And, The Answer Is!
And, The Answer Is!
Forty percent of respondents to a recent survey, including elected officials, incorrectly believed that the US president has the power to declare war, while 54 percent correctly answered that that power rests with Congress.
So, whose fault is the Iraq war? Well, I guess since the power rests with Congress that any mistakes should rest with them as well.
"It is disturbing enough that the general public failed ISI's civic literacy test, but when you consider the even more dismal scores of elected officials, you have to be concerned," said Josiah Bunting, chairman of the National Civic Literacy Board at ISI.
The Business Connection
Build your sellers' confidence and sales! Pass on these tips, and be sure to provide a written list of all the details; your group's needs and goals, deadlines, etc. as well as any selling materials that will help them succeed.1. Make a list. Start with friends and relatives. Who likes to eat out? Everyone! Don't forget neighbors, the people you work with, go to the church with, your doctor, dentist, hair stylist, etc.
2. Contact everyone on your list. People you know will want to help you and will appreciate the value you are offering. Check off the names on your list after you contact them, either in person, by phone or e-mail, and follow-up.
3. Always take your book with you. Just about any place can be a selling opportunity. Classes, sporting events, family gatherings, etc. You can also enlist family members to take your information to activities or work (doctor's offices and hair salons are great outlets) and make copies of the logo flyer to hang up at work and put in people's boxes.
4. Represent your group. When you're selling, be polite and enthusiastic. If possible, wear a uniform, t-shirt, or cap identifying your group. Tell potential customers your name and group, what you're selling, and why you're raising money. Explain exactly what their purchase will do for you and your group, and what it will do for them (save lots of money!).
5. Know the book. Before you start selling, look through the book and get to know the offers. Mention some of the more popular places, e.g. Moe's sw Grill, Chick-fil-A, Domino's Pizza, Circuit City, Biscuitville etc., and practice your lines. "You can double your money back at Home Depot alone!" or "There are over $200 worth of free pizzas!" are just two lines that will help you sell more books. Don't forget all coupons are valid until January 1, 2008 and if you use the book only once or twice it pays for itself!
6. It's not just for dining. Everyone loves to eat out, but there's more to the book then just restaurants. Free oil changes, museum passes, fun parks, greens fees to some of the area's top golf courses, dry cleaning and great retail savings at Michael's, Big Lots, Dick's Sporting Goods, Eckard Drugs, Home Depot, etc. There is truly something for everyone!
7. Show 'Em The Book! That's all it takes. Make sure your customers look through the book and point out the popular places you know they'll like. They're sure to find places they already go to as well new places they may want to try.
8. Upsell. These books offer great value and there's something for everyone. The book will sell itself, but you can sell more. Ask the customer how many cars they own. People carry their books in their purses and cars, so they can use a book for every car. They also make great birthday and holiday gifts - "Do you know someone who would appreciate this book as a gift?"
9. Practice "Safe Selling." DC Publishing discourages door-to-door selling. If you are selling in your neighborhood, stick to familiar neighbors and never enter a stranger's home. Use the buddy system and/or have an adult come along.
Freelance jobs have attracted the masses due to their benefits such as being able to be their own boss, flexi time working schedules, spending valuable time with the family, and income can be unlimited.Before taking up freelance jobs, the person has to decide if his business needs an Internet connection. The best known home based jobs are by selling home made products.
Once it is decided to go for an online job, he or she has to choose a freelance job, which compliments his experience, knowledge and expertise. Internet has created umpteen opportunities for freelance professionals in almost all the fields like web development, telemarketing, copywriting, proof reading etc.
Time management is very important in freelance jobs. The person needs to be very organized and focused to deliver the services and goods on the said time. Although doing a freelance job will facilitate spending a valuable time with the family, it should not hinder with the execution of the job.
The basic requirements of the freelance jobs are the resources and tools. They need to be in place like the high speed internet connection for downloading and uploading information etc. The person has to set a target to achieve the monthly income desired and work towards attaining it.
When working independently doing freelance jobs, there is a possibility to get diverted easily; as there is no manager or boss to monitor the actions and behavior. This calls for self discipline and finishing the job before the deadline to succeed as a freelance professional.
The work place for doing freelance jobs has to be quiet to do the work in a focused manner and free from distractions. Also, it should give a feeling of a work area than of a home atmosphere. Cluttering of materials should be avoided, as it has a tendency to irritate the person doing job.
When doing freelance jobs, the freelancer should be on a lookout for new projects constantly. Also accepting too many offers beyond the capability should be avoided. Projects which can be completed within the time frame should be selected to be got and delivered on time and then he can accept new projects. Work should be comfortably done rather than done in a stretched manner.
No matter what it is you are selling, it is always important to research your competitors. Find out what price your items or similar items are currently being sold for and see if you can compete. If your prices turn out to be more expensive than other sellers, make your listing stand out further by offering a little extra such as free delivery. Don't forget you still need to make a profit, so make sure you incorporate all of your costs into the selling price.
Customer feedback on your products should be treated like gold dust, as more and more customers are relying on other customers' thoughts and opinions to determine their purchasing patterns. This valuable customer insight can help establish credibility for your service and even negative feedback can prove to be beneficial if you are seen to be taking proactive measures to resolve any issues. Customers trust other customers and it is good to remember that now more than ever, the customer is king.
Gain a competitive edge over rival sellers by offering the best possible delivery rates for your products. Amazon might not rank you higher in the search listings for offering this cheaper service, but your customers will notice the difference and could increase the chances of customers buying in bulk and repeat purchasing. It is important to remember that any discounts you offer on cheaper delivery will come straight off your bottom line and you might want to spread this cost across some of your other items.
Creating logical keyword rich titles and descriptions for your products will improve the rankings of your items in the search results and increase the chances of your products converting. In the descriptions, promote the features and characteristics of the item you are trying to sell while writing the content from the customer's perspective. What is it about his item that makes it a must have product? Offer the customer concise information on what they are receiving and how it could be of benefit to them.
Images sell. Whether you have a professional studio or a simple disposable camera, ensure that you take the time to photograph your product or item from a number of angles. From purchasing some display cabinets, down to inflatable fancy dress costumes, the prospective customer needs to trust what they are buying and multiple images of the item will provide a bulk of the information needed in order for you to get that all important conversion. Amazon does not allow you to promote your phone number on your listings, so you need to do a good job of promoting your products using the images, as after all, a picture says a thousand words.
There are many other things that can be done to improve your sales and efficiencies on Amazon, however these five tips should put you in a more favourable position for the New Year ahead and beyond.
There are many reasons why someone would want to get in to the scrap metal market. For one, it is widely considered to be a much more stable alternative to investing in stocks and shares, given that prices tend not to fluctuate as wildly in the scrap metal industry. Added to that is the ongoing possibility of liquidating your portfolio, pretty much at any time, which avoids the need to find a buyer for shares or other commodities, through selling to scrap recycling plants or other dealers. But how would one go about getting involved in the scrap metal market, and what steps could be taken to ensure your scrap experience is a profitable one?Before even considering entering the scrap metal market, a fundamental consideration is whether or not you have the resources to invest. As a general rule, you should only invest what you could afford to lose in a market within which you have no experience or knowledge. This is the worst case scenario for most traders and although unlikely its always a good idea to plan conservatively to cover any eventuality to make sure you can afford to bail yourself out if needs be.
Secondly you should consider trying to pick up some knowledge of the marketplace and how it works. For this there is no substitute for reading about the marketplace, on the internet and in related journal publications. Reading will give you a better idea of whats in demand and what isnt, and how best to structure your scrap metal portfolio. Without doing your research into the way the market works, you could end up learning the hard way which could be financially very expensive if you are unable to shift your investments when it comes time to sell.
Another word of advice: diversify your investment portfolio across different types of scrap to begin with until you become more accustomed to which types of metal are valued at which price. By investing all your money in one material, you could more readily end up incurring losses on your input if that decision turns out to be a bad one. However, by spreading your investment across a range of different materials and ensuring constant appraisal of your portfolio inventory you can maximise your earning potential and stabilise your investment to effectively hedge your bets within the scrap commodity market.
Before getting too heavily involved in the scrap metal commodity market it is important to pay due consideration to each of the crucial elements mentioned above to ensure you both know what youre doing and you dont lose your money. Additionally, by taking these precautions you can help increase the likelihood of eventually selling your investment portfolio for a profit, making it all worthwhile. However you approach getting in to scrap metal investment, make sure you have a broad understanding of the market and thick skin before you proceed, to give you the best chance of succeeding in your investment endeavours.
This is a great business to begin if you have a love for cooking and like to work your own hours. The great thing about this business is that it's a cash business, which usually opens for a limited amount of hours each day, mainly providing breakfast and lunch.Finding a site to trade from is the hardest thing to start off with but there are opportunities out there for everyone sometimes right under your nose. Next make sure that you have a valid food and hygiene certificate; this shows that you have passed a basic test in food preparation and food safety. Without this official document you are not legally allowed to cook and serve food to the public.
Finding a decent trailer or mobile cooking unit is the next task to accomplish, if you are working to a budget this may be tough but there are still some bargains about. Your trailer needs to look clean and presentable, this is very important (and your main selling point) for you to make a good impression on your customers. If your trailer looks dark and dirty people will be put off from even approaching your trailer to try your food. Just as you wouldn't go out to eat in a dirty looking restaurant your customers don't want to see a dirty, greasy looking food trailer.
Cleanliness doesn't stop at your trailer you must ensure that you always look clean and presentable, try to be happy, chatty and approachable this is vital in building up your regular repeat customers.
Lastly before you actually start working in your mobile catering business you have to have the relevant liability insurance to legally trade and sell to the public, this covers you from any legal action that may be taken against you.
Start A Gift Basket Business From Home
Start A Gift Basket Business From Home
The holidays are the most fantastic time of the year for giving gift baskets. Have you been thinking about starting a gift basket business? Are you researching the Internet to find out how to start a gift basket business? Giving gifts you make, can actually make you money!
Many have started their gift basket business on a shoe string budget and a spare bedroom. It can take very little money up front to get started. You can make standard or special occasion baskets, and you can also create custom baskets for specific customers. You might want to make sure your baskets are unique, filled with quality items, packaged beautifully, and are a good value for the price. What you decide to charge for a particular gift basket will depend on the type and cost of the basket, the cost of the items needed to fill it, the time spent and level of difficulty in putting it all together, and the cost of filler, wrap, cards, etc.
Gift baskets range in size from small to large. You will want to attract customers across all income levels. Your business will grow if there is something for everyone. You'll most likely want to stick with prepackaged snack foods like popcorn, pretzels, chips and dips such as salsa, nuts, dried fruit, flavored mini hot or cold drinks, cookies, fudge and others. There are occasions where foods are not appropriate. For example, baby baskets include nail clippers, hangers, rattles and bibs. Get well baskets contain puzzles, books, games and sometimes fruit.
You can purchase items in bulk from a local warehouse such as Sam's or a drop-shipper like National Gifts. Creating gift baskets will require some creativity if you make your own. Creating a niche will help boost your search engine rankings and ultimately make you more money. As long as you have the desire, you can start a gift basket business. You don't need any special education or expensive equipment to start from home.
For a copy of a FREE eBook on Gifts In A Jar/Gift Baskets and More click here!
There are many guides and Free information out there but some of the basics you should research are:
- evaluating different locations if looking for a retail site
- estimating your start-up costs
- what inventory you should start with
- where to find wholesale products and/or a reputable drop-shipper
- how to assemble your basket design if making your own baskets
- write a simple business plan
- advertise locally and online
- keeping your books/records
- shipping and delivery policy and methods
- promoting your business in a cost effective manner
- how to price your services and inventory
- target your niche market with effective advertising and marketing methods
- operating your business and making a profit
You can also read a previous post located on this site "How To Make Executive Level Earnings With Gift Baskets".
In order to begin a profitable venture in the gift basket business the individual entrepreneur must be well prepared therefore read and research as much as you can. Be well prepared so that your business can succeed.
Why Men Are Happier
Why Men Are Happier
Men Are Just Happier People -- What do you expect from such simple creatures? Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack. You can be President. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park. Car mechanics tell you the truth. The world is your urinal. You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky. You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Same work, more pay. Wrinkles add character. Wedding dress-$5000. Tux rental-$100. People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them. New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet. One mood all the time.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness. If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough You almost never have strap problems in public. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes. Everything on your face stays its original color. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. You only have to shave your face and neck.
You can play with toy s all your life. One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look. You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife. You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.
No wonder men are happier!
Letters From Santa Kit
Letters From Santa Kit
Just found this great little graphics kit containing letters from Santa Claus that you can download and use to send letters to the kids at Christmas time as often as you want.
You get printable letters from the North Pole, sample letters from Santa Claus and instructions on how to get a North Pole return address on them.
I did this for my kids several years in a row and they loved them.
Here's the link for the kit!
Printable Santa Letters make it easy and affordable to create and send a Christmas letter from Santa to every child in your family.
Letters from Santa Claus services charge between $7.50 and $10.00 per letter. If you have several children on your list, this gets really expensive! As well, the letters can only be partially personalized.
You can choose from 15 different styles of printable letters from Santa. Your child will be able to see immediately that the letter is coming from Santa Claus. If you need a head start on what to say, use one of the sample letters from Santa Claus as a starting point. Your printable letters kit includes North Pole postmark clipart and Santa's golden seal clip art that you can print onto your envelopes and make the evelope look really official. Instructions on how and where to mail your Santa Claus letters so they come to your child with a North Pole or other official Santa Claus postmark.
Here's the link for the kit!
Book Review - Acheron
Book Review - Acheron
Acheron by Sherlynn Kenyon
What I've read recently.
"Eleven thousand years ago a god was born. Cursed into the body of a human, Acheron spent a lifetime of shame. However, his human death unleashed an unspeakable horror that almost destroyed the earth. Then, brought back against his will, Acheron became the sole defender of mankind."
"Only it was never that simple. For centuries, he has fought for our survival and hidden a past he’ll do anything to keep concealed. Until a lone woman who refuses to be intimidated by him threatens his very existence."
"Now his survival, and ours, hinges on hers and old enemies reawaken and unite to kill them both."
"War has never been more deadly... or more fun."
I've read all the Dark Hunter books and a big fan of Ash although my favorite Dark Hunter is Kyrian. I also adore the Were Hunter Vane.
This book, Acheron, absolutely rates as one of my favorites.
It is over 700 pages. Even so, it held my attention and I finished the book in three days. All the questions about Ash are answered and although it is graphic in detail and at times a "hard read" it made him the God he is suppose to be. While I think Ash's background is necessary, it could have been a little less graphic and more attention given to the present and his love story.
For those of you who are a series fan, it is a must read. If you're not a fan of the Dark Hunter series, you may want to skip this book.
kentuckymom
7
share
subscribe
contact
subscribe
RSS
