Fashion Mode

When it comes to marketing your business, understanding your audience is crucial. After all, your audience, or target market, are the people that buy your products, give you their money and generate your profits! Who are the people that are most likely to be interested in what you have to offer?

As you consider different business ideas, or ways to expand your existing small business, it is easy to get caught up in the idea of maximising everything. Growth means getting bigger and, for a lot of us, that simply means reaching as many customers as possible. In practice, though, the most successful growth doesn't come from merely increasing your reach - the best results come from directly targeting a small niche market.

How do you know if a niche market is right for you? What should you consider when choosing a niche market for your business? And what are the benefits of a narrow approach to marketing when it comes to blogs, social media and search engine optimisation?

What Is Your Niche?

As simple as this question sounds. With other partners, I set up an Online Prescription and Consultation website and we weren't sure how feasible it was to cover both men and women's healthcare conditions within one website, or whether we should aim for condition niche websites. This is still a question that we debate as we change and develop our strategy to reach out to different communities and their needs.

For any business-to-business organisation, aiming your marketing at one type of client or industry is a classic niche approach. But there are many alternatives. Another very common niche is the one found in your local area. Targeting all of your advertising and effort within a small geographic area is a sure-fire way to get your message through in a direct fashion. After all, people naturally trust businesses that are located nearby, and choose them over more distant competitors.

Ultimately, a niche can be found just about anywhere. You could select a small group of people based on age, income, location, interests and so on. But for a niche that really works, look carefully at your business.

As much as we would all like to please everybody all the time, your products or services undoubtedly appeal to some people more than others. You may be able to build up a picture of these people through your preliminary sales, potential leads, or through surveys and questionnaires. Online survey site Wufoo.com offers a great business demographic survey to help you identify your niche.

Once you have identified them, look for a common trend - this is the niche that you should be targeting.

Finding A Gap In The Market

If you are just getting started with your business, it is a great idea to build your organisation around a niche, rather than searching for the niche after you are up and running. Classically, this means finding a 'gap in the market'.

Unfortunately, with every year that passes, the original business ideas get used up. It's almost impossible to find an entirely innovative business that has a large customer base just waiting to be tapped. If you find one, seize the opportunity!

For most of us, though, there will not be a sudden flash of inspiration. Instead, use intelligent niche marketing to aim your products where they are required. As long as you reach your customers more effectively than your competitors do, you can dominate a niche that is already being served.

A great example of this is Lehman's. Founded in 1955, the company offered tools and home ware aimed at a niche market that was already being served - the local Amish community, who do not use electricity. Although the Amish community could find products that did not require electricity, there was nobody that made them feel as if the products were aimed specifically at them.

This is the most important thing to learn about niche marketing. It is not necessary to have a niche all of your own, but, by focusing your attention on a specific group, you can build their respect, appreciation and loyalty.

Today, Lehman's is an international organisation, offering products to not only the Amish but also developing countries, environmentalists and people with unreliable electricity supplies. Lehman's built a reputation by targeting a niche, and subsequently expanded to cover a wider group of customers.

You can do the same by starting with a focused approach.

Niche Marketing Works Online

Increasingly, businesses market themselves online. After all, this is a fantastic way to reach customers from every corner of the globe. But this is missing the point of effective marketing.

While it would be nice to get sales from the mass market, the sheer volume of online competition makes this an uphill struggle. However, the Internet is also the ideal place for effective niche marketing.

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is particularly powerful when you focus on a niche. SEO involves optimising your web site to target specific keywords that customers enter into search engines. If you choose a keyword that is being targeted by millions of other pages, getting to the top of the results is hard. If you focus on a particularly relevant keyword that is being searched for but not targeted by competitors, you can increase your website traffic and, in turn, you income.

Targeting a niche means less competition for your keywords. Less competition means more online impact.

Niche Social Media Marketing

Another important online niche marketing activity is social media. Although celebrity Twitter users give the impression that social media is about promotion, remember that these platforms are designed to allow you to connect with a small group of people. Social media is designed to operate in niche groups.

In a business sense, it is rarely productive to use social media marketing to announce your news or post closed, insular updates. Instead, you should concentrate your attention on entering one of these niche groups successfully.

Let's imagine that you offer an XXXL clothing range targeted at the overweight niche. Social media is the perfect place to connect with potential customers, by entering conversations about dieting, weight loss, the difficulty of getting suitable sizes, and so on.

As long as there is a niche group of people that are communicating through social media, your brand can enter this arena and become part of the conversation. That is the potential of social media.

And, of course, if a niche does not yet exist, your business can play a vital role in bringing like-minded people together. Once your social media presence is established, you can provide the platform through which your niche can communicate. In return, your brand remains consistently present, the first port of call for the products that your niche needs most.

How To Focus On A Niche While Maximising Customers

The theory of niche marketing is not new but has a particular relevance to the field of online marketing. Today, there are more opportunities to connect with your niche audience than ever before.

But a niche still remains intimidating. Properly targeted marketing makes a certain group of people feel welcomed and included but, in turn, alienates others who may have an interest in your product. Why close yourself off to possible customers?

The reality is that niche marketing is a powerful tool, but is not exclusive. It is possible to focus your attention on multiple niches at once, providing that your marketing budget allows for the commitment involved. And, of course, your niche is just the beginning. As your business and products evolve, so will your natural base of customers.

Start today with a niche that gives you a foothold in your industry. It is only once this niche is in place that you can continue to climb further up the business ladder.

With fashion currently referencing so many different eras and cultures, now is a great time for girls to try out a hairstyle that will set them apart from their classmates.

It is refreshing to see a return to natural looks for black hair. Stars such as Janelle Monae, Esperanza Spalding and Solange Knowles are embracing the spiral curls they were born with, meaning the look is both original and less expensive than paying for relaxers.A great look for those heading back to hallways and campuses is the natural mohawk. Antoinette's Funky Mohawkis High Style It brings the same drama as a pompadour, but can showcase some bold color as well.By cutting the sides short and teasing up the center, students will notice it puts a strong emphasis on their eyes and necks, making it a wise choice for those who like dramatic eye shadow and statement necklaces.Another great look for ladies looking to cut their hair short is the updated pageboy. Dominique's Hair Style features heavy blunt bangs, a popular trend for fall, and showcases healthy, shiny locks.

The great thing about this style is that it is sleek and architectural, and references both the 1920s and Mod '60s. Girls who have a flair for mixing vintage pieces with modern clothing will love the versatility and movement this cut will give them. It also plays up angular cheekbones and expressive eyes in a way that is both sultry and innocent. Those who want to try a medium-length style should give Zarria's Hair Style, a jagged wave cut a try. Cut slightly graduated toward the front, the silhouette frames the face on one side and is flipped out on the other. To help achieve this, bangs are cut asymmetrically from short and spiky on one side to long and side swept on the other. This look can cover a too-high forehead and puts the entire focus on beautiful eyes.

Girls who have grown out their hair over the summer might want to try some ways to add texture to keep it interesting. Playing off of the popular bohemian style, hair is moving toward featuring braids of different widths and techniques. Vaunia's Hair Style features a way to marry skinny braids and a small section of cornrows while keeping the bulk of the hair free flowing. By braiding the front section off to the side, girls can achieve a sexy sideswept bang without it falling in their eyes.

Even though some facets of online marketing have changed drastically, companies are still relying on the tried and true tool of bulk email marketing for the sake of their bottom lines.

True, email is not exactly gaining any momentum. For the first time in a decade, email use on the web dropped by over five percent last year. But while email might not be growing as an institution in and of itself, companies are getting creative. Now, marketing campaigns focus on combining email with other tools associated with social media in order to effectively canvass the web.

There is no way that the new technologies of Twitter and Facebook could ever replace email for dominance in web-based communication. There is not one auxiliary service out there that could function without email-you need an email address just to sign up for most other social media services! That said, there is still plenty of room for growth and innovation in the realm of bulk email marketing. Here are the top 5 best tactics for mass emailing.

1. Focus on pop culture and current events to hook viewers in. Recipients and potential customers respond to emails that lean on pop culture, current events and primary content. Even by doing something as simple as coordinating your emails with holidays, it'll pay off. Perhaps more important is appearing up-to-date with trends in pop culture and new advances in your own field.

2. Utilize Twitter and Facebook to score some opt-ins. Include simple ways for customers to be signed up for your emails right within Facebook updates and Tweets.

3. Separate your email lists into different subcategories. It is definitely not in your best interest to send out a single mass email to every one of your recipients, who are probably as different as can be! A little bit of targeting can go a long way.

4. Make sure to include incentives for customers that branch out onto social media, like coupons and birthday deals. You could even go so far as to offer discounted products and also services.

5. Go to SMS promotions, to reach your customers using your services on the go. Offer coupons and discounts for users on mobile devices.

There are plenty of ways to customize you bulk email marketing campaign in order to get the most out of your efforts. If you are playing the game correctly, bulk emailing can pay off in a big way. By linking in other outlets of communication, you are making it easier for customers to get the word out about and reap benefits from your products and services, and therefore you are making sure that everyone wins.

Follow the five tips listed above, and watch as your bulk email campaign bumps up your web presence and number of active and loyal customers. While email may seem old-fashioned, it is still the best way to reach out to new customers.

As you are developing a new product, it's not sufficient for your loved ones to say they like it. The main problem is they usually don't want to hurt your feelings and will tell you that your idea is sheer creative genius even when they think it's the most bizarre thing they've ever experienced. This is the time for a product development survey.

Find out the potential customer's initial reactions with the product. What is their level of need for it? Are they going to kill for it or would they never consider removing it from a shelf? Would they want to receive it as a present?

Surveys Are really a Pass or Fail Sign

This is how a product development survey can help. You will receive objective comments and constructive criticism that will give you an indicator of if your product is deserving of financial success or the bottom of a trash can. Once you find out how people feel about your product you can make adjustments to improve it or start all over at the creative drawing board.

A survey might consider the frequency of use. If a great deal of people say they'd never make use of it, that's a huge indication that your product might be headed toward the round file. Ask the client if they'd think about employing your product over their regular brand.

A crucial question to ask is what will make someone want to decide to buy your product. There are a large number of considerations which might be used to compel a new purchaser:

• Value your product offers
• Quality of you product
• Product performance
• Ease of purchase
• Good warranty
• Level of customer support
• Product selection

Ask a customer's preference about how exactly they'd start making a purchase. Would they order online or want to visit a physical store? Maybe they'd rather pick up the telephone or go about doing it the old fashioned way and send a check in a letter.

Ask your potential shoppers what method of advertising would cause them to buy your product. What would they choose?

• Testimonies from other customers
• A friendly company agent in sales or service
• An industrial publication
• Television promotion
• Trade shows or related events
• Newspaper advertising
• Online advertising
• Special offers, like rebates or longer warranties

It's crucial that you ask someone the things they like most about your product, but gather the courage to ask what they don't like about it, too. Phrase the question more optimistically, "What do you like the least about this product?"

You may not like the results of a survey, particularly if after investing a lot of time you discover that you're the only person with an interest in your product. But you could save money on any further investment or find that you need to take out a really big loan when you conduct a proper product development survey.

One of the United Kingdom's top authorities on business practices, The Henley Business School has released a report which indicates that two-thirds of all customers surveyed believe service levels of retailers and various other service-oriented businesses are at an all time low. The report goes on to say that these firms are arrogant and make no effort to understand their customers.

I must admit that I have no first-hand knowledge of business practices in the UK, but I can definitely state that I believe service levels are at an all time low in Canada and the United States. I travel extensively in both countries and have experienced some service issues that I would never have existed even twenty years ago. What I find most perplexing is that during the most economically challenging decade of the past 100 years, businesses everywhere are allowing customers to walk out their doors empty-handed while rude, lazy, disengaged employees continue to receive pay checks! So what is the problem?

Because I am in the business of leadership and personal development training, when I am faced with bad service, I attempt to analyze it and in some cases, I go so far as to point it out to the offending service provider or his/her manager. In most cases, I find businesses that provide bad service are not managed well. In fact, in extreme cases they appear not to be managed at all. Managers in many establishments have stopped being leaders. They have stopped engaging in old-fashioned, hands-on, disciplined leadership. They allow customers to be ignored, bad employee attitudes to live, and poor or non-existent service levels to be the norm.

Twenty-first century management has lost its way in many cases. Until managers start to hold their employees accountable and until managers themselves are held accountable by their bosses, service levels will continue to slide.

Although very important, leadership is about more than setting a good example. Managers should be constantly observing the behaviour of their employees and taking corrective action at the time bad service occurs. They should remove the bad service provider from the floor, away from customers as soon as it is appropriate and tell them what they did wrong. Employees should know their responsibilities and their obligations to customers in all situations. When they fail to live up to those responsibilities, they must be reprimanded and if improvement does not occur, they should be terminated. Is that wrong? Is it wrong to demand that employees provide good service? If believing that is wrong, I must be living in the wrong century.

Managers should also be made to understand their obligations and responsibilities to customers, employees and their employer before they are allowed to manage. I can hardly believe that some of the nasty, rude, dismissive, and absent service I have witnessed, was carried out while someone with the title of manager was actually on the premises. In many of these cases, the bad service was not even isolated to one or two people. In some cases I have seen establishments with dozens of employees who seemed not to want to provide service to any customers. If you own a retail or service-oriented business, do you know what is going on with your employees? Do you care?

The typical reasons cited for bad service include "too busy, understaffed, new employees and the computers are down." All of these are simply excuses for bad management. Most importantly, managers who give these excuses are generally poor leaders. They make excuses rather than simply owning up to their responsibilities for bad service and holding themselves accountable. Managers with poor leadership skills are also generally afraid of confrontation. Rather than disciplining a bad service provider, they tend to look the other way and hope that no one notices. Unfortunately for them, as the Henley Business School has pointed out, the world is noticing... big time!

Billions of dollars are lost to bad service world-wide every year. That trend will not improve until the retailers and other service providers take the initiative to regain control by holding managers and employees accountable for impeccable service. I am looking forward to a future rife with great service.

All the Best!
Wayne Kehl

In the foreign exchange market, every currency pair is unique. Every set of pairs has its own behavioral tendencies that overtly distinguish it from the others. As such, it is essential to trade the pairs that best match up with your personality.

There are three main types of currency pairs, namely majors, minors, and exotic pairs. The major pairs are currencies from the major economies that are paired with the United States dollar. The majors are the most liquid in the foreign exchange market. Some of them include EUR/USD, USD/JPY, GBP/USD, and USD/CHF. Since the major currency pairs are the most active in the Forex market, you should consider trading them if you have an active personality and you are able to make decisions faster.

It is important to note that many of the major currency pairs are correlated in their price movements. This means they move in a near-identical fashion to one another. For instance, the EUR/USD and the GBP/USD tend to depict the same price action (but not precisely the same). Therefore, if the EUR/USD is in a clear uptrend or downtrend, then we can assume that GBP/USD is also following the same trend. The EUR/USD is also the most highly traded pair in the foreign exchange market. Because it is the most liquid, it has the highest volume of all the pairs and it is the easiest to trade.

The minor currency pairs, also known as cross-currency pairs are not paired with the United States dollar. Some of them include EUR/CHF, EUR/GBP, and CAD/JPY. The minors provide more opportunities for traders by offering more currencies to analyze and trade. In essence, the chart patterns of the minors tend to be clearer than their counterparts, the major currency pairs. This makes them easier to forecast and trade. If you want to stay from trading the greenback because of a major happening or any other reason, then you should consider trading any minor pair.

Exotic currency pairs consist of a currency of a developed country paired with a currency of a country with an emerging economy. Examples include USD/ZAR and USD/MXN. Exotic pairs in the foreign exchange market are not actively traded like the majors and the minors. Therefore, they tend to be less volatile. You should consider trading the exotic pairs if you are a patient person who can wait for a long time before realizing profits.

Today, people carry around computers in their pocket more powerful than computer scientist of decades past dreamed possible. With full colour screens and increasingly high speed internet, as well as multiple choices for operating system, manufacturer and major corporations going head to head to try to dominate the market, an item that once took hauling around a briefcase broadcast unit just for patchy voice calls has become as integrated into modern living as desktop computers became. Add a blossoming expansion in the availability of tablets and e-readers, the flat screened bridge between full feature notebook computers and phones, and computer courses are updating to include new realities.

Applications (Apps)

Small programs designed to run on smartphones, apps, can be everything from alarm clocks to integrated data sharing systems. There's also been a renewed interest in converting vintage computer games, fuelled one part by eight-bit nostalgia, and one part by taking advantage of limited phone memory. Companies are trying to take advantage of name recognition by providing some sort of free phone software, while entrepreneurs hope to duplicate the successes of simple games that captivated audiences with food slicing assassins. Computer courses will help prepare you, not just for developing new products, but also backwards compatibility. Demand for apps is so high that some educational institutions will even run app designer competitions.

Mobile Web

Most phones are now equipped to do both dual wireless and cellphone network facilitated internet, meaning a need for a retooling of all websites for a browser version. Web design courses have to include a section on making pages be useable and look good on tiny screens and slower networks, while programmers for major corporations continue to strive to improve the under pinning operating systems. No university or computer college worth its tuition will fail to provide at least an introduction to the mobile web to budding web designers and programmers alike.

Tablets and Touchscreens

Touch sensitive screens are not a new technology, but asides from a limited range of use in graphic design and public utilities such as ticket machines; for the most part they had been a strict novelty or decorative setting element in science fiction stories. Today, what was once mostly a footnote in computer courses is the essential interface in tablets and smart phones alike. While some ereaders still stubbornly cling to button based interfaces, and all these utilities will maintain at least an old fashioned power button, users learn to swipe their fingers across screens and tap smooth surfaces to type. Capturing a segment of the luxury market, tablets are proving to have an industry use sharing conference proceedings and for lower commitment computer use for the modern, internet anchored worker, who stays in round the clock contact with their office.

Just about every individual has had the pleasure of experiencing contact dermatitis. This skin disorder is an inflammation of the outer layer of your skin due to contact with an agent which you are allergic to or is just plain irritating to your skin. The severity ranges from person to person as we are all made up differently and have different sensitivities. Symptoms run the gauntlet from very mild and down right annoying all the way up to complete inflammation with redness, itching, edema and possible pustule formation. The majority of cases involve exposed skin since this is the area that has no protection.

Irritant contact dermatitis is the most common form of this disorder with a prevalence up to 80% of all cases. Obnoxious chemical agents are the "usual suspects". Things like detergents, soaps, dyes and good old-fashioned household cleaning products have all been implicated as irritants to your skin. For people working in industry, the entire myriad of chemicals found in the workplace can also be included as suspects.

Allergic contact dermatitis makes up the remainder of cases and is the result of a true allergy to something in the environment. A good example would be exposure to poison ivy. Other examples include allergies to just about anything you can touch such as specific clothing material or specific metals found in jewelry. Also included here are personal hygiene products and cosmetics.

As a practicing pharmacist, many patients come to see me with their contact dermatitis, simply because I am easier to get to than their personal physician. At that point, a little bit of counseling takes place to determine the cause and the proper treatment regimen. As most cases are self-limiting, an over the counter product is all that is necessary to bring relief and a speedy recovery. If I feel the case is of a more severe nature, I will recommend that the patient make an appointment to see their doctor.

Over the counter products used for treating contact dermatitis include internal as well external antihistamines to relieve itching and swelling, hydrocortisone creams and ointments for the inflammation and redness, and pain killers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen if indicated. Rounding out the pack, we sometimes use astringents such as witch hazel and burrows solution and an ingredient such as colloidal oatmeal which when added to bath water, will bring soothing relief.

More severe contact dermatitis cases and situations involving very young patients should always be referred to their physician. Doctors have a wide selection of prescription products that they can choose from, depending on how aggressive they want to treat the situation. For the most part, it includes stronger variations of everything found over the counter. Additionally, they sometimes add an antibiotic to the mix when the contact dermatitis has resulted in broken skin which could welcome an opportunistic infection.

Virtually all major events in our lives trigger some form of stress. Clearly, for certain situations it is vital to have sufficient coping mechanisms to deal with the stress caused by adverse events. In today's busy world these experiences are all too commonplace. Stress emanating from career, health, relationships and money issues immediately spring to mind.

I think most people are aware that stress-related illnesses are on the march. Today, more and more people are popping pills. So, what has happened to the relatively mature, well-documented and understood coping mechanisms? Why do they seem to have been somewhat diluted?

Of course, stress can increase just by knowing you are stressed! A doctor who takes your blood pressure realises that the reading will be slightly higher than normal simply by virtue of the patient knowing they are being tested. The human brain is a clever thing, perhaps cleverer that you think!

Whenever we feel threatened, the fight or flight response is automatically activated. This is a primary response that is hard-wired in the neurology of all human beings. By comparison, anger and fear are secondary responses. Once your brain detects any kind of threat to your well-being it will respond at lightning speed. The amygdala acts as a kind of thermostat constantly checking that all is well within. Any kind of threat will result in stress; however, if the threat is somewhat severe your brain will release the hormones cortisol and adrenaline. This is the mechanism that sets off the fight or flight protective response. This is quite normal and is nothing to be unduly concerned about. However, if the problem continues unabated, and the resulting stress is left unchecked, then you may have a future serious medical issue to contend with.

Many people, well, perhaps I speak only for myself, do not relish a visit to the doctor. Obviously, it would be pointless going to see the doctor every time you felt stressed. Generalised symptoms, such as sleeplessness, anxiety, feeling a bit jaded from time to time, are just part of life's everyday challenges. Most people just get on with it. Thankfully, the weekend comes along to revive our flagging spirits, and, of course, no emotional state lasts forever. Notwithstanding a desire to be sanguine about stress it needs to be understood that so many chronic illnesses are directly attributable to the condition. If we are not careful we can quickly feel overwhelmed and eventually experience burn-out. When we begin to feel overwhelmed by life's events it is vital that we avoid complacency about our health.

The incidence of depression is not just endemic, it is universally pervasive. Populations are getting fatter, obesity is widespread, literally. Comfort eating is often the root cause. All kinds of addictions including alcoholism, gambling, drug abuse are being treated in every surgery across the planet, or, worse still, not treated at all. Stress is behind much of this unhappiness. Dealing with an event that can alter your life is particularly difficult. For example, losing your job in tough economic times not only affects one person directly, but there are consequences for the whole family. In the blink of an eye the family unit is put under threat. This kind of life-threatening event can lead to illness. Stress is the immediate outcome and it is hard to deal with because the solution is not particularly obvious and may take some time to resolve.

You may already know your stress triggers (job, relationship, or money worries are common), but there can be smaller things as well, such as the daily commuting experience on packed trains, being in an unhappy job, concern about your kids, and so on. It is important to manage your daily stress because it may well hang around.

Now the body will respond to stress in a timely fashion. After all, it is the normal response to a threat, perceived or otherwise. Okay, the problem is well documented, but what is a good solution? How can an individual protect themselves from the unwanted consequences of everyday pressures? We do not all deal with stress in the same manner, some people breeze through sizeable setbacks while others sweat the small stuff. Meditation, exercise, a healthy diet, clear the mind. Any form of vigorous movement will alter your state and release beta-endorphins to make you feel much better. Personally, engaging in any activity that can result in a good laugh is recommended. Laughter not only alters your breathing pattern, it also releases beta-endorphins. Every emotion has a corresponding muscle tension, so learning to relax is important. A good belly laugh is one of nature's remedies, so seek out any opportunity to engage in a bit of frivolity.

So, use this simple, but compelling list of suggestions: regular exercise, vigorous movement, social engagements, keeping a diary, getting involved with a hobby, focusing attention on other people, meditation, breathing deeply, relaxing your face and neck, having a laugh, taking time out, and revisiting positive memories from the past. Anxiety, for example, is a concern about something that hasn't yet happened, so living in the moment can bring immediate relief. Finally, it pays to be aware of what your body is telling you. Ask yourself: How do I feel right now? Then take it from there.

Placed Successfully!

Congratulations! You are really doing well with your deep dive into planning, making conscious choices, sorting through a number of decisions, and crafting your strategy for starting a business. It might feel a little overwhelming - or maybe it feels a bit tedious and slow - but hopefully it is bringing you clarity and narrowing your focus! What you are doing now is ensuring your success and the ability to sustain your venture. You're not leaping without thinking. Being actively engaged in creating a process is a lot of work and it will really help keep you moving in a common sense, organized fashion!

One of the things to consider is where do you want to do business. What are some of your options?

WHERE, personally, would you like to do business?

• from your home with unrestricted hours (to meet a variety of time zones or because your life and work are intertwined by choice)
• from your home, knowing that you are a part-time resident of several locations rather than of one year-round residence
• from your home with standard business hours
• from an office but with trips to clients, for instance, as a consultant or insurance broker or financial adviser
• from a retail environment - your store or restaurant, for example)
• from out in the field (think about drilling wells or training horses)
• from a warehouse or manufacturing environment

WHERE would you like to your customers to be?

• in cyberspace, shopping online from you
• In your local market only (ie, someone who comes directly to your store for purchases)
• In regional markets
• In domestic only markets
• In a combination of domestic and international markets
• Only in one foreign country - or anywhere overseas

WHERE would you like your customers to work?

• Are you selling directly to individual consumers (B2C)
• Are you selling only to other businesses (B2B)
• Are you selling to companies in a certain revenue category - only Fortune 500 companies, for example
• Are you selling only to non-profits
• Are you selling only to schools or to government entities or to religious organizations

WHERE can you access things important to small business start-ups - and what things are important to new business?

• How many patents are issued per 10,000 people (the national average is 1.8)
• What is the cost of living and can you find access to affordable and/or flexible lease space (the Council for Community and Economic Research calculates cost of living indexes specifically for the self-employed)
• Can you find creative talent and/or a skilled work-force (what is the density of universities and/or tech schools and community colleges with job-training programs)
• Is there a density of small businesses and/or incubators with a track record of creating start-ups
• Is there access to private seed capital and/or a track record of such monies being available to start-ups
• Is there a state income tax
• What is the franchise tax cap
• What are the local zoning laws (including parking regulations) and do they allow for or promote co-working space
• Are there regular gatherings or networking events for start-up minded folks?
• Are there financial incentives and are there mentoring opportunities, some of which are often provided by business incubators or business accelerator programs
• Is there access to low-interest business loans
• Is there access to government contracts
• What is the corporate tax rate
• Are there tax credits available promoting certain industries or certain geographic locations

The fact is new businesses start everyday and they start even in places that can't claim to have everything on the list above. If you are willing to move and interested in moving, you might increase your odds of success by making a decision to move to a location that meets the majority of the considerations listed above. I happen to be quite fond of Beaufort and believe there are many attributes here that will contribute to your success, not the least of which is quality of place. My personal bias says that living in Beaufort, SC - a community where people you don't know wave when they drive by or say hello when they walk by, with people who slow down to let you walk your dog across the street or who stop to chat in the grocery line even if it slows things down, a place that celebrates our Gullah influences, our French beginnings, our military presence and sacrifice, and a place that provides beautiful flowers and bench swings so that living here is calming and visually pleasant - means living in a place where you are reminded that being an entrepreneur is just one component of your life, a life that is interconnected with family, friends, and community. And besides, the more of us who commit to being part of job creation and the entrepreneurial scene here in Beaufort, the more vibrant our town will become!

DO's

• DO keep constantly in mind that planning to start a business is a process that requires you to lay a foundation. Keep deliberately slogging through this decision making process in order to create a business that meets your needs and lifestyle
• DO consider your flexibility, or lack of it, in considering where you want to live when you start your business and as you grow your business. If you start a business with a physical location you have committed yourself to staying put. That is neither negative nor positive - just make sure you have decided in advance you are content with that outcome.
• DO consider whether traveling is something you want or can accommodate. A good friend recently advised me he logged over 200,000 flying miles last year - and he has twin 9-yr-olds at home. He loves his work and is very successful - and he loves his family. But it takes a lot of energy to travel that much and there are very real sacrifices made by all because of the type of business he does. I also know of people who limit their travel by limiting the frequency and destination of their trips. But they go on buying trips to places they would have traveled even wthout a business. Having a business purpose to visit their favorite places is a real bonus for them on a number of levels!

DON'Ts

• Don't choose a new location for starting a business based on the false pretense that the grass is always greener somewhere else. If moving makes sense after doing your research and laying your foundation, then go. But don't go TO somewhere new just to get away FROM your current dissatisfaction. Problems have a bad habit of traveling with you so it's best to fix things right here first.
• Don't minimize the impact of a move on your family members. If you aren't single, consider the issue of 'the trailing spouse' - will there be things your 'significant other' can do for work and recreation that they will enjoy enough to make the move satisfactory to both of you? These days we often spread out pretty far geographically but it does create considerations when there is a need to be close to aging parents or a desire to be close to young grandchildren. Don't forget to consider the whole big picture when deciding on the best location for your new business and it's success.

ACTION ITEMS:

1. Sit down and review this article. Write down where you want to work from ideally, where you anticipate your customers will come from, where you anticipate the bulk of your sales to come from, and where there are resources that your business will need for its success.
2. Think about where you spend the majority of your time now and where you'd like to spend your time - in one place year-round, in one location for the summer and a different one for the winter, not currently tied anywhere and interested in visiting or living briefly in as many places as possible? Also think about where your family members are now and determine if their circumstances will affect yours in the next 1-2 years and the next 5-10 years, and think about how this might affect your choice of where (and how) you want your business to operate. Depending on the type of business you choose and its success, you may create greater freedom through increased flexibility and finances. If these are your goals be sure you are clear on the outcome you want and in understanding if the business you propose to start will indeed land you this outcome.

There's a new craze sweeping the high streets of our global village. From New York to London, Paris to Los Angeles. Whether it's a tasty treat you're after or a healthy alternative to the sugary dessert you really shouldn't have, frozen yogurt is the new 'it thing'. Some people even take more time to eat it than is actually necessary, as it's become a bit of a fashion accessory. Countless celebs have all been spotted sporting designer froyos. Is frozen yogurt healthy? If it's good enough for top super models and natural foods chefs alike, then it can't be bad for you. Or could it?

Low-fat facts or full-cream bull?

Fact is, like most things in life, the key lies in, you guessed it - moderation. Take your favorite New York Cheesecake with caramel fudge sauce; one small serving on some idle Saturday will not negate Thursday's praiseworthy efforts in the gym, while snacking on a normally healthy cocktail of grapes, avocado, dried figs and nuts all day might leave you, well, a little pear-shaped. Frozen yogurt offers the best of both worlds: it can be paired with a wide variety of delicious toppings as a low-fat alternative to ice cream, while it also provides a super healthy option for some of the more health conscious among us.

Why choose frozen yogurt?

Frozen yogurt, like regular yogurt, contains live and active cultures. The words "live and active cultures" refer to the living organisms Lactobacillus Bulgaricus and Streptococcus Thermophilus, which convert pasteurized milk to yogurt during fermentation. It is important to note that, according to the National Yogurt Association (NYA), some yogurt products are heat-treated after the fermentation process, which kills most of the beneficial active cultures found in yogurt as well as frozen yogurt. To help distinguish yogurt products that contain live active cultures from those which don't, look out for the NYA's special live and active cultures seal, which appears on refrigerated and frozen yogurt containers.

Regular and low-fat frozen yogurt contains much less calories per ounce than regular ice cream. Non-fat frozen yogurt contains less than half the amount of calories found in regular ice cream. Top it off with fresh fruit and you have a well-rounded snack, add a sandwich high in protein and fibre closer to lunch time to create a well-balanced meal, which should set you back less than 400 calories.

The health benefits of frozen yogurt are seemingly endless, according to Integrated Medicine at the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS). Dairy products are well-known for being a rich source of calcium - crucial for healthy bones, teeth and cell function. Dairy products in general are also high in protein, vitamin B12 and important minerals such as selenium, zinc, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium. Research has shown that the live cultures in frozen yogurt may provide many benefits. Being a safe and effective means of treating acute infectious diarrhea in children as well as preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea, is among those benefits. Studies have also indicated that these probiotics may offer protection against tumor formation in the colon and help to reduce symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's as well as ulcerative colitis. Good news for individuals with lactose intolerance is that the tests have shown that the live and active cultures in frozen yogurt may improve the digestion of lactose, when consumed in small doses over time. Proof of these cultures' ability to convert dietary fiber into healthy fats means that frozen yogurt now also boast cardiovascular benefits. These benefits are compounded when taking into consideration the yogurt's ability to increase HDL ("good") cholesterol and decreasing the ratio of LDL ("bad") to HDL cholesterol with long-term, daily intake. This may however, be due to the fatty acid distribution and the type of fats in the milk rather than the probiotics.

Like stealing yogurt from a cash cow. Ha-ha, yogurt from a cash cow. Get it? No? Anyone? 'Cause yogurt is made from milk and milk comes from cows and froyo stores are making heaps of money. Is this thing on?

Frozen yogurt has evolved into a multi-billion dollar industry in a few short years. With frozen yogurt stores or 'bars' popping up all over the United States and the rest of the world. It's become the popular on-the-go snack choice for millions, however one cannot help feeling that the popularity and almost cult status of Hollywood's favorite snack is contributing to the stiff premium you can expect to pay for a serving of your preferred flavor. No wonder then that sales for frozen yogurt/ice cream makers for home use have sky-rocketed in recent times. With the three most popular frozen dessert makers occupying spots in Amazon's Top 100 Best Sellers list for kitchen and dining appliances for a combined 5 years.

Frozen Yogurt vs. Ice Cream

In conclusion it is safe to say that although frozen yogurt and ice cream may both serve as a tasty, sugary dessert; froyo also has the potential of being a super healthy snack on the way to the gym, whereas ice cream will never be the preferred option for the health conscious out there.

It is not everyday that you will come across the opportunity to experience oceanfront paradise living but Bal Harbour luxury condos makes it an absolute reality. If you've been thinking about making a real estate purchase in the near future, you might want to consider choosing among options that will provide you with an opportunity that is definitely worth looking forward to - each and every single day!

Why Choose Oceanfront Paradise Living?

For people who love nature, the idea of oceanfront paradise living is easily one of the best ideas anyone could possibly imagine! The notion of being able to wake up each day to see the sun shining bright over all the natural brilliance that surrounds you can be ever so enticing, especially if the natural brilliance happens to be situated within a location that offers direct views of the ocean.

The upscale village of Bal Harbour is considered to be one of the prime communities within the South Florida region that provides the most stunning, sensational views of the Atlantic Ocean. The fact that people can choose from world-class selection of Bal Harbour luxury condos means that people will have several options when it comes to finding their perfect oceanfront home right along Collins Avenue and its neighboring areas.

Of course, the wonders of living within such an amazing community simply does not end with scenic sights because the village also happens to provide people with several options when it comes to recreational activities. Feel like shopping? Go visit the Bal Harbour Shops to find out the newest in fashion and trends. Feel like going out for a night to party at the most happening clubs around? South Beach is just a few minutes away!

While most people only have the opportunity to experience oceanfront paradise living for a short period of time, you can have that luxury whenever you want to by simply making the decisoin to purchase one of the many Bal Harbour luxury condos which are currently available on the property market.

Why Choose To Go For Luxury Condos?

When it comes to choosing among the available selection of real estate options within most oceanfront locations, it definitely helps to make sure to go for the ones that will provide you with the best views possible. Although scenic sights do not make up for the entire oceanfront paradise lifestyle, they do account for a large percentage of the experience, most especially when it comes down to the fact that you can capture the Atlantic Ocean and its breath-taking horizon from the comfort of your own home.

Aside from the availability of high-rise home spaces, people can definitely benefit from having first-class amenities and services which are graciously provided by Bal Harbour luxury condos such as the One Bal Harbour, Harbour House, and the St Regis Bal Harbour. While you will have the option of buying other types of real estate properties within the same community, none of the other options will be fully able to provide you with around-the-clock services that extend all the way out onto the beach.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can truly experience oceanfront paradise living, you should definitely get in touch with a professional real estate agent to find out about the details regarding today's selection of Bal Harbour luxury condos which are guaranteed to provide you with nothing less than the best that the real estate market has to offer. Make that call today and start to look forward to living a lifestyle that you will love to call your own!

First and foremost I want to wish everyone here that's viewing this article a Happy New Year and I want this year to be the best year that you ever had. Now as 2013 approaches or have already approached, it's time to start thinking outside the box and learn new marketing strategies that will help you generate massive growth online in your business. Many people may be in different business opportunities or may have traditional business and need help generating good quality leads and increasing their revenue and sales. The best thing is that what I have to share will help your business get the maximum exposure needed and help brand who you are as a marketer. Before I jump into this, I will layout just a few things that most marketers that break into the industry are doing wrong...

Approaching friends, strangers, and family members
Over-hyping their business opportunity
Not targeting their true market base
Using out dated marketing tactics

I have to honestly tell you that if you're approaching family members, friends or love ones... you're setting yourself up for failure. If you don't have a network built up already of business connections, you will have a 98% chance of your business falling apart before you get started. Some people are using email marketing as part of their marketing strategy. Email marketing is a great method to generate leads. The only problem with it is that it's only good if you have a network built. Other than that, I don't recommend using it. Why you may ask... it's because most places that you may buy business opportunity seeker leads from to do email marketing are not serious about doing anything. Solo ads work as well but you must have a good list and the number of times that people see your advertisement. Posting ads on Craigslist, Backpage, USFreeAds, BizzWizz, and other popular classified sites are not as effective as it once was back in the day. A lot have changed over the years. Craigslist is still a popular place, but with the restrictions that they have today with the phone verification and you can only post 3-5 times per account makes it very tricky and frustrating to internet marketers.

The best way to market your opportunity is through mediums such as SEO (Search Engine Optimization), videos, and social media marketing. Everyone that makes a decision to start their own business will first go online to search for a legitimate business opportunity. Most people will go to places such as Google, Yahoo, Bing, MSN, Ask Jeeves, and places like YouTube to search for information about a particular business opportunity. Social media marketing is and always has been a very popular platform for marketing because many people come together to socialize and share things of interest. Popular social networks that people go to online are Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, MySpace, and LinkedIn. There are others social networks online that people go to as well.

I know that you may scratch your head and say to yourself, "How do I begin to get started doing this?"

With social media marketing... it's very simple. Follow these important steps and you will be up and rolling.

1. Get an account with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn
*** (Make sure that your YouTube account is connected with Facebook and Twitter for auto-sharing) ***

2. Join different work at home, business opportunity, make money, network marketing groups. All you have to do is do a search for them. Join at least 20 different groups per day.

3. Send out friend requests to members of each group daily. There are software that will help you add friends faster. Usually can Google "friend adder tools" online. The best tool is Stealth Friend Bomber

4. When sending a friend request, just tell them who you are and that you're looking to connect with them. Remember, treat this like any relationships. Build trust first OK.

Now since you have that going, now it's time to step into the deep pond and explode your business utilizing SEO marketing or Search Engine Marketing. This is considered the Holy Grail to success online. I say that because you're generating free traffic and when people do searches online for anything especially a name of a business, you will show up in the searches. Just as a rule of thumb. Most people never go past the first 3 pages on any search engine for anything. The goal is being on the first page for your niche market. When it comes to Search Engine Optimization, just remember 4 simple steps...

Drop Your Alexa Ranking (100K or lower is the best)
Submit Your Website URL to Web Directories and Search Engines
Submit Your Link to Social Bookmarking Sites
Obtain High Quality Backlinks Linking Back To Your Website

Keep in mind that the internet constantly changes from time to time. Google has gone through enormous changes in their algorithm system. They went from Oracle, Panda, and now Penguin. I know you might not know what that is as you read this but just remember this; it's just how they measure the quality of your links pointing back to your site. Google ranks your website on different factors such as content and the quality of your links that is linked back to your site. For example, if your site is about fashion, but your links pointing back to you are about golf or something non-related, Google will penalize you. If you have so many non-related links pointing back to you, Google will "sandbag" your site or kick your site all the way at the bottom of the search results. In some cases, Google has been known to blacklist websites doing this. So please be careful when doing SEO.

SEO marketing is the best way to dominate the internet in your niche, but the bad side to utilizing this strategy is that it takes a while to reach a good position on the search engines depending on the keyword or key word phrases. If you have a replicated website, it will be much harder to reach top ranking position. That's why I highly don't recommend using a replicated site. My best advices to have a custom website built to be different from your competition.

There are so many marketing tips and advice that I can give you and I really don't mind sharing these tips and marketing advices to you, the bottom line that you must make that decision to make a change in your marketing game and finally take control and be in the driver's seat for a change.

Handmade furniture is not the only type of American furniture sold under that name. There are fundamentally three types of home furniture offered by American furniture stores:

Foreign Made

Furniture manufactured out of the USA, and offered for sale by American furniture retailers. These can be high quality pieces, handmade in the UK to exacting standards or cheaply put together in the Far East and of relatively low quality. Not all Far Eastern furniture is of poor quality, and much of the stuff coming out of China is very good, but it is not made in America.

Constructed in the USA

Furniture assembled in the USA, but from foreign parts or wood. The parts have been pre-manufactured outside America, like much of America's car industry uses parts made in Japan or Korea. It might be easier to find spares for recliners and other functional furniture than items made and constructed outside the USA, but not necessarily.

Made in America

This handmade furniture is manufactured entirely in America from American wood and home-made parts. You will not find it as easy to find this type of furniture as you might think, since not all screws, nails and other metallic parts might have been sourced in the USA. However, the item is fundamentally American, made in the USA for principally U.S. manufactured parts and certainly from American wood. Parts are easy to get if your recliner stops reclining!

None of this suggests that the furniture concerned is not handmade, although much foreign furniture, and some American furniture, is made by robots. True handmade American furniture is offered by a number of well-known traditional firms such as Stickley, Sherrill, Southwood, The Custom Shoppe, Simply Amish and American Craftsman.

Handmade Amish Furniture

In fact, most Amish furniture is handcrafted by Amish people living in individual communities whose work is marketed by local or national furniture stores or distributors. Take Simply Amish, for example. This firm is located in Arcola Illinois, and most of the furniture they offer is handmade by craftsmen and women within 20 miles of their distribution center. They use wood from sustainable forests located no further than 500 miles away.

This an example of local men and women handcrafting beautiful solid wood furniture, and able to sell it through a central retail outlet such as Simply Amish, which in turn markets the furniture through local furniture distributors and retailers. That's what Made in America is supposed to mean!

Benefits of Handmade Furniture

There are many benefits of buying handmade American furniture. A major benefit is quality: sure, some furniture made by hand can be of very poor quality, but firms such as Simply Amish do not market poor quality goods, and such products would be returned as 'unsellable.' It is not the individual 'craftsman' predominantly at risk, but the retailers and their suppliers.

That is why the more respected American furniture retailers will market only the very best handmade furniture alongside their mass-produced standard stock. Handmade American furniture is constructed using traditional carpentry standards as used by the master cabinet makers of years gone by: men such as Thomas Sheraton, Gustav Stickley and Duncan Phyfe.

Wood and How it is Jointed

Choosing the correct wood is an art in itself, and fashioning an elegant piece of furniture using traditional carpentry joints that is as sturdy and strong as you require it to be is a sign of a master-craftsman. This is the quality only attainable with handmade furniture, no matter where it is crafted.

Britain, the USA and Scandinavia are noted for the high quality of their craftsmanship, and France, Germany and Holland have all had their moments in furniture history. Today it is predominantly the first mentioned three that provide most of the higher-end handmade furniture. It is difficult to beat the craftsmanship of American furniture firms such The Custom Shoppe, American Craftsman and Stickley, while Southwood are without doubt the premier producer of reproduction furniture in the USA.

There are many Amish furniture retailers that market products that have been handmade by individual craftsmen, using the traditional techniques passed down from father to son. The old jointing techniques are the best because they have been devised over time to provide the strongest and most enduring joint between two or more pieces of wood.

No screws or nails can match a powerful tenon or dovetail joint for strength and lasting qualities. They will still be bearing weight when the metallic joints have all corroded away! There are few doubts in the minds of those that purchase it that handmade furniture is the strongest type of American furniture available today - it is almost impossible to beat handmade American furniture for strength and looks.

A home based franchised business appeals to many entrepreneurs. This type of business saves individuals from investing a large amount of money, especially in the beginning, which can be prohibitive for so many people starting out in the home business world. They can avail themselves of a franchise opportunity for a low capital outlay, and be assured that all the necessary elements of the business are already in place. There is also no pressure when it comes to building up the company name. Most franchise opportunities have an established name, so entrepreneurs no longer need to experience the trial and error approach in making the business a huge success.

Individuals can reduce the pressure in their cash flow when they opt for a home based franchise. They can work from the comfort of their home, so there is no need to spend money on gas for a daily commute to the office. With the ever increasing price of gas and fuel, a home based business franchise is practical and economical. Factor in the additional expenses of eating meals out while working at a job, keeping up with fashionable business clothes, and if children are involved, paying for daycare.

Those who want to have a flexible work schedule will find a home based franchise as the ideal opportunity they need. They can attend to their family's needs even when they work. Franchise owners can manage their business via the internet, so they do not have to leave home. They can utilize cloud computing, online collaboration, and web-based apps in monitoring the business. Technology allows home-based entrepreneurs to have a hassle-free time in making their business succeed.

Lastly, the start-up cost and expenses for the home based franchise is inexpensive. Conventional franchise business requires a capital of $15,000 to $30,000, and in the case of purchasing a McDonald's business, the beginning franchise fee is $45,000. However, most home based franchise businesses have an initial fee of $1,000, or even less. In addition, owners do not have to rent a commercial space or keep an extensive inventory.

Home based businesspersons can also get the support of the franchisor when it comes to advertising, business management training, and career seminars. First-time entrepreneurs can expect quick progress in their business because of these benefits. They can enjoy the convenience of earning money even when they are at home, and can be assured that when they choose a reputable home based franchise business to team with, they are most likely going to be earning a good income for many years to come. This type of business can also be passed on to children, and their children, assuring that the work one is doing now can leave a long lasting legacy.

If you can't find a job or tired of waiting for new opportunities to come along, perhaps it's time to run a business and be your own boss. Since the world has changed radically, financial security has become more difficult to come by. This is perhaps the reason that almost 600,000 new businesses are established every year. More and more people are now aiming for the big pot of gold by engaging themselves in different kinds of investments. Here are some of the many reasons why you should start making a business plan now.

1. Earn unlimited experience - When you work at a company as an employee, you tend to specialize on just one thing. But if you're running your own business, you need to learn everything it takes to run a business. You will be your own marketer, lead salesman, accountant and a whole lot more. If you own a business, you will probably learn in one year what you've learned working as an employee for almost 5 years.

2. Earn more- When you have a business, you will have greater opportunities to earn more. Although, a regular job means steadier income, a business allows you to triple your salary and even more. If you really work hard to make your business grow, you can earn a month's worth of an employee's salary in just one day.

3. Limitless possibilities- In running a business, you can only be limited by your desire to grow. If you wish to belong to the rich and famous, then all you need is to put your business into that direction. If you want to keep it small to be able to manage your other priorities, you can. You just have to design your business according to your purpose and needs.

As an employee, you don't have that kind of advantage. If you want to make it big in your career, you have to hope that your boss likes you that much to earn a promotion. Otherwise, you're bound to remain economically stagnant and never move forward. In addition, if you want to spend more time on other matters other than work, don't expect your job to last long.

4. You manage your own time- If you insist to follow your own work schedule instead of what your boss tells you, you might as well start packing and find a new job. Owning your time is perhaps one of the best advantages of running your own business especially if you have kids. However, depending on the size and demands of your business, you might be on-call 24 hours per day if you're the owner.

5. Gain full control over your destiny- Nothing can give you much freedom in how you live your life than owning a business. You have no boss to order you around or impress just to be given a salary increase. You have no job schedule to follow, no strict rules to comply with. You're the boss now and you can do exactly what you want according to what you think is best for your business.

Now that you know why it is better to own a business than apply for a new job, here are some tips to help you get started.

• Seek the motivation to start your own business. Motivation is the key to success especially if you have a number of mouths to feed. Make sure that it is clear to you why you want to run a business instead of having a regular job. This way, you will have no second thoughts or doubt that you are making the right decision.


• Determine the type of business you want to put up. It may be difficult to come up with a good business idea but looking for another high-paying job could be a lot worse. In deciding what type of business you will have, you should always consider what you like doing as well as the demands in the market. If you have passion for cooking, then perhaps it's about time to run your own restaurant. However, you should also consider the kind of food that will appeal greatly to your target market. You also don't have to be overly unique with your business idea. There's always a danger in that. However, you can try other existing types of successful businesses and put your own twist in it.


• Make a simple and attainable business plan. It isn't necessary to come up with an extremely detailed business plan, complete will all sorts of assumptions of how much money you'll earn in the next couple of years or how many branches you should already. You don't have to worry too much. Yes, it could be a little stressful, but given the right resources, tools and the right people to help you with, you can rest assured that everything will run smoothly. You don't need a degree or extensive training in Business Administration to create a good business plan. All you need is to know who your target market is, how much you'll charge them and what you need to do to make that happen.


• Be specific with your target customers. If you're planning to put up a hair salon, don't say it's for every woman in the planet. You can say it's only for women who understand high- fashion or it's for high-class women only, etc. The more specific you are about your target market, the more precise your marketing efforts will be to get them.


• Keep the costs to a minimum. You need to lower the expenses as much as possible especially if you still haven't brought in enough sales. Do this without damaging the quality of your services. For example, instead of hiring additional staff members to do the accounting, inventory or handling client schedules, you can invest on a management software system that can do multiple tasks in just a few clicks of your finger.

Style versus comfort. Chic versus easy. Polished versus simple. Do you feel you have to choose one or the other? Well I have news for you. Not only should you NOT sacrifice what's important to, it's imperitive that you DON'T.

One question I get asked frequently is "Should I sacrifice style for comfort?" My answer is that you don't have to sacrifice either, ever! Why? Because both are equally important - the style factor is what helps you to create an image that looks polished and pulled together, and boosts your credibility. It's what sends the message that you value and care for yourself. Yet if you discount the comfort factor, the ease or anything else, you're going to feel like you're wearing something that doesn't belong on your body. And when you're uncomfortable and can't wait to take off what you're wearing, you send off a negative energy and are focused inward, rather than on your family, friends, clients, etc.

I had one client who came to a StyleFinder™ party to discover her StyleFinder™ iD. Before we determined what it was, she told me she hadn't gotten anything done at work today because she felt uncomfortable in her clothes. She had worn a silk shirtdress. Once she took the assessment and I was able to determine that comfort was key for her, I informed her that by sacrificing comfort she also sacrificed her productivity - not good for her career! So her big a-ha was that she doesn't have to sacrifice style OR comfort but can actually wear outfits that bridge the gap.

If you feel that you're sacrificing something that is vitally important to you, I want you to ask yourself why. Is it because you don't know what to wear? Is it because you're wearing something you feel you should wear, but don't really want to? Is it because you don't value yourself enough to think it's important? Whatever the reason, I want to share a few tips with you to help you embrace all that is important to you and your style while looking and feeling your best!

1/ Is comfort key? It is for many women, but often times they feel they can't look both comfortable and chic. I'm here to tell you, you can! Choose items that look chic but are made in a fabric that has a bit of stretch and ease to it including suits, jackets and tops.

2/ Footwear flops. Do you have issues with wearing heels for one reason or another? That doesn't mean you're relegated to wearing sneakers or other clunky, outdated styles. Today there are many fashionable and comfortable styles available in a variety of heel heights.

3/ Details matter. If you want to take your style to a new level without a complete overhaul, make simple swaps. Swap out your old 'mom' jeans for a chic pair of trouser jeans. They're just as comfortable, yet look much more stylish!

Ask yourself what you're sacrificing. If it's your whole style or even your self-esteem, then start with one simple thing. Reclaiming your style can be an easy and fun process that starts with one simple step. I want you to enjoy the process!

Want to shed light on your style and discover how you can shine?

You may be wondering why you cannot have a girlfriend while you have (or it's what you think) many advantages over those guys who actually get the girl.

Okay, let me first ask you some questions...

What is love? What do you know about it?

Why do you think people fall in love? And why do you think that a girl would fall in love with you?

If there are plenty of fish, so why cannot you get only one?!!

Actually, I am sure that you do not have a clear answer, and this is exactly the core problem.

So, let me answer...

What is love?

Love is nothing more than a way or a method people use to keep the attached to things or persons who can bring them some happiness.

If you enjoy playing football, then football can make you happy and so YOU LOVE FOOTBALL.

If you enjoy the company of a friend, and that friend can make you happy, then you love this friend.

If a girl or a woman finds a man, and this man can make her happy, then guess what?? She will fall in love with him! SIMPLE LIKE THAT!

So, the secret to have one woman (or more) is that you can provide her with powerful emotions and most of them are positive and can bring happiness to her.

You got it? It is not about you as a person. It is not about your looks. It is not about your money. It is not about your intelligence or your successful career. It's all about what you can do to make her happy and how able you are to make her happy.

But, is it possible to make a woman happy without any of the above?

The answer is YES with a capital Y, however it would be even easier if you have any of the above. But if you do not have any of the above, then you must have one specific trait... What is it?? It's called CONFIDENCE and CHARISMA.

A woman is more comfort and so more happy when being in the company of a confident man.. A man who can take the lead.. A man who knows what to do and how... In a nutshell... A resourceful man.

So what can you do about it now? What can you do just right now to solve this problem?

Actually many things, but let's focus on those who are simple but most effective..

1- Change your beliefs.

As you can see, it is not about you at all, it is about how you can make her happy. So do not even think that a woman will love you for your money or will not love you because you are not rich. Of course there are some materialistic women, however the majority is not like that, and even those who may love you because of your money or looks are women with low self-esteem or who are showy and your money and looks may provide them with some compensation or make them able to brag, and so they can feel happy.

2- Work on your self-confidence and self-esteem.

As I told you, confidence is that specific trait that most women would die for, so being confident will give you the courage to approach the kind of women you like, and of course will give you that kind of charm that will keep them attached to you.

3- Smile.

Your smile can tell women many things. First you are very confident person, second, you are happy in your life and so you can provide them with happiness and joy. Got it??

4- Improve yourself and your abilities.

What if you can even be more attractive? Would you say no?

If you are over weight, then lose some weight. If you are too skinny, then hit the gym. If you can buy some fashionable and nice clothes then why not? If you can get a nice hair cut so why not? If you can work even more hard or get another job or set your own business to increase your income, then why not?!! If you can do something to improve whatever can be improved, then go get it done!

5- Take action.

I am not going to tell you to stop reading and just take action. Actually reading is what will make you even better, however reading without applying what you read is nothing and will bring you nothing.

It will even make you more disappointed because you think you did what can be done and you did not get any results!

Again action is what matters because action is what going to tell women about the great you. Consider yourself a great product. If you do not make the necessary marketing for this product, then how do you think women can even know about you?!

Just go and show them who you are.

Make no mistake about it. keep reading but make sure that you dedicate 20% of your time to reading and 80 % for applying what you have read.

This article will look into the many purposes and uses for the classic garment fishnet tights.

Throughout history, fishnet tights have often been seen as a sexy garment only to be worn on occasions when such a look is trying to be achieved.They have been seen throughout a variety of films including Chicago, and have also made a reputation for themselves at the infamous Rocky Horror Show.

Whilst fishnet tights are fabulous for all these purposes, they need not be restricted for such controversial use.

Fishnet tights have become a popular garment for everyday wear, worn with your favourite t-shirt and denim shorts they create a great outfit. A popular trend that has been seen on catwalks throughout fashion shows recently is that of the 'grunge' look. Fishnets are the perfect accessory to channel the grunge look and worn with other black accessories they can really compliment your outfit.

Despite fishnet tights being great for everyday wear, this need not diminish their use for fancy dress purposes.

Whether attending a fancy dress party as a superhero or as a children's TV character, they can add an extra element of design to your outfit.

Many people fear wearing tights as they believe they are easy to ladder and therefore not worth the price tag. However, the great thing about the tights is that if they should ladder, this just adds to the grunge design and again helps you to stand out from the crowd and individualise your outfit.

Fancy dress parties come in all kind of wacky and wonderful ideas. Halloween parties are also a great place to wear your favourite hosiery. For a spooky and scary look, whip out your fake blood and get ripping up your legwear for a truly frightening look! Why not rip your hosiery adding in hole shaped detail, and then with your fake blood draw out cuts and scratches in between the holes, this is bound to give off a scary look!

Fishnet tights can also make great accessories to other outfits. If you a old ripped pair that you no longer wish to wear, do not throw them away! Pack all your old tights into one leg of a pair of black opaque tights, secure the top of the leg together and this can easily be used as a cat's tail for a Halloween fancy dress costume!

Fancy dress costumes can often be pricey in cost, fishnets allow you to buy a simply cheap costume and then through the use of accessories spice up your outfit and make it the best outfit at the party but at a cheap cost!

Conclusively, fishnet tights make a great accessory for not only fancy dress but they are fit for all purposes. Every hosiery drawer should most definitely have a pair of fishnets- no matter what the occasion! They come in all shapes, colours and sizes so you are bound to find a perfect pair for you. Why spend loads of money on a fancy dress costume when you can just as easily create your own through accessorizing with fishnet tights!

Parties are where you can meet new people, including girls. If you're a single guy, going to a party should give you a chance to hook up with some of the hottest girls in town. But the first thing you need to do is attract them before you can hook up with them. Here are 10 ways on how you can do so:

1. Put on your best suit. You should know the theme of the party, so that you can wear the appropriate suit. If you are not the fashionable guy, you can check out the latest trends on the internet. Make sure you are comfortable with what you wear. Dab on some cologne. You also need to look and smell fresh. This is the first step.

2. Be there on time. If you arrive late, chances are girls have been drawn into groups, and you will appear to be an intruder. Be there before the crowd thickens. Build rapport with people. Greet several of them and praise their outfit or looks. This is the way to appear as an outgoing guy. Many will recognize you as the party builds up.

3. Do small talks. Chances are you will feel awkward with girls out there. So before you display some anxiety, save yourself the awkwardness by engaging in small talks with girls and with everyone else.

4. Be well-mannered and act like a nice guy. You have to be careful with your words. Most girls are sensitive, so you wouldn't want to get on their bad side.

5. Introduce people to one another. You probably know people who don't know each other. So take advantage of this time to expand your network of friends. For instance, introduce those you just met to your colleagues or friends at the party. This way, several people will think of you as a sociable guy. They will tend to drift towards you in the middle of the night. You will notice that you also have attracted more than a few girls by the end of the night.

6. Be real. Act like yourself. There is no need to make sugar-coated stories to make yourself bigger than you actually are. People will know the truth anyway, and it's embarrassing if they discover you lied to them during the party to get a good impression.

7. Use your eyes. Sometimes, you need not approach the girl you like. Eye contact can be the secret. If you're with a circle of people, it's inelegant to break away from the group just to meet the girl. Glance at her a few times until she glances back. When she does, smile briefly, and then look away. The next time you glance at her, you might catch her gazing back.

8. Don't be a heavy drinker. Alcohol can make you a cool guy, but too much of it will intoxicate you before the party ends. All your hard effort to entice girls will be useless if you end up wetting your pants or throwing up. As the cliché goes, drink moderately.

9. Know when to call it a night. Don't be frustrated if it turns out to be one of those dreary nights. You won't always be successful at attracting girls. If nothing seems to happen and it's the last few minutes of the party, you probably should stop trying. You can always try next time. Don't act desperate, though!

10. Ask for her number. If she gives it, that's an indication that she's interested in you.

It's always wise to do your homework when making any purchase and checking the reviews should be part of the process. Keep in mind however, that the participants in blog conversations may have their own agenda.

Forums and blogs can be a favorite podium for marketers posing as consumers or experts seeking to not only tout their favorite products but to unfairly disparage others. Even well-intentioned bloggers can find it difficult to be unbiased about products or services that have made their business more difficult. As in other industries, many local pool service people would like to return to the pre-internet days when everyone depended on them to supply their equipment. Web shopping has driven down the cost of many items and things that once commanded a 100% markup now only bring 10%. The world has changed and it's not pleasant for everyone. Try to sort out the reviews that are genuine assessments based on actual experience from the rest of the noise.

Most importantly, check out any web-vendor before using them for the first time. It's not difficult to see how long they have been in business and get a feel for how they have conducted themselves in the past. Generally speaking, reputable vendors will have websites that provide their legal company name and physical address. Be wary of companies that only list a P.O. Box or operate out of an "executive suite." Almost all states have website tools under "Secretary of State" that will allow you to look up the filing history of businesses operating there. You can even see the names of the owners or legal agents. Although not perfect, the Better Business Bureau is a good way to examine how well a company avoids complaints. This is not the same as pleasing people but it's difficult for a bad vendor with crummy products to maintain a good BBB rating. Lastly, an old-fashioned phone call will tell you some things about a company and calling them before the online purchase is a great idea. How well do they answer the phone? Do they seem familiar with their products? Ask them why you should buy from them and see if they convince you. Best of all; ask them who will help you and how if you are not satisfied.

Internet commerce has become a major component of our economy and a boon for buyers and sellers alike. Keep your eyes open, do your homework, and consider all the information. So, if you are looking for a CircuPool review or any product review, do these things and your experience will most likely be a good one!

Of all the songs Elton John and Bernie Taupin composed this was their most successful one. But its success was delayed 15-25 years. Originally released on the landmark 1973 album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" the song received airplay but never made it to Billboard's Top 40 charts. That would have to wait until 1987 when a live version of the original song would become a top 10 hit. But it wasn't until the tragic death of Princess Diana that a revised version would become the highest selling single in musical history.

The first version was a touching tribute to Marilyn Monroe (who could miss the "Goodbye Norma Jean" reference?). Yet the title wasn't inspired by Monroe at all. Bernie Taupin came up with the words "Candle in the Wind" when he read a quote about Janis Joplin. The song didn't chart in the United States although it reached #11 on the British charts.

The next stop for this song was Sydney where in December of 1986 Elton performed "Candle in the Wind" with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. This was released in 1987 on Elton's album "Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra" and as a single. In 1988, it reached No. 5 in the UK charts and No. 6 in the United States.

Death seemed to follow this song. Three years later On April 7, 1990 Elton performed at the Farm Aid 4 benefit concert, dedicating "Candle in the Wind" to Ryan White, an early AIDS victim. White, who was only 18 years old, died the very next night, the victim of a contaminated blood transfusion.

But it wasn't until the heart wrenching death of England's Princess in a car accident on August 31, 1997 in Paris, France that the song would reach monster popularity. Elton was already in a depressed mood having already lost another good friend, the fashion designer Gianni Versace, earlier that summer. In a terrible twist of fate Diana comforted Elton at Versace's funeral (it's pertinent to note that Princess Diana loved the original "Candle in the Wind"). The death of his royal friend shortly afterward sent Elton into a severe depression.

To help him through his shock and grief, Elton decided to contact Taupin and ask him to rewrite the lyrics to their original hit. Taupin complied, saying, "I thought it was very important to project it from a nation's standpoint. I wanted to make it sound like a country singing it. From the first couple of lines I wrote [which began "Goodbye England's Rose"], the rest sort of fell into place". Among the changes made were the opening lines. The original version begins, "Goodbye Norma Jean, though I never knew you at all." Taupin revised it to, "Goodbye England's rose, may you ever grow in our hearts." Although most of the lyrics reflected Princess Diana one line from the original version was omitted. The accusatory line "Even when you died, the press still hounded you... " was replaced by, "Even though we try, the truth brings us to tears... "

Elton recorded the song with George Martin, of Beatles fame, with a completely different arrangement from the 1973 version. Whereas the original recording was done in a standard rock ballad style (piano, electric guitar, bass, and drums) Martin added a classical arrangement of strings and woodwind. Elton performed the song only once... at Diana's funeral in front of an estimated television audience of over 2.5 billion. It shows how he feels about the princess' loss that since her death he's performed the original version innumerable times but he steadfastly refuses to perform the 1997 version unless asked to do so by Princes William or Harry.

The revised version, now titled "Candle in the Wind '97", was released that September and promptly went to #1 on the American charts, remaining there for an astonishing 14 weeks. It also went to #1 on the charts of numerous other countries. The single proceeded to sell more copies than any other single since the beginning of the recording industry. It later won the 1997 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. It also received a unique honor: an RIAA Diamond Disc for US sales over 10 million.

And Elton never released the song again.

Men's Lacoste shorts are the sort of desirable item that many a discerning man will keep on his everyday wardrobe essential list. They can be teamed with fabulous Lacoste polo shirts which have also been a fashion staple for the summer months for many men. In fact they are so popular they have had reference made to them in many cultural ways such as rap songs and character's clothing in novels. This sort of identification is what makes a label an iconic item of the times, to go down in history. The man behind men's Lacoste shorts is Rene Lacoste who designed the famous clothing label back in 1933.

The shorts in his range eliminate the perennial problem men in all walks of life have every summer and on every holiday in the sun. This is: what shorts can they wear that make them look stylish and avoid the Boy Scout hiker look? They reflect form and function in an effortless way that combines utility, elegance and utmost simplicity in a design of character. In fact very little has changed over the eighty odd years since the clothing range was born.

The Lacoste company was formed in partnership between Rene and Andre Gillier, who was then the owner and president of the largest French knitwear manufacturer in the country. It was shirts, rather than shorts that were the first items to be manufactured. These were more in the form of a type of tennis shirt that was revolutionary as it was inspired by Lacoste's meteoric sporting career. The shirt became an overwhelming success. Naturally, the label then expanded to embrace other forms of clothing, applying the same principles of design and elegance, all in combination with embracing the function of the shirt rather than just a piece of cloth that looked good.

It was never going to stop there and Lacoste went on to design a range of shirts for other sports such as sailing and golf. By taking away the unnecessary embellishments, wealthy sportsmen around the world began to see the label as a status symbol. The clothing was an instant hit with such people who would also lead a lifestyle with more leisure and thus were in need of these items.

Men's Lacoste shorts have also been a big hit giving men that preppy look combined with a flavor of sporting prowess. The infamous crocodile logo makes the items instantly recognizable.

The compound effect is remarkable and small consistent, well directed efforts over time, add up to remarkable results in our lives and businesses. Unfortunately the compound effect does not only work in a positive direction. Consistent neglect of your health, career, and relationships or around building wealth eventually results in disaster.

Failure is seldom the result of a single cataclysmic event; it is the accumulation over a prolonged period of poor thinking and choices. Failure is nothing more than a few small errors in judgment, repeated day after day, for a prolonged period of time. Have you ever wondered why someone would make errors in judgment or bad choices and just keep repeating these mistakes, again and again for years and years?

The reason is simple; the negative outcomes, as a result of the neglect or bad choices are not immediately visible and so people think that the small compounding errors do not matter. Each little piece of neglect or lack of discipline does not seem to have any effect on their lives at all. We seem to escape unscathed and it appears that we have escaped any immediate consequences.

The Result of Neglect is Slow and Subtle
Our lack of discipline and our total disregard toward our on-going education and growth seems to have no effect on our lives at all. Not reading any books for the past ninety days seems insignificant. We look back over the past ninety days where we have neglected one small, yet very significant discipline, namely daily reading, and nothing drastic has happened so we repeat the error in judgment for the next ninety days.

This is where the true danger to our future success lies. Not only are we not showing any discipline and not reading the all-important books, which are going to help us to grow and constantly develop, but we are oblivious to the fact that it even matters. Sitting every night in front of the television, entertaining ourselves to death brings what feels like instant gratification and helps us in the moment, escape from the stresses of our day.

Repeated Neglect and Bad Choices Spells Disaster
Unfortunately repeating this behaviour only keeps us trapped in the circumstances, which cause us the stress in the first place. We repeat this cycle every day, we go to work at a place that we hate, do a job we cannot stand and which causes us unbelievable stress. Then we arrive home in the evening and collapse in front of the television, so that we can cope with everything that is wrong in our lives. This cycle repeats for years and years and we remain trapped.

The pleasure of the moment, watching television, makes us feel better in the moment, so we neglect to make the changes necessary to break the negative cycle, which is keeping us trapped. The consequences of a future, where we remain stuck in circumstances that are making our lives miserable goes unnoticed.

The consequences of this on-going neglect is seldom, if ever, instant and the compounding effect of the neglect and poor choices, compounds and accumulates over time. Unless you make a conscious effort to change and you finally choose to begin taking positive daily actions, which will have the opposite effect and will eventually result in success. The on-going neglect in your life will just keep compounding into a wasted life in which you never get to realize your full potential. Failure is subtle and does not shout out immediate warnings about the impending, inevitable disaster, which is looming, due to your on-going errors in judgment. Wrestle back control of your life and begin using the compounding effect in a positive fashion and you can reverse the cycle.

Reverse the Cycle by Making Better Choices
As you make better choices, you will reverse this negative cycle and using the same principles, which have resulted in your living an unfulfilling life, you can create massive success in your life and business. By reversing the formula for failure and applying a few daily disciplines consistently in your life, you can create a formula for success.

The way to achieve this change in your philosophy is to change the way you look at your future. You must make the outcomes you want to see in the future an integral part of your current thinking and philosophy. This means that you must look to your future and create a crystal clear picture of exactly what you want your future to look like. Once you have this vivid picture in your mind you must identify the new habits you must develop to support this vision.

The Future you Get to Live is the Result of Your Actions Today
The success or failures you will see in your future are both future consequences of the actions you take or fail to take today. As long as you stay focused on the instant gratification in the moment and you never look at the potential rewards, which will flow to you in your future, with the application of a few small daily disciplines. You will remain trapped in a life of mediocrity.

To break free from the place you are trapped at the moment, look a little further down the road and visualize the future you desire. Commit to amend the current errors in judgment, which are holding you away from that visualized future. Develop and apply a few new success orientated disciplines, which will move you one small almost insignificant step at a time; closer and closer to the future you desire.

Positive Results will Show-up in a Reasonable Length of Time
The wonder of choosing to apply a few success orientated new disciplines into your life, is that the positive results will be seen within a reasonable length of time. Stay focused on the future outcome you see in your future and stay focused and committed to that outcome. Keep applying yourself to carry out the new daily disciplines and you will begin to feel a new level of satisfaction and vitality. The positive results will begin to show in your life and this will give you a new level of self-confidence.

The real magic of the new disciplines you will introduce into your life, is found in the fact that it will help you to shift your thinking. Once you begin to reap the rewards of a life of substance, you will no longer be content to simply live a life of subsistence. Make this the first day of your new life, try a little harder, and make a conscious effort to change those deadly dream destroying habits, which are keeping you trapped in mediocrity. Commit to apply a few new disciplines in your life every day. The rewards of these few small subtle positive changes will be magical and well worth the effort.