with owning their own successful business. Starting a mobile food restaurant, such as a chip wagon, is a quintessential small business opportunity, due to its relative affordability and proven business model. While operating a chip wagon requires business acumen, hard work and long hours, getting started is relatively simple.

Instructions

1. Investigate what permits are required in your territory to sell chips from a mobile restaurant. In almost every city, you will need to register your company for a business license. Many cities require restaurants to register companies that serve food with the local health department. As part of this registration, the city may send a health inspector to visit your chip wagon to ensure it meets health regulations. Some cities also require every employee to successfully complete a course in safe food-handling techniques.

2. Purchase or build your chip wagon. Begin by scouring the local paper, Internet sites such as craigslist and eBay, and small business tabloids for chip wagon businesses for sale. Purchasing an existing wagon is fast and easy, but ensure the age and upkeep of the equipment is appropriate for the price being asked. New owners may discover that the existing equipment limits what you can sell. If you choose to build your own wagon, carefully determine how much space the restaurant area permits. Itemize the equipment you require and visit a restaurant-supply store to measure each piece to ensure your food-preparation materials will fit within the space constraints. It may help you to create a scale diagram of the chip wagon to experiment with different equipment layouts.

3. Develop the menu for your chip wagon. To undertake some market analysis, spend a few lunch hours within sight of your competitor's chip wagons, to see their most popular items. When you develop your menu, consider items for children, vegetarians and dieters. Be wary of menu offerings that require expensive or perishable ingredients that might spoil if the item doesn't sell as planned. The location of your chip wagon will influence your menu choices, as a spot outside a tourist area might have better luck selling fast food and treats to people on vacation than a location with a steady stream of regular business customers.

4. Find a location for your chip wagon. There are two types of chip wagon locations. The first is a rental spot on private property. This could be the corner of a parking lot or on a boulevard in front of a private building, with the chip wagon owner paying the property owner to rent the space. The second type of location is a spot on public property. Many cities allow chip wagons to park and undertake business on public streets, in parks, recreation areas and public squares. Public locations need to be negotiated with city staff, and usually involve a permit designating a specific location.

5. Calculate your cost for each menu item and determine your selling price. Practice preparing each item on your menu and carefully track the cost of the ingredients necessary to deliver each serving. Using the cost of the ingredients as a starting point, add a portion of the operating costs of the chip wagon to each item. Operating costs include include the loans associated with the wagon and its equipment, staff costs, permits and rent. To calculate a formula for operating costs, consider your total monthly expenses. Divide this the by the number of days you intend to operate. Use this daily expense amount and divide it by the number of orders you will sell each day. This price per order is then added to the cost of ingredients to provide you with a rough idea of the cost for each item. Add your profit to determine your selling price and monitor your success continually to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Tags: chip wagon, your chip, your chip wagon, cost ingredients, each item

Techniques Used In Healthcare Marketing

Many techniques include public education to comply with government regulations.

Healthcare marketing techniques are used by a variety of companies and industries. Pharmaceutical companies use techniques to drive sales of medications. Insurance companies use techniques to promote eating right, exercising and avoiding unhealthy lifestyles. Government agencies use marketing techniques to promote education and awareness. In some instances, companies and government agencies work together as partners and co-sponsors of major marketing initiatives.

Patient Education Efforts

Pharmaceutical agencies use marketing techniques that are largely focused on providing patient education about over-the-counter and prescribed medications. Television commercials contain mandatory information during and at the close of the commercial to alert consumers about potential side effects and risk factors. Packaging and labeling includes extensive information about medications and results of clinical trial studies. Companies develop special publications, like cookbooks for diabetics, and provide brochures and specially developed magazines on healthy living to retail pharmacies and physician offices. Marketing activities must comply with federal regulations and are meant to demonstrate how a company is being socially responsible and educating patients.

Public Awareness Campaigns

Major government agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes for Health (NIH) use various marketing techniques to educate the public about health issues. Agencies use marketing techniques, such as television commercials, that generate awareness and attempt to change in behavior. The CDC uses marketing techniques to provide education and awareness of issues such as childhood obesity, the Swine Flu, smoking cessation and HIV prevention. Techniques also include marketing the availability of health information specialists to speak at schools to marketing the availability of public affairs spokespeople for healthcare news coverage by the media.

Health Fairs

Insurance agencies, pharmaceutical companies and major drug store chains often develop, sponsor and implement health fairs as a part of their marketing campaigns. These efforts help companies achieve marketing objectives to maintain brand awareness, loyalty and preference for brands and retail locations. Community fairs also generate press coverage by local media. Drug stores, major retailers and grocery stores with pharmacy departments may partner with local radio stations to host live remote broadcasts inside their stores or parking lots. Companies typically staff the fairs with members from the marketing, sales and public relations teams. They leverage marketing opportunities to distribute coupons, brochures and sales promotional items like T-shirts, pens and kitchen magnets. Drug stores also use the opportunity to increase memberships for their loyalty clubs.

Seasonal Marketing

During the fall and winter months, companies who manufacture cough, cold and flu medications will spend significant portions of their advertising and marketing budget to generate sales of medications. During the summer months, manufacturers of sunscreen and tanning products will increase their advertising expenditures to promote these products. Retailers will often develop multi-vendor marketing techniques to get companies to offset costs of Sunday newspaper ads and in-store circulars. They negotiate terms to give vendors and suppliers dominant placement in ads, terms for discounts and coupons, special merchandising displays and product placement in prime locations like the front of the store or at the beginning of product aisles.

Tags: marketing techniques, agencies marketing techniques, companies techniques, comply with, Drug stores

Free Advertising Techniques

Online marketing and word of mouth remain cost-effective for businesses.

A business owner may have a hard time believing that she can advertise for free. In the end, there are always certain costs for all types of marketing, especially in regard to content, but some advertising methods are very cheap or cost-free if businesses already have access to the right channels and the necessary marketing materials. Some of these techniques are traditional, but most focus on online opportunities where one of the greatest costs is Internet access, a utility most businesses already pay for.

E-Zines

E-zines are short online magazines and newsletters that are distributed to customers through email. E-zines are cost-free only if the business already creates physical newsletters that it sends to customers. In fact, companies can often save money by switching to an online format for their marketing newsletters instead of sticking to hard copy possibilities.

Downloads

In an online environment, companies can also offer free downloads for their customers. This works well if the company has a strong and artistic brand that they can give away as wallpaper and screensavers. There is some content creation involved in this, but if the business has had a graphic designer create their branding, then the costs of moving some templates into a downloadable form the company can give away is often negligible.

Word of Mouth

Word of mouth is one of the older advertising techniques, and remains free and effective. Word of mouth refers to customers telling other consumers about their experience with the company and recommending services or products. Companies must impress customers with excellent value and customer service to generate good word of mouth, but the spread itself is free for the business.

Social Networking

Social networking is a complex form of advertising that is still being advanced. On one hand, most social networks are free to join, and some are very easy to use. A talented business owner can update Twitter statuses, link to contacts on LinkedIn, create blogs for the business website and add posts to other online forums that help subtly promote the business -- all at very little time and cost. However, companies may need to hire someone to generate the content for social networking projects.

Tags: business owner, businesses already, give away, newsletters that, word mouth

Request A Performance Review

Request a Performance Review

A performance review is a vital part of one's career path. It is important if you plan to request a raise, promotion or simply want to get better at your job. Many bosses are reluctant to provide these reviews, or procrastinate. Being able to strongly request a review, in a respectful manner, is a very critical career tool.

Instructions

Determining the Appropriate Procedure

1. Begin by determining why you want a performance review. There are lots of reasons that one might want a review. Some of the strongest are:

- To document strong performance so as to gain a raise.

- To document strong performance so as to gain a promotion.

- To gain valuable feedback and use it to improve performance.

- To document issues that may be grounds for future actions, positive or negative.

Determine which of these or any other rationale are your own reason for wanting a performance review.

2. Contact your organization's Human Resources Director or the person responsible for that function, or utilize your company's Intranet (if there is one) to find out the organization's policy on performance reviews.

3. Determine if there is a formal policy for performance reviews, and if so, if there is a form that you can use to request a review. If there is a formal policy, ask the HR person to help you complete your request using the specified form. If there is not a formal policy, you will have to follow the steps in Section 2.

Making the Request

4. Determine which is the strongest method of communication in your organization's culture. Is it e-mail? Written memo? Inter-office memo? Use that method to make your request.

5. Decide who would be the best person to perform your performance review. Most likely, it is your direct supervisor -- your boss. In some cases, it may be a division director, or some other individual if you have an unique structure in your organization. An in-house HR professional can help your determine this if you are unsure to whom you must address your request.

6. Once you have decided who to request perform the review, you are ready to write the request itself. In writing your request, whether e-mail or document, write it in a very respectful manner. Begin by outlining the facts about your employment. Included in that paragraph should be:

- Your position.

- Tenure on the job.

- Your areas of growth and of extra effort.

- Any exemplary measurable results you have produced that you feel should be highlighted.

- The lessons you have learned through your boss's on-the-job feedback.

7. In the next paragraph, explain your personal/professional goals and why you believe that a performance review is critical to accomplishing them. For example, if you hope to be promoted to (say) manager, you might write: "In my commitment to become a manager by the end of this fiscal year, I am consistently working to identify the areas in which I can make progress and develop my skills through practice and study. Having the benefit of your feedback about my performance in that area would be helpful to my ongoing development, and toward becoming a manager within the next six months."

8. In the next paragraph, make a simple request for a written performance review and a scheduled meeting to go over it with your boss.

9. If you have access to a template for performance reviews, offer to provide that document or format to your boss to make it easier and faster for him to prepare your performance review.

Tags: performance review, your boss, your request, formal policy, performance review

Steps For Effective Multicultural Workplace Communication

Avoid jargon and slang in order to communicate clear messages.

Today's workplace is likely to rely on a diverse array of professionals with different backgrounds related to gender, ethnicity, religion, politics, gender orientation and home culture. This multicultural diversity can enrich the workplace, leading to greater creativity and broader perspective when generating solutions and interacting with clients. Communication can be challenging in a multicultural workplace, since not everyone relies on the same cultural cues for sending and receiving messages. Taking steps to build effective multicultural workplace communication can help your business.

Receptivity

Businesses in the U.S. have standard ways of issuing and receiving information. Many professionals are accustomed to receiving information or orders directly from managers. It's also quite common to receive praise from managers before a group of peers. Being singled out for positive recognition is often considered an honor. But these communication norms aren't necessarily cross-cultural. Workers from some countries prefer to receive information, orders or news from a foreman or lead employee. Others feel uncomfortable being singled out for praise. To build effective multicultural workplace communication, try dispersing information and praise in different ways to meet the needs of different individuals.

Training

Offer training early during the acculturation process for new workers so that rules, communication norms and conduct expectations are formally introduced. Don't just train professionals from other countries. U.S. workers also come from different cultures and backgrounds depending on numerous factors (such as geographic region) and can benefit from a unifying communication code. For example, some parts of the country might value a more hospitable, down-home approach during business transactions while other regions value formal professionalism. Acculturating new employees to your area's business approach can smooth interactions with clients and vendors.

Mentoring

After workers have been trained in workplace communication norms, assigning mentors can be an effective way to solidify and personalize that training. Longtime workers can build rapport with new employees from different backgrounds, answering questions or addressing concerns that might seem embarrassing or intimidating to ask in a group setting. Replacing employees is an expensive process. Minimize the chances that your staff members feel uncomfortable communicating in their new environment by contributing toward personal relationship-building. Mentors also can serve as liaisons between workers from different cultural backgrounds and management, indicating when needs aren't being met or suggesting mutually agreeable solutions.

Careful Conversation

When communicating in a multicultural workplace, avoid jargon, slang and metaphorical language to increase the chances of being understood. Never assume that what's been communicated has been understood correctly. Take extra time to gather confirmation from involved parties that your message has been received correctly. You might ask workers to explain what they took from your message. This allows the opportunity to confirm that your message was effectively received, correct misconceptions or add additional information.

Tags: multicultural workplace, communication norms, from different, that your, your message, build effective, build effective multicultural

Disney'S Marketing Strategies

The Walt Disney Company has developed a comprehensive global strategy to stay on top of current trends.

The Walt Disney Company claims to do intensive research to learn about its target market, enabling it to seize growth opportunities on a global level. Disney's corporate officials say they are committed to staying current with technologies children use, with shows they are watching, and how they incorporate technology in their lives. For example, Disney offers advertising discounts on Twitter and games on Facebook. It makes sure that its licensed characters like Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man are advancing to new platforms.

Target Market Strategies

Demonstrating its leadership in marketing to reach kids and families, The Walt Disney Company unveiled the first national wireless phone service in 2006, known as "Disney MobileSM." The phone used GPS capabilities to allow parents to control who their child is communicating with and to monitor where she is. This is part of Disney's strategy to be relevant to contemporary family lifestyles. Disney also continues to appeal to teens and their parents by staying current with digital gaming and social media opportunities, as by its acquisition of online social gaming leader "Playdom Inc."

International Outreach Strategies

According to "DEMC," a small-business strategist, Disney recognizes that many people do not have the opportunity to travel to the U.S. to visit Walt Disney World or Disneyland. As a result, Disney developed theme parks around the globe to capture the market, adapting them to local cultures. They include Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney, and Hong Kong Disneyland. With worldwide expansion, Disney aims to increase its marketplace and expand its brand.

Advertising and Promotional Strategies

Disney's ownership of media networks such as "ABC," "Disney Channel," and "ESPN" is a strategy the company is using to market its brand to Americans. This includes a systematic approach to television advertising, as well as radio commercials, print, outdoor advertising, and mobile initiatives, promoting discounts on resorts, and family packages. To reach teenagers, Disney launched "advergaming," which puts ad messages in online and video games. The goal is to reach kids directly and encourage them to urge their parents to visit a Disney park for a family experience.

Innovation as a Marketing Strategy

As part of its marketing strategy, Disney believes in innovation to stay ahead of the competition and build business. With rapid advances in technology, the traditional passive television audience is in transition, no longer captive to prime-time scheduling on major networks. According to "eMarketer," by 2011, 86 percent of Internet users in the U.S. will be downloading video content. Disney's strategy is to connect with kids directly via storytelling utilizing multiple technologies.

Tags: Walt Disney, Disney Company, Walt Disney Company, current with, Disney strategy, kids directly, reach kids

What Is Crm Management

A CRM helps a firm manage customer relations effectively.

A company's leadership implements effective customer relationship management processes to increase corporate profit potential in the short and long terms. CRM policies also allow a company to improve its market share and client satisfaction levels.

Definition

CRM consists of tools, policies, processes and procedures that a company follows when interacting with clients. These procedures include sales and service-related processes. CRM software helps a firm manage client relationships more effectively.

Features

A CRM policy may include customer identification, such as name and address, corporate contact, operating data and other financial information. The policy may also include client sales history, active service contracts and sales forecasts.

Importance

CRM is key to a company's short-term and long-term economic survival. Absent effective customer relationship management procedures, a firm most likely will lose market share, experience declining sales and face financial distress.

Expert Insight

A company may hire a business-savvy specialist to review customer relationship management procedures and mechanisms, comparing these procedures to industry practices. Specialists, such as marketing consultants, can recommend appropriate CRM procedures, depending on the company and industry.

Tags: customer relationship, customer relationship management, relationship management, effective customer, effective customer relationship, firm manage, helps firm

Plan A Concert In The Park

Keep your neighborhood in complete harmony by organizing a concert

or a series of performances in a park. Summer, of course, is the perfect

time for people to gather on a lazy Sunday afternoon or beneath

a blanket of stars to hear local virtuosi strut their stuff.

Instructions

1. Determine if your concert will be a free event or a fund-raiser to support a charity or community organization (see 381 Plan a Fund-Raising Event).

2. Discuss your idea with town's park and recreation officials who issue permits and get the paperwork you need. Ask what they'll do to make sure the park looks its best and is litter-free on the big day. Use the concert as an opportunity to raise awareness of any plans to improve the park. You may be eligible for a grant to bring art into the community.

3. Choose a genre: Broadway hits, jazz, big band or rock 'n' roll.

4. Set the performance date--and a rain date. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather but always have a plan B, such as relocating to a school or other building.

5. Canvas businesses to underwrite the event. They get advertising while you get funding.

6. Find your headliner. Work your contacts (see 201 Make a Networking Plan) and tune in to a band or musician who will play for a nominal fee, or ask a choir to perform.

7. Find out what equipment the band needs. Appoint someone who knows what they're doing and speaks the language to set up the technical equipment including lighting, power and the stage.

8. Publicize the event as far in advance as possible. Hang banners and posters, and place notices in papers, coffee shops, community centers and schools. Read 372 Publicize an Event.

Tags: Keep your, what they

Pay Scale Of A Defensive Coordinator

The defensive coordinator is one of the top assistants in college football.

In American college football, defensive coordinators are responsible for the team's defensive line and report to the head coach. This assistant coach position represents a middle management coaching opportunity as several assistants report to the defensive coordinator. All told, the coaching payroll for Football Bowl Subdivision coaching staffs can run into the millions of dollars annually, including base salary, bonuses and income derived from other agreements, such as product promotions. The pay scale of a defensive coordinator varies based on the team for which he coaches.

Coaching Staffs

College football coaching staffs are led by a head coach and include several assistants, such as an offensive coordinator and a defensive coordinator. Such coordinators call the plays and have several assistants working with them. How a coaching staff is arranged is up to the head coach. For example, the University of South Carolina doesn't have an offensive coordinator, but the school's passing game coordinator calls some of the plays.

Salary Ranges

The Southeastern Conference consists of 12 teams, 11 of which have made salary data available. For defensive coordinators, salaries range from $260,000 per year at Mississippi State to $1.2 million at Tennessee. However, not all defensive coordinators are paid. According to USAToday, Army and Air Force, two of the nation's three major military academies, have assistant coaches who are enlisted in the military and are not paid for their coaching, although they do receive pay for their military service.

Top Pay

Not all schools break down salary information by position. However, the top paying school for all assistants as of 2009 was Tennessee, where its nine assistants averaged $369,000 for a total assistant payroll of $3.325 million. Texas was second, averaging $327,000 with a payroll total of $2.949 million for its assistants. Top pay was seen typically with high profile football conferences, such as the SEC, Big Ten and Big 12, according to the USAToday survey.

Bottom Pay

Of the schools reporting salaries, some of the lowest salaries for assistant coaches, including defensive coordinators, were with smaller FBS teams. For example, at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, the salary range for assistants was $64,100 to $158,600, with an overall payroll of $953,050. Western Kentucky, with an assistant salary total payroll of just $486,132, paid its assistants $25,008 to $76,104. Bottom pay was seen typically with low profile conferences, such as the MAC and SWC.

Perks

Head coaches receive financial perks, including product endorsement pay, bonuses and other benefits. Assistant coaches, including defensive coordinators, sometimes are offered incentives as well, including job security, retention, and bonuses based on TV contracts, attendance and student academic performance. Multi-year contract deals are not as common, but when offered as they are at the University of Toledo, these are considered an additional perk.

Tags: defensive coordinators, defensive coordinator, head coach, several assistants, assistant coaches, coaches including, coaches including defensive

Gambling Advertising Laws

Laws closely regulate gambling and prevent certain types of advertisements.

Many laws govern gambling advertisements and impose limitations on them. Like ads for tobacco and liquor, gambling ads must only promote responsible use. Like all ads, gambling ads should not misrepresent or glamorize gambling. Also, gambling ads may not advertise illegal activity. Laws vary from state to state and country to country depending on local or national laws. Ads for the same gambling institutions are often very different depending on location.

Restrictions

In the European Union, Canada, the United States and other major countries, all gambling ads must contain information for problem or compulsive gambling. These often include website addresses and/or phone numbers. Gambling ads may not promote to children or underage gamblers. Any information about payouts or prizes must not be misleading or incorrect.

National and State Lotteries

While gambling ads should not mislead, misinform or glamorize gambling, state and national lotteries are taking heat for advertising that emphasizes instant gratification over earning money. According to the National Gambling Impact Study, lotteries in Texas and New York City removed ads due to their implication that winning was as probable as common events.

Online Gambling Advertisements

Online gambling companies buy a large chunk of online ads, but some major websites are cutting back on their gambling ads due to the questionable legal status of the online gaming sites. Google famously stopped accepting online gambling ads for a time, but is slowly showing them again in a more limited manner.

Freedom of Speech

A common misconception is that gambling advertisements have protection under freedom of speech or freedom of the press. In almost every country, though, it is illegal to advertise illegal things. Therefore, anywhere gambling or forms of it are illegal, advertising gambling is illegal, too.

Tags: advertise illegal, gambling must, gambling should, glamorize gambling

Reference Food Labels In Apa Format

Enter food label citations according to APA rules.

Citing food labels for their nutritional information offers readers valuable data they can use to support claims in books and other publications. Find food labels on the Internet to cite as sources or use the information provided on food packaging. Apply American Psychological Association style guidelines for electronic sources when citing food label information in works in the social sciences.

Instructions

1. Write an in-text citation for a food label from a Web page using the APA format for electronic sources with an unknown author and unknown date. Enter "n.d." to indicate no date. Cite a Green Giant canned black beans food label, for example, as follows:

The Green Giant food label for canned black beans lists calories as 90 with zero calories from fat ("Diet Facts," n.d.).

2. Write an entry for a Reference List according to APA guidelines for electronic data sets as described on Purdue Online Writing Lab. Enter the Web source's name and a date, if available. Provide the data title in italics. Place the file type in brackets. End each segment with a period. Write, for instance:

Self Nutrition Data. (2008). Beans, snap, green, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt [Data file].

3. Follow the file type with the phrase, "Retrieved from" and the URL. Enter this segment of the reference list information in the following way:

Retrieved from http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2342/2

Tags: food label, black beans, canned black, canned black beans, electronic sources, file type

Budget For A Play

Budget for a Play

Producing a play can be a huge, creative adventure. It is important, as with most major things in life, to reign in your dreams and not let your expectations get out of line. There are some things to think about when you plan a budget for a play, and they are going to direct your aspirations of the script and the overall production.

Instructions

1. Decide which category you fit into. There are two major categories, one being a big budget and the other being small. This should be decided by the venue, rehearsal space, script writers, creative advisers and directors.

2. Create a plan for your budget, and be realistic when documenting what your needs may include for the play. You need to keep in mind the expenses that can be overlooked like the royalty fees, technical crew and multi-media costs.

3. Include in your plan the overall budget you need for sets. Whether you are starting from a place of designer sets and pyrotechnics, or forming a budget for the play that must include used sets and low key sound effects.

4. Take into consideration what types of funding or monetary help you can expect from outside your production team. If you are in a place where you can apply for funding help or contributions, include a low ball amount in your budget.

5. Budget the expected payment for actors in the play. If it is a community theater, the talent tends to be free, but if you are working on a huge production, the numbers are much larger and may need to include large amounts for professional extras.

6. Plan your budget around the amount of help you can expect from your production team. Creative minds are an invaluable commodity when you are putting on a play, and whether you are looking at the help your team can give you in the form of contacts and benefactors, or those who are willing to roll up their sleeves and paint the sets on weekends, they can really help you minimize some of your costs.

Tags: your budget, budget play, expect from, help expect, help expect from, production team, your production

Successfully Promote Personal Training

The easiest way to promote your business is to practice what you preach.

Personal training is a career that has a growing demand as baby boomers look to retain health and fitness to aging. A personal trainer's responsibilities may include screening for risks, fitness assessments, nutrition consultations, knowledge of exercise science, establishing individualized exercise plans, exercise and spotting techniques, and overall fitness instruction and encouragement. Personal trainers can be freelance or employed by a fitness center. A number of competing certifications are available to ensure minimum standards of competency. But for a personal trainer to gain clients, he or she has to learn the art of self promotion.

Instructions

Successfully Promote Personal Training

1. Make yourself a regular presence at a fitness center or gym.

Practice what you preach. Workout daily to keep in shape and establish yourself as a regular member at a fitness center. You become your own best free advertisement to encourage other members who want to improve their physical fitness.

2. Earn professional certification as a personal trainer.

Study and become certified in one or all of the personal fitness and personal training programs. Certification governing bodies include the National Council on Strength & Fitness, the National Academy of Sports Medicine, the American Council on Exercise, as well as several others. Accreditation by a professional organization helps your credibility and marketability.

3. Dress professionally, although for this profession, the attire isn't a business, but attractive, stylish workout gear. If you must, save the old leotards and ratty gym shorts for your training, not your client's.

4. Business insurance adds to your credibility.

Purchase a business liability policy from your insurance agency. This will protect you financially and legally should a client become injured during a session with you, or while following one of your programs. In addition, your ability to prove that your business is insured and insurable adds to your credibility.

5. Begin with a professional business card to promote your business.

Purchase and invest in a well-designed informative business card providing all necessary information for reaching you. Include any pertinent certifications you might hold, and your insurance status. Invite individuals to call you in order to discuss what services he or she might be seeking, what goals they have, and how often they anticipate requiring the services of a personal trainer.

Tags: personal trainer, fitness center, your business, your credibility, adds your, adds your credibility, business card

Buy Disney Stock Direct

The Walt Disney Company is a longstanding favorite with investors. The company's success in appealing to the public, starting with the creation of Mickey Mouse and continuing with blockbuster movies and theme parks, has made it one of the largest corporations in the world. Disney stock, traded as DIS on the New York Stock Exchange, can be purchased through any broker. But you also can buy Disney stock directly from the company, avoiding most transaction costs you would have with a broker transaction.

Instructions

1. Read the Disney Investment Plan Prospectus before you enroll in the company's stock-purchase program. The prospectus sets out complete terms and conditions of Disney's stock-purchase program. You can obtain a copy of the prospectus and an enrollment form by calling Disney's transfer agent, Disney Shareholder Services, at (818) 553-7200. Or you can download both documents at http://corporate.disney.go.com/investors/faq_investmentplan.html on the Disney website.

2. Choose the plan features you want. You can have dividends reinvested automatically with no fee. Disney also offers safekeeping of your stock certificates and the option of transferring shares to others at no charge. You may have the account set up as an Individual Retirement Account.

3. Complete the enrollment form. You will need to provide your Social Security number and address and choose whether to set up automatic debiting. If you elect to invest by check, there is a $5 transaction fee plus a charge of one cent per share. The initial minimum investment is $250. If you choose automatic debiting from your bank account, the $250 may be paid in $50 monthly installments for a $1 transaction fee and the penny charge per share.

4. Mail the enrollment form to the address listed. There is an account setup fee of $10. Enclose a check only if you select the automatic debiting option. If you prefer to write a check for your entire transaction, the fee will be deducted from the total before investment. Checks should be made payable to Disney Investment Plan.

Tags: automatic debiting, enrollment form, Disney Investment, Disney Investment Plan, Disney stock, Investment Plan

Email Promotion Ideas

Create an email list for promotion.

Promotion and marketing doesn't have to be limited to things you can send in snail-mail and posters you can hang around town. You can also use email for promotion and marketing, and you can do so in several distinct ways. Using email for promotion allows you to reach a broader audience and get more out of the dollars that you spend in advertising.

Email Lists

Buying email lists and sending emails is a good way to gather basic interest, but it can also be a way to lose clients. A general email list is used for promotion because the company or business sends a basic email to the list. The email should have your link and a small snippet of information about you. Most of the time, this can be taken as spam, but if you have an interesting subject line, and if your links and information are relevant, you might catch some clients. If you send a million emails, you might get enough interest to gather a hundred new clients. Just be sure to include a link so recipients can opt out of your mails, which will keep you in compliance with anti-spam laws, and keep the list of those who opt out updated.

Newsletters

A weekly or monthly newsletter can help you provide information to your clients. These are usually opt-in newsletters, which means that each person has signed up for them. These newsletters are sent via email but should be so full of information that any ads or links are seen as valuable information to the reader. They should be a page or two in length and can contain links to your business or affiliates, but they need to be interesting and full of relevant, new information for your readers.

Ads, Links and Promotions

You can do email promotion by using the email addresses you have gathered to send ads, links and various promotions to your customers. Don't send more than one email per week, but in the email, include things such as printable coupons, or include links to places where they can shop online. You might try to include a snippet of information in each of these emails so that the person reading feels like they have gleaned something from them. These are different from newsletters, as these are purely for promotion, and include affiliate links, promotional information and advertising. Take care to make these as personal as possible, because these are the most likely to be taken for spam and blocked.

Tags: email list, email promotion, email should, information your, snippet information

Accept Credit Cards Offline With Google Checkout

Accept Credit Cards Offline With Google Checkout

Not all customers will come to you through your website. If you take phone, mail or in-person orders, you need a convenient way to take their payment even if you normally use a web-based payment processor, such as Google Checkout. With email invoices, Google Checkout allows you to make an offline sale and still get paid.

Instructions

1. Accept the order from your customer.

2. Tell your customer that you will email her an invoice so that she can pay through Google Checkout. Ask her for her most reliable email address.

3. Verify your customer's email address and make sure that it is spelled correctly.

4. Go to Google Checkout and log in to your account as you normally do.

5. Select "Tools," then "Send an Invoice."

6. Enter the pertinent information: your customer's email address, the amount, what the payment is for and perhaps a personal message to your customer.

7. Send the email invoice to your customer. She can then complete the checkout process so that you can get your funds.

8. Check with your customer to make sure that she received the invoice. If she did not receive the invoice, ask her to check her spam or junk mail folder.

Tags: your customer, Google Checkout, email address, Accept Credit, Accept Credit Cards, Cards Offline

Promote An Amazon Astore

Selling items from your website with an Amazon aStore is a great way to make extra money. In order to sell items from your aStore, though, you must be able to promote it.

Instructions

1. Choose products that are related to your website's content. If you want to sell items with your aStore, it must relate to what your dedicated visitors know you for. Using an aStore to sell athletic gear on a website that does book reviews is probably not going to be productive.

2. Update often. Try to keep your aStore growing and updated to reflect where your website is and where it is going. If you stop after the initial setup of your aStore, your store probably is going to be neglected by your visitors as well. Keep your eye out for new products, and immediately add any products that you mention on your site to your aStore.

3. Mention your aStore. Make sure your visitors know that your aStore exists. If you blog, mention your aStore in your entries whenever applicable. If you do a podcast, you can easily slip in promotions for your aStore in there. Just don't overdo it and alienate your audience.

4. Create a visually appealing aStore. Make sure that your aStore is pleasant to look at and reflects the layout and design of your website. Pick colors that are appealing and look good together. If you don't have an eye for that kind of thing, get someone to help you or find some color combination suggestions online.

5. Make your aStore easily accessible on your website. If your visitors don't know where to find your aStore on your site, they can't buy anything. Place a link to your aStore in your main navigation area and be sure that the link works on every page on which it appears.

Tags: your aStore, your website, aStore your, your aStore your, visitors know

Write A Business Letter That Introduces A New Product

Customers can be encouraged to buy your product now with the right incentive.

Writing an effective business letter for the purpose of launching a new product requires some planning. Knowing your product and your reader well facilitates the process. An eye-catching letter is a must to get your readers' attention, as they are bombarded by hundreds, or even thousands of sales messages every day. The competition is fierce, so it is critical that your letter shows clearly how your product will make their lives better. Appealing to your prospective customers' emotions is the best way to encourage them to buy.

Instructions

1. Prepare to write the sales letter. On a sheet of paper, write out all the features of the product, with the benefits listed next to each feature. As you make the list, keep in mind who the reader is and what he or she will probably like about your new product. Compiling this list will help you decide which benefit to use as a headline. This list will also prepare you to write the body of the sales letter.

2. Format the letter like a normal business letter with the customer's address, the date, the salutation, the text and the closing flush left on the page. The main difference between a sales letter and a business letter is the headline, which will be centered at the top of the page.

3. Write the headline statement. Center it at the top of the page. Refer to your list of features and benefits to select your headline, which promotes the most exciting benefit that the product offers. Use a larger font for the headline to make it stand out on the page. Some writers use a provocative question to get the reader's attention. For example, a sales letter written to market a new vacuum cleaner that does not have vacuum bags might ask, "Are You Tired of Changing Messy Vacuum Bags?"

4. Address the letter to a particular person whenever possible. Be sure to spell the name correctly. If you have any doubt about the spelling, verify it before adding it to the letter. Also use the person's title, if you know it.

5. Write the body of the letter. Emphasize the benefits, instead of the features. Never leave a reader saying, "So what?" because you did not clearly define the benefit of a particular feature. In other words, if you say, for example, that the vacuum cleaner you are selling folds up, then be sure to explain the benefit derived. An effective way to say this would be: this vacuum folds up for easy storage. For easy reading, bullet points are recommended to list the features and benefits.

6. End the letter with a call to action. You must ask your customer to buy. Adding a sense of urgency to purchase is a highly effective tool for getting the reader to buy right away. For example, you could offer a discount that lasts through a certain date. Another way to get a customer to purchase immediately is to offer a bonus gift for purchases made by a certain date.

Tags: sales letter, your product, business letter, certain date, features benefits, headline which, letter with

Promote Your Business

Generating interest in your company, be it an Internet startup or a new local eatery, requires entrepreneurship. Common sense marketing approaches abound, but be prepared to take risks and creatively interpret how those approaches should be applied.

Instructions

1. Lay out a budget for promotions and marketing. If you don't have a strict accounting of how much you put into your promotion efforts, it's very difficult to measure your success. You can use business software, like Quicken, to set up this budget. Get a precise dollar figure for promotions.

2. Read everything you can on the subject. Before pouring your limited resources into promotion venture, learn what avenues are available to you. Examples include cross-promotion (teaming up with another company to reach a mutual customer base), real media promotion (ad spots on billboards, kiosks, newspapers, sides of buses, etc), and virtual media promotion (ads on TV, radio, internet, etc).

3. Create a marketing plan. What do you want people to learn about your business? How can you tie brand promotion in with other sales and marketing efforts? What defines a successful plan and what defines a failure (revenues brought in, brand awareness, ability to drown a competitor's message, and so forth). Use numbers and guidelines.

4. Get good associates and partners on your team. Even if you're running a one man show, you can multiply your efforts by enlisting friends or temporary business partners.

5. Develop pilot programs (miniaturized ad campaigns and/or focus groups) to test various theories about market your brand and product line.

6. Commit to a strategy based on your pilot programs. Create one brand identity and stick with it. Make sure that the one or two messages you send don't contradict or obscure one another.

7. Once you've completed one promotional cycle, audit what you've done so far and make adjustments based on your strategic end plan.

Tags: based your, media promotion, pilot programs

Small Business Promotional Ideas

Press releases are one type of promotion for small businesses.

Small businesses can use many different promotional ideas to market products and services. The key is tying the promotions vehicle directly to your company objectives. Use promotional programs that you can afford and implement fairly quickly. Different promotional ideas will work more successfully with certain products. For example, product demonstrations may be highly effective with a technical product like a computer.

Advertising Specialties

Advertising specialties are one type of small business promotion. Advertising specialties are small gifts that companies can put its logo on and give away to customers or employees. Examples of advertising specialties include key chains, mugs, calendars, pens and small staplers. You can use advertising specialty gifts to thank your customers, according to marketing expert Evan Carmichael. For example, send customers a calendar at the beginning of the year with your company name, address and phone number on it. Business owners are likely to use calendars, or post them somewhere. The calendar can serve as a constant reminder of your business.

Sponsorships

Sponsorships can be used to increase awareness of your brand or company name. You do not have to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a sponsorship. Sponsor a kids' little league team, as your name will appear on all the kids' uniforms. Increase the exposure of your small business by sponsoring a major local event, such as 10 kilometer race or town fair. You can also partially invest in a regional event such as a race or charitable function.

Customer Loyalty Program

Customer loyalty programs can work well to build customer traffic and sales. The best way to start a customer loyalty program is to print up some small cards. Fold the cards in half. Print the name of your business on the front of the card. Provide a section inside the card to stamp or hole-punch when customers visit your store or establishment. Reward customers with coupons and freebies the more they patronize your business. Customer loyalty programs work best for small businesses that generate lots of traffic, such as restaurants or movie theaters. Start your customer loyalty program out by having customers fill out applications. Set up a display in your business that promotes the customer loyalty program.

Press Releases

Press releases can be used to promote new products, such as books, cell phones or computer software. A press release is usually a one-page announcement about a product or service. The press release is a quasi news story that is written in third person, discussing the benefits of a product or company. Avoid writing your release like a self-promotion or advertisement, as the news agency will decline it. Instead, include your name and website at the bottom of the press release for people to reference. Send your press release to local newspapers, or submit to a newswire service like Prweb.com, Prnewswire.com or Businesswire.com.

Tags: press release, your business, Advertising specialties, company name, customer loyalty program, Customer loyalty programs, event such

Send A Christmas Gift Basket In The United Kingdom

A great Christmas basket balances looks and content

A Christmas gift basket or hamper can be a fabulous festive gift for anyone, male or female, young or old. Its appeal lies in its versatility--the basket can contain a huge variation of themed food and drink items or even bath time luxuries or gardening treats. Sending one may seem as simple as going online and clicking a box. But with so much choice it's easy to get it wrong, so little advance research will make sure you select the perfect gift.

Instructions

1. Start early. Christmas comes just once a year so companies selling Christmas gift baskets are overwhelmed with orders the closer it gets to Christmas. Leaving it until late before you order will mean that you may have limited choice and your order may end up being delivered late--a disaster to avoid.

2. Order from specialist catalogs or by telephone. However, the best choice is online. Do an Internet search using terms like "Christmas gift basket", "Christmas gift box", or "Christmas hamper". Also try searching on the type of content you would like, for example, "smoked salmon Christmas gifts". Often suppliers of specialist UK foods or drinks, (salmon, chocolate, whiskey, cheese) do supply Christmas gift baskets, but they may not appear on a general search.

3. Match the gift to the recipient. This is where you need to be really careful. Sending alcohol to someone who doesn't drink or chocolate to someone with diabetes isn't great. So if you're unsure about what would be suitable ask the person's friends or colleagues to give you a clue. If you can't do this make sure the basket contains a wide variety of items so something will be acceptable.

4. Set a budget. A really nice Christmas basket can be expensive, particularly if a wicker basket or hamper is part of the gift. Remember to include delivery costs in your calculations--these can be expensive over long distances, or for heavy items.

5. Send a personal message. If you order online there will be a facility for sending a gift card with a personalized message. Make sure you compose an appropriate, warm and personal message before that screen pops up. This is your opportunity to tell the person how much you hope they enjoy your gift and the care you took in choosing it.

Tags: Christmas gift, basket hamper, Christmas basket, Christmas gift, Christmas gift basket

Elegant Promotional Gifts

Demonstrate how important your client is with elegant promotional gifts.

You can find all kinds of promotional gifts custom manufactured for companies, including pens, key chains and mouse pads. These gifts get the important information across, such as the company name, but can often look cheap. If you need a way to promote your business that goes beyond the ordinary business card and logo mug, you can find a number of elegant promotional gifts available for your company.

Personlized Wine

Fine wine is a gift that provides an air of sophistication, so attach your company name to a Riesling or Zinfandel. Several wineries and vineyards allow you to personalize their wine labels as a bonus for ordering from their facility. Upload your logo onto the vineyard's website and order a case with your designer label. You can also take your promotional gift a step further by having custom wine glasses or corkscrews sent with the wine in a gift basket.

Golf Gifts

Make an impression on any potential client who likes to hit the green or go to the driving range with promotional golf paraphernalia. Have your company logo printed on golf balls, tees, golf ball bags, ball markers or golf towels. If you don't have a logo you'd like printed onto golf accessories, you can upload a photo or simply have your company's contact information printed in an eye-catching font. This type of gift is elegant, but still fun, since it is related to playing a game. Give out golf balls at any conference or promotional booth and let potential clients practice a short putt while they think about doing business with you.

Custom Cuff Links

Nothing says sophistication like a well-tailored suit, so custom cuff links make an elegant promotional gift. Some online stores allow you to upload your company logo, have the cuff links engraved, upload a photo or even choose the shape of the cuff link you want customized. You can make each pair unique and show your potential client how important he is. Since this can be an expensive gift, opt for cuff links when the stakes are high and you want to retain a customer who could bring lots of repeat business.

Specialized Leather Accessories

Customers will equate your business with quality when you attach your company name to customized leather gifts. Leather is long-lasting and worth the cost, just what you want your customers to be thinking of when they consider doing business with you. A luggage tag or travel case with your logo embossed on it offer a distinctive touch. You could also get your information printed onto a leather portfolio, briefcase or carry-on bag. Include some stationery and a calculator with your logo to go the extra mile.

Tags: your company, business with, company name, cuff links, promotional gifts

Open Jocks & Jills Franchises

Jocks and Jills Sports Grill is a sports bar and restaurant chain and franchise founded in 1987 in Atlanta. It emphasizes the sports atmosphere and offers a variety of classic American dishes. A typical Jocks and Jills will have several TV screens for people to watch sporting events while they eat and socialize. The company started offering franchise opportunities in 2005. Opening a Jocks and Jills franchise, like any other business franchise, requires a significant investment of money, time and energy.

Instructions

1. Educate yourself. Familiarize yourself with what it takes to run a franchise. Visit as many Jocks and Jills restaurants as you can and talk to other franchise owners to ascertain that this is a franchise opportunity for you.

2. Get your financials on one page. You will need to know the current state of your assets and liabilities as you will need to provide net-worth information to Jocks and Jills when you begin the franchise-application process.

3. Request information. The first step in the franchise application process with Jocks and Jills is to fill out an information-request form on the franchise page of the company's website (see References). Based on the information you put on the form you will be contacted for further discussion by a company representative. At this point you will get an idea of what it costs to open a Jocks and Jills franchise.

4. Arrange financing. If you are not self financing and will be getting a loan from a bank, you must present a good business plan along with your loan application to improve your chances of getting approved.

5. Once you are approved for a franchise by Jocks and Jills, it is time to open for business. The first few months will be spent on business development and training and getting used to the Jocks and Jills concept. The company provides ample training and support for new franchises. Jocks and Jills also assists in finding a location for your restaurant and negotiating a good deal on the place if necessary.

Tags: Jocks Jills, Jills franchise, Jocks Jills franchise, will need

Types Of Advertising Retail Marketing

Post fliers in areas where your target market is likely to see them.

When it comes to advertising, you have many choices to get your message out. Using advertising as a part of your marketing mix for your retail business is an essential tool, but if not used strategically, it can cost your business a lot of time and money. Understanding the differences between popular advertising vehicles can be a worthwhile investment.

Print

Print advertising consists of anything from fliers and signs to newspaper and magazine ads. Fliers can be posted throughout common areas where your target market is most likely to see them. Fliers can advertise weekly specials and promotions. Signs can be posted around your location in the grass or nearby areas leading up to your store. Use signs to alert the public of your store's existence; limit the details on the sign to basic store information such as name, hours, phone number or website. When you take out an ad in a newspaper or magazine, expect much higher costs than you paid for fliers. Newspaper and magazine ads can be tricky in this age when electronic media leads customer focus. When taking out ads of this type, work closely with your sales representative to ensure your ad is placed in a section most likely to be read by your market. For example, if you own a sporting goods store, you'll want to be in the sports or community section.

Broadcast

Use broadcast commercials like radio and cable television ads for a more targeted communication reach. The prices of these forms of advertising can be a little more reasonable depending on the season, however, you may need to add production costs to your budget. With luck, you can even choose the time of day you would like all of your ad spots to run daily. With radio advertising, work with your sales team during your grand opening or anniversary to offer on-air gift card giveaways. Do a live remote broadcast at your location if you are hosting a large event on-site. With cable television commercials, you will also want to work closely with your sales team to ensure that commercials are placed on the most optimal stations for your business.

Internet

Use your website to promote your store and post upcoming events and sales. Create a mailing list of your customers and mail them news related your business as well as special offers to keep your business at the top of their minds.

In-store

Create fun promotions in-store to lure customers back within the next few days, weeks or months. Issue coupons upon check-out that are good for their next purchase. Host special sales for current customers and promote upcoming sales inside your store.

Tags: your business, your store, with your, with your sales, your sales, areas where, areas where your

Write A List Of Resume Objectives

You are suddenly out of work and it is imperative to find new employment as quickly as possible. Jobless does not mean hopeless, but it does mean that you will need to prepare or update a resume as soon as possible. A future employer will initially decide whether to invite a candidate for an interview based on particular job requirements and expectations, and how much you match that criteria. A list of resume objectives should never be generic or obviously more geared to your desires instead of value to a potential employer.

Instructions

1. How do you write a list of resume objectives? The list of objectives is a short, concise summary of your experience and how you match the employer's needs. It is 2 or 3 sentences and very precisely worded. See the steps below to develop a proper list of objectives pertinent to your job search. A good deal of the information you need to do this is free.

2. Network with your friends, relatives or neighbors. Do not be shy, pick up the phone and call them. Borrow updated resumes, especially someone in your line of work who has also done a list of resume objectives. Ask them for suggestions on wording. Find jobs online by using employment search engines that aggregate job listings according to city and industry. See Reference link below for web sites. Use an employment agency. Employers often hire them to find potential employees and their fees are earned by recommending the right person. The agent will often help with your resume and objectives if it needs tweaked.

3. Visit your library and ask the librarian for recommendations on reference books geared to resumes and suggestions on writing the list of resume objectives. Brick and mortar and online book stores will also carry many helpful books with examples. See Reference below for link to web sites with samples of resume objectives.

4. Draft your entire resume. Be descriptive of your particular accomplishments at previous employers, and, in particular, your expertise. Refine the wording later. Once refined, it will be the backup information to your list of resume objectives. Your draft resume is your guide in preparing your objectives.

5. Refine your resume into final form. Make several versions of your resume when searching for work in different industries if you are qualified to do so. Reword your list of resume objectives to match each industry. Print out job advertisements and use the keywords the employer wrote to match your expertise on your resume and objectives.

Tags: list resume, list resume objectives, resume objectives, resume objectives, your resume, does mean

Jpmorgan Chase Careers

JPMorgan Chase provides financial services career options.

JPMorgan Chase is a banking corporation that, as of June 2011, is the second largest United States bank. In addition to the corporate headquarters in New York and Chicago, JPMorgan Chase has several job opportunities available nationwide. Previous banking experience is not a requirement for certain JPMorgan Chase careers.

Business Banking

Business banking representatives offer business customers cash management, deposit, and payment service assistance. JPMorgan business bankers help clients who need capital by explaining business lending options. Business bankers are required to form strong business relationships with clients to increase Chase sales and continued growth. Three years of banking experience and a bachelors degree or comparable experience are the minimum requirements for business bankers.

Personal Banking

Personal bankers manage the accounts of personal banking customers while working to interest new customers in Chase banking services. Personal banking representatives help customers choose, and apply for, personal loan products. Personal representatives are also required to educate customers about new and existing bank services. JPMorgan Chase personal bankers must have one year of sales experience and a high school diploma or equivalent.

Investment Banking

Investment bankers offer financial advise to clients by helping them identify long-term financial goals and determine investment strategies that will help them reach their goals. You could give mergers and acquisition advice, research and predict stock movement, and underwrite and brokerage services. Investment bankers play an important role in JPMorgan Chase's growth, and new employees must complete a rigorous training program. One year's securities or insurance sales experience is a minimum requirement along with a National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) series 7 and 63 license. JPMorgan Chase provides a licensure training program.

Call Centers

JPMorgan Chase call centers provide customer service to business and personal account holders. Representatives have an opportunity to receive bonuses through product referrals. Minimum requirements are six months of sales or customer service experience.

Auto Finance

JPMorgan Chase automotive careers give employees a chance to help customers with all aspects of car ownerships. Customer service representatives receive training to handle auto sales-specific telephone inquires. Underwriters process loan applications and collects help consumers explore options available for those are behind on auto loan payments.

Credit Card Services

Credit card services accepts applications from individuals with one year of inbound and outbound sales experience. JPMorgan Chase credit card services advisers process applications and answer customer questions. Credit card services also contact existing customers with new offers and to discuss account changes.

Tags: JPMorgan Chase, JPMorgan Chase, sales experience, banking experience, banking representatives, business bankers, card services

What Jobs Are Available In Mass Communications

Whether you're creative or a tech wizard, job opportunities abound.

The term "mass communications" is becoming increasingly difficult to define in our changing world where anyone with a computer or cell phone has the potential to communicate with millions of people. In its more traditional sense, mass communications is "...the distribution of entertainment, arts, information and messages by television, radio, newspapers, magazines, movies, recorded music and associated media," according to The Museum of Broadcast Communications. Whether you're creative or technically-inclined, there may be a job for you in mass communications.

Broadcasting

Satellite technology is ubiquitous in radio and television broadcasting.

Broadcasters collect and distribute news and information on television and radio. At television news stations, anchors, reporters, producers and editors work in the newsroom, gathering and creating news stories. The on-air department at radio stations can include disc jockeys, hosts, producers, news and sportscasters. In broadcasting, you can become a camera operator, director, video or audio engineer or editor, master control or audio board operator. Promotions workers create and maintain a positive image for station and interact with the public. Stations employ salespeople to sell airtime to businesses and organizations with a product, service or message to advertise. Many broadcasters begin their careers as station interns, board operators or office staff. Some newscaster, manager or engineering positions positions may require a degree in a related field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average weekly salary of a non-managerial broadcast employee was $852 in 2008.

Print Journalism

Newspaper reporters often write in-depth stories.

Print journalists are writers, editors and photographers who present news and information in magazines and newspapers. Although print media struggles to maintain relevance in today's electronic society, print often provides in-depth reporting other types of media cannot. Editors give assignments, oversee reporters and edit their stories. Reporters go to crime scenes and political rallies to gather information. They usually specialize in the niches of crime, politics, entertainment, leisure, sports or health. Print media outlets also employ graphic artists, salespeople, and printing and distribution workers. The annual median wages of a print journalist in 2008 was $33,430, according to the BLS. Many print journalists begin by writing for their high school and college newspapers and via internships at media organizations.

Advertising and Public Relations

Advertising executives come up with campaigns and slogans.

Business, political and social organizations that wish to publicize a product, service or idea use advertising to reach an audience. Advertisers work with clients to develop campaigns, slogans and logos to further their clients' business, political or social endeavours. Jobs exist at advertising agencies or in the advertising departments of media outlets. Public relations is the facet of mass communications that involves generating and portraying a positive image of a person or organization, according to Career Age. Some PR specialists work independently, while others work for an agency. According to the BLS, non-supervisory advertising and public relations jobs paid an average of $747 per week in 2008. Degrees in related fields such as journalism or mass communications may help land a job, but aren't always required. Advertisers often begin as copywriters, while the best PR specialists are pros at networking.

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What Is The Purpose Of Nursing Continuing Education

Nurse continuing education keeps a nurse's skills up to date.

Technology can change very quickly and make it difficult to keep up to date in a career. Nurses pursue continuing education to renew licenses and certifications, for career advancement purposes and to get a refresher in a nursing topic or to learn new nursing specialities and technologies. These continuing education experiences are awarded Continuing Education Units.

Licensing and Certification

Nurses are required to renew their licenses and certifications on a regular basis. Registered nurses renew their licenses every 2 years, and their state nursing boards set the license expiration date. Each license and certification requires a certain number of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in order for the holder to renew it. The number of CEUs will depend on the specific license or certification being renewed.

Continuing Education Units

One CEU is equal to 10 contact hours in a nursing board approved continuing education class. A contact hour is one 50-minute block. You can earn CEUs through workshops, conferences, seminars and online or evening continuing education classes and programs.

Considerations

The purpose of nursing continuing education is to update nursing skills; therefore, clinical, on the job activities will not earn any CEUs. Any required job activities such as meetings, presentations, patient education or supervision of other medical staff will not earn CEUs.

Record Keeping

Keep track of your CEUs and continuing education experiences. You may be audited by your state nursing board to ensure that you are keeping up with your continuing education requirements and that your continuing education activities meet with the nursing board approval. Send in documentation of your CEUs when you apply for your license or certification renewal.

Benefits

Nursing continuing education has benefits in addition to allowing nurses to renew licenses and certifications. Continuing education gives nurses a chance to take a refresher course in a specific area and learn new specialties and technologies. It also allows nurses to pursue additional degrees which can lead to pay raises and job promotions.

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Press Charges For False Accusations

To convict a person for making a false accusation, you must prove your case beyond a reasonable doubt

Recent cases involving DNA have brought to light hundreds of people falsely accused of crimes they did not commit. It is a grave injustice when an innocent person is accused of committing a crime. Therefore, filing charges against people who make false accusations is important. However, it is often difficult to prove a person intentionally deceived the police and prosecution beyond a reasonable doubt. This is because the criminal justice system encourages the reporting of crimes, but makes crimes difficult to prove.

Instructions

Contact the Police for a Criminal Charge

1. Detectives manage criminal case investigations.

File a report with the police department that is investigating the false accusation and state that the accusation is false. Provide details of your facts and request to speak with the detective responsible for investigating such cases. Schedule an appointment to meet with the detective.

2. Bring the names of witnesses, records and any items that corroborate your story to the meeting with the detective.

3. Meet with the detective. If the detective determines the accusation is false, then request the detective file a charge of perjury or false report to a police officer.

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Use Commission Junction For Affiliate Marketing

Commission Junction

Commission Junction, also known as CJ, is the largest affiliate network in North America. Their platform makes it easy for companies and affiliate marketers to connect and work together to increase sales and to make commission. Some companies include Home Depot, Circuit City, Buy.com, Lifelock, Hotels.com, and Equifax. Assuming you already have a website or blog that you are looking to monetize and a CJ account, these steps will walk you through the basics of using commission junction for affiliate marketing.

Instructions

1. Browse the advertiser list to choose a company or multiple companies that you would like to be an affiliate for. From the home page select "Get Links." You can then view advertisers by category, name, or by performance metrics. For example, if your blog is geared toward vacations or travel, you can select the "Travel" category or one of it's sub-categories to find relevant companies.

2. Select a company that is of interest to you. Click on the company banner to learn more about them and their payment details. This will include specific commission and program details.

3. Choose "Apply to Program" at the bottom of the company detail page. Some companies will immediately approve you while others need to manually review your application. These companies will usually approve or deny you within a week or two.

4. Get links from the companies that you are affiliated with. From the "Get Links" page choose "By Relationship" to view your affiliate programs. Select "View Links" next to the company that you would like to promote on your site or blog. Finally, choose "Get HTML" or "Get Java Script" from the far right on the banner, button, or text link that you want.

5. Select "Highlight Code" from the bottom of the page. You then need to go to the admin area of your site or blog to paste the link code and to publish it on your site.

6. View your newly published site or blog to verify that the Commission Junction link is working properly. The ad should appear relatively quickly, if you do not see it go back to your administration panel and check the code/link and make sure it was placed correctly.

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Catering Presentation Ideas

Make the food the centerpiece with a creative catering presentation.

The catering display presentation is typically at the centerpiece of a special event celebration or gathering. Wow the guests with a creative display of foods that represent the theme of the event, or if it is a cultural gathering, the heritages being celebrated. Discuss with the people planning the event to ensure that you are meeting their needs while presenting the food in a creative way. Does this Spark an idea?

Watermelon Basket

Hollow out a large watermelon and fill it with other smaller fruits. You can carve the watermelon to look like a turned-over a picnic basket and have the fruit cascading out of it. Grapes on the vine work well as cascading fruit. Small berries such as blackberries and blueberries also work work. Use fruits bright in color and also that contrast with the red inside of the watermelon.

Cultural Theme

If the event is a wedding that is bringing together families of different cultures, or if there is a cultural theme of any kind, present food from that particular region along with items that represent the region. For example, if you are catering a Caribbean themed wedding, you can serve foods like jerk chicken, fish and plantains. Around the food, you can have flags of the particular country in the Caribbean that is being celebrated. Place miniature palm trees, pineapples and sea shells around the food as well. Serve dip in hollowed out coconut halves. The same idea would apply for a holiday party such as Christmas or Thanksgiving; decorate with representative items.

Small Bites

Serve foods typically served in large portions in bite-sized portions instead, and display them creatively. Turn fruit into a mini garden by carving fruits like watermelon and honeydew into floral shapes. Pile a bunch of burger sliders on top of each other to create a small mountain, and serve beef, turkey and veggie sliders on separate sides. Put a stick in mini corn on the cobs and serve like a lollipop.

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Master Settlement Agreement

The Master Settlement Agreement places regulations on tobacco companies.

In 1998, America's largest tobacco companies settled a lawsuit by 46 states regarding the recovery of money states had previously paid to treat illnesses related to smoking. This settlement, called the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA), contains specific agreements limiting the tobacco industry's promotion of products to youth, marketing and advertising as well as monetary penalties.

Monetary Agreement

Through 2025, the tobacco companies agree to pay a total of $246 billion to the states involved in the settlement. The states are to use the funds to create antismoking campaigns. Under the agreement, additional perpetual payments will continue to the states beyond 2025.

Public Education Agreement

The tobacco industry created a national public education fund called the American Legacy Foundation. The purpose of the foundation is to develop programs to educate youth on the dangers of tobacco and to provide prevention and cessation services.

Marketing Agreement

Under the MSA, tobacco companies agree not to use cartoon images in the packaging and labeling of cigarettes. Tobacco products cannot be advertised on billboards, stadium signs, transit signs and other types of outdoor advertising. In addition, placement of tobacco brand logos on merchandise, such as hats and T-shirts, is prohibited.

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