Danger, Danger: 5 Tips for Using a Public PC

There's a guy in New York who may have got into your personal business. If he did, he probably looted your online bank account.

Juju Jiang is serving time now after pleading guilty. But for a couple years, he bugged public computers with software that logged keystrokes. He used it to capture usernames and passwords. Some he used to steal money; others he sold on the web.

He got caught when he manipulated a victim's home computer while she was present. She watched incredulously as he methodically searched her computer. He was using GoToMyPC, which allows travellers to manipulate their computers from afar. The victim had used GoToMyPC previously from a public machine. Jiang stole her username and password.

Spying software can easily be placed on public computers, such as those in Internet cafés, airports, libraries and other public places.

With spying software, a criminal can grab your passwords and usernames. Ultimately, you could lose your money or have your identity stolen. That should tell you enough to be wary of public PC terminals.

Software is Unobtrusive

Spies usually use software because it is invisible to the untutored eye. Hardware to do virtually the same thing also can be used, by placing it between the keyboard and computer. But using it is too obvious in a public place.

The software programs, however, can record a victim's every keystroke. The keystroke loggers can then e-mail the collected information on a set schedule. Or it can be downloaded. Other software programs take screen shots of places you go. These, too, send their collected information via e-mail.

The spying programs are inconspicuous. Unless you know how to look for them, you'll never see them.

But don't forget there are other threats besides spy programs. Here's how to stay safe:

Here are five things to consider when you sit down in front of a strange computer:

Check for Spy Programs

Download X-Cleaner Spyware Remover at spywareinfo.com. Put it on a floppy disk. If the public computer you use has a floppy drive, insert the disk and run X-Cleaner from the floppy to check the hard drive. You do not have to install X-Cleaner.

Erase Your Tracks

When you use an internet browser, it keeps records of where you went. When you finish surfing with Microsoft Internet Explorer, click Tools > Internet Options. On the General tab, click Delete Files and Delete Cookies. Then click Clear History.

If you're using Netscape Navigator, it's a little more complicated. Follow these steps.

• Check the settings before going online. Click Edit and Preferences. Click the arrow next to Navigator and select History. On the right, find Browsing History. Change "Remember visited pages" to 0.

• Click on the arrow next to Privacy and Security. Select Disable Cookies and Disable Cookies in Mail and Newsgroups.

• When you finish surfing, click Edit and Preferences. Click the arrow next to Navigator. Click Clear History and Clear Location Bar. Go to Privacy and Security on the left side and click the arrow. Select Cookies. Click Manage Stored Cookies. On the Stored Cookies tab, click Remove All Cookies.

• Now go to Advanced, in the left-hand panel. Click the Arrow and click Cache. Click Clear Memory Cache and Clear Disk Cache. Protect Your Passwords

Browsers also track passwords. Before going on the web, if you're using Internet Explorer, click Tools > Internet Options . On the Content tab, click AutoComplete. Clear the four boxes.

When you finish surfing, again click Tools > Internet Options . Go to the Content tab and click AutoComplete . Click Clear Forms and Clear Passwords.

If you're using Netscape, click Edit and Preferences . Click the arrow next to Privacy and Security . Click Passwords . Clear the box next to Remember Passwords . When you finish browsing, click Passwords again, under Privacy and Security. Click Manage Stored Passwords. Select the Passwords Saved tab and click Remove All.

Netscape has a feature similar to AutoComplete. It saves data entered into forms. To disable that, under Privacy and Security, click Forms. Uncheck "Save form data from Web pages when completing forms." When you finish browsing, return to the Forms page. Click Manage Stored Form Data. Click Remove All Saved Data.

Cleaning out the browser will ensure that no one can track your surfing or grab your passwords with saved data. But a keystroke-logging program will still catch your passwords.

Probably the best password protection is a temporary password. Use it while you're on the road, then discard it.

Don't Rely on Encryption

There are a number of encryption packages on the market. They can be used to encrypt email. However, they encrypt the mail when the Send button is clicked. That's too late if a key-logging program is on the computer. It will make a record of the password and message as it is being written.

Use Some Common Sense

Public computers may be secure. But you really have no way of being sure. You can secure your home or business computer, but you can't be certain of what has been done with a public machine.

Approach these machines with care. Don't do any banking or stock trading on them if you can avoid it. Avoid credit-card transactions. Use a temporary password if you must check your email. And ask your system administrator how to "expire page views."

If you're just surfing, that should not be a problem. But avoid sensitive business if you can. There might be a Juju Jiang watching.

Daily Chores Win More Business

Doing chores is one of the things no one likes to do and therefore they very rarely do it. This means if you decide right here and now that you will do your business chores, you will be ahead of 80% of your competition.

What do we mean by a business chore? A business chore is made up of many items. Here are some that you can put into your schedule and if you do them on a regular basis, you will get that feeling of satisfaction that comes with a good day of business just from following up:


First - Take a handful of the cards you collected from the last networking event (or trade show) you attended and put them into your database. You can use Outlook or other CRM type software to do this. The key here is that you create a category for the event. For example, if you attended a Chamber of Commerce networking event on July 20, you would create a category Chamber Events (you may also want to put the year). When you enter the contact information, you will then select Chamber Events as the category.

Did you know that people attending Chamber networking events only follow up 1% of the time? Here is your chance to put in the contact information and then...

Second - Decide what method you want to use to follow up with the contacts you just entered. If you want to send an email, I would suggest you have several drafts you can choose from and then customize it for that particular individual (remember we do business with individuals and not organizations). If you create your emails in Word or other word processing program ahead of you can prepare several versions for different scenarios. I suggest you create at least 5 different ones. Then all you need to do is pick the text, fill in the blanks, and send the email. What could be easier?

Email is certainly the easiest method of connection but not all email gets through because of spam blockers or the recipient does not recognize your name and trashes it before it is opened. You must look to using a number of connection methods including using the telephone.


Third - Use the contact information you have just entered to follow up your email with a phone call to set up a time to meet on the phone. The key here is that you are booking 15 to 20 minutes of phone time to discuss potential. You are not selling your products with this first phone call. Most often you will end up leaving a quick message and will recycle the redial until the next day. Don't waste your time dialing the same person several times in one day.

Fourth - Even though you may have sent an email and made a quick phone call, you follow up chores for the day are not complete. If you think there may be business you can do with the prospect, you next chores is to send a card, personally addressed and written with envelope and stamp. Sound tedious? Well it does not have to be, I found a system that works beautifully! I use a program that does all of this for me. If you want to try it out go to www.SendOutCards.com/11666 I have setup a guest account for you to play with (you can send out 1 or 2 cards on my nickel). The id and password to get into the account is midnight. The results I have obtained from sending out these cards has been overwhelming. Everyone I sent a follow up card to has responded - that is 100%. Amazing!

In summary there are three chores you need to put into your calendar for the first thing each morning. You should do these chores everyday to achieve maximum results


First, enter new contact information into your Outlook or CRM program.

Second, send an email to follow up.

Third, make a quick phone call to set up a telephone meeting.

Fourth, send a personal card in the mail (see the item above to get access to instant cards). If you can do these four chores everyday, your business will blossom.

czech republic investment property

Since the Czech Republic joined the EU in May 2004, it has attracted more and more investment to the country. So in 2007, is the market still viable for those searching for a Czech Republic investment property?

According to the Czech Statistical Office, records for the first six months of the year indicate that the Czech Republic is enjoying a prosperous 2007, and overall confidence in the economy reached a record level in August. Alongside the healthy economy, the country is also seeing an increase in consumer spending, which is good news for the property market and good news for those wishing to buy a Czech Republic investment property.

Most investment is focused on Prague, a central destination that is easy to get to with cheap daily flights. Prices for apartments in Prague are increasing at 20 percent per year with gross rental yields currently around 7.5 to 8.5 percent. The average investor has been buying their Czech Republic investment property for around £150,000 in the capital’s top locations, Prague districts 1 to 5. But this city has prices to suit all pockets from £30,000 to hundreds of thousands of pounds. PragueProperty4Less currently has five city developments with apartments available across the £39,200 to £250,000 range. They anticipate a capital appreciation of over 10 percent a year for the next five years.

For those searching for a low-budget, buy-to-let Czech Republic investment property, brand-new property will soon be available in the second largest city, Brno. Prices here are about two-thirds of those in Prague, and as the economy has strengthened, the area has attracted much regeneration. There are several projects underway, including two city centre developments with units starting at £28,000 and £39,500, both due for completion in Spring 2008. And a family friendly development complete with playground and pond, with units from £30,000, due for completion in 2009.

Prague is still the tourist hotspot for a Czech Republic investment property but investments in the world-class golf and ski resorts outside the city are also worth a look. With a golf revival in full swing, property at the Obora Golf Village at the Monachus Golf Resort is one prospect for a Czech Republic investment property. Units currently available include three bungalows, ranging in price from £146,200 to £212,200, and three villas, from £171,700 to £228,400. Or you may choose to invest in the thriving ski resorts. The Krkonose region, also known as the Giant Mountains, encompasses many towns and resorts with potential for a Czech Republic investment property. Situated close to the ski lifts in Rokytnice nad Jizerou, three apartments are currently available ranging in price from £51,000 to £65,000. There is also a range of property for sale in the Giant Mountain resorts of Svoboda nad Upou and Harrachov,and in the family-friendly Sumava region.

As the country enjoys one of the best economic growth rates in the EU, much of the county is benefiting from major regeneration projects, giving those wishing to purchase a Czech Republic investment property much greater choice. Central Bohemia is one such area and, located 30km southwest of Prague, you’ll find the town of Beroun. Those who bought a Czech Republic investment property last year in the Beroun district have already seen the value of their property rise by 20 percent. Property is currently available in the northwest area of Beroun at ‘The Bakery’, a modern refurbishment of an old bakery building. Enfield-based company Trojans International is offering 38 units at ‘The Bakery’ priced from just £20,000 and due for completion in September this year.

With continued regeneration and economic success, the figures are still making sense for those looking for a Czech Republic investment property.and in the family-friendly Sumava region.

As the country enjoys one of the best economic growth rates in the EU, much of the county is benefiting from major regeneration projects, giving those wishing to purchase a Czech Republic investment property much greater choice. Central Bohemia is one such area and, located 30km southwest of Prague, you’ll find the town of Beroun. Those who bought a Czech Republic investment property last year in the Beroun district have already seen the value of their property rise by 20 percent. Property is currently available in the northwest area of Beroun at ‘The Bakery’, a modern refurbishment of an old bakery building. Enfield-based company Trojans International is offering 38 units at ‘The Bakery’ priced from just £20,000 and due for completion in September this year.

With continued regeneration and economic success, the figures are still making sense for those looking for a Czech Republic investment property.

CUTTING NEWS ! - Frank Thomas Joins Roadmap To Riches .. It's official !

Todays home entrepreneur's tips:

eBay (A subset of List Building)
eBay? Free Advertising?

Ok, so technically an auction listings cost 35 cents… But one sale can easily make you a profit, and you’re allowed to sell nine of the same product in one auction at that price… So this is one exception I’m going to keep in this book because it’s really BETTER than free, all things considered.
So where does the Advertising part come in?
Simply place an information package of some kind, even if it’s just an article on your niche, and sell that infoproduct in an extremely cheap auction listing. Most people sell these things for 1 penny, although the difference between 1 cent and 35 cents really isn’t that much of a difference to the buyers looking for this information.
Naturally there are no other costs like shipping or insurance, because delivery is a simple digital download. Further advertising is up to you, and it is always a matter of just giving eBay some additional fees to make your listing stand out more. If your listing is profiting, try starting the next listing as a “Gallery item” for another 35 cents, and go up from there until you’ve reached a point of maximum returns.
Here’s the great part about this tactic: The winner of the listing’s email address is automatically sent to you via email, through eBay itself. Sell a bunch of those info packets, and you’ve built yourself one of your industry’s most targeted lists!
Don’t feel too left out if you haven’t mentally joined these two concepts together before now. Not too many people have, unless they bought the secret from someone on eBay themselves.
The fact is that eBay already has the lion’s share of traffic, and more importantly, of people in the purchasing mindset. Compare this to Google’s Traffic, which is composed of people in the “researching” mindset. It’s not hard to imagine why serious marketers prefer eBay’s traffic to Google’s Traffic!
Advertising on eBay is as simple as being there in the first place, using a few well-searched keywords. Finding those keywords isn’t too difficult either; all you really have to do is search for expired listings and sort by the price. This way you’ll easily see which auctions recently got the most money in your niche, and then all you have to do is model your campaign like theirs, listing your product under the same category!
Drawbacks?
Although the Delivery Time and the Quality of the traffic is world class, the Quantity is not infinite… It depends on your niche, of course, but the competition on eBay can be fierce as new auctions will be placed above older ones all the time. Still, with people happy to search keywords you’ve still got a good chance of being found even between the first day or the last few minutes of the auction.
Effectiveness in drawing a large amount of traffic all depends on how good your auction’s sales copy is. Luckily, you can model your auction off others that have done well in the past.
Make no mistake about it; selling infoproducts on eBay is a world-class list-building strategy. That’s about all there is to it, but most people overlook this very powerful way of building your list because it seems too awkward, or they don’t want to take the time to put an info-packet together.
If you sell a product online, then you’ve got to face the fact eventually that this is some of the most targeted, “buyer-frenzied” traffic that exists. If you’re not using this tactic, then you’ll not only be depriving your business of a constant stream of better-than-free advertising, but you’ll also be missing out on a large source of clients that you aren’t likely to be able to reach otherwise.
The fact is that everybody eBays nowadays. That’s why I can use eBay as a verb! In fact I’ve seen a statistic recently that showed $14 of every $100 spent online, worldwide, is spent through eBay now, and this number is still growing! It is clearly the single biggest mover of money on the planet.
People from ALL walks of life can be found there, right when they have their credit cards in hand looking to spend… I don’t even know of another source of traffic that comes close!
When used correctly, you can build up a niche market list on any topic with this technique, and reach an unprecedented 50% or more of that market over time.

Just another weapon you put up in your arsenal of "guerilla methods".

Custom Vinyl Decals and Magnetic Signs Give You a Competitive Advantage

If you own a small- to medium-sized business, you likely face stiff competition for customers or clients. In such a competitive marketplace, the business that comes out on top is the one that uses every means available for creating brand awareness and advertising its products or services. Even if your marketing efforts include splashy media campaigns, costly pay-per-click search engine marketing, and direct mail pieces, you should also take advantage of less expensive means for sustaining awareness of your company. If you don't have a large marketing budget, it's even more important to find creative ways to build awareness of your company and get the word out.

One of the best ways to advertise is through the use of signage. Huge billboards might be cost prohibitive, but there are a variety of less expensive types of signage that can bring customers into your retail store, drive traffic to your website, and create an awareness of your products and services. Best of all, high quality customs signs can be ordered over the Internet at a fraction of the cost of creating custom signs locally. What follows is an overview of the types of signage that is available and how you might incorporate it into your business.

Custom Vinyl Decals: If you own a retail store, your doors and windows are essentially premiere advertising space. When you create a custom vinyl decal for your door or window, you have a powerful advertising mechanism. Custom vinyl decals are also ideal for bumper stickers, so if you belong to a booster club, are advocating for a political cause, or want to provide a giveaway to your customers, you can design your own bumper

Custom Window Lettering: Lettering with your business' name on it is important for your storefront, but vehicle lettering can be an even better advertising bet. When you have custom vehicle lettering, you are advertising your business whenever you or your employees are behind the wheel. You can customize these vinyl graphics to incorporate your logo, your business name, your website address, your phone number - or anything else you want potential customers to know.

Custom Banners: Whether you're having a sale or another type of event, custom banners draw attention to your business. When you design your banner, you can include your logo and have access to a wide selection of colors, fonts, special effects, borders, and graphics.

Magnetic Signs: If you need signage that is temporary, magnetic signs provide you with inexpensive yet valuable advertising. For example, if you or your employees use their personal vehicles for deliveries or to call on customers or clients, magnetic signs can easily be attached to the vehicle and then taken off at the end of the day.

Other Types of Signage: The best custom sign companies can produce a huge variety of signage. In addition to custom vinyl decals, window lettering, banners, and magnetic signs, they can also do everything from custom wall lettering and custom wall graphics, to boat lettering and registration numbers, to license plates and digital decals.

Virtually every business that advertises - from network marketers to franchisees - can utilize these inexpensive marketing methods to spread the word without breaking the bank.

Custom T-shirts and What Kind to Purchase

Deciding on what kind of shirts to print on is sometimes the most important part of getting custom t-shirts done correctly. However most people are the least informed on this part of the process. So I thought I would try to educate people about this part of the decision making process.
There are many different bands, fabrics, weights, finishes, styles to consider. T-shirts are as ubiquitous as any advertising forum available today. Brand loyalty is great but from my experience most people can’t really tell the difference if two similar shirts are juxtaposed.
I will try to inform you the factors that you should consider. When choosing a shirt I would ask the following questions. What kind of apparel do I want to get printed? 100% cotton, 50/50 blend, ringer tee, raglan tees, jerseys style, tank top, sweatshirts etc. Next is what color of garment? Not all colors are available to you depending on the style of shirts you pick, so be flexible. When deciding on color you are faced with pigment-dyed, tie dyed, whites, lights, & darks. As a rule of thumb whites are the cheapest, then lights, darks, and finally the especially colors get more expensive.
This is just the beginning. Now here is a list of options to which ever type you have chosen. Sleeve length, ¼, ½, ¾ or long sleeve. Color style: regular color, scope neck, v-neck. Tank tops: spegheggeti strap or regular tanks. Also inquire as to the size of the arm holes. They vary significantly from brand to brand. Consider your audience when deciding on the cut. You can choose between classic which most of fit into this category but also available are fitted and youth cut for children. Even more you can find most regular cut t-shirts up to 6xl but not in all colors. Lastly tall’s are also available to you. The more you deviate from the norm the higher the prices become. This is basic supply and demand. Most every manufacturer makes a white 100% cotton t-shirt so they fight harder for your business with price. If you choose 3xl, navy, tall, long sleeve with pocket the number of manufacturers making this product is reduced so the prices are higher. Simple economics 101!
Now if you have selected sweatshirts to print. Here some extra choices to make. Hooded or crewneck, heavy weight or light weight, ¼ zip, full zip just to mention a few.

All this being said remember my earlier comment about not being able to see much a difference when two like products are juxtaposed. Brand loyalty is great but for my money if I need buy a large quantity of t-shirts to print. I go with the brand that has the best price. Don’t substitute a 50/50 5.6 ounce for a 100% cotton heavy weight to save a nickel but if you are purchasing 100 shirts and you can get brand “A” for 1.99 and Brand “B” is 2.49, buy wisely. Lastly if you really don’t know what to pick look in your own closest and find the t-shirt that has been the best for you and chances are you can order the same brand. Good luck on all your custom apparel purchases.

Custom Printed T-Shirts- Top Seven Tips for Using Them in Your Business

When you decide to create your own business you often find that there are a number of expenses that you do not think about. Uniforms, advertising, things to raise employee morale, and promotional items are all costs that people often overlook but can quickly add up. Custom Printed T-shirts are a great way of taking care of all of these things. This list will give you seven tips that will help you be successful when choosing the right company to use and the right products purchase. We hope to remove some of the information asymmetry that small businesses, especially those which are new to the process. We want you to know what to look for so that you can be a more educated buyer.

7. Know what it is that you need the shirts for. Many times, people will call a firm that they have found and ask for a quote on custom printed T-Shirts. While we don’t discourage the effort and enthusiasm, the truth is that when you approach a deal, you need to know more about what you want. This does not mean that you need to know the inner mechanics of screen printing and embroidery digitization, but you should know what the shirts are going to be used for. If you are using them as an outdoor uniform, then you might want heavy material. If you need jerseys for a company basketball team, perhaps a less expensive and cheaper 50/50 blend would be better suited for your needs. The point is you don’t need to know the exact product that you are wanting, but you should know why you need them and what you expect to get out of them.
6. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. This is more than a way for you to figure out if you are getting what you want or if you and your printer are on the same page. Screen printing is not something that just anyone can one day decide they want to do. It requires technical knowledge as well as equipment and time. By asking a few questions about the process and the product, you can often gain insight into the condition of the business. Why settle for doing business with someone who doesn’t deserve your trust.
5. Take into account the additional costs. Custom printers often deceive their customers by not including details like artwork, shipping, and setup. Make sure that if you need artwork or graphic design that you figure out whether that is included and if not how much extra it will cost.
4. Don’t forget about additional items. While screen printing and custom T-shirts are one of the greatest advertising tools and great for a number of things for you company, they aren’t the only product available. We assume that if you are reading this article that you have already discovered or thought about the advantages of custom printed T-Shirts, but there other promotional products that can complement your T-Shirts. I recommend you find a firm that can do both. Usually they are able to offer discounts and if not it is still much more convenient to deal with a single firm then to try to deal with multiple companies all trying to sell you the same thing. In addition, often you can save on shipping and digitizing fees if you use the same company.
3. Order a few extra. One mistake that people often make is that they order too few or just enough of the custom printed shirts that they have nothing to spare. This seems like a good idea because people don’t want to get suckered into having a bunch of extra T-Shirts, but that is a short term strategy that many people end up regretting. The problem is that when people do not order enough they often have to go back and reorder one or two T-Shirts. This seems fine, but screen printing makes doing a single shirt not cost effective. The benefit is that you receive economies of scale, so going back to reorder a single T-Shirt means that you may have incur a significant rise in cost.
2. Know when you need your product ready. Many customers call up too late and find that they are either going to be charged more money for a rush job or that it is simply impossible to do the job in a short period of time. Giving yourself extra time means that you will be less stressed and that your product will turn out great.
1. Use the internet and don’t worry about local. The internet allows people from all over the country to have access to the best deals and products. So even if you are located in New York, NY and your screen printer is located in Portland, OR, you can still get the same service and coverage that you would from a local printer. In fact, it may even work out better because it gives you, the customer, and access to the best from a much larger geographic area. The internet is your friend. It has helped the printer, now let it help you.

I hope that you have found these tips helpful. As a screen printer, I often find that my customers want to be educated and my own company www.taylormadetshirts.com wants to work with educated customers. That is why I am offering you some insights into getting screen printing and custom T-Shirts done. I hope you will give my website a chance and see how I can help, but if not I at least hope that you can use this information to help your own small business.

Mike Thompson

custom printed fraternaty t-shirts

Whether you are looking to build unity, create brotherhood, or simply promote the party of the year. Fraternity T-Shirts are a great way to go. College is arguably the best time of one’s life. I know it was the best 6 years of my life. Fraternity T-Shirts show your dedication to brotherhood and solidarity. They can be simple or as complex as you like. They can be as tasteful or tacky as you like. They are as unique as the fraternity itself.

Fraternity T-Shirts have as many possibilities as there people to wear them. They can be used to create unity, show devotion, create an atmosphere that is perfectly suited to the college lifestyle, and/or promote your fraternity. Even used for rush week or weak pledges. Dads weekend too What dad wouldn't want to bring home a keepsake like that.

Custom printed fraternity T-Shirts look great and come in a variety of style and sizes. You can design them to meet whatever your fraternity needs. Your entire brotherhood will be proud to wear these T-Shirts around campus. What more, they make a great thing to wear when you or your brothers return custom screen printing. It is way to let people know what you belong to. It screams pride and will make your entire fraternity look better. The Greeks on campus have designed some of the best t-shirt designs. They tend to be creative and push the line of good taste just a bit. Use you imagination and create the best designs.

The best thing about custom printed fraternity T-Shirts
Custom printed T-Shirts are an inexpensive way to accomplish a variety of your fraternities needs. They are a representation of your fraternity. Whether you are looking for party-style T-Shirts or classy collared shirts, your fraternity will be represented. You and brothers will be proud to represent your fraternity. They are versatile and can be as unique as your fraternity. Also, custom printed fraternity T-Shirts will make a great keepsake once college is over. It is way to cherish college for years to come. Lastly they are the best fund raiser ever. No one minds paying $10.00 or more for a good custom t-shirt and you should be able to get them printed for half that price. You do the math! Or have your smart math majors in the house do it for you. What ever you do make sure you find a screen printing

Croupier Training specifically for the environment

In the world the main classic games played in casino online and in normal casinos are Blackjack, Roulette, Video Poker, Baccarat, Craps, 5 Reel Slots, 3 Reel Slots, Keno, Pai Gow, Progressive Caribbean Poker and Progressive Slots. Croupiers and dealers throw dice, spin the roulette wheel and deal cards in a casino.

The employment of a croupier includes:
- welcoming new players to the table
- checking that all chips are positioned on the table before the start of play
- checking to ensure that there are four suits (hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades) and that each suit has 13 cards
- explaining the rules to players
- controlling the game and making sure players follow the rules
- collecting chips from losing bets
- mentally calculating payouts to winners.

Croupiers work under the control of a gaming supervisor, who is generally in charge of two tables. Inspectors certify that gaming rules are followed and pay attention for any doubtful behavior.
To become a croupier you will first need working in a casino or casino company. You will then take delivery of on-the-job training. To work in a casino you have to:
- adult
- have a excellent general education
- have a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check - you cannot work as a croupier if you have illegal convictions
- have normal color vision, good hearing and clear verbal communication.
At your interview you may have to pass:
-a maths test to check that you can do mental calculations
-a test of your manual agility.
It could be valuable if you have practice of working with the public and managing money.

You can find casinos from the casino company sites and approach them to realize about vacancies. Navigate in the British Casino Association website (in Further Information) for a list of the main casino companies. However, you may be able to progress to management after gaining practice as a dealer or croupier.
To work as a croupier you will need to get a license from the Gambling Commission, the organization that regulates gambling. Gaining a license will engage productively completing a program of training. This will generally be a paid on-the-job preparation course, provided by your employer. Courses last between six and eight weeks and include the skills and techniques you will need as a dealer or croupier, casino legislation and customer service.
Casino companies who do not have their own in-house training will pay for your training with a private training organization. When you have finished your training your tutor will apply for your license.

When you have two/three years practice in a casino and the facility to deal at least three various games, you may be able to apply for a position on a cruise ship, in an overseas casino, or in an online casino featuring live dealers via webcam using real-time video streaming. To work in non-English speaking countries you must have a good familiarity of the correct language. To work in important casinos in Las Vegas or MonteCarlo, you will need extensive and varied experience, and the ability to pass a dealing audition.

published by www.laisladorada.com/en

Croisière Pour Lune dMiele

Les bateaux de croisière sont de plus en plus spacieux, afin de vous offrir le meilleur en matière de détente et relaxation et vous proposent de découvrir de plus en plus de destinations de rêves, de l'Alaska aux Caraïbes en passant par l'Europe.

Les croisières vous offrent un confort digne d'un cinq étoiles, son lot d'aventures, ainsi que l'opportunité de connaître de nouvelles personnes et de vous faire de nouveaux amis.

Mais pour la réussite de votre lune de miel, la croisière doit comprendre à son bord:
1) Du Champagne et des fraises dès votre montée à bord
2) Des canapés et autres attentions dans votre cabine un soir de votre choix
3) Une soirée "Lune de Miel" spécialement destinée à votre attention
4) Mettre à votre disposition des photographes

Pour cela, choisissez bien votre bateau. Celui-ci doit vous offrir les salles et le confort minimal suivant:

1) Des Restaurants devant vous fournir des repas de haute qualité,

2) Des Pubs, vous proposant les meilleures bières irlandaises ainsi que du champagne, doivent être disponible aux quatre coins du bateau et près des salles de SPA et solarium,

3) Au minimum un Centre de conférence,

4) Des activités sportives comme un Centre de Fitness, parours de golf, terrains de basket ball et volley ball, mur d'escalade, piste de jogging, patinoire, jeu de palets et bien d'autres encore;

5) Des activités sportives et éducatives pour les enfants telles le Club enfants pour les enfants de 3 à 17 ans comprenant une discothèque, des jeux vidéo et même un espace où leur est servi un repas;

6) Des Salons de beauté, un Complexe thermal complet incluant Sauna, Spa et Solarium;

7) Pour vos loisirs: Piscines, Jacuzzis, Casino pour pouvoir vous divertir dans une ambiance Las Vegas à l'aide de ses machines à sous, Discothèque, Salle de spectacles, Salle de cartes, Café internet, un théâtre.

8) Mais aussi des services du quotidiens tels: Galerie Marchande (avec bijouterie, magasin de souvenirs, de photos), Bibliothèque, Centre médical, Blanchisserie, et enfin une Chapelle nuptiale.

Les bateaux recommandés pour ce genre de séjour dépendent énormément de vos goûts et du choix de votre destination, à savoir si vous rechercher une évasion romantique au travers des forets tropicales et des plages ensoleillées ou culturelle pour visiter des monuments historiques et découvrir des mentalités étrangères. Pour cela, les listes ne seraient être complètes.

Les deux bateaux de croisières les plus connus sont les suivants:
1) Jewel of the Seas:
Mis en service en mai 2004, le Jewel of the Seas est caractérisés par l'allure innovante des super-yachts. Il possède un design avancé avec ses grandes surfaces vitrées dans les espaces publics et des ascenseurs de verre donnant sur l'océan.

2) Explorer of the Seas:
En route vers les Antilles. Ce paquebot est le plus grand au monde. Vous y trouverez plus d'activités et d'expériences que vous ne pouvez imaginer. Découvrez des aspects novateurs tels que le mur d'escalade vous permettant de vous élever au dessus de l'océan, la patinoire où vous pourrez déguster un chocolat chaud. Le soir, les boutiques, les cafés et autres animations du Royal Promenade s'ouvrent à vous. Cette esplanade, où il fait bon se promener, s'étale sur une longueur équivalente à deux terrains de football et fait 4 ponts de hauteur.

Critical Small Business Decision #7: Stock Inventory Or Dropship Product For Your Online Store

Starting a business online could be much quicker than starting one offline. However, as a small business owner, you need to be prepared to spend a fair amount of time and energy to make your business profitable. After all, that is why you're going into business isn't it?

An online business is still one of the greatest work from home business opportunities on the planet. You may even have a grand vision for an online store, but find yourself struggling to handle the basic details of getting your store up and running. One essential detail is selecting the products you will use to "stock" your store. You will also have to decide if you want to keep an inventory or want to use dropshipping. Starting a store online can be as challenging as starting one offline, but it if you understand what's involved, this doesn't necessarily have to be the case. By identifying and using the right resources, you can make your start-up a smooth one.

The key to having a profitable online presence instead of just another online enterprise is creating or locating good quality products that you can sell for a profit. One way to do this is through drop shipping. Drop shipping allows small business owners, like you to establish a professional relationship with vendors who wholesale the products you want to sell. These vendors will ship customer orders directly to them rather than you having to stock inventory and do the product fulfillment yourself.

Prior to opening your store, it is critical to have the foundation of your business firmly established. Organization must be an integral part of this process. As your list of vendors and dropshippers increases, you should have all of their contact information in a convenient location for easy access. Don't short-circuit this part of the process, it is amazing how much time you can save by being organized and by having established contacts within your product market. Take the time you need to build your store right from the ground up and business will virtually run itself in due time.

A number of factors will contribute to the ultimate success of your business whether that business is online or offline. The Internet, especially, is often viewed as a way to "get rich quick" rather than as a way to build a good business with a greater reach. You will get out of your business what you decide to put into it. Today's technology allows small business owners to build their businesses faster, but it

Critical Guidelines You Need to Know Before Hiring Anyone

We don’t like to think about people doing harm to ourselves or others.  The reality, however, is that we live in a country with one of the highest rates of financial crimes, including embezzlement, fraud, theft, etc.  And, that’s just the beginning. 
 
Let’s look at just a few statistics on what the FBI reports is the fastest growing crime in the US - employee theft:

·         US Chamber of Commerce reports that $50 billion dollars are lost annually due to employee theft and fraud and that 20% of all businesses fail due to the same reason.

·         According to an Ernst & Young Report, "White Collar Crime:  Loss Prevention through Internal Control" companies lose 1% to 2% of its sales to crime -- most committed by, or in collusion with, employees.

Employee theft, negligent hiring, sexual harassment, and workers’ compensation fraud are just a few of the liabilities an employer has to face in today’s hiring environment. 
 
For example, an Arizona Fitness Club hired an unscreened applicant which resulted in the rape and murder of a female patron while she lounged in the sauna.
 
Is it any wonder that employment screening has become mandatory?  Not only do you want to avoid hiring criminals, don’t you want to hire the right candidate who is most qualified for the job?  All of this information can be ascertained through a proper background check from a company that knows what they are doing, and/or which can supplement an already existent screening program.
 
Critical Tips When Choosing an Employment Screening Company

When choosing an employment screening firm, look for longevity first with a track record that can be verified with numerous references from clients.  Also look for professional memberships in organizations such as ASIS, SHRM, PIHRA, NPRRA, NAPBS, to name just a few. 
 
Do you have a complete knowledge of employment law?  If not, your screener should know the laws involving the background screening process.  It helps, if the firm you hire has an acute knowledge of “negligent hiring,” much in the way that an Expert Witness might know, since it will be the expert witness who exposes the shortcomings of any hiring loophole which created the environment for the negligently hired employee to have come aboard in the first place! 
 
Intimate, thorough and long-term knowledge of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is necessary, as well as the ability to testify for you in a court of law if need be – or even better, keep you out of court!
 
Does the prospective screener have knowledge and understanding of current HR Management systems?  How about corporate Due Diligence programs or Factual Employment Screening programs that train people to find fraudulent applications and false identities?
 
In short, can your vendor help keep you from unwanted litigation?  Unless you or someone in your company is an expert in employment law, you are putting your company at significant risk.  If you are using any of the multitudes of online databases that have become available recently, it’s not likely you are protected. 
 
Not only do these companies decrease your risk of exposure, they may even add to it.  For example, let’s say you are currently using an employment screener who does not require you to provide a signed release for each applicant.  Sounds relatively harmless, doesn’t it? 
 
The truth is what these companies have done is had you waive liability to them when you signed up for an account so they can avoid the time and effort it takes involved in this critical step.  In the case of an audit, your company is responsible for producing a signed application and therefore liable if you don’t have one on file.  A good employment screener provides signatures for these audits and you’ll never even know when they occur.  A typical lawsuit of this nature could cost your company six figures.   Can you think of any good reason to take this kind of risk?
 
Join us again in the next issue and we’ll expose several common myths about background checks and give you the real facts such as what you must have including: a thorough candidate identification process, financial and driving history and hand-researched criminal court records.  We’ll also show you how to use this information to make the best hiring decisions.

Credit Repair Business Opportunity

If you are in the credit repair business and you are looking for a credit repair business opportunity, you may want to consider purchasing credit repair leads.

Credit repair leads are considered a good business opportunity because normally people who go to specific sites and fill out forms specific to credit repair have committed themselves to finding a company and a person to help them.

With a credit repair lead, you will have a potential customer who is serious about having repair work done to their credit report. Otherwise, they never would have come as far as putting a phone number or e-mail out there for contact purposes.

These potential customers are not merely thinking about it, or just playing with the idea, they are truly serious and they are waiting on a phone call.

Of all the credit repair business opportunities available, purchasing credit repair leads is perhaps one of the best. Basically, the potential customer has come to you, and provided you with their information before you have even made contact.

Keep in mind, like all business opportunities, credit repair business opportunities need to be researched before any kind of commitment or investment is involved.

If you are considering purchasing credit repair leads, be sure to research the company you are purchasing them from.

Call and speak with one of their customer service rep’s and find out how they obtain their credit repair leads and what the process is for obtaining them in a timely fashion.

Credit Card Processing

Does your company need credit card processing? It does if you can benefit from the following:

Credit Card Processing Enhances Your Professional Status. When customers know that you accept credit payments, they often are more likely to pay more, return often, and tell their friends if the service is good. This is because a company that makes credit payment options available to clients is telling the world that they care about customers and they are professional enough to invest in systems that will enhance the shopping experience for guests. No one likes that disappointed feeling when, after browsing, you find something you want to buy but then fail to find enough cash in your wallet to purchase it. Writing a check may put you over the balance, and you don’t want to take time to run to the ATM machine to withdraw the money from savings. When customers can pay with a plastic card, they may show their appreciation by returning again and again to shop your store.

Credit Card Processing is Inexpensive. It depends on your current business budget, of course, but you don’t have to sink a lot of money into credit card processing equipment. All you need do is get a merchant account services account, buy or lease a credit card processing unit, and you are good to go. Plug it in or take a wireless unit with you on the road to make credit payments easy, fast, and secure. Plan on paying a per-transaction fee of perhaps 25 cents or a low interest monthly rate that may include minimums. Associated expenses may include discount fees, gateway fees, print statement fees, and membership costs. There may be others as well. Overall, however, the benefits of a merchant account outweigh its costs.

Credit Card Processing is Flexible. You don’t have to be stuck behind the cash register all day to appreciate the advantages of a merchant account’s ability to provide credit card processing. You can take a wireless unit from one destination to another to let clients pay at the point of purchase rather than wait for billing. You may want to invest in a pager that will let you provide instant deliveries or prompt responses to customer inquiries, some of which could lead to direct or indirect sales with the option of credit card payments. You can also set up an online Website to accept credit card payments from potentially billions of customers around the world. It’s all up to you, of course, as to what you’re ready to do in terms of growing your company’s sales. You won’t need extra staff to manage credit card processing, either. In fact, you may be able to operate some credit card processing systems automatically when you opt for the telephone payment system or the Website option. But you will need to have a staff member available at certain times for questions or troubleshooting issues.

Don’t get left behind by competitors who already have merchant account services and customers who expect them. Start browsing now to learn more about Credit Card Processing.

Credit Card Merchant Account Services

Did you know that credit card merchant account services could possibly multiply your sales receipts within a matter of weeks or months? Of course, other factors will play a role in the overall success of this strategy, but many company owners claim that the simple step of accepting credit card payments increased their income dramatically in a relatively short amount of time. That is why you need to know more about the benefits of credit card merchant services.

Basically, the premise of using credit card merchant account services works like this. You find a trusted lender with experience in merchant accounts. You might even want to check with customers at some of the lending institutions to see if they are satisfied with their merchant account services. You also can find online testimonials, although these may be biased when situated at the Websites of various lenders. You could visit chat rooms devoted to topics like this one that are sure to be discussed among entrepreneurs or start-up business owners. After getting objective feedback on several possible lenders, you can choose the one that seems like the best bet for your company.

It is a simple process to apply for credit card merchant account services. After reducing your possible underwriters to three or four after searching the Internet or checking with colleagues, it then becomes a matter of comparing and contrasting benefits with fees. Some companies are so well known that they can afford to charge more for their merchant account services. Others have recently added this option, so they might reduce, avoid, or omit certain fees in order to get your business. However, you may have to pay these fees after the first year or another type of trial period. Read all the terms carefully so that you understand how the account works, how much it costs, and what the potential glitches might be. Contact the lender with any questions or uncertainties before applying for an account. Then, when approved, you should feel confident that you have made a good investment.

Obtaining credit card merchant account services will let you accept credit card payments from your customers in a variety of ways. If you own or operate a store, for example, they can pay onsite with a credit card processor that you can plug into a wall outlet. But if you deliver goods or services to homes or businesses, you may want to take along a wireless credit card processor. Depending on how your customers like to pay and the level of involvement you want to pursue, you can add a pager and an e-check or debit processor right away or later on, depending on equipment cost and your need.

Being approved for a merchant services account will help you expand the way you do business. Many consumers prefer to pay by credit card, so accepting payments via this method will attract that segment of buyers and increase your volume of sales. Soon your profit margins should increase as well. Start thinking now about adding credit card merchant account services to your business.

Credit - Over the Limit

Imagine you had a credit card was a $500 limit, and in the run-up to Christmas, you nearly maxed out your card. Before taking that last shopping trip of the season, you went online to check your balance and saw that you had $19 of available credit. "No matter," you say to yourself, "I'll pay the balance in full when I get my Christmas bonus from the office." The only other charge you made was for a couple of mochachinos at the local coffee house, but two days later you were shocked to learn that you somehow went over your credit limit! Worse yet, your card company hit you with a $29 fee! The Mochachino That Broke the Camel's Back

This can happen a lot easier than you might expect. In the above example, you may have recently "paid at the pump." Oftentimes a gas station charges your card only $1 at the point-of-purchase and applies the remainder of the charge to your card later that day (or the next day). Let's say you had $17 in gas that you forgot about. That would reduce your available credit to $3 ($19 - $17 + $1 for the refunding of the temporary charge). Then when you bought two $2.50 drinks, you pushed your balance to $502, exceeding your credit limit by $2, and receiving a whopping $29 fine. It happens all the time.

The real question should be, "Why do credit card companies let this happen?" After all, couldn't they just reject your card at the coffeehouse? The gas station reserves the funds on your card even before it charges them, so shouldn't you not be able to buy the coffee and go over your credit limit? It depends. Some people would find this embarrassing fate more horrible than the $29 over-limit fee, particularly if the second coffee was for a romantic interest or client. But the reality is that credit card companies exist in the world to make money. There's nothing wrong with that, but you need to be aware of the fees and expenses associated with your card and do your best to avoid them. Tips for Avoiding Over-Limit Fees

1. Use a separate card for your gas purchases. Since "pay at the pump" can distort your true balance, it is wise to use one card exclusively for gas. This can be an actual gas card or just a regular card card that you designate as your own gas card. It might be okay to have some recurring charges (cable bill, subscription charges, etc.) also on the card, but don't use it to make "discretionary" purchases. If you have $200 of recurring charges on your card and you typically spend $80 a month on gas, this means you'll only need a card with a $300 limit. Then again, $500 would be better for a little cushion in case you spend more on gas - either because you take a trip or because gas prices to through the roof!

2. Check your balance on a daily basis. If you maximize the benefits of your credit cards by nearly maxing them out each month and then paying off the balance in full, then you need to spend a little more time making sure managing your cards. Check your balance online every day and look at the itemized charges. Sometimes charges don't show up right away, so be on the lookout for anything that's missing. And if you do use your card for gas, make sure you keep your gas receipts so you know how much you really spent when your statement still says "$1."

The Real Cost of Exceeding Your Limit

No one likes paying $29 extra for a couple of coffees, but the even greater cost of going over your credit limit is the damage it does to your credit. Many card companies begin charging you the maximum interest after just one overage - and not the card you went over on. An entirely unrelated company might also jack up your interest rate, even though you've always paid your bills on time with them, so do everything you can to avoid going over.

Credit cards are wonderful tools, but they come with serious responsibilities. You should be using a credit card to your advantage - whether that means getting an interest-free loan every month by paying your balance off in full, or just the simple security and satisfaction that having extra buying power at your fingertips can bring. But when you start paying $29 fees and higher interest, you are letting the powerful tool wield itself against you. Be a smart consumer, but also check the over-limit fees and practices of cards before you sign up for them. No one intends on exceeding their credit limit, but it does happen to most people, so be aware!


Sincerely,

James

Creative Ways to Make Money Fast Online

If you've been online any length of time, you probably realize there are a million and one ways to make money fast on the Web. The Internet provides an amazing opportunity to start a home based business with minimal investment while setting your own schedule and enjoying time with your family more than ever. Let's explore some creative ways to make money online and build a solid stream of income.

Use Your Skills to Create a Service

If you have a special skill that can benefit others, turn this skill into a home business. You can make money at home doing what you do best, whether it's motivational speaking, consulting, marketing, writing, making crafts, sewing, painting, cooking, or parenting. You can develop your own niche product and promote it online through your own website, affiliate marketing, and even online auctions.

You might ask, "How do you do this quickly?" You can start a website fast as long as the site doesn't require complicated programming and ordering systems. You can set up small, one-page or five-page websites in a matter of hours with some software programs. Once your website is ready to sell, you'll need to promote it through free and paid search engines, content marketing, press releases, online ads, e-newsletter ads, and perhaps even off-line avenues. While you're building your business, you can still sell items or services through online auctions to get immediate exposure.

MLM and Network Marketing

Another way to make money fast is to sign on with an MLM (multi-level marketing) company and begin networking with others. This type of business opportunity works really well online because you can enter a proven system and promote the program without leaving your home. It's easier than ever to promote these types of programs online. The good thing about these programs is you can learn from experienced members that are already making money. It allows you to make money now using their knowledge instead of waiting to learn it all on your own.

Help Others Start a Business Online

You can also make fast money by helping others start an online home business. You can sell products, e-books, and software to help others learn how to get started. There are thousands of people every day looking for that perfect business online. They are seeking ways to make money on the Net - just like you! When you provide services to help them realize their dreams, you will earn a profit in the process. And this type of business can be very rewarding as you see others succeed.

Some software programs that are popular in this field are affiliate software, e-mail follow-up software, motivational CDs, e-books about making money, home business tips, website creation software, and so forth.

Make Money with Your Computer through Freelance Bid Sites

If you're happy with a home business in which you work a set number of hours or complete projects for others, you can easily make money at home through freelance bid sites. There are thousands of companies looking for skilled persons in fields such as data entry, medical billing or transcription, coding, writing, web design, graphic design, and accounting. You can use your skills to earn a living from home while still being your own boss as a freelancer.

With any new home business, expect to work hard if you want to make money fast. Every business requires careful study and a daily effort to make it work. Use these simple, but lucrative ideas to make money fast with an online business today!

Creative Business Opportunity Ideas for Work-at-Home Moms

More and more people are finding ways to earn money and work at home. There are many moms who would love to stay home to work and have their own income. Most homes have personal computers, which opens the door to many business opportunities for moms. It is estimated that there are more than three million people working at home now. You too can realize your dream of independence and success.

The mom who wants to make money at home has the ability to set her own schedule and work as much as she wants. If you are only interested in part-time work, then you can regulate the time spent on your home business. If you want to quit an outside job and work full-time at home, the option is your choice.

Find a Business Opportunity

There are numerous business opportunities for someone who wants to work at home. Some work-at-home moms choose an enterprise based on their own interests. Others choose to work for someone else and provide services needed. There are directories on the Internet to help you find the right company for you.

There are many companies that need help with clerical and computer work. You can also make money at home by doing phone polls, processing insurance claims and doing background checks. There are many companies that need products assembled at home, which could help you to get started in a home business of your own. Also, check with "work-at-home mom" websites for great tips, job resources, and helpful advice.

Be Your Own Boss

If you have a unique product or service to offer, you can open your own business web page. There are websites on the Internet to help you get started and many are free. This is an excellent business opportunity to get your products where the public will find them. With a website, you can still be your own boss and put as much time into the business as you want.

Some moms do not have the time or desire to promote their own products or services. Many have tried MLM and network marketing ventures and come away disillusioned. They may not want to sell products and deal with customers. In these cases, finding a good company that will train and support you is very important. Also, there are companies now that do the selling for you. They provide a phone staff to answer sales calls and close the sales. Some companies will even help you promote the business.

Benefit from Your Home Business

Instead of investing a large sum of your money in a business opportunity, find a company that allows you to enter at various levels where you can work up to higher levels. Instead of you having the burden of making all the sales and doing the support work, it is to your advantage to work with a company that helps you in your business. Doing so will allow you to keep a healthy balance between work and home life.

If you don't want high pressure and stressful goals, find a business opportunity that suits your interests and objectives. If you want to make money to live on or need something to do to fill your time, start looking now for the home business that will fulfill your hopes and dreams.

Creating the Ultimate Cover Letter

Cover letters are a very important part of your presentation, whether you're a student in college or a candidate applying for a job. While there is virtually no limit to the different designs you can use with your cover letter, there are some general guidelines you will want to apply to make sure it is professional. It is first important to make sure your cover letter has an excellent appearance. The paper size used for cover letters is generally 8 and 1/2 by 11 inches.

While the color white is almost always used, other acceptable colors include light beige. The cover letter should always be typed on a high quality typewriter, and if you are using a computer, it should be printed out on a printer which is laser based. Using an old typewriter or dot matrix printer will reduce the quality of your resume, even if it is well written. It is also important to make sure your cover letters are never produced in mass. Each one should be unique, and should target the specific company to which you are applying for employment.

It is also important to make sure you use the correct format. For most tasks, the best format is the business correspondence cover letter. If you're not sure what it looks like, you can go online to look at different examples. These examples can give you ideas for how you want your cover letters to be designed. When you send your cover letter to a potential employee, if it is impersonal, it will likely be thrown in the trash. Anyone can mass produce a cover letter or resume. Taking the time to tailor you work towards a specific individual will impress them, and they will be much more likely to look over your resume.

Make sure you learn the name of the person or organization that you're sending your cover letter to. The name must always be spelled correctly. If you have had a good interview with a company, and you send a follow up letter with incorrect spelling, it can ruin your chances of getting hired. When you write your letter, explain how you learned of the company and why you are interested in working for them. You should also explain what type of position you're interested in.

The next thing you want to do is to demonstrate your qualifications for the job. It is best to write two powerful sentences explaining why you have the necessary skills to perform the job you're interested in. After this you will want to let the potential employer know that your resume is enclosed. It is also important to make sure you don't end the letter incorrectly. Many people make the mistake of providing their number and asking the potential employer to call them if they're interested.

A better way to end the letter is by giving the potential employer your number and informing them that you will be calling them. What this does is tell the employer you are persistent, and will take the initiative. It says you will continue contacting them until you get a response. This is the type of impression you want to make.

Creating Professional Proposals

< p >Whether you are pitching your product or service to a multi-national firm or to the start-up down the street, a professional image can make all the difference. In this article, we look at how you can use the formatting features within Microsoft Office to create professional proposals and quotes that put your best foot forward. Using Microsoft Word, we& rsquo; ll walk through some of the formatting tips and tricks used by designers to give documents a professional layout and appearance (and you can do it all yourself for a fraction of the price a designer would charge.) </ p > < b >Begin with the content </ b > < p >To start, we need to look at what makes a proposal stand out. The content of your proposal should clearly state who you are, give a brief summary of your company& rsquo; s experience and detail the products or services you plan to provide, as well as the cost of these products or services. </ p > < p >Once you have decided on your proposal& rsquo; s content, you will want to create a new Word document and start creating your proposal. One of the easiest ways to make your proposal stand out is to make the formatting and style consistent throughout the entire document. Microsoft Word has built-in styles that can be applied to text in your document.</ p > < p >< b >Hint: </ b >If you are unsure of what content you should put into your proposal, you may want to check out the templates that are available on the Office Template Gallery for examples of proposals for different types of product offerings and services.</ p > < b >Create a consistent document style </ b > < p >When working with fonts and sizes within Word, you may have noticed another drop-down list to the left of the font menu. This menu shows all of the available styles within your document. To apply a style to a section of text, highlight the text and use the drop-down list to select a style. The font and font size, character formatting, etc. of the style will be applied to the text you have selected.</ p > < p >By default, Word has a & ldquo; Normal& rdquo; style which is the default for the text in your document, but there are also styles for headings (i.e. Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.) that are especially helpful when creating a document with multiple sections.</ p > < p >You can use these styles to apply formatting to the different sections of your proposal (ie. & ldquo; About Us& rdquo; , & ldquo; Products& rdquo; , & ldquo; Pricing& rdquo; ) etc. to maintain a consistent look-and-feel to your document.</ p > < p >An added bonus is that by applying these styles to the different sections of your proposal, you can also quickly create a table of contents for your proposal by going to the first page of your document and selecting < b >Insert & gt; Reference & gt; Index</ b > and < b >Tables</ b > and then clicking on the < b >Table of Contents</ b > tab. You can then click < b >OK</ b > to add a table of contents to your proposal& mdash; it& rsquo; s that easy!</ p > < p >You can also add or modify the styles in use by selecting < b >Format & gt; Styles and Formatting</ b > to open the < b >Styles and Formatting</ b > side menu, that will appear to the right of your document. </ p > < p >You can use the drop-down list on each of the styles to modify the style, changing the font face, size, format, etc. Any changes you make to a style will be made to all of the text that has that style applied.</ p > < b >Add colour and images </ b > < p >In addition to a consistent look and feel, another easy way to make your presentation stand out is to follow some of the basic design principles. To start, you should limit your use of colour. It may be fun to change the text to be orange with purple headings, but in the end you are trying to create a professional image and convince the reader to buy your products or services. </ p > < p >As a general rule of thumb, the main body of your proposal should always be printed in black text, but you can use colour selectively to highlight text or make headings stand out.</ p > < p >Another way to tighten up your proposals is to limit the use of clipart and images. If you do choose to use graphics in your proposal, they should be relevant to the section of the proposal where they appear. For example, if you have a picture of the product you are selling, it is perfectly acceptable to include that image in the section where you are describing the product.</ p > < p >On the other hand, if you have found some interesting clipart and scatter it through your proposal, you will leave your clients wondering what the clipart has to do with the proposal you have presented. When working with clipart or images, less is definitely more.</ p > < b >Include headers and footers </ b > < p >The final touch to creating a professional image is to add some headers and footers to your document. The header and footer of a document are the place where you can put the title of your proposal, the date as well as your company name and page numbers. </ p > < p >To create a new header or footer, select < b >View & gt; Header and Footer</ b >, which will allow you to edit the header and footer directly on your page and type text in the space allowed. To insert a page number, click the < b >Page Number</ b > icon on the < b >Header and Footer</ b > toolbar. </ p > < p >If your proposal has a title page, you may not want the header and footer to appear. On the same toolbar there is a < b >Page Setup</ b > icon which will open up a < b >Layout</ b > property page. </ p > < p >Click the < b >Different First Page</ b > option so that you can create a header/footer for the rest of your document, without it appearing on the first page. When you are done editing your header/footer, click the < b >Close</ b > button to return to your document.</ p > < b >Check spelling and print</ b > < p >And finally, it goes without saying that you should proofread and spell check your proposal before you send it out (< b >Tools & gt; Spelling and Grammar</ b >). If you are sending a printed copy to the customer, you may want to have the proposal bound or put into a presentation folder.</ p >

Creating Customer Value In Your Proposals

Read any book on sales or proposal writing. Go on a sales training course. One of the first topics that will be covered is features, advantages and benefits. Ultimately, any proposal whether verbal or written down has to persuade someone to take an action and this is done by demonstrating the benefits of taking that course of action.

In a smaller sale, especially with products it is often easy to list benefits, but with larger proposals you will have to search harder to understand the client’s business problem and explain the benefits of your solution – that is, how effectively and efficiently your solution solves their business problem.

Your solution should demonstrate not only value in price, but in the services that you offer. Value is the balance of cost versus benefit, therefore you need to be explicit in highlighting the benefits to the client.

Often when a contract has been lost, the client will tell you that you were too expensive – but no-one ever gets told that they won because they were the cheapest. It is the best solution that usually wins, the one that offers the best benefits. This may be the most expensive solution, but it still may offer the best value.

So how do you create customer value? Firstly you need to take time to understand the customer’s needs. When you receive an Invitation to Tender, get back to the client immediately with questions. Call them. Ask for a meeting. You may have been involved with the client pre-tender and have an understanding of their business.

You must be able to demonstrate an understanding of their business need in order to demonstrate that your solution will deliver the required benefits.

When writing your proposal, use content tailored towards the client and their business problem. We all copy re-usable text, or boilerplate in proposals – but customise it to the client. Include their name, especially in the executive summary. Let them know that the proposal is about them, not about you.

Directly address your customer’s issues and offer persuasive ideas with distinct solution benefits and support your arguments with evidence. When have you delivered a similar service or solution in the past? How did that client benefit? Demonstrate your ability to deliver on your promise.

Make sure a value proposition is clearly laid out and easy to understand. Can you include a return on investment model for the client? If so do it you are showing the client you understand how to save their business money.

Creating a Business Strategy

On a scale of one to ten, having a good business strategy rates about a fifteen!

No matter what kind of business you have -- whether you sell products or a service, as the saying goes, "if you fail to plan, then you're really planning to fail."

Creating a strategy can mean the difference between you working 60 to 80 hours a week all year long -- and then breaking even, or worse, losing money.

On the other hand, many successful entrepreneurs who have a strategy work fewer hours and make piles of money -- and they usually attribute their success to having a strategic plan and following it.

So what is strategic business management? Very simply, it's the process of defining the goals and objectives for your business, creating an action plan so you can reach them and then following the plan.

How do you create a strategic plan for you business?

1. First, know what your vision for your company is. If there were no barriers, nothing stopping you from taking your company as far as you could -- what would that look like?

2. Next, what are your company's core operating values? What are its guiding principles? In other words, why are you in business and how do you do business?

3. Now create a 3 to 5 year plan. Your long-term plan is based on the broad objectives that will help you get from where you are now, to where you want to be.

4. Develop a plan for this year. These are the specific objectives you plan to accomplish this year that will lead you closer to your long-term goals. Remember to be "SMART" when setting your annual goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-oriented). Include a list of the barriers that are stopping you from getting where you want to go. Figure out what resources you've already got, and what resources you need to get you past those barriers. And then create an action plan that clearly lays out how you will achieve your goals. Involve key employees with this part of the planning process.

5. Create a set of milestones or benchmarks. This is very important, so that you can measure your progress.

6. Share the plan with your employees, and anyone else who will be involved in the process. Your annual strategy is the roadmap that will make sure everyone ends up at the same destination -- but to be effective, everyone needs the same map!

7. Put the plan into action. Now that you have the roadmap, it's time to begin the journey.

8. Check your progress. Just like any trip, you need to check the map every now and then; to be sure you're still on the right road. If something isn't working, the sooner you figure it out and make the necessary adjustments, the sooner you'll be back on track.

9. Follow the same cycle next year. (Dream, Plan, Act, Check).

Creating a business strategy and following it will ensure that you enjoy the journey as much as getting to your final destination.

Create Your Own Shopping Mall and Work from Home

There's no disputing that the Internet has enabled hundreds of thousands of people to launch their own home based business. And, with the economy on the brink of recession, more people than ever before are looking for ways to supplement their existing income, to recover from a job loss, or to hedge against uncertain times. An Internet home based business offers a multitude of benefits. You can make your own hours, so you can work while the kids are in school or after they've gone to bed at night. You can avoid the time wasted by a daily commute and don't have to pour money into your gas tank going to and from work everyday. Best of all, you don't have to answer to a boss, because you are the boss!

Because the amount of money consumers spend online is at an all-time high, one of the best businesses you can launch is an online shopping mall. While this seems counterintuitive - after all, where are you going to store all of the inventory? - many people are finding extraordinary success in selling online.

What's the secret? It's actually pretty simple. You just need to find a supplier who will give you access to products that you can sell online, and then who will do the shipping for you. In other words, you don't have to stock inventory, you don't have to deal with packaging and shipping; you just need to sell the products. Ideally, the company you partner with should have 200,000 or more products from which you can choose. When you have access to that kind of inventory, you can become an eBay power seller or a star Amazon trader in no time at all.

When you're looking for a company with which to partner, find one that has at least three different plans. One might be an auction plan, with a one-time set up charge and no monthly fees. You should have access to low wholesale prices and all of the company's products, with no minimum order.

Another option might be a website plan where you get your own website pre-loaded with all of the products, where you can customize your website, and where no merchant account is required. A third option might be a website and auction plan where you can have the best of both worlds, and where you get a free domain and a free email account.

Beyond the plan options, you should look for a company with no monthly fees, that offers free order fulfillment, and that will dropship every product you sell directly to your customer. In other words, you should be able to have a turnkey shopping mall that you can administer from home. All you need is a computer.

As for the types of products you sell, there are virtually no limits. The best partnering companies offer hundreds of thousands of products in categories like apparel, computers, electronics, health and beauty, home and garden, jewelry, toys and games, and so forth. Typically, an online shopping mall that offers a wide variety of products is more successful than one that offers a small selection.

Starting a home based business can be incredibly satisfying, as well as financially rewarding. The secret lies in partnering with the right company.

Create Unlimited Cash with Your Travel Business

Travel in the United States and to other parts of the world is growing by leaps and bounds. It's easier than ever to travel by plane, cruise ship, bus, or car, and many people are taking advantage of modern-day travel conveniences.

Unfortunately, this $8.5 trillion industry is not without fault. Fuel costs and other factors have taken a toll on travel prices, but can actually benefit your business. If you're already in the travel business or thinking of starting a travel venture, now may be the best time ever to cash in on what seems to be a disadvantage to many travelers. Since everyone loves travel (even when it is expensive), you can create unlimited cash while helping others take their dream vacation for fewer dollars.

Unlimited Travel Opportunities

If you've always loved to travel and want to help others plan their vacations, there are unlimited travel opportunities to help you start a travel business. With a travel business, you not only create unlimited cash for your own income, but you can also plan unlimited vacations of your own with a tremendous discount. Then, you can use your own travel experiences to help others find the perfect vacation. You can also offer the discounts to your family and friends.

With some travel business models, you can sign on to be a travel representative (not an agent) and offer the travel packages at a discount with huge commissions paid out directly to you. And the real advantage of these types of opportunities is you can usually sign others up to sell travel packages as well. You will receive instant profits when they sign on as well as when they sell vacation packages to others. It's a great way to travel to exotic places while earning unlimited cash through your very own travel business.

How to Sell Travel Packages

There are a number of ways to realize your dreams with a travel business. You can use the Web, magazines, or classifieds to target niche markets in the travel industry. For example, target people who want to visit a certain country or city. You can target families or honeymooners. You can target business travelers. With a website, you can add unlimited travel articles to your website to attract readers who are interested in visiting certain places around the world. You can also create a travel newsletter or e-zine to capture the e-mails of your site visitors. The travel industry is broad, so the more targeted your marketing efforts, the faster your business will grow.

How to Offer the Opportunity to Others

You'd be surprised at how many people would love to start a travel business, but don't know how or where to start. Once you gain some experience in your travel business, you'll be able to offer tips and helpful resources for others who want to do the same. Also, don't ignore those who are seeking "any" business opportunity. Many people want to work from home, but aren't sure what type of business to try. You can educate them about starting a travel business, and build their confidence to try it out. Be a motivator and a helper, and you'll soon see tremendous results!

Each time you travel, write down key points and attractions of the places you visit. Offer articles about first-hand travel experiences on your website along with photos. Detail how much the total trip cost (with your company's discount) and the fun things you did while there. Putting together travel editorials such as these can become your own personal testimonial to those who are considering the opportunity.

When you sign on for a travel business opportunity, be sure to consider the amount of commission being offered, how much you will need to invest to get started, and how easy it will be to promote the business. Can you promote the business online? Does the company provide a website for you? Can you add content and photos to your website for your own marketing efforts? Does the company offer unlimited vacations at discounted prices? These are key factors in earning unlimited cash while doing something you enjoy!

Create More Sale Opportunities with Two Simple Ideas

If you are in sales you know one of the most challenging aspects of what you do is getting in front of prospects. Prospects and clients are bombarded constantly with items that promote, market, or advertise what people do. So we sell, buy, receive, file, or throw away items that we’re just not sure what to do with. Millions of dollars in advertising and promotions end up in the trash, completely ineffective and wasted.

The question becomes: How do you keep your promotional advertising and unique marketing items out of the trash and on the desk? The answer is simple: use creative and appropriate methods to get recognized.

Sales is really about the ability to think quickly, be flexible, creative and innovation. Regardless of what some people may believe, marketing is a huge part of the sales process. If you want to stand apart from the competition, you need to do more than sell products. You need to know how to get your foot in the door. To get your foot in the door you have to market. However, it also means making sure you have the right door and a plan for keeping your foot there.

Selling is also about taking stock of your market, your prospective customer, and yourself before you even go a-knocking. It is about knowing you are doing the right thing for the right reasons.

Selling is truly an art. It is not just about getting the business. It is knowing you are making a difference in the lives of others with the product or service you provide. It is being of service to others, loving what you do and having fun while you do it.

Following are two fun ideas from the book, “101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door.”

Growing Solutions
A lot of selling is about assisting prospects during periods of growth.

The gift of a live plant is a great way to get your foot in the door. Most everyone appreciates plants. They bring life into a dull space and provide beauty as well. You’d be hard pushed to find a prospect who will deep-six your gift of a plant.

You can play on the words “growth” and “growing” while sending a gift that will stay in the office and on the prospect’s desk.

Along with your card include a note that reads:

-We are interested in helping during this rapid period of growth.
-Is your business growing to the point that you need our service?
-We’d love to help you grow.
-Instructions for growth: Water once a day and call us at ______.
-Congratulations on your growth.”

Don’t be stingy if you’re going to do this. Buy a big healthy plant and have it professionally potted and delivered. The presentation and delivery are as important as the clever play on words.

New Company in Town
A great way to get your foot in the door is to be helpful long before you knock on it. When a new company hits town send them a “My Favorites” list that refers them to the best people, places, and professionals in town.

Make sure these are reputable companies and individuals who offer quality products and services. If there is a specific contact, include that person’s name and number.

A - My Favorites - list could include:
-Chambers of Commerce
-Conference centers
-Consultants
-Florist
-Local associations and contact numbers
-Local printer
-Media contacts
-Restaurants (think about including a take-out menu)
-Office supply store
-Places of interest
-Travel agents

Remember to include yourself and your services!

Once they receive your list, follow up and ask if you can be of assistance in any way. The Law of Reciprocity is a strong one!

The ideas for getting your foot in the door are endless. Again, all it takes is making sure you have the right door, you are appropriately creative, you believe in your product or service, and you are willing to take a risk.

Create Long-Lasting Wealth with Simple Home Business Solutions

Starting your own home business might seem overwhelming at first. There's so much to consider - finances, goals, and the type of business you should start. As a new home business owner, you can easily get frustrated with all the options that are available. Don't complicate matters. There are many simple home business solutions available that can help you create long-lasting wealth without adding stress to your life. Here are some great ideas to get you started.

"Don't Reinvent the Wheel"

You've probably heard the old saying, "Don't reinvent the wheel." Most frustration in business comes from trying to create something new - a new product, new service, or even a new way of doing things. The good news is you don't have to create anything new. With an online business, it's very easy to sign up with others and sell their products for a commission. Most companies are glad to pay you to promote their products. It saves them time and money.

There are millions of products and services online that are just "itching" for more promotion. You can easily find products that interest you and make money online while doing what you love. These products have already been through their testing period so you get to enjoy the benefits as you work from home.

Earn a Residual Income

With some companies, you can earn a residual income (month after month) when signing on new clients. Those in the business of Web education, Internet marketing, Web design services, medical billing and claims, insurance, travel booking, legal services, accounting, and financial investments will often pay you for monthly clients.

You'll earn money each month that the client remains faithful in payments. In other words, you could earn up to 20 percent or more of a client's payment every month! Multiply that number by a hundred and you will have a very lucrative residual income.

Choose High-Commission Products and Services

Don't waste your valuable time promoting products and services that pay very little in commissions. Seek out home business solutions where you can earn a generous commission amount for each sale.

When promoting products for someone else, the visitor/conversion ratio will likely be much lower than it would be when selling your own products. So, you'll have to work a little harder to get more visitors to your website. When you do sell a product, it will be much more rewarding if you make $100 or more instead of $10 or more!

Simplify Your Business Promotions

Another area of frustration for a home business owner is promotion. There are many ways to promote an online business, but usually only a few actually work for the long term. The first thing to do is create a website of your own that you can tweak and add content to on a daily basis. From your website, offer tips and plenty of fresh content about the products and services you offer. Find your target audience and write to them. Give them the information they're seeking before you try to sell them a product.

With some home business solutions, you can receive your own website free. But, be sure it will be your own website, and that you can add to it whenever you want. Being unique with your website is very important for receiving search engine exposure.

Also, beware of scams. Check out online companies before investing any money. Use dependable home business solution directories that will investigate home businesses for you. This will save you time and money. And remember, whatever you do, keep it simple!

Create A Virtual Tour Photography Business Plan, And Move Into A New Career In 90 Days

Copyright 2006 Vision Business Concepts Inc

If you love the real estate industry, and have a passion for photography, creating a virtual tour photography business plan may set you on the road to a new, successful career.

Virtual tours are becoming a popular item for many companies to place on their websites. It can provide their customers with the chance of seeing the location or product before actually visiting. It’s a way of qualifying your customer before you spend hours, or even days with them.

And because of its popularity, it’s the perfect opportunity for a business venture.

Start by setting up your business exclusively to market virtual tour photography. Establish your business identity and create a name and branding that communicates with your target market. If you have dreams of expanding outside of this industry, you might be better off with a generic name. But if this is your niche, something along the lines of Virtual Tour Photography is a great way to get your message instantly across.

Next, decide what resources you need for your business. Do you need a commercial location to meet clients, or will you work out of your home? What type of camera equipment and software will you need? While a start-up business shouldn’t invest in extravagant equipment, you should purchase enough equipment to sufficiently do your job, and to have backup equipment available at all sessions.

Then join professional organizations that will put you in touch with your target market. Join real estate associations, chamber of commerce’s, and local leads groups to get in front of realtors and other business owners that can help bring in business.

Starting with the real estate industry may seem like the natural choice. But from there, you do have many other options for target markets. Consider these industries that would also benefit from having virtual tours:

* Real estate

* Hotels

* Resorts

* Outdoor locations and events

* Restaurants

* Retail stores

* Tourist attractions

* Convention centers

* Vacation rentals

* Property developers

Virtual tours have become an important part of business. Most businesses now have a website for advertising their business. And as more businesses become more sophisticated with their marketing, they understand the need for information, and the power the Internet holds in reaching out to people, and providing them what they are looking for.

Virtual photography is one of those tools that will grow over time. The technology is now at a level where almost all Internet users have the ability to view such a presentation. Which means there will be an increase in the amount of businesses looking at virtual tours as a way of communicating with their prospects and clients.

Starting with realtors is the obvious first step. But then use the above list to come up with a more creative approach to businesses. Teach them the benefits of this powerful tool, and create a successful business in the process.

Branch out as you feel the desire to grow, and the referrals begin coming in. In just a matter of a few months you can be well on your way to a successful, thriving business.