Mortgage Leads - American Internet Mortgage
Friday, November 9, 2007
Creative Ways to Maintain Your Sales in a Slowing Marketplace
It finally appears as though the current North American housing cycle has crested and is beginning its retreat from record starts and unprecedented prices. Housing starts by June 2006 are down by approximately 15% compared to the same period last year. Consequently, industry heavyweights such as D.R. Horton, Ryland Group, and M.D.C. Holdings Inc. are beginning to report significant decreases in revenue, a sure sign the North American home and condo market is beginning to lose its luster. With this change in purchasing behavior, the focus of builders is beginning to shift towards establishing creative ways with which to maintain sales in a declining market. This article explores 5 strategies that your company can implement to help ensure that your business remains healthy.
In this new age of building, in order to ensure a healthy bottom line it is absolutely vital for a builder to manage and even reduce their costs. With the abundance of new projects coming online, the amount of capital tied up in building, designing, furnishing and managing the associated sales centers and model homes is skyrocketing in comparison. So how can you maintain the impact and visual cues a model home provides while trying to minimize or even reduce the financial impact? The answer may surprise you: Dont build a model home!
Since 1994, Tridel Corporation, a prominent builder in the Toronto market has been achieving tremendous sales results without the aid of model units. By taking advantage of both virtual reality and interior vignettes Tridel has been able to effectively communicate to and capture the attention and imagination of potential purchasers. Early on, Tridel identified their need to eliminate physical model units, realizing the negative impact they had on the companys bottom line including rising maintenance costs. It was clear to this progressive company that the traditional approach to selling units would no longer suffice in a revitalized and competitive marketplace. In order to meet their goals, some difficult decisions had to be made. The result: All of Tridels model units were abandoned in favor of virtual models.
Prior to 1994 we relied largely on physical suites but since that time we have used 100% virtual suites, says Jim Ritchie, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Tridel. The elimination of physical suites has saved us on average $250,000 per sales center,
The virtual models had practically none of the maintenance cost and logistical issues that had once hindered the company, and in a synergistic twist allowed Tridel to more effectively convey their message to potential purchasers, actually increasing customer satisfaction during the critical purchase phase.
Within the past several years, a number of builders have opted to follow Tridels lead and make the transition from building a physical model to hosting a virtual one. This strategy has proven to be quite lucrative for some, saving the builder hundreds of man-hours and countless dollars in the process. You may think this strategy cannot possibly work for your company, but read on and you may find that NOT building a model home can be one of the best decisions you make:
Suppose a typical model costs approximately $200 per square foot to build and furnish. Maintenance and staffing the model can cost an additional $45,000 annually. A typical 1200 square foot model investment will realistically cost $250,000. In contrast, the cost of designing and fully rendering a virtual model would only require a $5,000 expenditure, less than 2% of the cost of a traditional model!
Integrating virtual renderings into your traditional sales center and marketing campaign is also crucial to a successful sales strategy. Often, a builder will rely upon renderings and virtual tours to do the selling for them rather than using them as tools to aid in the sales process. When incorporating these virtual tools into your existing sales environment, ensure that the virtual and physical complement one another functionally. A virtual kitchen tour should be located in proximity to the cabinet, tile and countertop samples enabling visitors to better visualize these options in their proper context. Another effective technique includes pairing a virtual tour with a models black-line floor plans. The black-line drawing anchors the viewers perception of where in the model they are, while the virtual tour can take them inside to see and experience what being in the space is actually like.
So weve discussed how minimizing your sales center-related expenditures can help in maximizing your overall profit-per-sale. Would it surprise you then, to learn that you can decrease your overall spending even further simply by reducing or even eliminating high cost advertising and promotional campaigns? Most builders fail to realize that their greatest asset is right in front of them - their current and past purchasers. If homeowners move on average once every seven years, then your current and past purchasers may well begin their search for a new home in the not-too-distant future. The following section will illustrate how tapping into this cycle can actually help you decrease your advertising and marketing costs.
Carl Freeman Communities, a luxury home developer from Delaware, has been successfully using this strategy and marketing their communities on a reduced budget for the past several years. By using a reliable contact relationship management (CRM) system, Carl Freeman Communities is directly targeting and communicating to current Carl Freeman home owners. With the help of its CRM application, Carl Freeman can regularly send low-cost and timely emails to homeowners and prospective homebuyers alike. This low-cost, low-overhead marketing channel allows Carl Freeman staff to keep its pool of buyers and future purchasers abreast of the latest and most relevant community news, as well as communicate to them any home offers which may be available.
In a recent campaign promoting their Bayside golf course community, Carl Freeman managed to attain a response rate of over 50% using an inexpensive email campaign setup and administered using their CRM application. The overwhelming response to this email blast enabled the company to sell-out their first phase in a matter of days. In analyzing the net results of this strategy over previous ones, the campaign helped drive a strong increase in sales in a relatively short amount of time - all with very little output in terms of marketing expenditures.
Very few builders consider their current and past purchasers as a viable source of future revenue, but they fail to realize that from a purchasers perspective if they were satisfied with their purchase experience the first time, chances are they would be equally satisfied with any subsequent purchases with the same builder as well. By capturing important contact data at the point of sale, as a builder and marketer, you can develop a significant consumer base with which to market to in future campaigns. Combined, this strategy can provide your company with very successful, highly targeted campaigns while simultaneously minimizing the cash drain on your sales and marketing budget.
Like Carl Freeman, most successful builders and developers consistently seek out and attempt to effectively utilize any known sales and marketing channels to their advantage. One of the most widely used mediums of the day is the World Wide Web, and although used on a frequent basis by many, it is rarely used as efficiently as it can be. The truly successful builders using this valuable marketing channel are the ones who recognize the intrinsic value in developing a highly targeted web campaign.
In the 21st century, it has become increasingly common for builders and developers to employ some form of Internet marketing presence, prominently showcasing their projects or communities, and marketing their products online. Most of these sites contain information about the company, including contact information and the usual corporate legal jargon. What most of these sites dont provide, however, is a forum for web visitors to truly interact with the builder, and to really explore their potential future home and community.
Since the first project launched without employing some form of model unit, Tridel has shone a spotlight on their corporate website, making it much more than a simple information tool. As part of their sales and marketing strategy, Tridel has developed a sophisticated, multimedia-rich website targeted towards creating an immersive and personalized browsing experience. This strategy has resulted in the transformation of Tridels website from a simple, corporate website into a highly-specialized consumer portal. The companys webpage has been so successful, in fact, that Tridels online community has consistently been ranked as one of the top 200,000 sites on the Internet.
The true key to Tridels success is not so much about the website itself, but the way in which it leverages the open and unassuming nature of the Internet as the companys primary marketing channel.
Instead of being fed information which has been simply posted onto the website, upon their first visit to the page, a web user finds exactly what theyre looking for and explores, completely immersed in an interactive and informative media experience.
By integrating VR solutions into our website and email campaigns, we have been able to significantly improve our website traffic and leads, says Jim
In effect, the website has now assumed the role of a sales center, allowing visitors to peruse and review anything they choose, at a time, and in a manner that is convenient to them.
Like Tridel, Carl Freeman Communities has also achieved tremendous success online. Patti Grimes, Vice President of Marketing for Carl Freeman, is a firm advocate of the power of the internet. Providing floor plans and virtual tours of our homes on-line greatly assists our home buying prospects in selecting the home type that best fit their lifestyle in a timely and user-friendly manner.
The main benefit to these companies strategy is that instead of investing money in developing new marketing channels such as radio, television, and print media each time a new project is launched, both have managed to effectively leverage their continuing online investment to produce perpetual results. . By ensuring that their websites are fully functional and a bona fide marketing channel, Tridel and Carl Freeman benefit by earning significant financial returns with a minimal outlay of expense.
Having discussed several ways by which cutting sales and marketing costs will help to ensure your company benefits from a leaner operating budget and healthier bottom line, well now examine how striving to go beyond these strategies can set your company apart from the pack, further adding to your financial successes and increasing new home sales.
A grim reality of the cyclical market in which we operate, is the fact that consumer demand will inevitably decline for a sustained period before it begins any type of rebound. The million-dollar challenge is to create a growth situation for your company in a marketplace where growth ceases to exist. With the number of new home buyers appearing to drop off, conventional wisdom dictates that your focus switches to overcoming competitor strategies and determining how to secure purchase commitments from a dwindling pool of buyers. For the average home buyer the entire purchase process is often an overwhelming experience that sees them faced with a torrent of financial figures, deposit requirements, dcor options selections and having to decipher all the legal mumbo-jumbo found in purchase contracts these days. Alarmingly, this experience illustrates more the industry norm, rather than the exception as few builders take the time to analyze and ensure their companys purchase experience is an inviting and friendly one. Striving to eliminate these confusions and streamline the purchase process will almost certainly result in greater purchaser satisfaction.
So where do you begin? While it would be extremely difficult to cover the myriad ways to accomplish this task within these pages, the following represent a few of those methods identified as producing the greatest results with minimum expenditure: First off, ensure that every step in the home-buying process has been designed to educate and simplify the purchasers experience rather than leave them asking more questions than when the process began. You can also eliminate the need to fill out redundant forms and paper work by employing a computer-automated forms generation system which can significantly reduce the aggravation of errors and omissions. By creating a dcor options catalogue that prominently distinguishes between standard and upgrade products and explicitly outlines upgrade costs, it will all but eliminate whats known as purchaser sticker-shock and make them more receptive to options and add-ons. Finally, implement a simple mortgage-calculation utility which can maintain a running tally of a purchasers expected monthly payment, including all principal, interest and options selections combined. Each of the above solutions, while simple to implement on an individual basis, will serve to drastically improve a purchasers satisfaction with the overall home-buying process.
Another hallmark of a boom-time housing market is the fact that builders and developers tend to focus on sales volume, emphasizing quantity, which has caught more than a few mid-stride just as the market turns soft. In a cooling marketplace, this strategy is no longer viable and the focus begins to shift from one of volume to one of value. By focusing on adding value to an already-purchased home, builders can manage to maintain current profit margins while selling fewer homes.
New home upgrade options have seen an unprecedented rise in popularity as buyers have become more demanding and conscious of the dcor options available to them. In this climate, builders have been hard pressed to not offer increased dcor options and selections to meet this insatiable appetite. Although it would seem nothing else can be done, options sales have not yet reached their full potential however, as many consumers remain apprehensive towards them due to their increased cost burden. The challenge is to anticipate these apprehensions and implement effective tools such as the mortgage calculator previously mentioned to counter their trepidation.
As an example, a $5,000 price tag for upgraded cabinets may intimidate or convince a purchaser they dont really want the upgrade, but when put into the perspective of a 20 year mortgage the added cost is minimal. The $5,000 cabinet upgrade appears to be a bargain when viewed as the $21 monthly mortgage premium it actually is. As you can imagine, working with a mortgage impact figure can serve to generate higher demand for upgrade purchases.
Eric Lee, Director of Product Development for The Estridge Companies, is a firm believer in options upgrade sales and implementing programs to ensure their growth. Based on our current sales rate, we know for a fact that customers are able to understand the product they are buying and are willing to enter (in to ) a contract with us.
The strategies and enhancements discussed today represent only a few of the tools you can rely on to gain a competitive edge, as its all about creating the most positive purchase experience for your present and future customers. Try and look at your companys buying process from a purchasers perspective; if you dont feel it serves the customer to the absolute highest degree, you may need to make some simple, but much-needed adjustments. Whether youre exploring ways by which to cut your operating costs, or developing methods to increase the value of every home sold, the buying public will notice and reward you with increased sales and greater profitability. Creative thinking is no longer a luxury, but has become a necessity in todays changing marketplace so throw away the proverbial book and begin thinking outside the box. You may be surprised at what you find when you allow the creativity to shine through.
Frank Guido, President and CEO of
http://www.aareas.com, has been at the forefront of merging technology and sales strategies in the home, condo and resort building industry for more than 15 years. By effectively drawing upon his extensive technical background, as well as industry-proven sales and marketing experience.
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Exquisite Logo Rugs 5 Unique Marketing Applications
There are times when you need a little extra punch. Brand identity is integral to any marketing strategy. A classy looking rug with your logo is another opportunity to create a valuable first impression of your brand name. Here are the top 5 applications.
If you want to make a special statement, then an average logo mat won't do. This is where the specialty of Custom Rug Fabrication enters the picture. It's really not too complicated. Typically the rugs are made from a high quality commercial grade carpet. The logo is then transferred onto a template. This template is then used to create the logo in carpet. The logo colors are carefully selected and then inlaid into the field carpet. If necessary, colors can be matched through the Pantone color matching system.
This custom fabrication of logo rugs has only recently become affordable to the larger audience of consumers thanks mainly to advances in technology. There is still a fair amount of handcrafting involved and this is the real reason why these rugs are so attractive. Another benefit is the broad range of sizes available. Literally any size and shape can be accommodated.
Here are the top 5 tested applications that we have seen bring in the best results:
1) Corporate Lobby This is the perfect opportunity to express the corporate logo with pride. Choosing quality over cheapness is the recommendation for this important space. This is where that valuable first impression rule applies
2) Tradeshows Logos can be large or small, depending on your booth size. Tradeshows are where all the action is, that's why so many companies choose to impress with their booth design. The logo can either be inset directly into the field carpet, or it can be featured as a separate area rug this rug can even be re-used at the company HQ.
3) Special Events A whole host of special events feature this approach in branding. Often the logo rug will be at the entrance of an Award Ceremony like the Oscars, or a Grand Opening for a retail outlet. These are unique opportunities to reflect the corporate identity with a certain elegance and style.
4) Common areas - within the business headquarters like hallways, elevators, entrances and exits are all potential areas that are decorated frequently with logo rugs. Other venues like sporting stadiums, churches, military bases and retail environments benefit from these unique rug applications
5) Wall Hangings The ultimate banner can be displayed on any wall for eye-level visual impact. The unique tapestry logo rug attracts visitors with its soft plush quality and always stays clean!
A note on rug maintenance: just as any carpet needs to be maintained, these rugs require frequent vacuuming and occasional professional cleaning.
If you're looking for that higher quality factor then it's certainly worth a closer look. The applications are numerous as we have observed here, ranging from lobbies, tradeshows, special events, most indoor common areas, as well as the ultimate banner tapestry.
Russell Webb, your friendly expert Custom Logo Rug Maker. If you're ready to explore the possibilities of having your company logo rug produced in a fine quality commercial grade carpet, then request a FREE quote at
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NHL 2005: Who To Bet On
In the last 12 months the National Hockey League has undergone as massive of an overhaul as any sports league in the last half century. With revamped rules, a restructured salary system and a new television partner, professional hockey is the shell of the sport that locked its doors a year ago. The changes reflect the NHL's new mantra - more scoring, increased parity and cost certainty. So forget everything you know or think you know about the NHL, which begins preseason play on Sept. 16, as even the most faithful and ardent fan has to admit that they have no clue as to how the game will look in 2005-06.
First, hockey viewers will have to get used to watching their game on a new station. ESPN took a gamble and refused to pick up the network's option on the NHL's broadcasting rights. The idea was that ESPN would be able to opt out of their deal, and then repurchase the rights at a substantially reduced rate. Instead, the Outdoor Living Network, a subsidiary of Comcast Cable, swooped in with a very lucrative offer and purchased the rights to broadcast the NHL regular season and playoffs for $65 million this season, $70 million in 2006-2007, and $72.5 million in 2007-2008. Not to worry though - Barry Melrose and his man mullet have signed on with OLN.
However, OLN only reaches an estimated 65 million homes throughout the United States and Canada. That's a substantial reduction from the 90 million subscribers that ESPN boasts, and the 89 million viewers that ESPN2 can reach. Also, since ESPN doesn't own the rights, the league shouldn't expect too much coverage from those Bristol bastards. The new deal - while a relative windfall for a sport with flailing TV ratings - definitely relegates the NHL to Niche Sport status. Well, that and a 309-day lockout will turn off any fan base. Right now hockey's popularity lies somewhere around the WNBA and extreme dodgeball.
Next, besides the ideological alterations that the league has experienced, there have been considerable changes to the practical aspects of the game. A competition committee revisited several issues that were pinpointed as problem areas during the pre-lockout days. The highlights of their adopted rule changes are:
1)No more ties. Instead of records that read like Lotto picks, the league has gone back to good ol' fashioned wins and losses. At the end of overtime a six-player shootout will ensue, followed by a sudden death shootout if necessary.
2)Goalies will no longer be allowed to be built like Optimus Prime. Their allotted padding has been reduced 11 percent. The rule is backed by $25,000 fines and suspensions.
3)Goaltenders can no longer "freeze" the puck, and a trapezoidal area has been set up behind the goal line. The goalies are only allowed to handle the puck within that area when behind the goal line.
4)The offensive zone will be larger. The bluelines were each moved two feet closer to one another, shrinking the neutral zone. Also, the goal-lines have been moved two feet further from the boards, leaving more room behind the net.
5)The red line is gone, and two-line passes are now legal.
6)Other minor changes have occurred. There's no flopping, a point of emphasis on clutching and grabbing, anyone who instigates a fight in the last five minutes gets suspended, no flipping the puck into the stands in your defensive zone, and no public complaints about the league.
The idea is that all of these rule modifications will open up scoring and increase the speed of the game. They're hoping that the new NHL will be similar to the hockey played in the Olympics, which features more scoring and skill rather than neutral zone traps and the grind-it-out garbage that had permeated the NHL over the last decade.
Finally, a whirlwind of player movement has completely reconfigured the balance of talent throughout the league. Trying to figure out who is going where has proven more tiresome than trying to keep up with which pitcher Alyssa Milano is banging now. In fact, when opening night comes (the Rangers open against the Flyers on Oct. 5) most fans will feel like Guy Pierce's short-term-memory depraved character in Memento. They'll vaguely recognize where they are but have no idea how they got there.
I saw a post on another sports site that I felt best sums up the player movement that's taken place since the league went back in business: "Don't you feel like the new NHL is the equivalent of someone stealing your NHL '95 game for Sega, randomizing the rosters, and then giving it back to you?"
Laying a bet on NHL futures trying to predict who will hoist the Cup next summer could be a great opportunity to fleece some unsuspecting oddsmakers. But, as always, wager at your own risk. Here's a quick overview on some teams that will be worth watching and could be worth the gamble:
Detroit Red Wings (17/2) - The favorites for the upcoming season reside in Hockeytown. It's a terrible bet, and don't bite. Yes the Red Wings were the best team in the 2003-04 regular season with 109 overall points, but perhaps no team was hurt more by the year off. Steve Yzerman is now 40, Chris Chelios is 43 and Brendan Shanahan is turning 37. The window may have closed for the Wings and their AARP roster. Also, Detroit has only about $7 million to resign Pavel Datsyuk (who's said he's not even close to a deal) and/or Henrik Zetterberg. This team has holes, and now they can't plug it with money.
Philadelphia Flyers (9/1) - The Flyers waived goodbye to its nucleus of Jeremy Roenick, John LeClair and Mark Recchi. Their absence will open up the ice for young speedsters Jeff Carter and Mike Richards. Also, they managed to pilfer Peter Forsberg and Derian Hatcher, adding two of the top free agent talents to an already strong team. The Flyers should have a slight edge over New Jersey in their quest to defend their Atlantic Division championship.
Ottawa Senators (11/1) - The Sens were the top scoring team in the Eastern Conference in 2003-04 (262 goals), and they added the dynamic Dany Heatley in a blockbuster deal that included Marian Hossa. As long as no one asks Heatley to be the designated driver, he should add some more pop to Ottawa's offense. Daniel Alfredsson led the team with 48 assists in 03-04, and will be setting the table for Heatley. This squad is deep and strong, and will be relying on Ray Emery and Dominick Hasek in the net.
Calgary Flames (13/1) - The runners-up to the 2004 champion Tampa Bay Lightning (man, that still sounds strange) will be even better this season. The key move they made was retaining superstar Jerome Iginla. Iginla was tied for the NHL lead with 41 goals in 03-04. The Flames upgraded the offense by bringing in Tony Amonte and Darren McCarty. Also, Roman Hamrlik was acquired to shore up an already stout defense.
New Jersey Devils (14/1) - This is a very interesting team going into the preseason. As Detroit and Colorado will be most affected by the salary cap, New Jersey will be most affected by the rule changes. Many blame the Devils for pioneering the neutral zone trap and the clutch-and-grab style that took over the league in the last decade. Offensively, they still have Scott Gomez (team leader in assists) and Patrick Elias (leader in goals and points) and I expect big numbers from both. They've won at least 41 games in each of the past three seasons, and with Martin Brodeur in goal they always have a shot.
Colorado Avalance (14/1) - The Avs still have Joe Sakic and Pierre Turgeon in the center, Brad May and Alex Tanguay on the left and Milan Hejduk on the right. So in other words, they still have a chance. Colorado has put up an average of 42 wins per year the last three seasons, and its core remains intact. Rob Blake is back to anchor the defense and David Aebischer is the man in the cage. I expect them to figure prominently in the Western Conference, but I don't think they have enough depth to hoist the Cup.
Boston Bruins (15/1) - The Bruins were one of the teams that benefited the most from the outlandish free agency. They were able to lock up captain Joe Thornton for three years, and keep Glen Murray on the club. Also, they were able to add seasoned vets Shawn McEachern and Brian Leetch, as well as Alexi Zhamnov and Dave Scatchard. That talent infusion improves a team that was already pretty tough (defending Northeast Division champions). The pressure will be on Andrew Raycroft, the only goalie on the roster.
Pittsburgh Penguins (15/1) - The March of the Penguins back to hockey's elite may start this season. Besides being a fiscal farce off the ice, they've been one of the worst teams on it for the past several years, managing just 78 wins in the last three seasons. They put up only 2.3 goals a game while winning 23 games in 03-04. But the Steel City won the Sidney Crosby Sweepstakes, and the "next Gretzky" gives them instant credibility. They resigned leading scorer Dick Tarnstrom and acquired Lyle Odelein, and that young talent may be ready to take the next step.
Tampa Bay Lightning (15/1) - Winning the Stanley Cup a few weeks before the lockout must've been kind of like winning the lottery and then finding out we're going back to the barter system. Tampa Bay caught lightning in a bottle in the summer of 2004, and the defending Stanley Cup champions have brought back the principals involved in that run. Dave Andreychuk, Martin St. Louis, and Vincent Lecavalier are all back and ready to go. They roster reeks of old age, but they're still the champs and should be shown the proper respect.
Anaheim Mighty Ducks (30/1) - Team Teemu returns as the head of the Flying V. Sergie Federov is looking to salvage a burnt out career, and Scott Niedermeyer should flourish in Anaheim's wide-open attack. Also, the Ducks have a huge advantage with J-S Giguere minding the net. That's one guy who won't need the extra padding to dominate. A drawback is that they traded captain Steve Rucchin to the Rangers.
Atlanta Thrashers (33/1) - I like this pick for the value. The Hossa-Heatley trade was pretty much a push, but getting a solid veteran defenseman like Greg deVries in the deal may shift the advantage in the Thrashers favor. They already posses a young core led by the very talented Ilya Kovalchuk (team leader in goals and assists) and Hossa's playmaking style (36 goals and 82 points) will fit right in. They signed Mike Dunham to mentor talented youngster Kari Lehtonen, and brought in Bobby Holik to add even more firepower. They might be a year away, but it may be worth it to take a $10 or $20 flier on them.
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How To Approach Affiliate Marketing
How should you approach affiliate marketing to give yourself the biggest chances of success? Is it possible to make big money as an affiliate marketer? If so, is it difficult?
Well, many people make it difficult by choice. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
As in any business, it's very important to have a solid business plan. Create and execute a detailed plan can be the difference between a growing bank account and a failure.
It has no matter if you're going to promote a service or a product. You must be 100% certain, that the company are able to deliver as promised. It has to be a prior issue for the company, to satisfy your customers. You must be convinced that the company will support you in any way to achieve affiliate marketing success.
A major part of your research and evaluation of companies and products, must be for you to try the products or services for yourself. You have to rate them objective.
Would it be possible for you to recommend them to your friends and family? Be honest, would you recommend them just as a favor? You can't successfully promote anything of poor quality.
The next important step in your investigation, is to find out the success rate of the company. You need to get information from affiliate marketers that already are associated with the company. Did they get all the necessary support? This is essential, if you cant get full support from the company, you'll have a steep hill to climb.
Affiliate marketing is a business where you have to connect with your visitors. Therefore you must develop your writing skills. You have to get your visitors to trust you. Once they trust you, they will follow your recommendations.
This is what successful affiliate marketing is about, You recommend a product or a service, which you have tested and evaluated. You convince the visitor that he need the product or service, he click at your affiliate link, then the merchant
do the actual selling.
So, now you're set up to get going with your new affiliate marketing career? Well, it would be wise to give yourself some more preparation. Read everything there is to read about the company. Learn everything about the products or services.
Get some books and courses how to start your own business.
Affiliate marketing is a serious business. You have to treat it just as a traditional business. That is, if you really want to succeed and make a serious income from your business.
Take advantage of Ove Nordkvist's knowledge. At
http://www.small-biz-ideas.net you'll find free tools, free business courses and informative articles. Visit
http://www.small-biz-ideas.net/affiliate-marketing-ideas.html to find an affiliate marketing ideas tutorial. Get your complimentary copy of an affiliate masters course.
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We Found A Rock Star: Hiring The Best Of The Best
Colleagues, I feel your pain on this issue.
Scenario 1: Youve got a critical position that needs to be filled by a qualified candidate, and quick. For every day the position doesnt get filled, your in-box fills up a bit more with work to be done because your unfilled position hasnt been staffed. You see tons of resumes and have interviewed scores of candidates, but the rock star youre looking for isnt emerging. You refuse to settle for a mediocre candidate, but the work is piling up and youve got to do something.
Scenario 2: Three months ago you thought you had the perfect candidate for a job and decided to hire him. You negotiate a compensation package, relocate the candidate, and do some internal public relations work with the team. Two months after the candidate hit the job, you realize that your candidate was a PURE (previously undetected recruiting error); the candidate had a major issue with responding to pressure and would become rude and angry with peers, employees, and customers whenever the heat was turned up. Youre now faced with either making a massive investment in the person or making a job change. Not a pretty picture.
Finding the right candidate for a job can be highly frustrating for both managers and recruiters. If you wait too long, the work will keep piling up and your management may start thinking you can get along without the position. Pull the trigger too soon and you risk hiring a candidate that is a PURE. There are legitimate situations where it just takes a long time to find a suitable candidate. You need to minimize the situations where you either hire the wrong candidate or take forever to find the right one. Here are some simple techniques to help you find that rock star for your organization:
Know what you are looking for - Sounds pretty basic, but I have been amazed at how frequently managers dust off a job description that hasnt been changed in years to use as the basis for hiring a new employee. Hiring to an out-dated job description can lead to ineffective resume screening and poor-fit candidates. Give the job description a good working over and ensure the skills documented in the job description accurately reflect what youre looking for.
Use multiple interviewers who can focus on different skills - Based on the job description, your candidate may need a combination of functional, technical, leadership, and people skills. A candidate who may be a technical wiz may also have the people skills of a head of lettuce. Use trusted interviewers who have expertise in each area of focus and ask them to drill the candidate for their respective area to ensure the total skills package is there.
Look beyond the obvious - One of my best hires several years back didnt meet the stereotypical requirements of the job, but had some outstanding core skills that were easily translatable to the new job. Had I stuck with my mental image of what I was looking for, I would have rejected the candidate during the resume screening process. If your job for a procurement analyst requires strong analytical skills, consider looking at candidates from other functional disciplines, i.e. finance, to fill the role. Ive continually been amazed the number of times out-of-the-box candidates have become rock stars. Dont limit yourself to candidates with stereotypical requirements.
Get a glimpse into critical thinking skills OK, so youve probably heard about the why are manhole-covers round type of questions and may be chuckling at the prospect of asking a candidate such an off-the-wall question. The truth is, critical-thinking questions are a great way to understand how a candidate thinks through problems, how they respond to pressure, and how quick-on-their-feet they can be. Ive changed my hiring decision (both ways) based upon the critical question I asked during the interview. A great approach to this is to think about your own business and create some hypothetical questions, i.e. if youre an automobile manufacturer ask the candidate how they would design a car that gets 200 miles per gallon. Think about the tough questions you can ask and observe your candidate as they wrestle with their response.
Get a hundred-day plan from the candidate Wondering what a candidate would do when they land on your doorstep? Ask them! During your final selection process, ask each of your candidates to put together a hundred-day plan of what they are going to get accomplished during their first hundred days on the job. This technique is very effective in assessing how a candidate will take the ideals discussed during the interview process and put them to action if they were to be hired.
Give peers and candidates prospective employees a voice A key aspect of a candidates fit potential is how they will get along with peers and, if the candidate will be managing people, his or her prospective employees. You may have a functional and technical maestro but if he doesnt have the teaming or collaboration skills you might be creating a mess for yourself and the team. Just be cautious to get a cross-section of opinions; you dont want to base team chemistry decisions on just one persons viewpoint.
The rock stars are out there and can be delivering value in your organization; just make sure you keep focus on some of these basic hiring strategies and youll get the best of the best driving results for you.
Lonnie Pacelli is an author with over 20 years experience with Accenture and Microsoft and is president of Leading on the Edge International. See more at
http://www.leadingonedge.com.
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Ben Roethlisberger
The Pittsburgh Steelers found a real gem when they drafted AFL quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. Nicknamed Big Ben, this Ohio native led the Steelers to the Super Bowl during his second year in the league.
An interest in sports during his high school years perhaps led to Roethlisbergers success. As captain of the football, basketball and baseball teams, this star in the making finally landed his spot as the quarterback of his high school football team during his senior year. It appears as if that practice paid off - literally. In 2004, when Ben Roethlisberger found his way into the NFL Draft, the Steelers signed him to a six year contract with an impressive signing bonus. During his rookie season, Roethlisberger succeeded with a 13-0 record for the best start by a rookie.
In October 2005, just one year after he was selected in the draft, Ben Roethlisberger became the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year as named by the Associated Press. During his rookie season, passing records were something to be broken by this Findlay High School graduate. Among them, best passer rating and highest completion percentage. It was obvious to all who saw him, including Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells, that this young man was here to play. And play he did. As the 2005 regular season wrapped up, the Steelers had secured the AFC leagues wild card position in the Super Bowl XL. On February 5, 2006, the Steelers took hom the Super Bowl victory in a win against the Seattle Seahawks.
Roethlisberger is far from being your average quarterback. In fact, his stature leaves little doubt that he is a force to be reckoned with. Tied with few others as the tallest starting quarterback in the NFL, Big Ben knows how to use his height to read the competition. In addition, his arm seemingly has a knack for guiding the passes to their intended receiver. There is no doubt that height would be an advantage to any quarterback trying to spot an open receiver on the field.
Ben Roethlisberger is the second youngest quarterback to play in the NFL Super Bowl. While he has been compared to many legends of the game, Roethlisberger is out to make a name for himself. With only his second regular season behind him, and 4 years remaining on his contract with the Steelers, it looks as if Pittsburgh can expect Big Ben to be a powerhouse for the team in the years to come. Whats next for this NFL superstar in the making? Stay tuned and find out.
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Bowl Handle Fails to Flush Standard
Close but no cigar could be the post-theme of Super Bowl XL as far as a record Las Vegas Super Bowl handle is concerned.
Pittsburgh defeated Seattle 21-10 Sunday -- easily covering the spread --- the total went way under 47, Bill Cowper finally won a Lombardi and the Bus finally rolled a stop, while on top.
The $6,064,000 Question in the Land of Odds -- besides "Did you win or lose?" was "Will the handle surpass last year's standard of more than $90 million?"
"I won't know until sometime Monday when I see all the numbers and things come together, but it's going to be close," said Tony Paonessa, race and sports book manager at Sam's Town.
"Last year was close."
Rich Baccellieri, race and sports director at the Palms, used the C word too.
"It was amazing how close everything was," Bacellieri said, pointing to a differential of 50 in the number of tickets written on the two Super Bowl combatants among thousands sold.
"Right now I couldn't tell you what the city's handle was, just how we did here and our business was up 65 percent.
"That creates so much juice.
"But I'll tell you this: we needed Pittsburgh."
Many Vegas Valley sports books kicked off at Steelers minus 4, but 4 1/2s were available throughout the wagering period (including at the Las Vegas Hilton) and 5s were spotted here and there.
The Palms dove in at 3 1/2.
"We got money from every Seattle fan in the world," Baccellieri said, acknowledging he took "several" six-figure bets.
"We had a lot of late money on the Seahawks, but the money line was fairly balanced."
The Hilton also took a bundle on the Far Northwesterns -- until just before wagering windows were shuttered.
"We had lots of Seahawks backing until a last minute rush on the Steelers," said oddsmaker/supervisor Jeff Sherman.
He also reported a win for the house.
"Parlay cards had a good handle and average win, while props did very well," Sherman said. "It just took awhile to grade them."
SuperBook boss Jay Kornegay had a strong opinion on Pittsbugh going into the game.
The Palms broke even on parlay cards, while Sam's Town reported a "small winning day."
"The important thing is we didn't lose," Paonessa said, adding that the Boyd Group was a loser on the total.
All three resorts reported heavy traffic as Sin City circumvented the NFL ban on Super Bowl parties by offering food and drink specials and showing the game on regulation-sized TVs throughout the casinos.
"We were busy, but I've seen better," Paonessa said.
"We were busy all day," said Baccellieri, a veteran Caesars Palace employee who hadn't been in Vegas for the Super Bowl in five or six years
"Always before I saw it from the perspective of a major Strip hotel," he continued.
"It was fun, different, to view it from an off-Strip one.
"I'd call it a decent day."
Not even close.
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Refinishing Wood Flooring
Is your wood flooring already worn out? Has it already gone through the tough tests and is now looking old and pale? It may be time to refinish your wood flooring and make it look new again.
How do you know it is time to refinish the floor? You can do this simple step. Go to the area where the floor is mostly used, your living room perhaps. Get a tablespoon of water and pour it onto the floor. If the water forms beads and can easily be wiped out, there is no need to refinish it yet. Your floor is still in good condition.
If the water that you just poured slowly seeps into the floor and creates a visible spot, it may already need refinishing touches. You may want to keep it in your to-do list and schedule a time when you can do the refinishing. However, if the water seeps in as quickly as you had poured it, then don't waste more time. Your floor definitely needs refinishing, and soon.
Refinishing your wood flooring would require equipments such as a drum sander. Other equipments may be needed for other more detailed tasks in the finishing process. You need not buy those equipments, though. These equipments are available for rent in your local home shops such as Home Depot. You can rent them on a daily or weekly basis.
Different grit papers are used in the drum sander for different floor types. The lower the grit paper number is, the coarser it is for use on more damaged woods. Once you have chosen the right grit paper, you can now start sanding the wood using the equipment. It is suggested that you do the sanding diagonally on both ways then along the grain.
Once you are done sanding the whole floor with that procedure, repeat the process again using a finer grit paper (one with a higher number). After sanding the whole floor again, you can now sand the edges using a spinner/edger machine.
Vacuuming is the next step to clean off the sand dusts. Should there be gaps present after the sanding process, fill them in using the sand dust mixed with varnish to form a paste. Then leave the floor alone for some time.
After a few hours, repeat the sanding process again, this time doing it along the grain with a much finer grit. Do this twice using the highest grit number on the last sanding. After which, vacuum the floor once more and sweep off the sanddust.
Once the floor is dust-free, it is now time to apply the coat. You would need a roller to do this. Before using the roller, make sure it is clean first using a stiff brush to remove dirt and loose hairs that might get into the finish.
The urethane coating can now be applied across the floor grain by strips. Once the whole array of strips is completed, go back to the starting strip and make sure there are no roller marks or urethane build up.
Let the first coating dry for some time. When the coat is completely dry, the next step is to sand the whole floor using an orbital sander. Vacuum and sweep the floor afterwards to remove the dust.
Finally, the second coating can now be applied using the same procedure as the first. When you do the second coating, make sure the sun doesnt shine through the window to any part of the floor to avoid uneven marks.
Refinishing your wood flooring is relatively easy as long as you have the right equipment. The rent may be a little costly though, but not as expensive as replacing your whole floor. You can even save more doing it yourself than hiring somebody to do it for you. Also, wouldnt you be proud to show off your work and tell your friends you did it by yourself?
Nicely finished or refinished floors make your home look more beautiful. It is also a healthy alternative than carpets. Carpets are known to cause allergies because they are difficult to clean. Having just bare, nicely finished wood flooring will help you have a healthy environment inside your own home. Dusts, pests, molds, and animal stains can easily be cleaned up as well.
The above article was written by Sarah Miller on behalf of
http://www.homeadditionscontractors.com, a Home Additions Article resource for homeowners.
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eBay-Your International Marketplace
Harness the presence of eBay throughout the world to increase your sales or find new bargains. A lot of sellers on eBay tend to trade within their comfort zones without realising the potential of expanding global markets. Whilst it its true that for some sellers it is simply not practical, in shipping terms, to target international markets - for many it is an opportunity missed.
For buyers the sheer scale of items available makes international purchases an attractive proposition. On any given day there are thousands of items listed worldwide by the over 169 million eBay users across 33 markets.
Obviously when considering venturing into international markets a lot of questions will be raised and here are a few of the top points for consideration:
Payment
Quick & secure payment is the top concern for most eBay sellers and when the buyer is many thousands of miles away this is never more true. Whilst it may not be everyone's favourite payment processor Paypal has enabled international trade on a scale never before envisaged. There are other methods of payment but very few if any have the instant recognition that Paypal has accumulated over the years. Shipping
Costs to ship to other countries can vary greatly depending on the distance, shipping method and the item being sent. It is avisable when creating a listing to present the shipping information so that prospective buyers can see the total cost upfront and can therefore make an instant decision. It is worth remembering when selling an item into an overseas market that the buyer may well have to pay additional duties/taxes or Customs clearance fees. You should always ensure that shipments sent by you are insured and the ability to track your consignment will enable you to provide proof of delivery should there be a dispute with the buyer. Taxes & Custom Duties
It is normal practice for buyers to pay for any taxes or duties that may arise and this together with the cost of shipping should be taken into consideration when bidding. In the UK you may find that the HM Revenue & Customs website is helpful when trying to work out what the charges may be. Similarly residents of the US may want to review the Customs & Border Protection website.Each country will have different tariffs depending on the type of item and by doing a little research you can avoid purchases that become uneconomical by the time they arrive at your door.
Local Laws/Regulations
When considering selling items internationally it is crucial that you ensure the transaction is lawful in the countries of both the buyer & seller. eBay specifically prohibits sales that contravene the local laws of either party - educating yourself about the pertinent laws prior to sale will avoid problems later. You may find further assistance available by contacting your courier of choice who should be able to provide information regarding the paperwork needed for shipping and any restrictions applicable. It is advisable that sellers visit the eBay sites that they intend to trade on for specific details as to what that particular site considers a restricted item.Whilst it can certainly be daunting to make the initial foray onto the world market you can guarantee that if you don't take advantage of the opportunity your competitors most certainly will!
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Why People Attend High School Reunions
High school is an experience that depends entirely on your place in the social realm of your class. For some, it is the best time of their life, and for others it is the worst. More often then not, what follows in college and in the real world is diametrically opposed to what happened in high school.
That is why after several years go by, there is some interest by all classmates to attend their high school reunion. The cool kids want to re-live their youth and visit the grounds where they felt on top of the world, and the nerds want to show everyone how far they have come.
There are other things that come into play as well. As time passes, classmates put on weight, and lose their hair. The real question is how much hair and how much weight. This is the number one thing that brings people together for class reunions - curiosity. Beyond that, there is the desire to rekindle the relationships that were so important in our teen years. We will never forget our high school friendships or the experiences that were critical in molding who we are today.
In a class reunion survey done by http://Myevent.com 87% of classmates that attended their class reunion found the reunion to be extremely gratifying, and said they would attend the next class reunion as well. So, whether out of curiosity, to show off, or for re-establishing old ties, class reunions seem to be more popular than ever. It is indeed noteworthy that reunions have become a fabric of our society. In the last year, many old television shows have had reunion episodes and a whole series was devoted to a high school reunion.
So, if you should get an invitation to your high school reunion, do not pass on the chance to go back in time and re-visit old friends and foes. You may be able to reconnect with some of your best friends you have ever had and establish new relationships with people you didnt even know existed.
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New York Foreclosure Listings Still Below Nationwide Average
New York foreclosure listings exist but the properties move fast. The population of New York is ever growing, New Yorkers do not want to leave their city, thus making real estate a hot commodity. When a New York homeowner faces financial difficulties and begins to default on their property, its rare that it actually ends in foreclosure. There seems to always be a buyer for a New York address.
First of all, the New York homeowner is awarded time due to state laws. For a home in New York to be foreclosed by a lender, a court order must be rendered. This buys the homeowner time for several options.
The first option is to attempt to refinance. Many times a homeowner that is not meeting their mortgage commitment doesnt have a stellar credit history, however, there are lending institutions offering programs that have been developed for this situation. Countrywide Home Loans, for instance, has a subsidiary which now offers different financing options for homeowners who have fallen on hard times and need help keeping their homes and getting back on their feet. This is accomplished in a number of different ways, adjustable rates, interest only for a period of time or even a greater than 30 year life of the loan. These programs allow the homeowner to keep their home at a lower monthly payment and to continue to gain equity. Most importantly, it offers the homeowner time to fix their finances without the added stress of losing their home.
Another option is to place the home on the market. Since real estate is a hot commodity, many homeowners have the availability to sell their home to get out from under the financial commitment to their lenders. The important step here is to make sure the proceeds from the home sale covers the financial commitment still owing to the lender. The homeowner should present the house in its best light, and attempt to walk away with some of the equity that hopefully has accumulated. If a house is found on a foreclosure listing, even as a preforeclosure, there will be floods of low ball offers. The homeowner may be pressed to entertain these offers, however, needs to be certain that he can walk away from any transaction avoiding the negative mark of foreclosure on his credit report.
The lenders loss mitigation department may offer or extend to the homeowner any number of additional options. If a homeowner finds their property on a New York foreclosure listing, to act proactively and responsible is the best way to get resolution to the matter.
Bob Smith is a freelancer but regularly writes for ForeclosureListingsNationWide.com. You can get more information on New York foreclosure listings at
http://www.foreclosurelistingsnationwide.com.
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Managing Your Debts: Tips For The Beginner
Getting out of debt seems like the impossible dream to some. But in actuality, managing your debts is really not that difficult. It can take a little time, and quite a bit of self-control, but if you learn to organize, budget, and manage your debts reasonably, you will be well on your way to financial freedom.
It is essential to contact your creditors as soon as possible in your effort to erase your debts. Usually, if you make most creditors aware that you are trying to improve your financial situation, they will decrease credit card interest rates for you. Also, if you are unable to make your monthly obligations, let the creditors know; usually they can design a special arrangement for you.
Debt consolidation is another top option you should consider when choosing to manage and eliminate your debts. Do you own a home? If the answer is yes, think about applying for a home equity loan or putting a second mortgage on your house. This may seem extreme, but consider this. If you have numerous high interest credit cards, bills, or loans, in reality, you are paying more for these materials than they were worth when you bought them.
There can be a downside to these kinds of high equity loans, however. Most of these loans require that you use your real estate as collateral. So how does this affect you? If you fail to make a payment you are in danger of losing your home.
Another excellent way to manage your debts is to make larger payments on your monthly credit card bills. If you pay a little bit more than the least amount required, a more significant monetary figure is added towards your overall account remainder. Eventually, this will cost you a smaller sum of money in interest.
If you add just a few extra dollars to your payment each month, it will steadily reduce the number of payments of all of the loans and credit cards you have accrued. When you lower the amount of payments that are made, this also decreases the balance a person will eventually end up paying in charges, interests, and fees.
So, you think you might need counseling? Credit counseling actually may be your answer. This type of service will assist you in determining a reliable form of action for help you manage and demolish your debts. These organizations provide a wide variety of programs such as, advice on debt management, and have workshops that are devoted to things like, managing money and budgeting. Lost on which way to go with your debt problems? Try credit counseling.
Budgeting is an essential step when trying to manage and eventually clear your debts. Budgeting also assists you in seizing power over your money, and realizing your current financial position. You first need to make a listing of all of your set monthly costs such as, utilities, insurance co-payments and premiums, mortgage, and rent payments.
Then compose another list of things that are for other expenses such as recreational activities. You must learn how to prioritize costs. You then need to decide how much extra cash you want to set aside monthly to be contributed to your debt relief fund. The more money you give back, the quicker your debts will be settled.
Robert Michael is a writer for Yo Debts which is an excellent place to find debts links, resources and articles. For more information go to:
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