Investment Real Estate Marketing Plan – Putting Details Into Action

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Marketing is one of the most important things a real estate investor can do to grow his business. It is also one of the areas that is easiest to make multiple mistakes. From failing to properly plan, failure to track your results and even worse, failure to control spending; marketing is fraught perils that beginning investors and long time investors alike must be aware and prepared to avoid.

There are 3 main areas of marketing to concentrate on when seeking to grow sales and revenues. The first is education, the second is planning and the third is tracking for adjustments and success. All three are important for investors to watch as they seek to grow sales and revenues and more importantly, build a business model that is sustainable through any real estate cycle.

EDUCATION

Educating yourself as a real estate investor and marketer is absolutely paramount if you are going to have success and grow your business. There is simply no excuse for not understanding the basics of each as they both are extremely important for the longevity and ability to stay relevant and profitable. Here a few examples of places to become educated on good marketing techniques for real estate investors.

1. Local Library – There may not be a better place to become educated on real estate marketing than the local library. Break the topic down into two subjects and you can have the basics down inside of a week. Under the real estate section there are multiple titles that explain the basics of real estate investing from beginner levels to expert levels. In addition, many of these books will give a basic outline of some simple marketing techniques and tools to get you started. When you combine that knowledge with a good Marketing 101 book from the library, you can quickly pick up the basic outline of why marketing must be done and how properly set up a marketing plan. The best part about an education from the library is the cost – practically free!

2. Real Estate Investment Clubs – Often times, these clubs are referred to in the industry as REIA’s. Associations of local real estate investors who come together several times a month to discuss topics relevant to real estate investing. These are great sources for so many things related to real estate investing, including marketing ideas and plans. By attending and immersing yourself into these groups, it is easy to develop friendships, partnerships and even mentors who can answer questions and provide guidance. By paying attention to what the top performers are doing in the field and how they are marketing their businesses, you can pick up ideas and integrate those ideas into your marketing plan. It is called modeling and it is one of the best ways to educate yourself on what is working in a particular real estate market. The biggest upside to becoming educated at a REIA is that you are surrounding yourself with the type of people that are going to be vital to your future success. The costs are usually very affordable and you can often avoid mistakes made by other investors before you.

3. Go it Alone – There probably does not need to be a tremendous amount of discussion under this heading. It speaks for itself and generally goes against all advice I could ever give any business person, especially a real estate investor. As far as education is concerned, it is an approach that many investors choose to take and often at a tremendous cost. Going it alone means deciding to jump into the deep end of the pool with both feet and learning as you go. Trial and error can be good and can sometimes lead to good results, but often after many hours and many ups and downs. Strictly looking at costs, many investors have experienced huge losses in the areas of marketing to learn what works in their particular market and often are a little behind the actual trends due to not properly learning to track and adjust.

My suggestion when it comes to education to use all the resources available including those that come with little to no costs. When you are becoming educated on how to set up a proper marketing plan complete with tracking and adjusting, then I would make sure I was a part of a local real estate investors association so that I am always up to date with the latest marketing techniques.

PLANNING

When I talk about planning and marketing, I mean to process of laying out the actual strategies you are going to use to market your business, the time frame you are going to use those strategies, the way you are going to track those results and the possible adjustments you are going to make as your results come in on your plan. One of the biggest mistakes that we see today in the real estate marketing world is not a complete failure to plan, but a failure to lay the full plan out from beginning to end. That being said, here are a few tips to properly develop a plan.

1. Know what you are currently doing and what results you are currently achieving. Even if the answer is that you are doing nothing, you can not work on where you are going if you do not know where you currently are starting from. You should be able to pinpoint today any marketing you are doing and the cost of that marketing as well as any results you are seeing.

2. Know what results you are looking for before you begin. So once you know where you are starting from, the next question is were are you going? Lay out concrete results you want to achieve and be specific. One of the glaring mistakes in this area is not being specific enough. You cannot track abstract goals. Your goals must be specific and detailed so that you can verify if you are achieving them. An example would be a specific number of new leads you want to bring in from each marketing source.

3. Give yourself set time frames to test your marketing. This is definitely the second biggest problem for real estate marketers and most marketers in general. Marketing plans must be given time to take shape and develop. Most real estate marketers are developing marketing plans which are call to action in nature. They are asking their target audience to take a particular action so that they can capture that action and develop a new lead. An example would be to “Call Today to Sell Your House Quick!”. This is a call to action marketing phrase. Often times, there will need to be multiple impressions of that message before the action is followed. Failing to plan a specific amount of time such as 60 days or 90 days, leads to a marketer stopping his action before his target audience responds. If you allow your plan to last longer and stick with all of your marketing pieces and techniques longer, you give yourself a greater chance for success in the long run. It allows for you to see over a longer period of time the results you are getting and that provides a clearer picture of what works and what does not work. DO NOT quit marketing after a couple of weeks simply because your phone is not ringing off the hook. Set your time period on the front end and then let your marketing plan work.

4. Failing to get input from other experts can be costly. If you have access to other real estate investors, I would definitely get their input on your marketing plan before implementation. If they are able to give you advice and direction it can often times help you to figure out the best route to take or at least if you are on track for success. If you have taken your time and all the steps necessary so far to put together a quality plan, then take advice from other experts, but do not be persuaded to change everything. Simply let others take a quick look for feedback, but be prepared to move forward with your plan and any adjustments they think would make a difference.

TRACKING

Tracking means having a way to actually follow and measure all of the marketing activities you are doing and the number of results each gets you. Here are some examples of the things that real estate marketers need to track for every marketing action they take.

1. What are the total number of leads generated per marketing technique tracked daily, weekly and monthly.
2. How many of those leads turned into qualified prospects daily, weekly and monthly. (qualified prospect means you were willing to invest more time to develop the lead)
3. The number of offers made to purchase property daily, weekly and monthly.
4. The ratios of offers made to where the original lead came from.

I am going to insert a quick note here to make sure everyone understands exactly how to track. It is not enough to simply know how many calls you are getting or how many leads are generated or how many offers or deals are being done. When you actually purchase an investment property, you MUST know where that lead came from at the very beginning. Tracking ratios is extremely important to this. It is important to be able to track and measure not only the leads but the quality of those leads. You can have one lead generator that gives you a majority of your leads and another that gives you a majority of your transactions. It should be obvious that you would want to spend more time and resources with the marketing technique giving your more transactions unless you are in the business to simply feel busy and not necessarily to earn a living!

5. What is the cost per lead generated, per marketing technique daily, weekly and monthly.

6. What is the average income generated from each transaction generated by each marketing technique daily, weekly and monthly.

When you are able to track your business in this way, it makes it much easier to make adjustments as you go and it definitely gives a clearer picture of how well you are spending marketing dollars. Often times, as legendary basketball coach John Wooden would say “we mistake activity for productivity” The entire reason for developing and implementing a proper marketing plan is so that we can determine what works, what does not work and what changes we need to make so that we are spending the fewest dollars possible for the greatest impact and result. If we fail to implement any part of this type of marketing plan, then whatever success we achieve cannot be measured against any activities and therefore cannot be duplicated.

I am a big proponent of education and immersion as the best learning tools available and I believe that when it comes to marketing, it is simply too easy to learn the proper way to plan and track. When you have the basics down and solid plan to follow, success will follow.

5 Fitness Tips of the Day

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If you are such a person, who doesn’t like to go to the gym daily. Or you don’t want to work out regularly. Its reason may be that you get tired from the strenuous exercise. So don’t worry from now, I will share some simple tips with you to keep you fit and active.

1. Take Green Tea.

You should take green tea once a day. This is the best thing to consume which keeps you healthy and active even you don’t do exercise regularly. It has many nutrition benefits. Doctors also suggest green tea now to keep you active and lose your belly fat.

2. Keep your Digestive system good.

If you eat good, your stomach will digest well. If you eat junk so it will not provide you complete nutrition that your body needs. Your stomach will also not digest properly. So, you need to take a healthy diet. Take more fiber because of food with more fiber contain a lot of essential nutrients which your body actually need to be active.

3. Drink plenty of Water.

Try to drink 3 to 4 liters of water per day. It will help you to boost your metabolism and improves your digestive system. Your skin will be hydrated. It will clean your body from unwanted toxins. You can try to drink a glass of water every hour. So, it will be easy for you to consume more water a day.

4. Take a Healthy Breakfast.

Breakfast is the most hearty meal of the day. It should be done before you will start your job in the morning. You should take a healthy breakfast which includes some Fruits, Smoothies, Fresh Juices, etc.

5. Walk for 15 minutes in Fresh Air.

You should spend some time to walk barefoot on the grass in the fresh air. You can go to any garden or family park to fulfill this step. It will boost your energy, provides you with relaxation. Check out more for daily beauty tips.

You can get a lot of benefits if you act upon these strategies in your life. It is a very sad fact that we have lot of pending works that never end. We always try to complete them but they cannot be executed easily.

If we keep thinking about them and forget our daily healthy style routine then we may suffer a lot. We need to bring good balance in our lifestyle and work.

3 Internet Marketing Tips That Will Make You More Money

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Internet Marketing Tips – Tip # 1

Focus For 2 Solid Hours

In the internet marketing industry there is often talk in articles, forums and at networking events about how difficult it actually is to focus. Some people will always buy courses and never implement what they learn. Yes, learning new stuff will help you make money BUT if you don’t put any knowledge into ACTION then it’s impossible to build a successful internet business.

I’ve recently discovered that to get the most amount of work done in my business is to work for two solid hours on my Key Revenue Generating Activity. This is an activity that is going to make you sales! In my business, my KEY revenue generating activity is driving traffic to my offers. As an internet marketer this is important because there’s absolutely no point in making your site look pretty if nobody’s ever going to see it! If you focus on driving traffic you will always make sales regardless of what your site looks like. I am embarrassed to admit that I’ve sold products from sales pages containing spelling errors!

So spend two hours and focus on the task that will make you sales and you will begin to notice a big difference in not only your bank account but you will also get a lot more things done in those two hours.

Most Marketers In This Industry Spend 80% Of Their Time Working On NON REVENUE GENERATING ACTIVITIES!

If this is starting to appeal to you then you are probably thinking “HOW do I focus for two hours?” This is easy! The answer is to REMOVE DISTRACTIONS!

Before you start your key revenue generating activity or activities get rid of the all the potential distractions that could disrupt you. Turn your phone off and close down email, Facebook or anything else that might distract you.

I find that working on my key revenue generating activity in the mornings works best because it provides me with great momentum that I can carry forward into the afternoon.

Internet Marketing Tips – Tip # 2

Self Imposed Deadlines

Thoughts and ideas almost never materialise if one fails to set deadlines. Deadlines encourage and in any serious business it is important to allocate your time appropriately. If you plan to get something done and you set yourself a deadline then the chances of you following through are much higher. Each night before I go to sleep, I know exactly what I will be doing the following day, at what time and I know exactly how long I will be spending on each task.

If you are somebody that is bad at sticking to deadlines then a good way to combat this is to make your deadline public! Tell your subscribers, family or friends that you will have X done by a certain date.

Internet Marketing Tips – Tip # 3

Reward System

Introducing a daily or weekly reward system is an absolute must as it will help you focus and keep you motivated in your business. If you complete all your tasks on any given day then think about how you can reward yourself. It doesn’t even need to be anything big. For example, if I get all my tasks completed and have a really productive day, I will reward myself by going out with my friends, eating a takeaway, watching a movie etc.

These internet marketing tips are POWERFUL and if you apply them you will notice a significant increase in your productivity!

Convert Your DVDs And Videos To Zune – A Guide On The Best DVD Video To Zune Converters

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You may be asking:

* How do I convert videos to my Zune player?

* How do I put videos on my Zune?

* How do I put movies on my 8gb Zune player?

* How do I get DVDs onto my Zune?

The Microsoft Zune player is one of the best handheld multimedia devices today. It is probably the only media player out there actually giving Apple’s iPod a run for its money. With the Zune, you not only enjoy your favorite MP3s, but also the latest innovation of Microsoft that lets you play videos while you are on the go.

However, you need to understand that the Zune will only play a specific video file format. This means that your average MPEG-1, MPEG-2,DivX, MOV, QickTime, MP4, and AVI video file format will never play on your Zune. So, if you want to play your favorite videos on your Zune player, you may want to get a software program that will be able to convert your computer video files to the video file format that Zune can play.

If you would like to convert unprotected movie DVDs to Zune format, there are many video conversion products that are capable of converting DVD video to a format that can be played on the Zune. Many of these products are general purpose toolkits. They can convert almost any kind of video to almost any other format, but the number of different options they offer makes the process a bit complicated.

Some conversion tools perform the conversion in two stages. They rip the video to an uncompressed video (usually AVI format) and then convert the AVI video to the Windows Media WMV format used by your Zune. This takes twice as long, and also requires a lot more disk space, since the AVI file produced by the first stage of the conversion is much larger than the final output.

With only a couple of clicks, a Zune Video Converter can convert movies and video straight to Zune Video format then move them directly to your Zune.

There are dozens of programs available, making it hard for the die hard Zune consumer to know which one they should spend their hard earned money on.

You should look for a program with:

#an easy to use interface

# a fast conversion rate

# that produces good audio and video quality

Here are reviews of the Top 3 Zune Video Converters

To make your life easier, here are reviews of the 3 best programs on the market.

1. Cucusoft Zune Video Converter DVD to Zune Suite

CucuSoft Zune Video Converter Suite is an excellent, easy to use yet powerful set of tools that allows Zune users to put videos and audio from virtually any media format onto their Microsoft Zune players. This really is a must have piece of software for the die hard Zune fan!

The package includes two powerful tools: DVD to Zune Converter, which will encode your DVD into mpeg-4 video file format, and Zune Video Converter, a very accurate mp4 encoder application that can convert almost any media format.

Regarding input, Zune Converter Suite supports DVD movies of almost any kind as long as they are not right-protected (most original DVDs and video games). MP4 and WMV formats are fully supported. DVD to Zune Converter also allows choosing both subtitles and audio tracks (English, French, Spanish, etc.) independently. The other application in the suite (Zune Video Converter) lets you perform conversion on almost any video file: AVI, DivX, XviD, MPEG, WMV, and QuickTime MOV video files are fully supported, as well as Realmedia files (RM, RMV).

Zune Video Converter Suite also allows for extracting audio-only clips in MP3 format.

Output format can also be easily customized, with the defaults set at H.264 video format (up to 768 Kbps, with a size of 640×480 %u201CTV Size%u201D at 30fps), or MPEG-4 (up to 2.5 Mbps, 480×480 at 30fps).

Additionally, the suite allows creation of split resulting video files by DVD chapters, as well as the usual video cropping modes (4:3, 16:9, etc.) Unluckily, only Zune-compatible files can be produced (i.e. not capable of producing, for instance, MOV or RM files).

The conversion rate is extremely fast even with default options, and the program even lets you watch your movie while you are converting it to fit your Zune.

Ease Of Use * * * * *

The easy-to-use interface makes this suite extremely easy to use for both beginners and advanced users alike.

Ease Of Installation And Setup: * * * * *

CucuSoft Zune Video Converter Suite is installed like most Windows programs: double click to open the installer, then follow the on-screen instructions and you are done. The program has a very quick installation process and like most new software installer, you do not need to restart your computer.

Quality Of Copy * * * * 1/2

The Zune Converter Suite performs a really good conversion job. The quality of the resulting pictures depends of course on the capabilities of your own system; but even under the minimum system requirements, the Zune Converter Suite produces nice quality videos.

As with most video to Zune converters, the lower the speed, the better the resulting output, and vice versa.

The CucuSoft Zune Video Converter Suite takes first place on my list. I recommend it especially for the non-techy Zune consumer.

2)DvdXsoft Zune Video Converter Suite

DvdXsoft DVD to Zune Converter is a great application designed to fulfill the conversion needs of every video and music lover. An outstanding conversion speed and an impressive quality of results are the main advantages of this program making it appealing to novice users as well as to DVD-ripping experts.

The dvdXsoft DVD to Zune Converter is able to process many types of DVD discs, including some of the more “tricky” ones that cannot be ripped by other applications. It generates highly compatible MP4 files, which will work perfectly with any Zune player.

The first feature to be noticed is the extremely fast DVD to zune conversion. The dvdXsoft DVD to Zune Converter boasts one of the fastest conversion rates.

This application is also smart: it implements several conversion and error correction algorithms automatically, ensuring very high quality resulting videos with a more than decent size/quality relationship. This program leads the industry in audio and video quality.

The dvdXsoft DVD to Zune Converter can take any kind of DVD disc as an input, running smoothly and efficiently on every single one of them. It can produce files of many formats, including MPEG-4, Xvid and the H.264 video format.

Experienced users will greatly appreciate the list of different resolutions, audio and video bitrates, frame rates and audio frequencies available.

The dvdXsoft DVD to Zune Converter features an attractive interface, consistent with other applications from dvdXsoft.

Ease Of Use: * * * * *

The dvdXsoft DVD to Zune Converterhas a nice, simple yet powerful interface that can be used by anyone without any previous DVD- ripping experience. Just a click and the process begins: no bells no whistles. This makes this application highly recommended for first-timers!

Ease Of Installation And Setup: * * * *1/2

Installing the dvdXsoft DVD to Zune Converter into your computer is a breeze, as the setup process is pretty similar to any other software installation process under Windows.

While testing, I experienced a small problem on only one of my trials. An analysis reported that it had nothing to do with the application itself, but to a hardware problem.

The only negative aspect of this program is that it is not lightweight and so it consumes more resources than other programs in the industry.

Quality Of Copy * * * * *

Outstanding. The resulting videos just cannot be enhanced, they are perfect. Whichever format you choose for output, the dvdXsoft DVD to Zune Converter gets the most out of it.

The dvdXsoft Zune DVD video converter is 2nd on my list. I recommend it especially for consumer especially for superior audio and video quality.

3. PQ DVD to Zune Video Converter Suite

PQ DVD to Zune Video Converter Suite combines two great tools: the PQ Zune Movie Video converter and the PQ DVD to Zune converter, into a single all-in-one software package.

All Zune fans will find these tools to be very efficient and easy to use. A very fast, amazingly high quality conversion and a great set of features make this package one of the finest ones available.

The PQ DVD to Zune video converter suite fully supports hardware video accelerator cards, which is especially useful at playback time.

Both included programs (PQ DVD to Zune converter and PQ Zune Movie Video Converter, which are also available separately) are fully compatible with the latest high resolution format (H.264 HQ, MPEG-4 encoding.)

The program can make MP4 Zune-compatible videos from a number of sources, including DVD-video discs and several types of files, including Tivo, XviD, DivX, Video for Windows AVI files, Windows Media (WMV) files, MPEG video files (MPG and MPEG), VCD and SVCD (DAT) files, Realmedia video (RM and RMVB), QuickTime, and MOV files ideo format.

The suite also supports the DTS Surround and Dolby sound specifications, and is capable of converting most popular audio files into Zune audio.

This program boasts an ultra high speed process. The PQ DVD to Zune Video Converter Suite is one of the fastest converter suites available in the market. The manufacture claim that the package is able to rip a DVD into Zune video format up to 4 times faster than any other application; after various tests, I definitely agree that this program has an extremely fast conversion rate.

The user can select the audio and subtitle tracks, choosing from several different languages.

Ease of use: * * * *

A relatively simple, attractively designed user interface and strategically placed controls makes the PQ DVD to Zune video converter suite one of the simplest packages to use for the beginner, without sacrificing any of the features that advanced users just love to find on a Zune converter software package.

Ease of Installation and Setup: * * * * *

The PQ DVD to iPod video converter suite autorun disc starts the installation program automatically upon insertion, and the whole setup process is finished in a couple of clicks.

Quality of copy * * * *

The PQ DVD to Zune video converter suite is able to produce very high quality Zune videos.

The software implements native support for several CPU multimedia extensions, such as SSE, SSE2, 3DNow! and even MMX. By taking advantage of this, the resulting Zune video quality is as high as it can be.

The PQ DVD to Zune video converter Suite places 3rd on my list. I recommend it for the Zune consumer who is especially interested in a very fast conversion rate.

What Makes A Great Shopping Mall?

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When you want to purchase the things you need and want, one of the best places where you consider going is the shopping mall. Almost every city or town in the world has shopping centers. The existence of shopping malls has been a necessity nowadays. It is where you can find and shop for your basic necessities and the things you wish to buy with varying prices. There are a lot of shopping centers you can find in your area, but what makes a shopping mall perfect for shoppers is the list of things it can provide.

A Great Shopping Mall Has:

Impressive Structure – What encourages mall-goers to shop is the structure of a mall. When the structure itself provides ease and convenience to everyone, then people will surely keep on coming back.

Convenient Opening Hours – A great mall has convenient opening hours for all its shoppers. The usual opening hours of shopping centers daily is between 10 am to 9 pm. Although, malls have different opening hours, most mall open at 10 in the morning, which allows shoppers to shop for what they want and need.

Enough Space and Size to Accommodate Shoppers – Nowadays, malls have spacious buildings in order to accommodate a huge amount of shoppers at a certain time. Mall-goers usually love a shopping center which is huge and can provide them ample space to move around.

Variety of Shops and Restaurants – Of course, a shopping center is not just a place to shop. It is also a place to have a great dining experience. Malls have variety of shops and restaurants which go from affordable to luxurious types.

Impressive Movie Theaters – If you are a movie goer, then you can check the latest movies in your favorite mall. Nowadays, malls have movie theaters inside which make it easier for everyone to see the latest movies.

A Clean Food Court – A food court is always found in every mall. A great shopping center has a clean food court where various types of cuisine and refreshment can be bought.

Parking Space – A shopping mall must always have a parking lot where shoppers and customers can park their own car.

The Shopping Mall of Today

Nowadays, shopping malls have their own way of providing services and conveniences to all its customers. There are malls which consist of several buildings. For a convenient shopping, these malls have put up interconnecting walk ways to make it easier for shoppers and visitors to move from one building to another. Also, shopping centers nowadays have free Wi-Fi connection within its premises so that shoppers can search online using their cellphones or laptop while enjoying their time at the mall.

Indeed, a shopping center is not just a place for shopping; it is also a hub for a great dining experience, entertainment, business, and leisure. It is a place where you can spend quality time with your family and friends.

The best shopping mall offers you with everything you need, giving you a whole new level of shopping experience.

Are You Prepared For Self Employment?

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Do You Think You Are Prepared For Self Employment?Stop and think. Are you prepared for self employment. A very difficult question to answer for some, a no brainer for others. Seems like everybody is getting self employed these days. All of them seem to think its great. But, before you take the plunge lets look at some of the questions you need to ask.What kind of knowledge or skills do you possess or are willing to learn about the job? The first and greatest problem you will face is there is nobody to guide you, or so it seems. Truth is there are many resources at your disposal. The Better Business Bureau for one. They have a program where retired professionals can mentor you in many aspects of your chosen career. You will also need to do your research. If everybody is doing it, there must be a market, right? Not so. There are thousands of lawn care companies everywhere. I mean what do you need to know to cut grass? Truth is the competition is fierce. The price war is brutal. What makes you so special? What are your strategies? Do you know what kind of equipment you need or how many months you will be without work in the winter. Should you have a partner or go it alone? Now, make sure you know these and other answers before you start. If you feel unprepared, you probably are. Get all your ducks in a row, then start walking across the street to self employment.It is a rare business that does not require some form of capitol investment. Mostly these type of opportunities are internet based. Odds are really good that if your reading this then you have or have access to a computer. What about the software you might need. There are many things to consider here, business cards, advertising, time, the right kind of hardware,or workspace. Be certain you are ready before you take the plunge and quit your regular job.Money will always be a prime concern. Make a careful calculation about the amount and kind of money you need. At a minimum you will need to enough money to keep you going for the first three months. You should also have some buffer money set aside for those unanticipated needs. If you don’t have this kind of money, where will you get it. Sometimes its better to stay in the 5 to 9 grind while you acquire the cash or financing. If like many people now a days you have been laid off, you probably have all the time in the world. Use this time wisely and learn about your proposed business venture.You will not be able to do all the things that make a self employment work, there is simply too much to do. Who is going to do your taxes. Do you have a financial advisor or somebody in the banking industry you can go to for straight forward answers. Will you do all the work yourself or hire out to a sub-contractor, maybe even take on an employee. What about medical coverage. Seriously consider how many other people will be required to run the business.These are but a few of the items you must consider before telling the boss off and striking out on your own. Lets face it, truth be known, some people just are not self made individuals. There are many people who are better suited for the 9 to 5. This is not to discredit anyone, only a point of consideration. Are you ready for this. If so, rock on, its been a great ride for me and I hope it is for you too. Remember, when the going gets tough, get going.

How Seniors Can Use the Internet for Health and Fitness Information

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The Internet has created an environment where information on any topic, event or issue is at the tip of your fingertips. Encyclopedias and even TV don’t provide the same access to information available on computers, smart phones and tablets. For seniors who are in search of fitness or health knowledge; the Internet provides a wealth of contact with professional resources, peer reviews and groups. Below are 4 places seniors should look for fitness and health information on the Internet while not forgetting to check the sources for their validity and accuracy.Social MediaSources such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have made it possible for seniors to not only get information from professionals like personal trainers or fitness and nutritional gurus, but also their peers. Many professional fitness experts now use social media platforms and provide a lot of free information as a way of marketing their brand. Also having peers on social media who have tried the new fitness craze or diet, give reviews and checks the validity of products or information for them.BlogsMany Fitness and Nutrition experts’ blog or write articles. Blogs are places on the Internet where anyone can write their thoughts or opinions on any topic they choose. Seniors can follow these experts who give free advice in each of their articles. Having a space to connect with the experts allows seniors to comment or ask questions to the professionals who are usually happy that someone recognizes their work.YouTubeSince many people learn visually, YouTube allows individuals to not only see how a workout is done but also have the ability to re-watch the video at their own pace. YouTube also provides a comment section for questions from viewers if anything in the video remains unclear. Seniors can watch videos ranging from chair workouts, balance and coordination to stretching and flexibility.Senior specific websitesWith the demographic of seniors constantly growing; there are many sites that are dedicated specifically to senior health and wellness. Health tips for conditions like Osteoporosis, Arthritis or Diabetes can all be found on the Internet where in the past people had to go to their local library or encyclopedias to do the research. Keeping in mind that for all conditions that may be serious, it is still important to go to a doctor for a diagnosis instead of self-diagnosing yourself.As the Internet continues to grow, seniors and their ability to acquire knowledge about health and wellness will grow with it. Gone are the days when people have to wait to get information, now it’s on at the tip of your fingertips. So as technology progresses how do you get information about Health and Fitness?

Taking the Pain Out of Kids Parties With Childrens Entertainers

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Childrens parties ought to be as much fun for the adults involved as they are for the kids. What could be nicer, after all, than organising and being a part of something that makes the little darlings laugh and smile so much? Nothing – except, of course, that the endless pressure to entertain levied by a group of expectant kids can reduce even the most stalwart parent to a nervous wreck. Hiring childrens entertainers, who can professionally shoulder the burden of entertainment responsibility, makes everything a whole lot easier.How does it all work? A professional child’s entertainer is used to the fickle nature of little audiences, which is the foremost requirement in being able to keep control of them, even when they’re over heated and over excited. Children, as anyone who has tried to tell a bed time story will know, are among the world’s most critical audiences – why this, why that, how about this, that story is boring, what happened next… and so on. The thing about kids is they’re smart, and they show it willingly. Lose their attention and you lose the game. Childrens entertainers are well used to the challenge and have a professional repertoire based around the fluidity and responsiveness needed to keep such a hyper critical audience happy.Keeping a group of kids happy also lets the adults have a good and peaceful time. First, of course, it guarantees fewer tantrums and less general stress. Children who are being successfully entertained don’t wander off and break stuff, they don’t get in fights and they don’t act up. That means the adults can concentrate on the really important things – like watching out for kids who really do need a little attention, rather than children who are just playing up to alleviate their boredom. Childrens entertainers, by taking all the burden of keeping the little guests happily occupied away from the parents, free the parents up to do the actual looking after.No parent is capable of coming up with enough of a variation on the multiple themes of child’s entertainment to keep everyone happy. On average, kids have a lot more friends than adults, which mean they end up going to 20 or 30 birthday parties per year. No parent can keep up with the demands for variation in entertainment that kind of number brings. Childrens entertainers have hundreds of pre worked out routines to choose from. Those routines can be vetted by the parents before they are played – so there are no chances even of any nasty surprises. With professional entertainment everyone – except the little angels – knows what they are going to get before it happens.Anyone looking for a stress free way to manage their child’s party – a way that guarantees happy kids, happy adults and a relatively unscathed house – could do a lot worse than considering a professional kids entertainer. Childrens entertainers, who can be sourced on their own or as part of a whole party package, represent a real chance for success – which means everyone can relax and everyone has a good time.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Life Insurance But Were Afraid to Ask

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What Is Life Insurance?Life insurance is a written contract between the insurance company and the insured (policy owner). The insurance company agrees to pay a specified amount of money upon the insured’s death. Some policies will also pay a specified benefit in instances of critical illness or terminal illness. During the lifetime of the policy, a premium payment (s) is made by the insured to the insurance company to maintain coverage.Why Should I Have Life Insurance?There are many reasons to have life insurance, but perhaps the three most common reasons are to replace lost income of the insured, pay off a mortgage and pay other bills such as funeral expenses or medical expenses. The funds that your beneficiary receives are usually tax-free and are a very important financial resource. In fact, the tax-free benefit may keep children and spouses from having to liquidate assets at below-market value dollars.What Are The Different Types Of Life Insurance?There are four major forms of life insurance:Term insurance, which is the simplest and most inexpensive type of coverage, is purchased for a specific period of time. There is no cash value or investment feature. When the policy terminates, you will be required to medically re-qualify to secure the best rates.Whole Life insurance has level premiums with both an insurance and investment component. This type of policy accumulates cash value each year which can be used in a variety of ways, such as reducing the premium, increasing the death benefit or withdrawing or borrowing the funds, subject to policy rules and limitations.Universal Life Insurance, like Whole Life insurance, includes an investment component. It combines a term life insurance policy with a tax-deferred interest investment account. Premiums and cash value accumulation is usually lower than a Whole Life policy. However, there is added flexibility regarding altering premium payments and the face amount of coverage.Variable Life Insurance is a permanent life insurance policy with various investment options. Most Variable policies offer numerous “sub-accounts” to the policy owner. The “sub-accounts” consist of many diversifies types of investments including fixed and variable funds. Cash value, like other policies accumulates on a tax-deferred basis.What Are The Different Types Of Term Insurance?There are three main types of term insurance.Renewable term insurance continues in-force for a specified time period…usually in 1, 5 or 10 year increments. After each period of coverage, the policy renews without the insured having to prove insurability. Premiums increase with each renewal, so the longer coverage is in effect, the higher premiums will become.Level term insurance is perhaps the most popular type of term insurance. This type of policy provides a fixed amount of coverage over a pre-specified period of time. The most common level term policies provide coverage for 5, 10, 15 or 20 years. Premiums can also be guaranteed not to increase for the duration of the contract.Decreasing term insurance is most often used to provide mortgage protection. Premiums remain fairly level but the death benefit gradually reduces. Once popular, this type of coverage is rarely used since “guaranteed level term” insurance is generally a much more affordable option.How Much Coverage Should I Have?While it may be impossible to replace the lost income of an insured, an ample amount of life insurance will certainly make a big difference, and provide badly-needed income when finances are strained. A simple method is to calculate 10-12 times your adjusted gross income for a quick calculation. Of course, affordability must also be considered in determining how much life insurance to purchase.How Do I Know Which Company To Choose?The most important factor to consider is the “rating” of the company. Only companies rated “A” by A.M. Best Company should be considered. Any other company may not be as financially stable as the “A” rated companies. There are various other financial ratings available such as “Standard & Poor’s” and “Weiss.” A local experienced insurance broker will be able to research this information for you.Should My Spouse Have Life Insurance?If both spouses are working outside of the home, then insurance should be strongly considered since it is important to protect the earning capacity of each spouse. Naturally, the amount of income will help determine the amount of insurance needed. If one spouse is not a wage-earner, the needed amount of coverage will be reduced, but still necessary because of other expenses.When Can I Cancel My Policy?Actually, you can cancel a policy at any time. You are never obligated to pay a premium if you do not want the coverage. However, keep in mind that if you cancel a policy and want to reinstate or reissue a policy at a later date, you may have to answer medical questions or provide evidence of insurability.

Obtaining Startup Business Loans

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If you have tried or asked around, you already know that obtaining startup business loans is no easy task. Bankers are justifiably wary of lending to a startup as most startups fail within a few years. Moreover, the business does not have a balance sheet yet or a credit history. As such, a creditor will have to base the lending decision on the entrepreneur’s personal credit history and the business plan presented.Also, there are a few loans meant for startups by members of minority groups and women. Do check and see if your business will qualify for these loans, as they are easier to obtain. Of course, you need to get a certification stating that the business is a startup by a woman or a minority group member.Even if you do not belong to this special category and have a less than enviable credit history, you can avail of a bad credit startup loan. Such loans are priced higher, that is, the interest rate you have to pay on the startup business loans will be higher. Additionally, you will need to take extra pains to convince potential creditors of the financial viability of your business idea.Another option before a startup is contacting the small business administration for procuring credit business loans. It is easier to get the loans through this organization. However, you still need to do your homework properly. Get all your papers in order and have an excellent business plan ready with projected earnings and profits clearly stated. In case your startup is a few years old, you also need to bring the balance sheets of the last three years. If your business has its own ID, take it along to the creditors when you go to negotiate your loan. It will give your startup more credibility in the eyes of the banker and creditor.For those who are unable to obtain small business loans, the option of approaching venture capitalists or angel investors always exists. However, this equity route has certain drawbacks as the entrepreneur has to consult their fellow partners before making major decisions. Besides, future profits need to be shared – something that will reduce the entrepreneur’s share of profits.Another solution is to approach a leasing finance company to help you purchase the equipment you need to run your startup. Since such loans are considered secure – the finance company will have a lien on the equipment – the loans are easier to obtain. Moreover, the interest burden is lower, in tune with the lower risk to the lender.Whether you decide to go in for a bank loan or a leasing finance or use the funds provided by the venture capitalist, you need to convince the financier of the viability of your business model. For this you need to study the potential market carefully and ensure that you are meeting a felt need. Investors will also want to check out your commitment levels to the startup. If they feel that you will not put in your best efforts, they will certainly not part with their cash. So, do make sure that you are able to convince creditors on these issues when applying for startup business loans.