Asian Furniture

The delicate and timeless beauty of Asian furniture is currently experiencing an unparalleled popularity in American interior design.

An Overview of Asian Furniture

The name “Asian Furniture” is a general term, describing all home dÈcor products - including art and furniture – from the countries of China, Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and often India. It also includes the (now antique) items crafted during the British occupation, mostly of furniture from India and Burma, including contemporary reproductions in this style.

Although very similar in basic design, each of these countries produces furniture and art that is specific to its own culture. For instance, while the Shoji screen originated in China, it was then reinvented in Japan and is now considered a wholly Japanese export. Feng Shui design philosophy is singularly Chinese, while Southeast Asian furniture often displays Hindu-influenced carvings over very dark wood.

Origins of The Oriental Style

Also known as “Oriental Furniture”, Asian-styled furniture is very often crafted from teak wood, and is usually based on the Buddhist principles of living simply and in harmony with one’s surroundings. Asian furniture is a blend of form and function, where art and design are intended to be both beautiful and purposeful. In the interest of blending Western and Eastern styles, it is increasingly popular to find Shoji screens that reflect traditional Western tastes. More colors are becoming available, and designers have begun to take liberties in creating more daring and expressive fusion pieces.

Perhaps the most famous Asian dÈcor item is the Shoji screen. Made from latticed wood and rice paper, it is becoming increasingly common to see Shoji doors, Shoji lamps, and Shoji room dividers, even in traditionally Western homes and offices. Other popular Asian furniture items are cabinets and accessories, typically ornamented with striking mother-of-pearl inlay.

Asian Furniture Today

Today the largest markets and manufacturers of Oriental furniture are Korea and Taiwan, although much is also manufactured in the US, Europe and Australia. The top importers of Asian furniture and home dÈcor are the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Japan and Canada.

Whether you are creating your very own “Dojo”, crafting an intentional meditative space, or if you are simply drawn to the beauty and craftsmanship of Asian furniture, you are certain to find inspiration in the timelessness and transportive qualities of this truly dazzling style.


Article Source: http://www.emassive.com/Asian_Furniture.htm

Artwork for Label Printing

If you are just getting involved with label printing or are considering outsourcing your label printing needs to a professional, you have probably already encountered a few industry-specific terms with which you may not be entirely familiar. One such term is “artwork.” Artwork is completely unrelated to your favorite museum pieces and does not necessarily refer to “graphical” elements, either. Let us look at what artwork for label printing is all about.

In the simplest of terms, artwork refers to the layout of a label’s design. That includes factors such as the actual words used (referred to as the “copy”) and any images that might be involved in the design, as well. In essence, the artwork for label printing is the complete “look” of the label, including all of its components. Artwork is finalized prior to the label printing company’s creation of printing plates or negatives.

Depending upon the label printing company with whom you work, artwork may be your responsibility, their responsibility, or a joint effort. In all cases, the label printing firm should provide you with samples, or mock-ups, of your labels before turning the artwork into a final product.

Label printing experts often employee design specialists to help with artwork. In some cases, they will actually create the label’s artwork after a discussion with the client and then submit it to the buyer for approval. In other situations, a bare-bones label printing team may require you to provide finished artwork.

Understanding the vocabulary of label printing is an important way to make sure you get what you want from the printer. Artwork, which refers to the collective whole of your future label, is an expression with which you will need to be familiar.

Artists Biographies on Film: Top Movies about Visual Artists

Visual artists biographies is a popular theme in the movie world. Moviemakers have always been fascinated by visual artists biographies, especially if it includes struggle with insanity, drug addiction or social conventions. In addition, it gives them an opportunity to depict original or resurrected artworks on the big screen.
Here you can read about some of the most interesting movies about visual artists biographies.
Lust for Life directed by Vincente Minnelli in 1952

Vincent Van Gogh biography had gained several cinematic adaptations. Lust for Life with Kirk Douglas as the struggling artist is one of the most notable. The movie is based on a best selling book by Irving Stone, who also authored The Agony and the Ecstasy about Michelangelo, which also had appeared on the silver screen.

If you are a fan of Van Gogh artwork, you would enjoy watching Last for Life, which features almost 200 of Van Goghs original paintings. However, if you are familiar with Kirk Douglas previous filmographic, seeing him as a tortured Dutch painter might take a little adjustment. Another recommended film about Van Gogh is Robert Altmans Vincent and Theo from 1990.

Surviving Picasso directed by James Ivory in 1996

Like Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso image made him an iconic figure outside the artistic circles. While Van Gogh symbolizes the self destructive, manic depressive artist who achieves success only after his death, Picasso represents the misanthropic and womanizer artist. Picasso infamous relationship with women is the focus of this Merchant and Ivory film. The story is told from the eyes of Picasso mistress Francoise Gilot and features only reproductions of Picasso works. With Anthony Hopkins talent and his physical resemblance to Picasso, Surviving Picasso manages to create an unflattering portrait of an artist as a cruel, self centered genius.

Girl with Pearl Earring directed by Peter Webber in 2003


Comparing to Van Gogh and Picasso, Vermeers biography is less known and less controversial. Therefore Girl with Pearl Earring is much more restrained and delicate. The movie focuses on a short period in Vermeers life in which he was painting the portrait of his young low class maid. Although Girl with Pearl Earring does not avoid filmic conventions by over dramatizing Vermeers painting process, the movie is worth watching if only for its artistic design, which success in evoking Vermeers perception of light and color.

Basquiat directed by Julian Schnabel in 1996

The most common critique against movies that deals with visual arts is the way they depict the creation process. Therefore, there were big expectations from Basquiat, which was directed by the celebrated painter Julian Schnabel. Schnabel did well in depicting Jean Michelle Basquiat rise and fall story in less the predictable manner we have seen millions time before. However, the only reason to watch Basquiat is David Bowie plays the role of Andy Warhol.

Frida directed by Julie Taymor in 2002

Like most of the visual artists who had their life story appear on the silver screen, Frida Kahlo carried an unusual biography, which includes bus accident, problematic marriage, and an affair with Leon Trotsky. Like Van Gogh, Picasso and Jackson Pollock, who was the subject of a biopic from 2000, Frida Kahlo was an icon long before Frida was released, but the 123 minutes film did help to strength her position as a feminist idol and probably the most famous woman painter of the 20 century. Frida tries its best to integrate Frida Kahlo life story with her painting and the result is very colorful and pleasant, but still does not stay far enough from the conventions of depicting artists on film.

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Article Submission: How to make money from e-business

Online business is most suited for producers and manufacturers. They can sell their products directly to their customers. Most important, online trading helps them eliminate middlemen to whom they shell out quite a few dollars in terms of commissions. They also save on delivery costs. The manufacturers can pass all these savings to their customers, who get to buy products at a price that is much less than the market price.

E-commerce sites not only increase business but also enhance visibility. They become an interaction point for manufacturers to receive feedback from their customers. This is why most manufacturers like to have a web presence. They not only generate a useful stream of income, but also come closer to their customers.

Online business also suits those who sell services like legal consultancy, tutoring, travel services, etc. The revenue generation in this case may be limited because services are not products to be stored and shipped on demand; they are a relationship-based trade.

However, any service enjoys two big advantages on the net. The first is reach. You are able to reach more number of people, and if you have a team of people you can work 24/7. The second is costs. It is much more economical to run a website than a physical office. However, to be successful you need to initiate a contact, establish credibility and prove the value of your service.

You can also sell goods manufactured by others, very much like physical retailers but with greater reach and less overhead costs. Since your costs are low you can charge less or run schemes that make the purchase of goods more attractive from your online store.

You can even make money by directing customers to the manufacturer’s site. This form of marketing which is known as affiliate marketing is especially popular on the web. It is a “no-risk” and no cost partnership and helps you make much needed dollars that you can then use to make your e-business grow.

If, however, you have slightly deep pockets you can start your own affiliate program. This means you encourage owners of other websites to route traffic to your website. In return, you pay them a small commission. You can even give them a percentage on sale of a product to encourage them more. As new affiliates join you and you train your existing affiliates your sales go up – and so too your profits.

Another indirect source of revenue that opens up for you is advertising. Once your website earns credibility and has a large target market, advertisers may like to buy space on your website. This is another useful source of revenue that you may reinvest in your core e-business which is selling products or services.

Article

The most common mistake made by people who attempt to put together their first resume is that they put in too much information. They want to describe everything that they have ever done from the moment of conception to the present. The resume ends up being too long, and nobody will read it.

The most important piece of information that you should retain is that your resume, no matter how well it is put together, will only get a 15 to 30 second review by the person who does the initial screening.

That person is normally someone in Human Resources whose job is to look at hundreds of resumes per day. You must create your resume in such a way that it gives all the information they need in a maximum of 30 seconds.

There is information that, under most circumstances, should not be in a resume. This includes:
• Your age or date of birth
• Religious or political affiliations
• Reasons why you left your last job
• Your Social Security Number
• Health restrictions or physical limitations
• Any sentence that has "do not," "cannot," or "unable"

Age or Date of Birth

I repeat, you should not put your age or date of birth in a resume. In the US, an employer has no legal right to know your age. An employer can ask you only if you are over the age of 18 for insurance liability reasons or if local, state, or federal law requires that employees be over a certain age.

Therefore, if you’re concerned that your age will be a factor, don't list the date you graduated from high school or the years that you received any of your degrees. I received my undergraduate degree in 1962. Can any of you guess my age?

Religious Affiliations or Political Affiliations

It’s generally recommended that you stay away from listing a particular type of religion or political party affiliation. However, being active in your community or church can sometimes be a positive factor in many large companies, so you should make general statements about your participation in activities that support the community. Volunteer work for a charity group would be a positive example but active support for an environmental group could raise some eyebrows.

Reasons for Leaving Previous Jobs

We’ve become a mobile society and longevity in a position is now considered two years. People accept new jobs for many reasons. If you left your last job because of differences with your supervisor or company philosophy, I don't recommend that you put that information in your resume. The reader will probably get a negative impression of you. If you couldn't get along with your last company, you probably won't get along here.

If the job application asks you to give reasons for leaving your last job, a safe and truthful answer could be that you were offered a better position. “Better” could mean a pay raise, better working hours, better office environment, or newer equipment.

Your Social Security Number (SSN)

The exceptions to this are federal resumes sent for civil service positions. A prospective employer can ask for your Social Security Number in an application - that is normally a requirement for employment. However, putting your SSN on a resume could lead to disaster.

You’ll be sending out many resumes; you won’t know who’ll be reading them. It doesn't cost much money to put a small want ad in the newspaper or on an Internet employment site, and a dishonest person can run a fraudulent ad.

If someone knows your SSN, he can apply for credit cards or other important documents, such as duplicate SSN cards, with the information you normally provide on a resume. Be alert if someone other than in the civil service asks for your SSN.

Information about Health and Disabilities

The Americans with Disabilities Act has changed the way businesses in the US recruit and hire an employee. Generally, an employer has no legal right to know your health status. The only health-related questions that an employer can ask are job related.

If the job description requires that you lift 50 lbs, the employer has the legal and legitimate right to ask in the interview if you can do this. He can also state the requirement in his ad. He cannot ask you if you have back problems, diabetes, or have had a heart attack unless the job, such as airline pilot, requires perfect health.

Find out your legal rights if you live outside the US.

Marital Status

I’ve added marital status because this is another issue that can work against you, particularly if you’re a single parent. I know some people will disagree, but single parents have the highest absentee rate in the work force.

Companies will try to avoid hiring a single parent if at all possible. However, in the US they cannot ask you your marital status or if you have children. Don't volunteer this information on the resume.

If asked this question in an interview, the proper response could be, "Can you tell me what this has to do with the position I’m applying for?" That should end the questioning on this issue if the interviewer does not want to face a lawsuit.

Art Theft: Most Famous Cases in History

Art theft is an ancient and complicated crime. When you look at the some of the most famous cases of art thefts in history, you see thoroughly planned operations that involve art dealers, art fakers, mobsters, ransoms, and millions of dollars. Here you can read about some of the most famous cases of art theft in the history.

The First Theft:
The first documented case of art theft was in 1473, when two panels of altarpiece of the Last Judgment by the Dutch painter Hans Memling were stolen. While the triptych was being transported by ship from the Netherlands to Florence, the ship was attacked by pirates who took it to the Gdansk cathedral in Poland. Nowadays, the piece is shown at the National Museum in Gdansk where it was recently moved from the Basilica of the Assumption.

The Most Famous Theft:
The most famous story of art theft involves one of the most famous paintings in the world and one of the most famous artists in history as a suspect. In the night of August 21, 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen out of the Louver. Soon after, Pablo Picasso was arrested and questioned by the police, but was released quickly.

It took about two years until the mystery was solved by the Parisian police. It turned out that the 30×21 inch painting was taken by one of the museum employees by the name of Vincenzo Peruggia, who simply carried it hidden under his coat. Nevertheless, Peruggia did not work alone. The crime was carefully conducted by a notorious con man, Eduardo de Valfierno, who was sent by an art faker who intended to make copies and sell them as if they were the original painting.

While Yves Chaudron, the art faker, was busy creating copies for the famous masterpiece, Mona Lisa was still hidden at Peruggias apartment. After two years in which Peruggia did not hear from Chaudron, he tried to make the best out of his stolen good. Eventually, Peruggia was caught by the police while trying to sell the painting to an art dealer from Florence, Italy. The Mona Lisa was returned to the Louver in 1913.

The Biggest Theft in the USA:
The biggest art theft in United States took place at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. On the night of March 18, 1990, a group of thieves wearing police uniforms broke into the museum and took thirteen paintings whose collective value was estimated at around 300 million dollars. The thieves took two paintings and one print by Rembrandt, and works of Vermeer, Manet, Degas, Govaert Flinck, as well as a French and a Chinese artifact.

As of yet, none of the paintings have been found and the case is still unsolved. According to recent rumors, the FBI are investigating the possibility that the Boston Mob along with French art dealers are connected to the crime.

The Scream:
The painting by Edvard Munchs, The Scream, is probably the most sought after painting by art thieves in history. It has been stolen twice and was only recently recovered. In 1994, during the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, The Scream was stolen from an Oslo gallery by two thieves who broke through an open window, set off the alarm and left a note saying: thanks for the poor security.

Three months later, the holders of the painting approached the Norwegian Government with an offer: 1 million dollars ransom for Edvard Munchs The Scream. The Government turned down the offer, but the Norwegian police collaborated with the British Police and the Getty Museum to organize a sting operation that brought back the painting to where it belongs.

Ten years later, The Scream was stolen again from the Munch Museum. This time, the robbers used a gun and took another of Munchs painting with them. While Museum officials waiting for the thieves to request ransom money, rumors claimed that both paintings were burned to conceal evidence. Eventually, the Norwegian police discovered the two paintings on August 31, 2006 but the facts on how they were recovered are not known yet.

Arranging Furniture Storage

Sometimes, there isn't enough room for all of your belongings – and arranging storage, on top of moving can be a blessing in disguise – or a nightmare. So you need another, convenient, cheap option for your furniture.

Storage companies are basically large warehouses or lockups that you can rent – and range in size from a box room to an area large enough to store a complete house.

Storage is great if you're needing to move out of one house before your other hoese is ready – or when you've sold your old house but haven't finished arranging the new one. It saves the you having to work out what to do with your things.

It's also a good idea when you have too much furniture for your new house, and no where to store it yourself – and while garages and basements are great for short term storage, they aren't protected, in some cases against the elements, nor, possibly insured against accidents, such as fires or flood. Garages and basements also, while accessible, may also need to be used for other things.

It is possible for your belongings to be damaged in storage, but highly unlikely – you'll be given a list of belongings that you're checking in – and you should check at that time that everything is secure, sealed and stacked or placed well.

If you're moving long distance, its always good to research, throughly, by phone and if possible, in person, how much access you'll have to your furniture, and belongings, and what sort of notice you need to give – you'll also need to work out what is going into storage and how much space you'll need for it all.

If you're unsure of storage companies, and you're using a removal company – ask them – they may have a group of storage companies they deal with, and offer you a better premium than you may otherwise get. It also means that you've got less research to deal with.

Are You Unique?

by Stuart Lisonbee

There is something that I have talked about on several occasions here on this site, as well as in the Doba newsletter. In fact, it was one of the very first things I talked about shortly after joining Doba a couple of years ago.

Even though I've discussed this before, it's always worth bringing up again.

I want you to ask yourself a question regarding your business. Are you unique? And what is unique about you or your business?

If somebody were to ask me that same question in regards to Doba, I would say that we offer access to more products and more suppliers than any other drop shipping service.

This unique thing about your business is what marketers refer to as your unique selling proposition, or USP (I covered this in part in the June 2004 issue of our newsletter, and referred to it as the unique selling point in the October 2004 issue).

Your unique selling proposal is how you separate yourself—in the eyes of your customers—from your competition. In essence, it's the reason you give your customers to buy from you rather than the competition.

So what is your unique selling proposition? If you haven't given it any thought before, what would you like it to be? If you said, "To have the absolute lowest price," you should do some more thinking. That is one of the worst USP's you could possibly have.

Having the lowest price simply means you make less money, and that cut in profit affects more than just your bottom line. It affects all aspects of your business, such as the inability to provide good customer support (because you can't afford it), develop new and innovative tools for your site, conduct usability tests, and so forth. Your business will begin to appear more and more like a fly-by-night store rather than a legitimate company that can instill trust in its customers.

There's no way around it. Running a business costs money. Running a business well costs even more money. Don't let your business go under trying to be the low price leader. Instead, find a unique selling proposition for your business and do that one thing better than anybody else, or better yet be the only person that actually does it!

Here's a personal example of a unique selling proposition I came up with when I ran a retail computer business. My USP was to offer home delivery and setup of newly purchased computers. Furthermore, I would offer on-site tech support.

I never did it because it simply cost too much. The solution was to charge for it. But I never did that because I didn't think that anybody would pay for it. In a world where every computer reseller offered free support over the phone, why would anybody be willing to pay for on-site support?

Well, have you ever heard of Geek Squad? The founders of Geek Squad had the same idea I had. The difference is they actually implemented their idea. Now they are running a successful and thriving business. And a big reason for their success is they found a unique selling proposition that would elevate them above the competition.

The lesson here: don't be afraid to be unique! Embrace your uniqueness and watch your business grow.

Read some great examples of companies that have successfully marketed their USP.

Are You Still Not Backing up Your Data?

Planning for a worst-case scenario isn't alarmist. It's common sense. By putting together a data back-up plan you can avoid a business catastrophe!

You should know this by now: Computers can and do fail. And nasty viruses can take down your system by creeping through your antivirus software

and firewall.

The problem is that you usually get no warning before it's too late.

This has happened to many. In extreme cases, it has put companies out of business. And the worst part is this: It's completely avoidable. By backing

up your data, you can retrieve all or most of what you lose.

Yes, there is a hassle involved. But you owe it to yourself — and your business — to take stock of your backup plan (or lack thereof) by reviewing

these tips.

Most Important: Back up Your Customer Databases and Payroll Records

What's the heart and soul of your company? People have different opinions, but certainly your customer or client database has to rank high.

Inside one or two data files are all the nitty-gritty details including what they buy, when they buy, how they pay and so forth. Contact lists also are

databases, and you might have yours combined with your customer list.

So, where would you be if you lost your database? How would you feel if you attempted to open your database and it wasn't there? Not good, I'll bet.

So you should be backing up.

Also mission-critical for backups are your employee payroll records. You don't want to lose the information that you have to report to the tax

department. Your employees don't want problems with them either. And they certainly don't want to be paid late.

Protect Your Registry Settings

You should be backing up all of your data. But if you don't, a third item you should have high on your priority list for regular backups is

your Windows Registry. This is the huge database that tells your computer how to run. Without it, you have an expensive paperweight.

Most backup programs allow you to back up the Registry automatically. If not, you can easily do it manually. Here's how:

• Click Start > Run.

• In the box, enter "regedit" (without the quotes). Click OK.

• In the Registry, click File > Export (or Registry > Export Registry File in Windows 98). Navigate to your backup medium. It will probably be drive

E:.

• Name the file and click Save.

You don't need to back up Windows or your applications, such as Microsoft Word. If the worst happens, you can always re-install them. But

information you create must be protected.

Store Your Backups Off-Site

To really be safe, the backup medium (tape, CD or DVD, etc.) should be removed from your site. If you are backing up to tape, for instance, and you

leave the tape cartridge in the machine, you'll be protected if the hard drive fails. But if the equipment is stolen, or the office burns to the ground, the

backup will be lost.

The safest procedure is to use a different tape or disk each day. Keep all but the current day's backups off-site — at your home, perhaps.

Forget About Doing Backups with Floppies

The earliest backup medium was the floppy. These are no longer practical. They hold hardly any data, so a large collection would be needed for a

backup. You would have to sit at the computer for hours, swapping the floppies in and out. Don't even think about it.

Tape has been the medium of choice for a number of years. Tapes are relatively slow, but the process can be automated. You can schedule the

backup for when you're sleeping.

Tape drives and the tapes to go with them are relatively expensive, too. And the software can be difficult. Tape is a great backup medium, once you

understand it. It has its drawbacks in terms of the time and work involved. But once you get a system running, it can go smoothly.

Here are some other options:

• Back up to a burner — a CD or DVD drive. Neither holds nearly as much data as a tape. If you decide to go this route, be sure your software allows

automated backups. A CD or DVD will work well if your data is not voluminous. CDs will hold up to 700 MB; most DVDs will hold 4.7 GB.

• Use a Zip or Jaz drive. These are made by Iomega. Zips hold 250 MB of data; Jaz holds 2 GB.

• Use an external hard drive. These hold a vast amount of data. They attach to the computer via high-speed connections such as USB 2.0 or FireWire.

Hard drives are fast, so the backup wouldn't take much time. But an external hard drive is relatively bulky, so you would get tired of taking it home.

Another Option to Consider: Backing up on an Internal Hard Drive

You could use a second internal hard drive, although that would mean leaving the backup in the office. Windows automatically accommodates multiple

hard drives. You could simply copy your data from the master hard drive to the second one, known as a slave.

If having two hard drives appeals to you, consider a RAID system. RAID stands for Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks. These systems can be

complicated but a two-disk system is simple; you set it up as a mirror.

When you save something, it automatically saves to both drives. The second drive looks just like the first. So if one fails, you have a perfect copy. And

RAID will automatically switch you over to the working drive.

Some motherboards have RAID capability built in. If yours doesn't, a RAID card can be added to the computer.

However, a RAID system would leave your backup inside the computer. That leaves you vulnerable to fire or theft.

Need More Security? Consider an Online Backup Service

If you're especially concerned about safety, you might want to consider an Internet backup. There are many firms on the web that will store your data

for you, for a monthly fee. You can run the backup automatically.

Don't consider this route unless you have a high-speed internet connection. Backups by dial-up modem could tie up your phone lines for hours at a

time.

Also, Microsoft SharePoint offers the ability to store copies of your most-vital business documents in a secure area that you can access through the

Internet. SharePoint is available as part of Windows Server 2003.

Are You Stacked?

Get your mind out of the gutter. We're talking chairs. If you're still using folding chairs, you better be running a Bingo night. If you're storing extra chairs for conferences, presentations, or anything else that needs to appear professional and not give your guests a backache they'll spend more time thinking about than your Power Point slides, you'd better make sure you have decent chairs.

We found attractive, comfortable stackable chairs at Versa Products. The Versa Stack Chair features a black polypropylene seat positioned on a solid chrome frame. An opening integrated in the sculpted 19 inch by 12 inch seat back allows for ease of movement and enough lumbar support to help your guests think about something besides how badly their lower back hurts (it won't).
The chairs are light, easy to carry, and one person can stack and move up to forty chairs at a time, cutting down on time intensive set-up and break-down. The floor glides prevent marks and scratches on the floor, and eliminate "tipping."

Perfect for schools, conference centers, churches, meeting halls, and offices, these chairs are also great for home use and take up less space than folding chairs. Priced at only $45 each for 51 units or more, or $49 each for ten units or less, they're also affordable. And you don't need to worry about the cost of replacing them. Like all of Versa's products, the Versa Stack Chair is guaranteed under Versa's no-hassle Lifetime Warranty.

Versa also offers three other types of chairs, all protected under the company's comprehensive warranty and all made of the same high-quality materials. The Versa Task Chair is a height-adjustable, easy-to-tilt, comfort-cushioned chair ideal for any computer desk or workstation. It's ergonomic and can be ordered with or without arms. Steel rollers on a weight-distributing base allows for easy movement, and the Task Chair comes in gray or black.

The Versa Drafting Stool makes up the third chair in the line-up, a perfect companion to both Versa's Drafting Table and Art Table. It features one-touch height adjustment, steel casters, and can be purchased with or without arms. The contoured cushions—available in both black and gray—cradle your body, making it one of the most comfortable drafting stools on the market.

Last but not least, is Versa's beautifully upholstered black vinyl Side Guest Chair. Attractive and sleek, the contoured back rests on a steel frame, sporting comfort pads on the elbow rests. These chairs are wonderful as guest chairs in any office, but also work well in conference rooms, waiting rooms, and home offices, too. At $79 each, they're a bargain, but Versa's Side Guest Chair also boasts one of Versa's best quantity discount pricing tiers. At only 25 chairs, the price drops to $69 per unit, and of course, as is with all of Versa's products, shipping is totally free. This chair is only available in black.

In addition to seating solutions, Versa also carries complete lines of computer desks, computer lab tables, computer desk accessories, drafting furniture, computer carts, laptop drawers, cable management systems, and much more. Visit them online to request a catalog.

Are You Serious About Your Work At Home Business?

Are you treating your business like a Fortune 500 Company or like a Yard Sale? Take this quiz to find out.

How would you describe your Office?
a.) Corporate or b.) Chaos

Which word describes you personal appearance while you’re working?
a.) Success or b.) Mess

And, how would you describe your attitude towards your business?
a.) Winner or b.) Winging-it

If you chose only ‘a’ answers, then congratulations! You’re thinking like a Fortune 500 company!

If you chose even one ‘b’ answer, then keep reading…

We oftentimes think “What does it matter what my desk looks like? And, who cares what I look like in front of my computer at home. Nobody can see me.”

Well, it does matter. It matters, because you matter and because your business matters. And, if you treat your business like something of value and take care of it, it’ll take care of you. And why shouldn’t you? Your business is just as important as any Fortune 500 Company. It’s yours and it’s special.

Here are some steps to take today.

1. No more working in chaos.
Make your office a “no toy zone”. Your office is your turf. Protect it. If you have little office helpers, then establish one area that can have toys, perhaps a basket or drawer – and don’t let it spread.

2. No more working in jammies.
You wouldn’t show up to work at IBM or Microsoft in your fuzzy bunny slippers, would you? You don’t need to wear a suit, but simply feeling more professional will lead to more professional results.

3. No more amateur phone message
Review the outgoing message on your answering machine. Does it sound like the office of a professional or like chaos central? Rerecord it to make a good first impression upon clients when they call.

4. No more ‘winging it’.
Begin each day with a list of six jobs that you want to accomplish. If you make the list achievable with small goals, you’ll feel much better about at the end of the day.

Are you ready to treat your business like a valuable Fortune 500 company? I hope you’ll take your first step today towards success.

Are You Risking The Relationship for the Sale -- And Then Losing the Sale Anyway?

Losing a sale can be disheartening, especially if you lose it for reasons you aren't even aware of.

Traditional selling approaches tell us that sales are usually lost because of some element -- price, features, benefits -- having to do with our product or service.

So, when we sell, we naturally focus on what we're selling because we feel we have to differentiate our product or service so prospects understand what we're offering that's unique.

But...what if focusing all your energy on WHAT you're selling is actually the main reason

WHY you're losing sales?

"Not possible!" you say. No?

Let's hear, in my client Ryan's own words, what happened to him.

His story will help you realize why you may be losing sales without really understanding why.

Ryan's story points to a very important lesson: if you don't have an approach that is a perfect balance of nonaggression and effective penetration of your prospect's core needs, you'll end up asking yourself time after time, "Why am I losing sales, and why has selling become so painful?"

You can risk the relationship and lose the sale, but with a different sales mindset, you don't risk anything at all -- because you can preserve the relationship, and make the sale.

Are you ready to change your way of life

Get Rich Quick Scams Revealed
Read this article before you consider paying for a "get rich quick" program.
From: http://swasdm.richdummy.hop.clickbank.net
Everybody would love to make lots of money quickly, working from home, and only doing a few hours of work per week. I've spent the past two years trying to find a great way of doing this. Only over the course of the past few months have I found any "get rich quick" programs worth buying. I've been trying to make money online for a long time. I had a few small websites, but they never made much more than a few hundred per month. It was easy money and didn't require much work on my part, but I knew there were people out there doing better than I was and I knew I could do as well as them.
Now, I've seen a lot of "get rich quick" programs. Most of these people make claims about earning $2000/day with Google or something similarly insane. Almost all of these people are complete liars. Even if they were making $2000/day with Google AdSense, it'd be because they had high- traffic websites with a lot of quality content. I'd know, because in one whole month, I never even made half of what they promised I'd make daily with their programs. Maybe you've already been scammed by one of these fraudsters. Anyway, I finally got sick of what was being offered.
I decided I'd look through the all of the "get rich quick" programs I could find and see if there were any that were actually legitimate. I found that there were owners selling their programs for well over $100, but the information in them could be found almost anywhere online for free. Additionally, they all contained out-of-date information, had no e-mail support, no money back guarantees, and broken links in the downloads section.
In conclusion, almost all of the programs I found were completely useless. The owners knew it, but they couldn't care less about their customers since they didn't offer refund policies! Amazingly, while looking through all of the programs, I actually did find a few legitimate programs. They were run by ordinary people like you and me, and they had found some great methods of making money from their home by doing very little work.
I spent some time working with those programs, and my income is now ten times what it used to be. These programs provided a large amount of great information on how to make extra money on your computer doing very little work. Numerous customers had provided great feedback and reviews for their products. Many of them have started to make money just days after buying!
Their programs have excellent prices, and the authors have a group of paid staff who are dedicating to helping you or providing assistance if you need any. I must say I was amazed! If you do decide to purchase any of the programs listed below, I recommend you join quickly. Most of the owners tell me they are getting an overwhelming number of sales and plan on raising prices in the near future, so order while prices are still low!
To Your Online Success,
http://swasdm.richdummy.hop.clickbank.net

Are You In The Right Profession?

All of us are busy working in a particular area to earn our living. Some of us are business persons and some are employed. Some are engineers, others doctors, carpenters and so on. We have painters, architects, firemen and all types of professionals.

The question is - Why did you choose a particular profession? Were you tested scientifically in our childhood about your aptitude, or whether it was your family profession, or you wanted to become one because you had fancy for that, or you had nothing else to chose so you chose your current profession?

Along the way in life, we stop asking these questions and continue doing what we are doing. We never think about why we are doing a particular kind of job. We never look around for total change in the job. For example - an engineer would very rarely think about dropping out of his/her profession and becoming a full time musician. Why?

why most of us don't think about changing our profession altogether? Why don't we think in that direction at all? One reason is to maintain status quo, which gives us comfort. We want to live in our comfort zone. The second reason is that we never question ourselves- Am I in a profession that I like fully? Can I choose another profession that will give me more success and joy?

Please think about what I have said and rethink about your profession. You may find something else that may give you not only satisfaction but great success.

Are you in the right business? - Part 2

Are you in the right business? - Part 2

by Polydoros Gavrilakis

In the first part, I talked about the 1st step you have
to take in order to determine if you are in the right
business...

The second and also very important step is to know your
product fully.

Have you bought and actually used the product you are
promoting?

It doesn't matter if it's top notch, recommended by 10s
of gurus, or it's been advertised all over the net...

What matters is, what do you think about it.

Forget about the compensation plan, the commission
pay out...and any possible residual income opportunity...
and ask yourself the following question:

If there was no income promise, would you buy this
product for that price?

If the answer is NO, then you are definitely in the
wrong business.

Why?

Simply, because that's what others will also think when
you try to sell it to them and they won't buy, except
of some people like you, that will buy it just to make
money, and after not making any, they will disappear...
and with them your 'residual' commissions will disappear,
too.

If you are just a free affiliate for that product, then
do you need to buy it?

Yes, only if you want to make money - if you are an
affiliate just for fun and don't care about profits,
that's ok!

But, if you do want to make money, or if you have already
sold 1-2 copies of that product, the first thing you
should do is buy it to see for yourself what this product
actually does, do they deliver what promised? do they
provide top notch customer support?

Even, if you have sold 10s of copies of that product for
some time, you need to be sure that it is of the highest
possible quality, in order to not waste your money and
time with it…because even if people buy it, if the product
does not deliver what promised many people will get a
refund and you will eventually end up losing money and time...

So, that's it...

Before you decide to maximize your marketing and advertising
efforts...

Before you decide to focus your time and money on that
product or opportunity...

Make sure to spend that little amount needed to buy it and
also take the time to use it to see for yourself if
this is for you.

You can't imagine how easier it is to persuade others to
buy something you have used and know that it works!

I hear your question...

'What if the product is a very expensive one, but has a
very attractive compensation plan? like for example, those
opportunities where you are asked to buy some online tools
for $500 or more and then refer others to earn 80-90% of
that huge price?'

Please, answer this simple question:

Would you pay that amount, for example the $500, for these
tools, if there was no compensation plan? just for the
product - nothing else? would you do that?

If the answer is no, then, you really don't have to lose
any more time and money with it...

Is there anything more you need to know to be sure
you are in the right business?

Stay tuned to Home Business Opportunity News for more
details next week...

You are free to publish this article online or offline
in any media, as long as it remains unchanged and the
resource box below is included.

----------------------------------------------------
Polydoros Gavrilakis is the Editor of Home Business
Opportunity News, the ad-free newsletter that
delivers ONLY the quality information you need to
succeed with your home based business. Get Your
FREE Lifetime subscription NOW to find out a secret,
but simple and secure way he's using to earn $1000s
per month online: http://www.HomeBizOppNewsletter.com
----------------------------------------------------

Are you in the right business?

Are you in the right business? - Part 1

by Polydoros Gavrilakis


If you have just started out with your home business
or even if you are a home business veteran, there is
ONLY one very important reason that will determine your
failure or success...

If you are in the right business you CANNOT fail.

Which is the right business for you?

This depends on several things, but the first and MOST
important thing you have to ask yourself about your
home business is:

Would you recommend the product or service your business
offers to a friend or relative?

What would you say if they ask you about it?

Would you tell them that it is a valuable product they
can use, in case, of course, they need products of this
kind?

or...

you would just tell them that it's totally worthless,
but the payplan is great...and you are in this business
just to make money?

Think about it, and if the answer to the last question
is YES, then you are definately in the WRONG business.

In other words, if the product your home business offers
is not something you would recommend to a relative, a
friend and/or any other person you care about, then it
is NOT the right product to sell or promote.

Instead, if the answer is NO, is that enough?

No, there are more things you have to know to be
sure that you are in the RIGHT business.

Stay tuned to Home Business Opportunity News for more
details next week...

You are free to publish this article online or offline
in any media, as long as it remains unchanged and the
resource box below is included.

----------------------------------------------------
Polydoros Gavrilakis is the Editor of Home Business
Opportunity News, the ad-free newsletter that
delivers ONLY the quality information you need to
succeed with your home based business. Get Your
FREE Lifetime subscription NOW to find out a secret,
but simple and secure way he's using to earn $1000s
per month online: www.HomeBizOppNewsletter.com
----------------------------------------------------

Are You Going To Win? Constantly Qualify Your Opportunities

Constant qualification is the process of continuously evaluating all of your opportunities to check that you still want to and should be bidding. It is possible to get caught up in an opportunity that you are unlikely to win and that diverts valuable resources and time from other more suitable opportunities.

First off, you need to understand the importance of having a formal bid/no bid process. This is to help you understand when and why you should bid, and to make sure you avoid projects that you have a low probability of winning. Sometimes a decision is made early to bid but is that still the right decision as you learn more about the opportunity?

As you get greater understanding of the specification you may realise that it isn’t as suitable for you as you first imagined; circumstances change – an existing client may need a project extending and you haven’t got the required resources; or you find out that the client hasn’t got the budget that you thought they had. Although you’ve invested time in the opportunity that doesn’t mean it’s too late to get out.

With any opportunity, one thing you need to do is keep finding out more about it. Ask questions and learn about the clients true needs. This is done because you want to offer the client the best solution possible, but you are also finding out whether you can deliver that solution.

At regular points during the opportunity take a look back at your original decision to bid. Is it still the right decision now that you have more information available?

You should plan and use structured methodologies for qualification throughout the bidding process. This is to help you make objective decisions and to justify the time and resources spent pursuing the opportunity.

The Learn to Write Proposals (www.learntowriteproposals.co.uk) Prospect Qualification Tool gives you a methodology for making the first bid/no bid decision as well as being able to quantify the win probability as you progress through the bidding process.

This constant qualification also allows you to see where you need to strengthen your bid. You may want to continue with the opportunity but realise that you need to take action to strengthen a particular area of your bid. Constant qualification and evaluation allows you to keep your bid focused and moving in the right direction – towards the solution that the client needs.

Qualification and preparation are the least liked processes of contracting by the majority of people involved. However, it’s an accepted fact of life. No matter your personal feelings, you should lean from what you do and make any attempts necessary to better yourself.

Overall, the goal is constantly qualify to evaluate your win chances. Qualifying for those contracts give you a greater understanding of what your business needs to succeed. No other way can more effectively pinpoint the areas where you need to improve.

Are You A Wimp? Why Being Bold Pays Off In Self Storage Marketing

Copyright 2006 Derek Naylor

Are you making wimpy offers?

In my last article, I discussed offers and their importance in life and self storage marketing. As a self-storage operator, you are making the offer to relieve locals of their cluttered home or yard. You offer a safe place to store valuable belongings. You offer them the option of parking their shiny new car in the garage, and so on.

There are really 2 types of offers that are relevant to self storage marketing or marketing in general:

1. Your Value Offering and, 2. Your Action Offer.

Your value offering is simply what value you offer to the marketplace. By far, this is your most important offer. After all, without one you won’t be in business for long. Your value offering is something that should always be reviewed and improved.

Many people get caught up in marketing tricks and techniques and they forget all about creating an irresistible offer that the marketplace will gladly pay hard earned dollars for.

Enough on that for now…

The second type of offer is your action offer. This is the call to action in your marketing materials. This is the offer that causes most business owners to whimper in fear.

Some of the most “positive thinking” business owners I’ve worked with instantly transform from bold, assertive, confident characters into pessimistic children when it comes time to creating a good, risk reversing call to action for their marketing materials.

Here’s the deal:

Even if you have a brilliant value offering, there’s probably somebody down the street (especially in self storage) who has something almost as good, just as good, or better. Without a good action offer you’re almost back at square one in the consumers mind.

Here’s the deal #2:

Most people are lazy procrastinators who need a really good excuse to get off the sofa. Your action offer must be strong enough to entice them to organize their garage, closets, yard, office, etc. In self storage, this is especially relevant since nobody likes moving.

Here’s the deal #3:

There’s risk in taking action. Not always financial risk, but there’s always a risk that we will find displeasure in our experiences…even in self storage. The more your action offering reduces or reverses risk, the more people you’ll get to take action and rent your space.

Examples of good action offers in self storage marketing include:

• One month free rent • ½ month free rent with free packing supplies • One month free rent with free use of moving truck • First months rent goes to favorite charity • Any combination of the above or other risk reducing offers

While it might seem like you’re giving away too much, consider the lifetime value of each customer. Also consider the fact that full monthly rent for a space without a tenant puts absolutely NOTHING in your bank account.

Some of the world’s most successful direct marketers, who earn 7, 8 and even 9 figure annual incomes, consider breaking even on the first sale perfectly okay. Smart marketers realize that the “back end” is where the money is made. In self storage, your back end is future rent, tenant insurance, locks, packing supplies, etc.

The job of external marketing is to acquire a customer. If that means you must give up a month of rent to do so, by all means do it!

Listen, I’m not saying to give away the farm here. In fact, I’ll be the first to advise you to give away the least amount possible to acquire a customer. But, if the arithmetic works out, giving away a month of rent, even two months of rent to acquire a customer will put way more money in your bank account than not having any renters because you’re too scared or proud to give a decent offer.

Remember the article I wrote about the car dealerships and their differences in offers? I highly suggest going back and reading that again while we’re on the subject of powerful offers.

Take 2-3 hours, ASAP, and nail your value and action offerings to the ground.

First identify what they are. Then get creative and come up with as many ideas as possible to improve them and make each one irresistible…

From there creating marketing materials will be 100 times easier.

In our next message we’ll discuss market crushing innovations that make your value offering even better.

Are you a Freight Broker? Learn How to Grow by Financing your Freight Bills through Factoring

Running a freight brokerage can be very profitable. Although being a freight broker can be very rewarding, financially speaking, it can also be very challenging. Especially since drivers depend on you to pay them quickly. And many times, your clients make you wait 30 to 60 days before they pay you.

So you have a challenge. Your drivers want to get paid quickly but your clients want to pay slowly. The math doesn’t work. Unless you have a nice cash cushion in the bank, paying your drivers will be a problem. And trying to get bank financing will get you nowhere. Banks always provide financing based on your past history. What if you are a new or expanding freight broker?

A better solution is to finance your freight bills through freight broker factoring. Freight factoring provides you with immediate money for your freight bills, giving you the necessary funds to pay your business expenses and most importantly – your drivers. And, as opposed to business loans, freight factoring is easy to obtain. While banks usually look at your past history to make their credit decisions, factoring companies look at your future potential. The main qualification requirement is that you do business with credit worthy clients that pay on time.

If you are a freight broker, factoring your freight bills may be a little bit different from traditional factoring. Most factors will team up with you to find a solution to pay your drivers on time, since this is essential. Others may even pay your drivers on your behalf, helping you handle back office tasks.

Freight broker factoring works as follows:

1. Once the freight has been delivered, you send copies of the documents to the factor

2. The factor advances you up to 100% (less fee) of the freight bill

3. You get immediate use of funds, while the factor waits to get paid

4. Once the client has paid, the transaction is settled

One of the big advantages of factoring is that it is easier to get than a business loan. And, as opposed to business loans, factoring financing grows with your business. The more you invoice, the more financing you qualify for.

Are You A Business Opportunity Seeker?

If you are involved in any type of multi-level, network marketing program, home based business, or other type of direct sales program, then you are probably interested in building your business using business opportunity seekers. These are people who have expressed an interest in a home-based business, extra-income opportunity, multi-level marketing, or entrepreneurship by signing up on one or many websites that match business opportunity seekers with the type of offering they are looking for.

There are also people who may not be interested in actually running a business of their own, but simply want to make some extra income working for someone else. In this instant, what they may be looking for is to get a second or part-time job. Those who are serious business builders are business opportunity seekers who want to be in charge of their own fate, and be able to make their own decisions on business matters, not simply do what someone else wants or tells them to do.

There are a number of list providers on the internet that specialize in gathering information on perspective business opportunity seekers, by asking them to fill out a simple form about what type of money making venture they are looking for. The lead company then compiles this information for sale to multi-level marketers (MLM) and other types of businesses who need fresh responsive leads, not just lists that have been circulated to thousands of people.

Making calls to these people will not be a positive experience because they have already been bombarded with calls from your competition. They dont want to hear what you have to say. On the contrary, actually speaking with a true business opportunity seeker is a refreshing experience, because this person really wants to listen to you about what you have to offer. Lead companies also sell pre-qualified leads that can greatly increase your efficiency and level of success. These pre-qualified business opportunity seekers have been contacted by the lead company to verify the type of opportunity they are looking for, so that they can be matched as closely as possible for just the right fit.

Business opportunity seekers have always been the primary target for any MLM, direct sales, home based businesses. It is not always possible to continue recruiting new people from your warm market only. At some point, all multi-level marketers must search for business builders outside of their group of family, friends, and co-workers to connect with those people who are just waiting to be found. So, are you a business opportunity seeker?

Are there really free online surveys that pay?

Free online surveys that pay have become more and more popular. The promise to pay actual money for what most people do in their spare time is hardly anything new, but the prospect that it actually could happen to you tends to surprise a lot of people.

The reality is that there are, indeed, free online surveys that pay. Consumers are looking for the opportunity to share their insight with major corporations and major corporations want consumer input into their products as it assists with marketing and product design. There is no point in designing a fish-flavored cough syrup in plastic bags if nobody is going to by it. That type of critical business error can end up costing millions, so giving a way a few dollars or a free bicycle can actually save corporate money.

Where do I sign up?

Free online surveys that pay are available almost anywhere online, but in the midst of the free opportunities lie opportunities that aren't so fantastic. They offer a list of “free surveys” that you can take, but end up charging a fee for access to the list. The truth is that the lists of company's are available everywhere because the company that is interested in consumer opinion ends up making that information available for free. The “list companies” are simply in the middle trying to turn a profit.

Several sites have discussion forums in which you can find all sorts of tales from construction workers that gave up their jobs to do surveys on handbags to stay-at-home moms that add income to the family by clicking away about their favorite deli meats. These sites are also great ways to encounter stories of some of the more questionable paid survey opportunities.

What about my children?
There are free online surveys that pay available for anyone in the family as long as a responsible adult is around to monitor the internet usage. Many companies are as interested in the opinions of children as they are adults, and as hard as it may be to believe: children are among the most frequent consumers of products like TV dinners and popsicles. Businesses pay millions of dollars for this type of seemingly “obvious” information.

All in all, an important principle to remember is to be careful with your information. Giving away your time is one thing; giving away your credit card number is quite another. Make sure that is you use your credit card, that it is a secure site. There are many secure payment sites such as paypal and clickbank.

Feel free to visit some of my sites Paid Surveys and Online Surveys

Are postcards worth their price?

We appreciate. We criticize. We laugh. We mourn. We are moved by postcards.

Since its introduction up to the present time, postcard is still one of the best medium of communication. We can recall that postcards were used as means for brief communication. It was the best choice then because they are light and inexpensive.

Nowadays, postcards are not only used to express our hi’s and hello’s, it is now popularly used as a marketing tool. Whenever there is an upcoming event, a product launching or a new service to be made available postcards can be your reliable ally.

Postcard is a great way to market tourism. Just by mailing them, you can make people desire to travel. Just by using luscious pictures, you can make people starve with food cravings. Just by making your business known to your target, makes the latter long for it.

Sense of seeing is pretty powerful. It can drive other senses crazy. In fact, it can lead them to ludicrous wants. That power is also imbibed in postcards.

Postcards are most effective when done in full color. 4 color postcard printing adds dimension and create dramatic effect to your postcards. One or two-color printing may be too plain and simple for your artwork might as well use the color process that can bolster your postcards aesthetic as well as functional value.

In deciding whether to use 4 color postcard printing or not, you have to weigh first its pros and cons. Clients, designers and printers are more at ease with this printing process. It maximizes design flexibility. In fact, it can create an almost limitless palette. However, this process can be a bit expensive compared to one or two-color printing. It can go as high as 4 times the price of a two-color printing job.

4 color postcard printing is good for postcards because it brings out brilliant images. It uses four pieces of film – cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Each color uses one film. Two-color printing is cheaper because it only uses two films. Thus, it takes less stripping and plating. Moreover, it will only take little time in order to finish the printing job.

Exact colors can also be produced with the use of PMS or Pantone Matching System. This process is often resorted to create accurate colors that match the company’s logo or traditional design. This process may seem the most costly. However, if you want exact colors, try this.

Are Free Business Cards Really Free?

You have probably seen advertisements for "Free Business Cards" someone online. How could they possibly afford to give away free business cards without making someone, somewhere pay?

It is a good question, and one I wanted to know myself. I choose a company that offered so called "Free Business Cards" and began to browse their website.

I first noticed that they didn't just have the free business cards offer, but they also sold upgrades to the free package. Is that how they make their money? Only off of the upgrades?

This particular company also sold magnetic business cards, plastic business cards, metal business cards, and other types of business cards. In addition to the business cards, they also sold company letterhead, custom printed envelopes, and other types of office stationery.

The free business cards offer was beginning to make a little more sense.

I would guess that the percentage of people taking the free business cards are mainly business people. Those people probably also need envelopes, letterhead and other office stationery. Maybe they make their money on the upsell.

But are they really free?

I decided that I should go ahead and order some of these free business cards. This way I would know for sure whether or not the business cards are really free.

I decided which company I would order from then went to the order section

The first thing I had to do was design my business card. After my design I got to the order section, are they really free after all the work I did?

When I got to the final checkout, there were many options, more upgrades available. I chose not to get additional cards. Then I had to choose not to have my free business cards laminated.

After all of this, I found out that "Free Business Cards" are really free!

Are FFA Pages a Marketing Resource?

An FFA page is a free for all page. Its operation is very simple. You submit one line of text to the page and when other people see it, they pick up the link and go through to your page. The concept sounds very simple, and it would be if it actually did what you wanted it to do. Which is generate traffic consisting of interested buyers instead of generating a huge load of emails from people just like you who are trying to promote a product. The truth is that for most people, FFA pages have not produced the returns on income necessary for me to be able to recommend FFA's as something you should put your money into with high expectations of return.

There are a number of reasons why this form of advertising has not promoted much for its users. First, your ad is one line among hundreds or thousands of one line ads. On top of this the few people who might see this page are the other advertisers who have submitted ads to this page, not shoppers looking for your product.

Another problem with FFA pages are they are usually designed to scroll. As new information is added the older information is advanced off of the page and out of sight. Before FFA pages were as popular as they are now, your line of advertising may have been visible for a day. That is why the FFA hosts had instructed you to submit your information to the FFA page daily. Today, now that FFA pages are a dime a dozen, your submission may be scrolled out in as little time as half an hour. This in turn means that you have to go and submit your information again and again throughout the day. However, you still have the first problem to deal with. People who look at FFA pages are there to sell, not buy.

A third problem with FFA pages are that sites known to advertise on them are in a number of instances either banned or ignored by the search engines. The search engines look at FFA pages as a page filled with irrelevant links, and whenever a search engine is aware of an FFA page it avoids that page whenever it can. The goal of search engines is to look for information/links that is highly regarded as helpful by other users, to pass on to their current users, and FFA pages produce links without producing the high quality information that the search engines are looking for. As a result, instead of giving you credit for your link, the search engines penalize URL's that come from known FFA sites.

You see the people who run FFA pages are just a little bit ahead of the game than the FFA page submitter. The first thing you are asked to do on an FFA page is to register your email address. This way the user has your information and is able to promote his products to you at will. So the ones to benefit most from FFA pages are the ones who actually host the page.

So are FFA pages a waste of your time? Maybe they are, maybe they are not. If you go there as an advertiser, it may be a huge waste of time. But if you go there as the FFA site host, you may have just hit the jackpot. When FFA users sign up to post their information on your FFA site, you will advise them that when they post to the site they also have to agree to get emails from you as well. Herein lies your opportunity to promote, and herein lies the way you can probably take best advantage of using FFA pages and sites.

Are Any Free eFax Services Really Free?

Copyright 2006 Titus Hoskins

Internet fax or email fax services are becoming extremely popular among small business owners, large companies and even among the ordinary Internet user. Everyone seems to be discovering the advantages of using Internet fax.

Internet fax is simple to implement or setup, it is easy to use, and it can be very cost effective for the small business owner. No second phone lines, no bulky fax machines, no more messy inks, no more paper jams or busy signals and no more return trips to office at 10 o'clock at night to retrieve that important fax.

This is one business service that's here to stay. Mainly because Internet faxing is faxing done right!

You can fax anywhere, anytime. You can send and receive your faxes where ever you access the Internet. And these days that's just about anywhere and everywhere on the planet.

* But Are There Really Any Free Efax Services?

Yes and No! There are some companies like eFax which has a free faxing service but it is only free for receiving faxes - you will have to upgrade to a paid service in order to send faxes. Granted, each fax you send will only cost a few cents but this will quickly add up, especially if you send international faxes which have higher rates than domestic ones. So please be aware of this fact, free if you only receive faxes, not free if you want to send faxes.

* Free eFax Trials

Many online faxing providers do have or offer a free trial (usually one month) of their services. One such faxing service provider that offers a free trial is TrustFax. Offering a free trial is a common business practice used by many services; try before you buy.

A free trial period or trial run can be a very good way to check out your faxing provider. You can check out the quality of your faxes and see for yourself what kind of support a provider has; how well do they respond to any problems that you may encounter? Can you reach them 24/7?

With a business service like faxing, superior performance and quality service is required for the smooth running of your business. A free trial is one way of assuring you only get the best Internet fax service possible.

* Toll Free Fax Numbers

Many Internet fax providers also offer Toll Free Fax Numbers to their patrons or clients. Check before you sign up for any one faxing service and find out what kind of phone numbers they provide. Most offer local phone numbers and 'never busy' numbers.

* Free Online Storage

Some email fax providers offer online storage where you can store your faxes. Usually around 15 MB to 20 MB, but this is another feature you should always check out before you sign up to any one faxing service provider. Depending on the nature of your faxes, it is never a good idea to leave vital information on the web - delete your faxes regularly if they're of a sensitive nature.

* Before You Sign On The Dotted Line

Very few things in life are really free! This includes your Internet fax service - check out any free offer or service very closely before you sign on the dotted line. Make sure you know exactly what that free efax service is going to cost you?

Architectural Outsourcing

The outsourcing industry worldwide is booming. There are very few Information Technology sectors which are not into outsourcing.
The question arises, that when everybody is jumping on the outsourcing bandwagon for obvious benefits, then why not the construction and real estate industry.

One aspect where the real estate industry can immediately benefit is in outsourcing designing of 3d models or renders of their present and future projects. It is widely acknowledged that the 3d representation of a real estate venture creates a stunning impression in the mind of the buyers, if designed appropriately.

Today, architects and builders recruit in-house designers who design 3d models for them. But then most of these people are not 3d specialists, not at least specialists in designing 3d models for real estate ventures. To achieve this purpose one needs the help of civil engineers, architects and designers working in tandem. Also, the cost of outsourcing this work is much less than compared to getting it executed in-house.

Also, to allocate resources to 3d modeling is a problamatic affair for such consultants and companies as their core business is construction and not 3d design.

To tap this opportunity many companies have emerged worldwide who specialize specifically in 3d modeling. For an architect or builder to outsource such work to these specialist companies, is a proposition of significant benefits. Not only it saves them costs but also takes the headache off their shoulders.

Also, the architectural expertise and the design expertise of 3d modeling companies
can be combined to create life-like models which would be utilized on the project website, brochures and other sale materials.
After all, a real estate venture is not a virtual commodity and folks would like to have a glimpse of the future before they invest.

Many architects have already realized this and a significant amount of work is being outsourced. Its time others realize it too and make a head start.

Applying For Merchant Services Account The Easy Way

Before applying for a merchant services account, it's important to research the various merchant account providers to avoid paying too much or signing with an unscrupulous company.

In applying for a merchant account service, consider prices, integrity and customer service.

• Merchant account rates and fees

Be sure you understand all of the rates and fees charged by a merchant account provider. The usual charges include monthly fees, discount rates, transaction fees, application fee, equipment and installation fee.

Monthly fees are usually around $25, though that may vary according on whether you meet your minimum monthly transactions. Discount rates are a percentage taken from a sale that the merchant pays to cover the transaction costs and the risk involved. The usual discount rate is 1.5% to 3.5%.

The transaction fee is a flat fee charged for each transaction, generally anywhere from 20 cents to $1.00. The application fee, if there is one (some merchant account providers don’t charge them), is the fee to open the merchant account.

The equipment and installation fee covers the cost of software installation. It can be free, or it could cost as much as $1,200 or more, depending on whether the processing is batch or real-time. The cost for POS terminals depends on the model you purchase but can range from $500 to $1,500.

• Choose only reputable merchant account services

You should consider the reputation of the merchant account service.

What to look for when searching for a merchant account:

• Beware of merchant service providers who have misleading ads offering things like "free merchant accounts" or "lowest prices guaranteed." Read the fine print on the website to find out what they really offer.

• It’s a bad sign when every call you make to the company is answered by a machine.

• Beware of merchant account services that make use of free domain or free web hosting services. If they can't afford a domain name, how are they in business?

• Be careful of providers who can't answer your questions.

• Avoid merchant account sites that don't post rates and fees on their web site.

• Use the Internet to find reviews of merchant account companies and take note of all unsatisfactory remarks

• Make absolutely sure that your chosen merchant account service provides reliable customer service.

Applying For Merchant Accounts

For most businesses, a merchant account is essential to economic growth. Providing business owners with a way to accept credit and/or debit cards, gift cards and other forms of electronic payments, merchant accounts are commonly referred to simply as credit card or payment processing. As a general rule, any merchant who accepts payment in exchange for goods or services must apply for a merchant account if they wish to accept electronic payments. Surprisingly, however, not everyone is approved for merchant accounts. One example of a potential problem could be a business owner who has little or no credit or even a poor credit history may find it difficult to obtain a merchant account.

For many online entrepreneurs, PayPal has revolutionized the way people do business. An online payment system that allows you to instantly send or receive payments using a credit card or checking account, PayPal does not require that its users have a merchant account nor do they perform a credit check prior to issuing an account. In a nutshell, anyone with any type of credit history can sign up for a PayPal account and begin accepting electronic payments within minutes.

For those who do not use the internet, but rather need merchant accounts for in-store payment processing, you will find that there are fees that accompany each credit card payment. The actual cost will vary among providers, but the fees are always present. Among the common fees charged include transaction, authorization, statement, monthly minimum and chargeback fees. A chargeback fee is automatically charged to the business owner if they process a credit card payment that is ultimately denied for any reason. In this scenario, the business owner would then be responsible for having their customer pay the chargeback fee in order to compensate the business for its cost.

In order to apply for merchant accounts, business owners must be able to provide a valid business license, description of the company, business location and other verifiable information used to perform a credit check on the owner. Upon approval, the bank will issue a credit card terminal and/or other equipment that will be used to process payments. Depending on the terms of the agreement, the equipment may or may not remain the property of the issuing bank.

When deciding where to apply for merchant accounts, business owners should consider starting at the bank where they already have a personal account. This will enable them to do business with a bank that they are already familiar with and they may find that their past responsibility in handling their own account may carry substantial weight when applying for merchant accounts from the same institution.

Apply For A Free Merchant Account Online

Get a free merchant account online when you locate interested lenders who want to work with your company. Although many potential lenders charge $100 or more for an online merchant account application, others will forego this fee and some other related expenses in order to attract your business. You can get approved quickly and set up within a few days afterward to start accepting online credit payments. But first you have to make a suitable match with a merchant account services provider who is willing to help enhance your company’s e-commerce capabilities.

You can start your search by checking the larger name banks and lending institutions to find those that offer a free merchant account online. Many offer different types of merchant accounts, but you will have to carefully compare prices and terms to make sure you get a good deal. Even top-name banks are capable of botching a merchant account offer, so don’t choose a bank based solely on its name or past performance. Instead, the terms and conditions of its merchant account application. Make sure to ask about costs that are not included on the price list, and get a reply in writing that you can keep on file for future reference if needed. Click through each page of the Website where merchant accounts are featured to be sure you understand all the details of this important privilege. Look for a company that offers the best payment method for your business interests. For example, some require a fee-per-transaction payment, while others bill your account at a low monthly percentage rate. You can always discuss either or both options with the lender’s customer service representative if you aren’t sure which one will work best with your clients.

After selecting the best free merchant account online offer for your business, process your application online, if possible, or print and complete it before mailing. Within a few days you should receive an email or postage reply to confirm or reject your application. If accepted, you can immediately begin to set up credit processing services for your customers. Discuss your equipment needs with the lender to decide the best direction for your company. For example, you will probably want to establish a Web presence unless you already have done so. When your Website is up and running, you can add credit processing options to it so that shoppers can browse anytime, shop at their leisure, and pay by credit card. You won’t have to hire customer support to be available 24/7 at your Website, although it is a good idea to have someone on call from time to time or as needed to answer shoppers’ questions or to address unexpected glitches. Your Website credit processing link will let customers enjoy the ease of ordering and paying from their homes, their jobs, or anywhere else they can find a computer a few minutes of browsing time.

Take steps now to learn more about how to upgrade your customer payment services when you apply for a free merchant account online.

Apply For A Credit Card Merchant Account Online

Who should apply for a credit card merchant account online? Why, you should, of course, if you want to grow your business and maximize sales volume! In this day and age, more and more business functions are moving into cyberspace, which means that business owners must be ready to travel to this relatively unknown domain if they want to maintain strong customer ties and stay a step or two ahead of the competition. Don’t worry if you’re not Web savvy; most online processes that are geared to the general consumer are not hard to perform. In fact, most are downright easy.

First, find a lender that you respect that is willing to extend you a credit card merchant account online. This may be the bank where your business interests and accounts currently reside. Or you may choose to shop for another lender with better rates or services. Don’t rush into this decision, however. Plan some time in your schedule to carefully browse the many services offered through a host of financial institutions today. You can browse the Internet by typing in search phrases like “merchant account” or “merchant services” and seeing what Google or your favorite search engine can bring up. Then it becomes a matter of checking out each lender to find the one that will best fit with your business budget or growth objectives. Some companies may seem a little too shady, while others may not have been in business long enough to enjoy a solid reputation. Others may charge a frightful amount for the services you want. Ask around your local business community to see which merchant account providers others are using, and then compare those costs and services with those you find online. You can probably reduce your list to a few of the better underwriters in short order. Then you will need to make the final selection by comparing monthly and annual fees.

Applying for a credit card merchant account online is fast and easy. Just click on the lender’s home page link to “application” (or some variation thereof) and follow the links to the application page. Then type the requested information in each blank. Contact the customer service representative if you do not understand a question or if you are unsure how to answer it. Remember to print a copy of the application if you are able to do so, or keep a copy of the confirmation number if one is provided. Often a company will email a verification of your application’s receipt and tell you when to expect a reply. At least print this page, if nothing else, for your records.

After applying for a credit card merchant account online, sit back and wait to hear about the decision. Often this arrives within a few days or even hours by email, although some are mailed out by post. When you receive approval and open your merchant account, you can begin to accept credit card payments right away. You will be delighted to see how quickly your profits increase as customers begin taking advantage of this valuable service. Don’t wait—consider applying today for your credit card merchant account online.