7 Top Tips to Car Salesman's Or Saleswoman's Success

Given that car sales account for 19% of total US sales in 2000 (source: US Small Business Administration), a lot of people are buying cars which mean that they are a lot of people selling cars. Additionally, new car sales have dropped from 63.4% in 1989 to 60% in 1999. Selling cars is not easy given that many still have a negative perception of car salesmen or women. Hopefully, these 7 tips may help you to sell more cars.

1. First and Foremost YOU need to think of yourself as a business. Car sales people work for an auto dealership, but most work on a salary and commission basis. When your compensation is commission based, this means you have more control of your destiny and should view yourself as a business instead of just a sales person.
2. Adopt a Planning Attitude. If you do not have a plan, then you are on some else's plan - usually the successful car saleswoman or salesman. As a practicing performance improvement consultant or coach for the last 10 years, I have observed that most people plan less for their own lives than they do for a simple visit to the grocery store.
3. Learn how to prospect. There exists a fundamental belief that the auto dealership is responsible for bringing traffic through the door because the dealership owners have all those "big bucks" for media advertising. Given that 80% of all new sales comes from referrals, would it not make more sense to prospect individually rather than simply on outside resources to control your destination? Those media efforts usually bring in suspicions, not prospects. Use your time wisely by focusing on prospects those who have a need, dollars and are a decision-maker. Do not rely only on the auto dealer to send out letters. Take the time to write some handwritten notes.
4. Improve your sales skills to make more money. Today's buyers are far more savvy than years ago. Learn how to cultivate and develop long term relationships. Consider a proven buying / selling sales process where marketing and selling skills are united to deliver to the desired results of another sold car. New car sales to used car sales are far more relationship based selling than years ago when car sales was a commodity sale.
5. Establish your sales goals using your great planning attitude. If you are a car salesman or car saleswoman and have 300 customers and the industry average sales cycle is 3 years, then every year you should be selling 100 cars. Focus your efforts of those who will be buying a car this year, but remember to continue to touch those who will potentially be buying another car in 2 or 3 years. HINT: Use the WAYSMARTcriteria for goal setting.
6. Identify the attitudes or beliefs that are obstacles to your success. Working with those in the auto industry, I have heard countless reasons why sales can not be made. However, when these reviews are reviewed, they are usually unfounded reasons based upon existing attitudes and beliefs. For example, "corporate has ruined the car industry by posting prices on the Internet. Everyone knows everything about the car." My response is "if price was a real objection, then everyone would be driving a Yugo or a Chevette. HINT: When you change how you look at things, the things you look at will change.
7. Make managing yourself priority number one. You must learn how to maximize your time especially in the area of ​​time management, ongoing professional development such as through business coaching training and personal life balance. The auto industry is truly a 24/7 business given that cars are with us each and every day of our lives. However, it is important not to lose sight of your personal life including family, friends, physical health, etc.

Yes, you can be an incredible car salesperson who can increase sales through these 7 simple car salesman tips. Just remember, sales regardless of industry is all about knowing your numbers and then multiplying your activity to secure those desired results.

Powerful Making Money Online Tips to Make You Rich and Famous!

These powerful making money online tips will surely make you rich and famous in no time at all! These are proven effective and preferred by most successful online marketers these days. If these tips will not work on you then I do not know if there are any more tips such as these could change your life forever.

Powerful Making Money Online Tips to Make You Rich and Famous!

1. Unique templates will make you richer
If you have skills and knowledge in those html things then why not try to create unique and cute templates. Tons of online companies are in search of unique and extra ordinary templates which they can use for their websites to attract more customers. If you can create those moving or animated templates then these are the kind of stuff they are looking for. This particular online job pays quite handsomely! So if you want to get richer then you'd better try your hands on this one today.

2. Create and maintain websites
Another great way to make money through the net is by creating and maintaining websites for online companies. There are numerous online websites' owners looking for someone who can make them eye catching websites and maintain it as well. They need someone who will update and maintain the posts on the website. You will get paid monthly on this kind of online job and it pays quite high from any other online jobs.

Try these tips and see just how much you can earn for as little as 5 days!

Visa Application Tips

The visa application process is a long and tedious one. It is important that you do what you can to make sure the process is as seamless as can be. Here are a few tips to follow to keep the immigration process move along smoothly.

Be Prepared for Delays

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services, formerly called INS, is very backed up. To guarantee that you have a Visa by the time you need one submit your application far in advance. If you are currently in the US and your legal status is going to expire, getting your application in as soon as possible is very important to avoid any adverse legal action being taken against you.

Avoid Summary Removal

The border officials have a lot of power. They can send you back overseas if they feel as though you are a security risk or if they feel as though you have lied to get the visa. When arriving from overseas you need to be prepared to convince these officials that you deserve your visa. If you are coming as a tourist and not intent on seeking citizenship avoid bringing anything with you that gives the impression you could have staying such a wedding dress, job resume and so on.

Notify the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

If you are in the United States for more than 30 days you must notify the USCIS of a change of address within 10 days. You and each member of your family need to send in separate notifications. There are two ways to send this notification, the best option is through the USCIS 'website, click on their "online change of address service" or you can mail in Form AR-11. It is also a very good idea to send word of your change of address to every USCIS office that is handling your application.

File Multiple Visa Petitions

If you are getting a green card through a family member and you have more than one family member that is eligible to submit the petition for you, have each one submit a petition for you. This way, if there is a long wait in one category or should the person that submitted it for you die you have another option.

Pay Attention to Deadlines

Make sure that you are on time for any appointment you have with the USCIS, US embassy or consulate or the US Immigration court. If you are late or simply do not show up it could be months before you are rescheduled or you may possibly be exported.

Avoid Violations

Read the small print associated with your visa and make sure you follow the rules carefully. Should you violate even the minor terms your visa can be cancelled or you can be exported.

Keep Track and Make Copies

Unfortunately the USCIS is infamous for losing paperwork. Make sure you send all your applications and paperwork via certified mail, with a return receipt and make copies of everything. This will not only be your proof of filing but may end up being the main copies that are filed should the USCIS lose your originals.

7 Tips for Saving Money on Car Rentals

Renting cars does not have to be as expensive as you'd imagine and sometimes you can a great deal just by working with the car rental companies systems to get the best deal you can without compromising on the service you receive.

Car Rental companies have many complex operations and fees that they need to take into account when setting their rental charges so, if you know what these are and how to avoid them, you can get a car rental, very similar to the one you ideally want , at a greatly reduced price.

Follow these simple tips and use as many of them as you can while still getting the rental you need and you should be able to save a lot of money on your next car rental.

- Picking a Car up at the Airport

Car Rental companies have to pay what's called an "Airport Concession Fee" for all the cars they rent from their airport locations. This is basically a charge made by the Airport to the rental company to allow them to rent cars from the Airport. Obviously the rental companies pass this on to their customers, so if there's a rental location close to the Airport you can use, you could save money by booking there instead.

- Book the Most Popular Car Group

Car Rental companies have to manage a complex stock system to make sure they've got the right cars in the right places at the right time. The more popular the car group, the more difficult it is for them to maintain stock. Generally, if they do not have the car you booked they'll give you a free upgrade. This is because the larger, more expensive cars do not get booked as much as the smaller cheaper cars. If you book the smallest car that is acceptable to you, there's always a good chance of getting a free upgrade if you're picking it up at a busy time.

- Book Well in Advance

Because it's much easier to forecast how many cars they need if they've got all their bookings in advance, the car rental companies will very often have their cheapest rates loaded for rates well in advance, so book your car as soon as you know your travel dates and save more.

- Always Get a Discount Code

Apart from during peak periods (Christmas, Easter and the height of Summer), you should always able to get some kind of discount code, although you might have to hunt around a little to find it. Always check the terms of the offers as often, even though an offer may say it's for a weekend rental, you could still use the offer for other times. It's worth searching a little to find one.

- Watch Your Collection and Return Times

Another trick to watch out for is that most rental companies charge daily rates. That means if you pick up a car at 10am and take it back at 11am the next day you'll get charged for 2 days rental. Wherever possible try and ensure that your return time is always the same, or preferably just before your collection time. This way you'll never get charged the extra day.

- Where Possible, Book When They've Got Too Many Cars

If your travel plans are reasonably open try and book when they've got too many cars and you could land yourself an absolute bargain. Book just after Christmas and you could find that all the cars that have just been returned are very cheap to book. In car rental terms, a car sat in their car park is a huge cost and they'd rather let you have it very cheaper than just have it sitting there.

- Always Ask for More

The one golden rule to bear in mind is to always ask for more, the worst they can do is say no. When you get to the counter always ask if they have any free upgrades. Often, this prompt may be all they need to remember that they can not shift that big Mercedes out the back, and if you had it, they would not have to worry about it anymore!

Each one of these tips should save you some money the next time you rent a car. If you can combine all 7 of them into one rental, you'll be amazed by how little you need to pay to drive a very nice car for your rental!

Save Money at Your Home Office

If you work in a home office, you will need to buy a lot of things that need to be used all the time. Usually in a typical workplace, storage rooms or equipment rooms are easier to justify since they are being shared by everyone.

However when you work at home, you need to shop for these items for yourself. Especially if you are a new business, you are going to want to do this on a budget.

To save money on these items you should follow some basic tips.

There are certain items you will need such as seating, desks, and paper supplies. When purchasing these items it can be tempting to hit up the warehouses to get them on the cheap in bulk. Be aware that not everyone may be into the same style of furniture or even be able to sit on the same one. This can end up costing you more time and money to return or sell unwanted furniture.

Talking to someone who knows about making purchases like this will save you a lot of time. They deal with people in your position all the time so they know little details you may miss when shopping for office supplies.

They will also know about more of the latest equipment and furniture available to help you make the right decision the first time.

Office supplies such as paper, pens, ink are a little more simple to purchase. You do not want to buy too much. This will tie up money that could have been used elsewhere in the business. It also takes up extra storage space. You also do not want to run out during the course of a business day either.

A safe bet would be to buy enough for no more than two or three months at a time.

Keeping these tips in mind can keep costs down for your business. Every little bit adds up!

Tips and Ideas for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is near, what are you planning to do for your love one? I know you've read somewhere from the internet that you should surprise your love one by making your date creative, be interesting, plan well, and have sense of humor when doing all the above.

But what many people want to know about Valentine's Day tips are, what gifts should you choose? What ideas should you have to do for your surprises?

Here are 5 gifts tips for women to men:

1. Hi-tech gadgets and toys - this gift tips is suitable for 80% of men in the world! Get him some toys like Robo Sapien Robot, Paint Ball Kit, iPod. Pocket PC, Mp3 Players ... etc

2. Car accessories - Is your men a car craz? Get a car magazine from your near bookstore and start looking for tips to shop for the best car accessories. This works only for men who are obsess with cars, so please do know your men.

3. Computer parts - Like men who love Hi-tech gadgets, there're as high as 80% men who love computers, you can know when men start to lecture about their geek hobby in computers. Get ideas from computer magazine and shop for the perfect computer upgrades parts as a gift.

4. Clothes - Some men have special taste in clothes. Forget the tie, get your man a stylish shirt, I'm sure he has lots of ties to go with it.

5. Perfume - If your man owns more clothes than you do, giving perfume as a gift will be a good idea.

Here are 5 gifts tips for men to women:

1. Write personalized love letter or poem - There is no shortcut; spend some time creating words from the bottom of your heart. I'm sure you can do it if you REALLY love her so much. And please do not copy from else where, dumb blonde may not be so dumb nowdays.

2. Flowers go with card, chocolates or jewelry - Some experts may say giving these may be showing you're predictable. But no doubt women still love men giving them these gifts, every woman loves attention from men.

3. Romantic Dinner - If you want to become a romantic Romeo of Valentine's Day, plan a romantic evening by having a dinner with your lady.

4. Lingerie - This works best only if you're very close with her. Do not get your lady lingerie for knowing her 3 days. Also, giving only lingerie might looks like an invitation for sex, and this will disappoint her by thinking all you have in mind is SEX.

5. Best gift, combine all from the above - a love letter in a card with roses, and a romantic dinner. Remember to use your creativity as there're many men out there might be doing the same. For example, give strawberries dipped in chocolates instead of just chocolates or choose the best bottle of red wine can be interesting to start your lovely evening.

Okay, enough for the gifts. How about some ideas for Valentine's Day? How to keep a Valentine's date interesting? Here're some ideas for you to start one:

1. Prepare a romantic dinner yourself, I'm talking about DIY You can easily pickup any cookbook from your nearest bookstore or just buy any e-cookbook online. Then pick the best 5 out from hundreds of recipes, from fine cuisines to exotic drinks.

2. Plan romantic activities, start from dinner to dance, then end the evening with a wonderful love affair. It can be done in your own house or just go out and have fun.

3. Do something special like in the movie, have a romantic picnic at the beach, on a boat, on a plane (if you're rich enough), on a roof top, ride horses to your dinner date, use trained animal to pass your gifts.

I'm sure by now you already have tons of creative ideas in your mind. Do not be afraid to try new things, it's Valentine's Day!

Withheld Calls - Tracing Tips and Methods

The use of cell phones has risen exponentially with the consequent fall in the prices of hand sets and call charges. The advances in telecommunications technology has made distinctions insignificant and we can now communicate to any one in any corner of the world effortlessly. The advantages of cell phones are innumerable, but then there is one nagging problem associated with cell phones which is withheld calls or anonymous calls. All these calls harassment people without revealing any thing about the caller and are being used to intimidate and extort hapless people. We now will have a look at the best and efficient methods of tracing such calls without spending much from our pocket.

Landline users can obtain information on the anonymous callers by dialing * 69 which provides the caller number and address immediately. Cell users find it difficult to trace anonymous calls and they have to use the services mentioned here to get the information of the caller.

All with calls calls come without any number that can be identified by the receiver. Such calls can not be identified with our hand sets and only the service provider that is routing the call will be able to tell the exact number. All service providers maintain a log of calls routed through their network and will have in place relevant equipment to trace any number used to call any other number. If you change your number to avoid such calls, it will be a waste of time and money. Moreover, there is no guarantee that the number you have changed can not be accessed again by the anonymous caller. Frequent changing of numbers also makes your number unavailable with your friends and business acquaintances, and results in losing communication with them.

You can use the services of a reverse mobile phone look up website, which by virtue of technology can trace any with call call successfully. Some of these sites are free and some charge for the rendered service. They take all pains and provide the name, address and if possible, email id of the anonymous caller. In my view paid websites are better as they offer service faster and efficiently. You have to register in reputed sites that can do the work and for this; you can try your own number for the authenticity of the results. Once satisfied, you can proceed to find the mysterious caller.

You can answer the phone personally to know the caller, but if the caller does not reveal his identity, it is certain then that this is a mischievous call. If this persists for days, you can approach the police for help. Police personnel will be able to trace any phone and initiate measures to protect you from these calls.

You can also try through a search engine of the internet which searches all the available websites and provides information, if the number is there by any chance. Some of these anonymous people place their number on the net with the impression that no one will get their number, which is false thinking.

All these methods are efficient and you can try any one or all the methods to get peace of mind from the pranksters.

Day Trading Rules to Live By

Most people looking to make money in the markets believe that the answer lies in finding some simple technical analysis strategies that will catapult them to profitability.

The truth is that trading is not as simple as beginners believe. It is a profession, and like any profession it requires a learning curve. Reading a book or getting a few simple "tips" is not going to turn you into a professional trader.

After studying for a length of time, it's not uncommon for students to begin their search for the "holy grail."

They search for more indicators, chart patterns, gurus, alert services or the latest secret day trading strategies and other things that will provide their answer to becoming successful.

But here's the fact. Success lies within you .. and it will not come easy.

In fact, one of my favorite success principles is this:

"Successful people do what unsuccessful people are unwilling to do."

Let's apply this to trading in the form of my list of "Day Trading Rules to Live By" ... all of which have to do more with you than with the market.

1. The consistency you need is in your mind, not in the market. Many in the market get frustrated because the market often behaves differently than they expect. You can not rely on the market to be consistent. It is a largely a random walk. But there are times when the market does setup with a probability scenario that gives you an edge. Your job is being consistent in trading those probability setups and trade them every time they occur.
2. Trade like a cat. Most beginners over trade. It's one of the most common trading sins. Your job is to be better than other day traders in having the discipline to wait like a cat in the brush until just the right moment (your high probability setup) and then jump on the trade without hesitation.
3. Successful trading is simply a game of not making mistakes. Keep a list of your day trading rules posted on the wall or on your monitor and then follow those rules perfectly. You must be more disciplined than the average trader. Never depart from your rules no matter how good a trade "looks" or "feet" to you if it violates your objective and back-tested rules.
4. Only trade when you are in an optimal emotional state. Never trade when you are tired or are in an emotionally unstable situation (after a fight with a spouse or friend for example). Day trading is more like athletics than academies. Trading on such a short time frame requires you to be able to make split second decisions, and you're risking a lot of money when you do. Make sure your mind is sharp and your emotions are centered.
5. Keep a detailed trading log. Every day trading course I've seen has a trading log. Yet my experience in dealing with trading students demonstrates that less than 10% of them actually use it. This is a huge mistake. Not only should you log every trade, but you should also record how you felt and what you were thinking as you took the trade. In this way your logs will become a type of "biofeedback" mechanism for you. Personally, this was the difference that made all the difference for me.

These 5 day trading rules are not the type of rules that you were probably looking for. The masses want rules about indicators, price bars, where you get in and where you get out.

Granted, you definitely need clear objective rules about those things as well. Yet thousands of traders have those types of rules, and yet continue to fail because those rules are about market action.

They fail because they do not have, or do not follow, the more important rules the rules about their own action.

If you find yourself resisting the importance of these rules about your own behavior, realize that you are one of the masses who feels the same way. But since since the masses fail at day trading, you must set yourself apart and do something different than them.

Following these 5 day trading rules are what the retail traders fail to do. Not because they can not do them, but because they are unwilling to do them. And remember, "Successful people do what unsuccessful people are unwilling to do."

Get to Work Finding a Job - Concentrated Career Efforts Pay Off

Anyone who says the current economy has drastically affected the job market is just wrong. For those who are willing to put in the sincere effort to find a job, providing them sincerely like to work, there's always gainful employment to be had.

If it takes you longer than two weeks to land a really great job, you're doing something wrong.

Heed this helpful of helpful tips and you're sure to get your career swiftly back on track.

Think that being unemployed means you do not have a job? Guess again. Finding work IS your job. Forget sleeping in and setting a leisurely pace. Get up early and immediately attack the job search. Devote at least eight hours a day to the process.

Have a plan. For example (and this is simply one course of action; you can certainly plot out a strategy that may be even more effective for you);

Day 1.
Get up by 6 am Get online. Search your state's Internet employment bank and job-search sites such as Career Builder and Monster.com. Make a point of applying for at least ten jobs. Take a break for lunch. Get in your car or on a bus or head out on foot and note the names of at least a dozen (hopefully more) major businesses. Not everyone is going to advertise on the web with an external service. When you get back home look up the company websites and see what positions they are hiring for. Plan to apply for at least 5 more jobs to finish out your day.

Day 2.
Perform a new online search and note the top six opportunities that look most appealing to you. Now call those businesses and get the name of the hiring party and their email address and phone number. Create a more comprehensive cover letter, something that essentially sells your expertise, and email it to the person in charge. Follow up with phone calls later in the afternoon, without the job ad specifically stated "No phone calls."

Day 3.
Make sure you have a quality, up to date and error-free one page resume at the ready. Get nice looking copies on a professional grade paper stock and take them, door to door, to established companies that appeal to you. Make a concerted effort to get past the receptionist and at least introduce yourself to the HR director or any variety of hiring manager.

Day 4.
Follow up and follow through. Make calls or send out second emails to the top ten companies that you prefer to focus on at this time.

Day 5.
You're likely to have at least a few interviews arranged at this point, possibly more. Make sure you schedule your appointments with significant time in between. You NEVER want to be late for an interview.

A few more points to keep in mind;

Do not jump on the first offer. Think about the fit, your goals, the corporate structure and culture. There are many more considerations than wage in the long run. Job hopping is a waste of your time (as well as your interim employers) and extremely it will have a negative impact on your future ability to progress effectively in your career. Make sure that the position you accept is something you'll want to stick with for a long time, given the opportunity.

Be realistic about your worth. Do not demand a salary that's higher than your expertise and education would warrant, but do not sell yourself short either. Make sure that your new salary is at least as much, preferably more, than the amount you were most recently e-learning.

Be honest about your needs. If you're really uncomfortable about leaving your kids home alone past 5:30 and a job calls for service until 6, getting you home by 6:30 or even later, do not take it. You'll only end up resenting it and in the long run that negativity will detract from your work and create an unpleasant scenario at the office. Good companies care about the well being of their workers and will, within reason, make minor concessions to accommodate your personal needs.

Put real effort into your performance once you accept employment. Do your best to hide by the adage that "a job worth doing is worth doing well." Do not be a prima donna; help out where you've needed and drop the "it's not my job" attitude. If you're being paid, anything legal and reasonably moral can be your job. Get busy.

When you're on the job, remember that the workplace is for work. If you have time to gossip, take frequent breaks, surf the net or text friends, you obviously need more to do. Let your boss know that you'd like to have more assignments. If your work is done early, offer to help with someone else's. It's a business, not a playground. Be a good worker bee.

There's plenty of work to be had and a terrific supply of top-rate employers who are on the hunt for capable, conscientious professionals. If you're the type who is enthusiastic about rolling up your shirt sleeves and getting things done, it's likely that getting a good job will not be too tough. Put in a good amount of effort and you'll see some great results.

Kids Party Tips From Ages 1 to 10

Planning a kids party is all about great ideas. So take advantage of the list I've put together below! Be sure to take a look at all the ages as many of the tips will work for any kids party!

1st Birthday

1) Popular Kids Party Themes - Elmo, Farm Animals, Abby Caddaby, One Is Fun, Lady Bug
2) Bubble Machine instead of live entertainment - toddlers love bubbles.
3) Keep the party short. 1 1/2 hours is the max for a kids party at this age.
4) If there is only babies at the party then they can not play party games but the adults can so have a couple of party games for the adults. You'll have everyone laughing.
5) Of course you will take plenty of pictures of the birthday boy / girl and guests but do not forget to take pictures of the decorations and cake. It's a good idea to take pictures of both before the party starts. You want evidence of all that hard work!

2nd Birthday

1) Popular Kids Party Themes - Yo Gabba Gabba, Cupcake Party, Little Einstein, Circus, Unicorn
2) Music - Kids love music at this age. Play popular toddler music that they will recognize (Hot Dog, Hot Diggity Dog from the Mickey Mouse Club, the theme music to Little Einstein, Sesame Street song) and watch the kids dance!
3) Keep the party short. 2 hours is the max.
4) Plan the party around your child's temperament. If your child is a bit shy then invite a few relatives and keep it simple. If your child is a party animal and loves attention then invite friends and family.
5) Play simple games like Simon Says, Ring Around the Rosie and duck duck goose.

3rd Birthday

1) Popular Kids Party Themes - Hot Wheels, CARs - The Movie, Backyardigans, Go Diego, Dora the Explorer
2) Get your child involved. Let him pick the theme or help make invitations. At this age children love to be helpful.
3) Get the timing right - An early to mid afternoon party is fine. By late afternoon the tots are usually getting cranky.
4) Entertainer - At this age you can consider live entertainment. Some good choices are a puppet show, magician, balloon modeling or a face painter.
5) Another great birthday party idea is dress up! Kids love to dress up at this age. Provide an area with some old clothes the tots can play in. They will love this activity.

4th Birthday

1) Popular Kids Party Themes - Dinosaur Friends, Fire Fighter, Princess Party, Mickey Mouse Club, Madagascar
2) Plan in Advance - Today's children have busy schedules. Between the various classes and play dates some kids are booked months in advance. Therefore be sure to give the parents of your child's closest friends the date of the party well in advance.
3) Craft projects - At this age kids are able to take direction and participate in craft projects. Here's one fun idea - Have an Art show! Provide an area with craft supplies such as stickers, glitter, crayons, markers, paint (washable), glue, construction paper, pipe cleaners and anything else they can use to create a masterpiece. Hang their artwork and have an art judging. Award a prize to each child for something unique relating to their art such as best use of color, best drawing of a tree and so on.
4) Kids love parades and what could be more fun than participating in their own parade. Have the kids form their own parade by providing musical instruments (drums, maracas, bells, etc.) and streamers. Have the kids march around the party area singing popular kids songs or the birthday song!
5) Kids at this age (actually any age) have lots of energy. Be sure to have enough activities planned to keep them busy.

5th Birthday

1) Popular Kids Party Themes - Buzz Lightyear, Wizard of Oz, Crafts Party, Pirate Party, Scooby Doo
2) Since your child is in school now you can plan a celebration at school as well as a party at home.

3) For a school party bring cupcakes (note, some schools will only allow store bought food items). Pass out a small goodie bag for each child containing candy and a small toy.
4) For a home party have the children make jewelry out of pasta. Have the kids paint pasta (any pasta with a hole in it will work). When it's dry they can thread yarn through the pasta and wear it!
5) Make sure you get your child's input when it comes to planning the party. At this age your child will be thrilled to see their ideas incorporated into the party.

6th Birthday

1) Popular Kids Party Themes - Gymnastics, Karate, Cheer Party, Nascar, Space Mission Party
2) At this age you may want to consider an all boy or all girl kids party. After the age of 5 girls usually want to do different activities from boys. It's not necessary to have a specific gender party but it can make the planning a bit easier.
3) At this age you can consider having a destination kids party. Kids love parties at fun locales like indoor playgrounds, gymnastics studio, karate studio or Build a Bear.
4) If you're having a kids party at home and the weather permits consider a party rental such as a bounce house or ball pit. Kids at this age can spend hours bouncing or playing in a ball pit.
5) Party games are of course a must try a treasure hunt, hot potato, musical chairs or a relay race. Check out these games as well:

7th Birthday

1) Popular Kids Party Themes - Slumber Party, Batman, Superman, Spiderman, Tea Party
2) A 7th birthday party sees to mark a stone in maturity for kids; they can no longer be looked at as babies. So, if you're going to have a big celebration this is the birthday to do it. Prior to 7 they are too young to truly appreciate it, but this year they will.
3) Consider having a slumber party. Provide activities such as makeovers, doing their nails or Barbie playtime. Allow them to eat junk food and watch a pre-teen movie.
4) For the boys consider having a superhero party. Have the guests dress up as their favorite superhero and provide activities based around Spiderman, Batman, Superman, etc.
5) Party rentals are always a hit such as the bounce house, ball pit, pony rental or a mini put put course.

8th Birthday

1) Popular Kids Party Themes - Bowling, Barbie, Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, Skateboard

2) This is the only age you can plan a figure eight party! Make a figure eight cake - Take 2 round cakes and cut the center out using a glass (frozen cakes work best). Put the 2 cakes together to form a figure eight. Have the party at a skating rink where the kids can practice figure eight skating.
3) A destination party is a good idea at this age as well. Consider American Girl, Dave and Busters or Bowling.
4) Throw a crafts party. Provide all sorts of crafts for the kids to do it can be as simple as building with clay or Legos or painting pictures to jewelry making and model building. Have several different activities so the kids can move around. Be sure to have help with supervision, it can get hectic.
5) Remember to be enthusiastic with every activity and play lots of music. Your enthusiasm will get the kids excited about any activity and music always gets them going!

9th Birthday

1) Popular Kids Party Themes - Star Wars, Glamor Girls, Hawaiian Luau, Harry Potter, Transformers
2) If you have a budding cowboy or girl try a Horse Round Up Party. Provide the kids with bandanas or cowboy hats when they arrive, serve western food such as bbq chicken or burgers western style. Have a pony ride at your house or if possible take the kids to a stable.
3) Here are some unique ideas for live entertainment - caricature artist, karaoke, a water slide, Hip Hop or country singer, costumed characters, kids comedian, impersonator (such as Hannah Montana impersonator), temporary tattoo artist (requests the parents first ), ventriloquist, airbrush t-shirt artist, live animals.
4) Cupcake decorating is a fun activity for kids. Provide already cooked cupcakes along with the fixin's such as frosting (a couple different flavors), sprinkles, candy and writing gel. Let the kids to decorate the cupcakes and then they get to eat their creations!
5) Girls love to play grows up at this age so have a tea party for the girls. Either find a locale that has tea time or do it at your house. Tell the girls in the invitation to dress up and then serve tea and finger sandwiches with the crust cut off. Discuss the ritual behind drinking tea such as putting your pinkie up!

10th Birthday

1) Popular Kids Party Themes - Hanah Montana, Twighligt, Wizards of Waverly Place, American Idol, Jonas
2) This is an ideal age to celebrate your child's birthday at an amusement park. Invite a few friends. The kids are going to be old enough or tall enough to get on many of the rides. And most of the kids probably have experienced an amusement park by now and know what to expect.
3) Plan a chocolate party. What kid does not love chocolate? A chocolate party is simple to plan because everything is chocolate such as chocolate birthday cake, chocolate, favors, chocolate trees, chocolate fondue or even a chocolate fountain.
4) A great place to get favors for girls at this age is Claires or any similar accessory store. You can pick up tons of inexpensive accessories such as clips, barrettes and jewelry.
5) Plan a girly party for your daughter. A girly party would entail manicures and pedicures along with snacks and a fun girly movie such as the Princess Diaries. Have a couple of games or Barbie playtime and your daughter will love it!

The Importance of Heating and Air Conditioning Services

The home is one of the places where you are invited to experience total comfort at all times. However, there are times when environmental conditions threaten to compromise this comfort. These environmental conditions include:

• Extreme temperatures; when it is either too hot or too cold
• Humidity
• Dust particles and other allergens in the environment.

Good heating and air conditioning services do their best to regulate these conditions to make sure you are comfortable in the home. Here, are a few of the benefits that you will get when you invest in quality HVAC services.

To start with, installing heating systems in the house helps keep the house warm during the colder months. There is nothing that is more disorienting than going to bed in a cold house on a winter night. The most uncomfortable part is taking a bath with cold water in the colder months. Water and house heating systems help you keep warm and avoid infections that might result from the cold weather.

Secondly, AC is very beneficial when it comes to cooling down the temperatures during the summer months. Temperatures get quite high especially outside during summer. It feels good to step in the house and get refreshing cooler temperatures. A good air conditioning system in the house regulates the temperatures to what is suitable for all seasons.

Air conditioning systems have the ability to remove dust particles and all other types of allergens from the environment. There are people who are allergic to pollen, dust and other particles from the environment. Air conditioning services help purify the air and protect you from allergic reactions and illnesses such as asthma.

There are many more benefits that come with having heating and air conditioning systems in the home.

Tips in selecting the best HVAC systems

If you want to have a comfortable time in the house, you need to select quality heating and air conditioning system. The choices can be quite tricky especially with the many service providers and products in the market. However, the following tips should help you get top quality products and services.

1. When purchasing heaters and ac unit, always go for the brands that have been tested and proven to be leaders when it comes to air conditioning. The top brands usually cost more than the others. But by the end of the day, the service and durability you get is all worth the cost.

2. If for some reason your systems have stopped working, take time and select the most skilled heating and air conditioning services providers to repair the systems for you. DIYs are a good idea, but if it is an issue you are not sure about, avoid trying to do it.

Those are some tips to have in mind when going for HVAC goods and services. Lastly, remember that the comfort of your home greatly depends on the environmental conditions that surround it. Make your house a heaven by adding quality heating and air conditioning services. After all, if you are not comfortable in the home, where else will you be?

Consider Outdoor Motion Detector for Security Lighting in Your Home

Security becomes one important aspect that you have to consider dealing with home appliances. You do not want any intruders come to your home and cause fear for the whole family. For security lighting, you need some detector of motion. It is usually called as outdoor motion detector.

Actually it is easy to install this kind of security lighting, especially when you have some source electricity close to the spot where you want to install the detector. If the source electricity is far enough from the area, you need to deal with extra wiring. Now, you bought to prepare these things: the security light, wire caps, electrical tape, cordless drill / driver, volt tester, silicone caulk, and wire strippers. We will give you some tips to install the light if there is an existing source.

Now you can start installing by finding the correct breaker, or some fuse to the exterior light source. Turn off the fuse or the circuit breaker and ensure that it is in 'off' mode using a voltage tester. Take the new fixture you have bought and check the instructions of the setting. Also, you have to check every part of it. If you have got everything ready, now it is time for you to remove the old outdoor fixture by unscrewing it with screwdriver or a cordless drill. You will need this device just in case that the screws get corrosion.

When you have done uninstalling the old fixture, you can get the base of the new motion light. Note the spots where you want to place the screws. Sometimes, the holes do not match up the right. Therefore you might need to put either metal or wood bit on your drill and the drill where you marked the screws. After that, search for the source wires through the middle of the base before you start tightening the light.

If the base is ready for the installation, then you can adjust the source wires to the new light fixture wires. If it is too long, you can cut the wire and strip the plastic off about inch inch. Match the color of the wires, red to red, yellow to yellow, and the like. Make sure that everything fixed firmly to put the new fixture onto the base. Also, you have to keep the rubber seal before screwing on the fixture. Now you have done with the installation. Turn on the electricity and do some checking whenever the detector works.

The Easiest Way To Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets Like A Pro

How To Paint Kitchen Cabinets - Easy Guide For Weekend Warriors And DIYers

We always suggest that you hire a professional to do the job for you for multiple reasons which include experience and insurance of a quality job! But for those who want to know how to paint kitchen cabinets without a professional spray, this is how you can get professional looking results for under $ 200.

How To Achieve Professional Results When Painting Your Kitchen Cabinets

I have been getting a ton of questions via lately about one of our Facebook postings in which I painted our kitchen walls and cabinets. Most people are curious and want to know how to paint kitchen cabinets, and how much it cost to get our cabinets looking like new.

Our house is very old and so are our cabinets. It did not bother us at first but ever, we got sick of looking at that ugly veneer look so we decided it was time for a makeover.

It's not very difficult to paint over veneer it just needs the right prep work. If you hire a professional I would suggest trying to do as much as you can yourself such as taking off the doors and hardware and maybe sanding them lightly with a 220 grit sanding block. Just a light scuff will do (imagine you are cleaning a window). That will save you a few dollars. But if you decide to do it on your own here are some tips on how to paint kitchen cabinets and get amazing and long lasting results.

Preparation When Painting Kitchen Cabinets

After you remove your doors (or just masking your hinges) light sand / scuff the surfaces that are being painted with a 220 grit sanding block. Use a type of degreasers such as Windex or Zep Citrus Degreaser.

Next, you have 2 options.You can use a 220 grit sandwich and lightly scuff your surfaces or use Krud Kutter-Gloss Off which you can wipe on using a rag and let it sit for 10 minutes. Your surfaces will be deglossed without having to sand them.

Your next step is to prime the surfaces with the right primer. I used one coat of "INSL-X Stix" which is a urethane acid You can find it online or at your local Benjamin Moore Supplier. Check your local Hardware store.

Using a good quality paint will help you get the best finish possible. I suggest using Benjamin Moore Advance Alkyd. It is very easy to work with and dries to a hard and durable finish.

Using a 2-inch Nylon paintbrush start cutting in around the hardware (if you did not remove the doors) and any places Your Whizz ™ roller will not reach. Next, use your Whizz ™ roller to apply your ALKYD enamel. Try to paint in the same direction as your grain (if your cabinet has a fake wood pattern). Let it dry overnight and repeat. You can hang your doors now but keep in mind that even though the enamel will dry overnight, it still takes 30 days to fully cure so be careful and try to avoid scrubbing them before those 30 days.

Tips On How To Sell Parts Of A Junk Car

Experiencing a car accident can be a trying ordinal and can be a burden on your finances. Not only may your insurance company raise its rates, you may also have to buy a new car if your old car is too damaged to drive. This may mean contacting a junk car removal company that will pay cash for junk cars. However, you may also want to sell the functioning car parts from your accident car in order to help alleviate your financial burdens. Selling the car parts individually will bring in more money than selling the car as a whole.

Determine the Worth of Your Car Parts

The first move in selling your car parts during the junk car removal process is to estimate the value of the car parts you are trying to sell. One option is to consult an automated mechanic or a car parts dealer for an expert opinion. You may also research online by visiting sites that specialize in providing an online marketplace for used car parts and other used items.

Some of these sites include, eBayMotors.com, AllofCraigs.com, and WantAdDigest.com. These sites offer listings of a variety of car parts and even endless cars that are for sale. You can search for the car parts you are trying to sell as if you were looking to buy, in order to estimate the market value of your parts.

Post Parts For Sale Online

There are two ways to list parts for sale at an online marketplace. You can post each individual part. Although this may take more time, it will better help potential buyers of a specific part find your advertisement.

However, if you want to save some time you can say you are "parting out" your car and include the year, make, and model. This lets potential buyers know to contact you and ask about the specific part that they are looking for to see if it is available for purchase.

Take Photographs of You Car and Parts

If you are parting out your car, then you should photograph the outside and inside of your car. This will help minimize questions about which parts are still functional and for sale. Since the potential buyers can see the damage for themselves, they will be able to see some parts which are obviously too damaged to be functional.

If you are selling each part individually, you may also take photographs of each individual part and post those online. However, this may take quite a bit of time and will lengthen the car removal process consideringly, especially when you can call a car removal company that gives cash for wrecked cars, making it a simple and easy ordeal.

Selling Car Parts to a Salvage Yard

After an accident you may also decide to sell your car parts to a salvage yard. Although the salvage yard will probably not pay as much for car parts as potential buyers from online would, it would save you time and simplify the junk car removal process. However, be sure to call the salvage yard and ask them what their requirements are for your car removal. Some yards will require you to dismantle the car before bringing it in, while others will take the car as a whole.

Paying for Advertisement

You should not pay for advertising your car parts for sale if you can help it. However, if you are having trouble selling your car parts from an accident, then you may have to contact your local newspaper to help with selling the parts and moving forward with the junk car removal process.

Be sure to choose the day with the highest circulation to run your advertisement. Usually this will be the newspaper's weekend edition, but you should contact the newspaper's advertising department to make sure. You can also compare pricing and circulation between a variety of local newspapers as well.

Selling the parts to your car after an accident is the best option for the car removal if you are trying to make as much money as possible. However, it will take reasonable time and effort to accomplish this.

If you just want to get the removal process over with, then this may not be the best method. The simplest way to finish the removal process is by contacting a junk car removal company. They will take the car off your hands quickly and give you cash on the spot.

Online Money Making Tips

Online businesses are some of the fastest growing businesses in the world. Take for example Amazon, which grows from selling just a few hundred books a month to a multi-billion dollar business. This is just one of the numerous websites that are exploding in growth online.

But is the internet a practical place for the average joe to make money, or does it require a tremendous amount of luck? We think that if you just follow a few easy steps, not only will you reduce the risk of getting scammed, but you will also find your success dramatically increasing.

1. If you find yourself spending much more money than you're making, or if a program requires you to spend $ 1000 to join their "exclusive" money making group, stop. Do not be a victim to these scam artists, who have perfected their predatory ways.

2. Myth # 1: It makes money to make money. We at Joe's say that if you can not make money without money, you can not create money with it. Find ways to increase your revenue without spending a dime.

3. Spend time every day working on your business, even if for just fifteen mintues.

4. Do not just rely on one author's advice. Research a particular claim before testing it out. What one author says may be out of date or even worse, just a scam. Knowledge is power and the more you gain about internet marketing, the better off you will be.

5. Learn from your competition. Your competition is by far the best teacher you will ever have. Do not copy their exact methods, but learn how you can improve on what they did.

6. Patience. Online marketing is just like any other business, it is not a lottery. Sucess does not happen overnight. However, great success can happen and you can be a part of it. Good luck.

Joe's Guides [http://www.joesguides.org]

Truck Performance 101 - A Beginner's Guide

Today, the aftermarket gives truck owners more performance options than ever before. However, all the new truck performance products and gizmos can be a little hard to sort through. What you need for your specific truck's performance will depend on what type of truck you have and what you use it for.

What is performance? Basically, it is the word used to describe speed, fuel consumption rate and towing ability. Performance is primarily measured in terms of horsepower (HP) and Torque.

Horsepower, or HP, is by definition, the power of an engine in comparison to horses. For example, a truck with 100 horsepower is as fast as 100 horses all rolled into one. Horsepower is often indicative of a truck's top speed. Horsepower does not necessarily mean that a truck is fast from a standing start (see torque) but instead it is often indicative of the speed attainable by a particular truck. This being said other factors such as weight and grade will impact the final speed achieved. In more scientific terms, HP is the common measurement when rating an engine's power. One horsepower equals 500 ft-lbs. per second, which is basically the power needed to lift 550 pounds one foot off the ground in exactly one second or the power needed to lift 33,000 pounds one foot off the ground in exactly one minute.

Torque refers to a truck's ability to generate pick up. Torque is one of the most important factors at the beginning of any non-rolling start. It is the ability of the truck to send power to the wheels and turn them - moving the entire truck forward. The dictionary defines it as: "The moment of a force; the measure of a force's tendency to produce torsion and rotation about an axis...". The most important thing to remember is that torque is what gets the truck rolling and is very important in towing.

The basics of performance, of course, center on your engine. Think of your engine as basically a big air pump. It breathes air in through the air intake and breathes it out through the exhaust. The easier your engine can breathe the more performance it will deliver. The stock engine you received from the factory comes with OEM air induction and exhaust. Modifying these two areas is relatively easy and can deliver significant increases in both HP and torque. One other primary factor affecting your performance is the engines computer. The stock OEM computer your truck came with is set to a "safe mode" to protect the truck against virtually any driver error...e.g., redlining. Although these settings are meant to protect the truck, they can impede performance significantly. Tweaking your truck's computer can significantly increase HP and torque while still providing safety to the engine. We'll look at each of these three performance enhancements below.

Air Intake

The air intake primarily consists of your vehicle's air filter. Stock air filters are made of pleated paper. The problem with pleated paper is it often tends to become clogged which greatly reduces the airflow. Fragments of paper are ingested or sucked into the intake system creating a hole for gritty contaminants to enter the engine. In addition, these filters have to be replaced often to maintain a basic level of performance. Aftermarket filters are made of cotton gauze or engineered foam. These filters, made by companies like K&N, Airaid, Green Filter and True Flow significantly increase the flow of air through the filter. In addition, these filters defend against dirt at twice the rate or more than their paper counterparts and most come with a lifetime warranty...that's one filter for the life of your vehicle. Installation of these filters is super easy...just replace your existing factory air filter.

The second factor effecting air intake is the temperature of the air coming into the engine. You've probably noticed that your truck runs better on cold days. That is because the air is denser and denser air allows more combustion when mixed with fuel and ignited. Stronger combustion means more power to move your piston in the cylinder. Aftermarket companies...many of the same mentioned above...have developed systems called "Cold Air Intakes", that move the point of air intake from the top of your engine, which is normally very hot, to a point outside the engine. The result is that the air being sucked into your engine is much cooler than it would be using the normal air filter location. Cold air intakes require a little more handyman skills that just replacing a filter. However, they can be installed easily by anyone that has basic tools.

Exhaust Systems

Exhaust is the "exhale" to your engines lungs. The more twists and turns in the exhaust, the less your vehicle can breathe easily. Exhaust systems come with three primary elements...the muffler, exhaust pipes and muffler tips. The first two are the main ingredients that effect HP and torque. OEM factory exhausts are well made, but not designed to deliver maximum performance. Aftermarket systems from companies like Magnaflow, Banks and Gibson are engineered specifically for each truck and are designed to get the most out of your vehicle. In addition to more power, these systems also deliver an enviable "roar" that will let others know you have tricked out your truck. I do not recommend installing an exhaust system unless you are a true gear head and are prepared for cutting and welding. Although most muffler shops do not carry these products, they will be glad to install them for you.

Computer Chips and Programmers

Your truck's computer is technically referred to by gear heads as the Engine Control Unit (ECU). The ECU that controls the engine is very complicated. OEM's program them to satisfy emissions requirements, meet EPA fuel economy requirements and protect the engine against abuse. The computer does this by controlling many aspects of the vehicles performance, but primarily controls the ignition, fuel injection and spark time. As mentioned above, the OEM's set the default value of the ECU to an "ultra-safe" mode to insure adherence to government guidelines and to protect the engine from abusive driving. Aftermarket companies like Hypertech, Edge, Unichip and Superchips manufacturer chips and programmers that will either plug into your ECU or programmers that will alter the factory settings. Chip manufacturers set the products for each specific vehicle to a default performance setting. Programmer manufacturers allow more versatility in that they allow custom modifications to compensate for other performance add-ons like cold air kits and exhaust systems. These systems are relatively easy to install by anyone that has a little mechanical knowledge.

In conclusion, you can significantly increase your HP and Speed by just making these basic changes to your truck. Some all-in-one kits can deliver up to a 40% increase in overall performance. Finally, contrary to rumor, none of these products will void the warranty of your truck. There is a federal law called the "Magnuson Moss Warranty Act" that prevents automobile manufacturers from voiding warranties from the addition of aftermarket products. These are just a few of the many performance products available from the aftermarket. I will be covering more advanced performance products, like superchargers, in a subsequent article.

Heating Maintenance and Efficiency Tips

Most of us, in fact a vast majority of us, take things for granted while buying a house. We become so much elated and excited at that time that we forget to inquire about the most vital issue - heating system that can cost us dearly in coming years. Usually, we do not mind spending lavishly for furniture or a for useless home appliance but the same enthusiasm goes absent when we have to spend a little amount of money for upgrading our heating maintenance system. However, if we give a little bit of attention to the proper maintenance and servicing of our heating system, we can easily save a good amount of money each year. Apart from increasing its efficiency, it will definitely have a positive impact on your house 'electricity bill.

Lets Check Out Some Of The Common Heating Efficiency Tips:

A good maintenance can make all the difference. Before doing anything in haste, you need to make sure that you have garnered enough information about energy efficiency and energy conservation. You can collate information related to this issue from "Energy Star". It is an initiative of the Federal government for helping people to find out companies that are offering reliable and authentic information on energy efficiency.

Try Manual Thermostats

You can enhance the heating maintenance system of your home by opting for manual thermostats. By lowering thermostat, when no one is home, you can reduce the energy consumption of your home, which will certainly help you to save a good amount of money at the end of the month.

Programmable Thermostats

If you are using Energy Star certified programmable thermostat in your house, you will be able to save up to $ 150 at the end of the year. Programmable thermostat increases the efficiency of a heating system and thereby helping it to consume less power.

Regular Maintenance

Regular maintenance makes all the difference. If you are not serious enough about it, you will have to pay for it in the long run. This is the simple rule. Air filter of your heating system should be cleaned once in a month and it should be replaced if it is in bad condition. This will definitely improve the quality of air in your home.

Adding Insulation and Sealing Licks

You can easily enhance the efficiency of your house's heating system without spending a single penny. What you will have to do is to seal all the leaks. In order to maximize the performance of your heating system, you can add insulation in the attics. You can replace the windows of your home with Energy Star certified windows for getting the best results as well.

If you are in a fix or if you are unable to do these tasks, you can contact a professional who is well versed with all these aspects. He will inspect the condition of the ducts, seal the leaks and will offer you some suggestions that you can try later for improving the performance of the heating system.

Installing Geothermal Heat Pumps

Installation of Geothermal Heat Pumps is obviously expensive but it can reduce the energy bill of your house drastically.

A number of Las Vegas heating companies are now offering this service and therefore, you will not have to face any hassle if you are unable to service your heating system yourself. Just send them a mail and they will get back to you instantaneously.

Essential Facts to Be Consideration Before Selecting a HVAC Contractor

Are you feeling uncomfortable during the cold and dry season? Interested to find any solution to regulate your room's temperature? Yes, the heat, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system would be the best choice to accommodate your needs. One of the main advantages of the HVAC system is energy consumption and maintains the air flow inside the building.

HVAC Contractor

Before hiring an HVAC operator, the commercial builders should check whether the HVAC system offer efficient performance, durability and stable comfort. Moreover, this powerful system is installed matching to the industry norms and conditions. This article will offer an insight of how to choose an HVAC contractor and also the role played by a contractor.

Qualities of a Good Contractor

Typically, the HVAC contractor plays an important role in the service industry. It is essential to understand that a good HVAC contractor would identify and tackle all kinds of problems associated with your HVAC systems. People should ensure to get help from a licensed and specialized contractor. Further, the heating or air-conditioning contractor recruited by the leading companies are well trained and conform with professional HVAC procedures. It is advisable to contact the established HVAC companies rather than the normal contractors.

The HVAC system involves the engineers to install new parts and require regular cleanups to maintain the purity of air.

Specialization of HVAC Contractors

Each of the HVAC contractors are specialized in one or two fields and the people should select them suiting to their need.

Repairs

Due to high demand, the HVAC contractors choose to offer the repair services at an affordable cost. They also try to avoid new installations of HVAC system as there is shortage of skilled personnel. Installing process requires more knowledge about the HVAC systems.

Engineering / Design

This particular field offers excellent job opportunities for degreed engineers and computer-aided design (CAD) operators. In engineering and design section, the contractors are made to focus on the technical side of the HVAC systems inside the office.

Service Technicians

The role of service technicians is to install the belts and other accessories properly in the HVAC systems. These technicians usually refrain to attempt major repairs and solve the problem in the system within a short time. Most of the home owners prefer to get help from a qualified and licensed service technician to clear the repairs.

Tips to Choose a Good Contractor

Ensure to make a quick research over the web or contact your friends to get a good HVAC contractor. Look for the license and quality of service offered by the HVAC operator.

How Much Does Your Meal Cost? Can You Cut it Down?

You may complain your government a lot recently that you can not buy anything with one dollar with this economic crisis and inflation rate. But did you know how much is a US dollar worth in each country? I do not mean conversion rate but I mean "worth". In many countries in Africa and Asia, a dollar could buy food for a week. No kidding it's true.For example,

* In Thailand, a meal such as rice with spicy chicken or pork cost between 20 and 40 Baht per portion. That is about 1 USD a meal.

* In India, food is extremely cheap. A kilo of tomatoes or most vegetables cost approximately 0.28 USD, a loaf of bread comes for about 0.23 USD, half-kilogram butter for 1.28 USD, 10 eggs for 0.50 USD.

You may think I'm living in USA. I can not afford to live there just for cheaper cost of living. Yes, it's not necessary to move just to cut down your meal price. There are tips and techniques that you can follow to cut the cost down.

1. Planning menus in advance for a week. You will see what items are needed. You can compare this list of items against weekly grocery for the best price.

2. Cut food waste. Buying food in volume may give you bargain power but it will save no money if you have to throw the waste out. Consider investing in a freezer to store food until it is needed.

3. Be self-discipline. Buy only items you have planned. Impulse buying can destroy a budget.

4. Use coupons first. Coupons can reduce the total cost of groceries by 50% or more. There's a woman on TV program said she can prepare food for the whole family of 2 adults and 3 children for a week with less than 30 USD. This is awesome.

Follow the 4 steps repeatedly every week then compare your receipts wherever your average meal cost is lessen. If not, let's find what goes wrong each week. The first few weeks may be tough for the beginner. You have to believe in yourself and be more disciplined. Probably consider go shopping alone next time so you can control the shopping list.

If you have done everything you can but you still can not cut the food cost down, let's think positively that you may reach your lowest point already.

How to Make Email Marketing Works for Your Business

Topic 1 ~ Your Email Subject Lines ~

How To Write A Good E-mail Subject Lines That Works?

Here are the 5 tips:

1. Ask a question. One of the best ways to get a reader's attention is to ask a question. But like a trial lawyer questioning a witness on the stand, make sure it 'll get you the response you're looking for. "What's the best way to grow your business?" is a great subject line for business owners. After all, what business owner would not want to grow his or her business? Or let's say you run a health club. An e-mail with the subject line, "How can you lose 5 pounds in one month?" would certainly be compelling. It's important your question to be relevant to your audience.

2. Be a tease. A clever subject line can be enticing. When it's done right, reader curiosity is piqued. They want to know more - and they'll open your e-mail. Writing a teaser-style subject line requires some creativity, and your content needs to deliver. A company that sells high-definition TVs could use the subject line, "You're not going to believe your eyes" as a teaser to introduce a new addition to their product line.

3. Tell it like it is. Often, what works best is to say exactly what you want your reader to know. Examples of this straightforward approach are, "Sale on all sweaters this weekend," "Master jazz pianist plays live this Friday" and "The seven secrets of a profitable business." This just-the-facts approach works especially well when you can appeal directly to your audience's interests. It's also the best approach to use when you send a newsletter.

4. Remember "WIIFM". When a person gets your e-mail, the first thing they consider is "what's in it for me?" They have a decision to make. Do they open your e-mail, leave it for later or delete it? If there is not something about the subject line that lets them know why it's worth their precious time to see what's inside, then the choice will be clear. Keep WIIFM in mind when creating every aspect of your e-mails, including the offer, content, images - and most definitely the subject line. It's all about them. They know that; just make sure you know it, too.

5. Get personal. The more you can make each contact feel you're speaking directly to them, the more effective your communication will be. Whatever style of subject line you use, you can make it personal by using the word "you." Professional copywriters know the secret of using this powerful little word. Just look at the advertisements, mail and e-mail you receive. A few examples are, "Find the right swimsuit for you," "You can save 50 percent on travel," and "You're look phenomenal in a custom-tailored suit." "You" is ideal, but "your" works too.

6. Not sure which approach is right for you? Try them all, and then show a friend or colleague to get their feedback. Pick the one you believe will be most effective for your audience. Whichever approach you choose, it's always worth spending the time and effort to write a great subject line. Because if your readers do not open your e-mail, they'll never have the chance to read the important message you've created for them inside.

Topic 2 ~ Increase Click-Through Rate (CTR) ~

How to Increases Click-Through Rate (CTR)?

Here are some guidelines:

1. Include a feature, a benefit, and an advantage in the opening. This needs to be used in a subtle way, but in the opening you're really doing a small marketing job for this issue of your email newsletter. Highlight an article or two that are important, explain what you're providing the readers that they will not get elsewhere, and tell them what the benefit will be. A great example is something like "Nokia and Sprint announced second quarter earnings today. Learn what our Wireless Week experts say about the results, and what effect you can expect them to have on the industry at large."

2. Put the email newsletter in the context of your readers' day. This goes hand in hand with the last point. Your readers are busy, and if you can make a compelling case for why they should stop what they are doing and take a few minutes now to read your email newsletter, you'll get them in. We recommend editors reference important events, upcoming trade shows, or other things that say to the reader "You will find it worthwhile to stop and read this email newsletter now, because the information in it will help you stay on top of your business."

3. Keep it fresh. Do not craft a "perfect paragraph" and use it issue after issue after issue. One of the keys to success is to keep the copy fresh and highlight items in that issue of the email newsletter. If you use the same generic language repeatedly, people will stop reading it and it'll be a waste of your time.

4. Keep it short. This is critical. We recommend no more than two to three sentences - just enough to get them interested and pull them in to read the rest of your email newsletter.

Try it out and see the results! This is just one of the simple things you can do to engage your reader and optimize your CTR.

Topic 3 ~ Killer Email Sales Letter ~

How to Write Killer Email Sales Letter That Get Results?

Here are what we've found works best. Use these tips correctly and your results will skyrocket.

1. Your email "from" sender line should be your brand name or company name and stay consistent. Use your own personal name only if that is your brand image.

2. Send emails only when you have something to say that will benefit the reader. No fluff. No filler. You must be relevant. If you can not be, do not send an email until you have something beneficial to say.

3. Start your emails with the specific benefit the reader can get from your message. You have no more than 3 seconds to pass the crucial "what's in it for me?" test.

4. The copywriting tone and language should be personal and conversational, instead of stuffy and "corporate".

5. Make a specific offer to the reader and, if possible, include a short deadline by which he must respond to get it.

6. Use as much copy as is needed to fully pile on all the benefits the reader will get by ordering, answer objections, create urgency, and close the sale.

7. Test your subject lines and offers on small segments of your list before you send the email to your entire list.

8. Include "Email this to a friend" service in all your communications for pass along and viral marketing.

Topic 4 ~ Good Call-to-Action ~

Get More Clicks With a Good Call-to-Action!

The call-to-action is a determining factor of your click-through rate. It is an important component of your email copy because it answers three important questions for the recipient. They are:

1. What you want them to do

2. Why they should do it, and

3. How to take that next step.

Whatever action you want your recipients to take, you can make it happen more often with a good call-to-action. First, decide what you want them to do:

1. Buy something

2. Sign up for a service

3. Fill out a form

4. Read an article or get more information

5. Visit your website or store

6. Make an appointment

Etc ...

Then, make sure you incorporate these 6 characteristics to get the results you're looking for. Make your call-to action:

1. Visible - People read, react, make decisions and take action differently. Some make decisions right away ("You had me at hello.") And some need more details ("I'm from Missouri."). Place call-to-action links in the beginning, middle and end of the email so that recipients can click whenever they are ready.

2. Clear - Stick to simple words, short phrases, bulleted benefits and paragraphs of 1-3 short sentences. Include appropriate graphics and cut the clutter by making effective use of white space.

3. Compelling - Use action-oriented verbs and phrases: "buy now," "call today," "save" and so on.

4. Rewarding - Offer an incentive or reward for action. For example, "Act now and also receives ...," or "the First 100 responders will be entered into a raffle to win ..." The giveaway, or prize, you choose should be closely related to your product or service. That way, you will be targeting customers who are interested in what you have to offer, not just the latest gadget.

5. Urgent - The longer an email sits in an inbox, the less likely it is to be acted on. Create a sense of urgency to get a more immediate response. Try limiting the offer to a specific time period, to the "first 50 customers," "while supplies last," etc.

6. Direct - Your call-to-action links should go to the appropriate page on your website with more details on the specific product or service you're promoting. If you do not have a website, the call-to-action might be store locations to visit or a number to call for an appointment.

Keep in mind that, in addition to repeating your call-to-action, you can vary your call-to-action to appeal to different types of buyers (and to fit your sales cycle). For example: "Click here to buy now" will naturally work better with loyal customers. The softer, "Click here to learn more" may be better for newer prospects.

Topic 5 ~ Avoid Common Pitfalls ~

Read Your Email Message Backwards to Avoid Common Pitfalls

Here are some common problems to look out for:

1. Misspelled words - It's a good idea to spell-check a document, but it's not enough. A spell checker will not catch every error.

2. Wrong word used - This is why a spell checker is not enough. A spell checker will only flag words it does not recognize. It can not tell if a legitimate word is used incorrectly. Some words commonly confused: accept, except; your, you're; then, than; there, their, they're; cite, site, sight; lay, lie; loose, loosen, lose. Also, look out for missing "r" in the word "your." It's easy to overlook a sentence such as "Visit our Web site now to receive you free copy."

3. Grammar error - Again, if you know you're not a good writer, have someone else look your writing for grammatical errors. Mistakes make you look bad.

4. Punctuation error - This is another area where you'll benefit from a review by someone who knows their stuff. If you're determined to do it yourself, purchase a good grammar or style book. One of the most common punctuation problems: Too many stupid commas!

5. Vague or confusing statement - Make sure every sentence is crystal-clear. You do not want your promotional message to raise more questions than it answers.

6. Ilogical statement - Read over what you have written slowly. At the end of each paragraph, ask yourself: "Did that make sense?" Rewrite so that it does.

Topic 6 ~ Frequency of Sending Emails ~

How Often (Frequency) Should You Send Email?

There's no quick answer to the frequency question. It depends on the goals for your email and the type of content you send. Some rough guidelines:

1. Mail at least once a month. Mail less often than this, and you risk being forgotten by recipients. Monthly is the bare minimum if you want to keep your brand or company name top of mind (a common email goal).

2. Let content be your guide. Look at what you provide readers and you'll get a feel for proper frequency. Analyze how often the information changes and how quickly readers must receive it to act on it.

3. Work within your resources. A daily email requires many more resources than a monthly. Better a well-done monthly email than shoddy weekly or daily. It's recommended to start with a monthly. Once that's going smoothly, they can think about moving to weekly. You need to walk before you can run!

4. Watch for trends. Declining response, open, and click-through rates can be signs of list fatigue. Although some decrease is normal, watch carefully and cut back frequency if you see a problem. Do not assume if the unsubscribe rate is stable you're OK. Many people prefer to forward email directly to their delete folder rather than unsubscribe.

Topic 7 ~ Understanding Spam Filters ~

Understanding Spam Filters to Avoid Your Emails Get Junked!

If you send email campaigns long enough, you will inevitably run into spam filter issues. On average, you can expect 10-20% of your emails to just get lost in cyberspace, mostly due to overzealous spam filters. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix. If you want to avoid getting your emails junked by spam filters, you have to understand how they work.

Generally speaking, spam filters look at a long list of criteria to judge whether or not your email is junk. For example, they might look for spammy phrases like "CLICK HERE!" Egypt "FREE! BUY NOW!". They'll assign points each time they see one of those phrases. Certain criteria get more points than others. Here's a sample of criteria from Spam Assassin, one of the most popular spam filters out there:

o Talks about lots of money (.93 points)

o Describes some sort of breach (.32 points)

o Looks like mortgage pitch (.297 points)

o Contains urgent matter (.288 points)

o Money back guarantee (2.051 points)

o Why Pay More? (1.249 points)

It's easy to use "spammy" keywords in your email without even knowing it. Here are some common ways marketers unwittingly trigger spam filters with their campaigns:

1. Using spammy phrases, like "Click here!" Egypt "Once in a lifetime opportunity!" too many times in your email. Sometimes, you can not avoid phrases like "FREE SHIPPING!" but use them sparingly, and do not do anything else risky.

2. Going crazy with exclamation points !!!!!!

3. USING ALL CAPS, WHICH IS LIKE YELLING IN EMAIL

4. Coloring their fonts bright red, or green

5. Coding sloppy HTML (such as converting a Microsoft Word file to HTML)

6. Creating an HTML email that's nothing but one big image, with no text (since spam filters can not read images, they assume you're a spammer that's trying to trick 'em)

7. Using the word "Test" in the subject line (agencies run into this all the time, when sending drafts to clients for approval)

Topic 8 ~ Why Email Marketing Does not Work? ~

If Your Email Marketing Does not Work, Think Again Why?

Before you arrive at the faulty conclusion that email marketing does not work, let's look at this from a different perspective for a moment that would make your emails ineffective.

First there's what you are writing in the body of the email. If this is your first attempt to get in touch with a prospect, what are you putting in the email? A dissertation? If it's longer than one or two paragraphs, it's too long. Look at your emails like an initial cold call. You need to laser in and deliver a compelling opening statement that's going to grab their interest and stimulate a conversation. Because there's no one to cut you off in an email or stop you from persistent pontification, people have a tendency to ramble on and on in an email, giving the prospect the life story of the product or service they want them to consider. Keep it short and focus on the one or two benefits, opening up the opportunity to have a dialogue. That's it.

Second, are you sending attachments in the first email? No attachments! It's hard enough sending an unsolicited email to a prospect. Now you're adding more barriers and increasing the opportunities of your email winding up in their spam box or junk email folder. Some people have filters on their email that if an attachment is sent it automatically gets deleted. No attachment until that information in the attachment is solicited by the person.

Third, html or text? Once again, with all the email filters people use today, you will increase your odds by sending a text message only rather than trying to get fancy with formatting, graphics and pictures. The prospect really does not care about how beautiful your email looks; they care about the core message. Beside, they will never even get a chance to see your beautiful masterpiece in an html email if it's winding up in the trash.

Finally, you are using way too many spam words. As mentioned, the largest enemy to email marketing or selling via email is the additional security that companies and individuals have on their network or computer. As such, the specific words you are using in the body of the email can be the culprit who is sending your email directly into the trash or spam box. In other words, you are using words that are often identified is spam and in turn, you email is getting flagged and deleted. Not even eye contact! The prospect is not getting a chance to, at the very least, see your email let alone read it and have a chance to respond accordingly.

Ending ~ Please Forward ~