Archive for December, 2007

Quiz: Where is Your Marketing Message?

Monday, December 31st, 2007

By Michele Pariza Wacek Wondering if your marketing message is dancing in the spotlight right in front of your target market or is busy cowering by the punch table nowhere near your customer base? Take this quiz and find out. 1. Overall, you would describe your marketing as: A. Going strong. You consistently get lots of good leads and sales from your marketing efforts. B. Getting better. You’re seeing some positive results, but you’re always looking for ways to improve. C. Flat. Your sales are neither growing nor shrinking. D. Don’t ask. E. You don’t do much marketing. Or any marketing for that matter. Customers pretty much find you. 2. Your last marketing campaign was: A. A huge success. It exceeded your expectations. B. No complaints. You’re pleased with your results. C. Not sure. You didn’t notice much change with your sales. D. A waste of good money. E. You can’t remember your last campaign. In fact, you don’t think you’ve ever had one. 3. At the last Chamber of Commerce meeting, you bumped into a woman who you felt would be your ideal customer. Her response after you introduce yourself is: A. “I’m so glad I ran into you. I’ve been meaning to talk to you in more detail about how your business can help me out.” B. “Oh, I think I remember hearing about you. Tell me more about what you do.” C. “Sorry. What did you say you do again?” D. “Who are you?” E. “Excuse me. I need to refill my drink.” 4. While working out at your health club, you find yourself exercising next to your sister’s new boyfriend. Even though you know he has no interest in your business, he starts quizzing you about what you do. After you tell him, he says: A. “Oh, that’s interesting.” And changes the subject. B. “Yes, I think I’ve heard about your business.” And changes the subject. C. “Yes, I think I saw one of your ads in the paper last week.” And changes the subject. D. “Oh course. I’ve been seeing your ads all over the place.” And changes the subject. E. Changes the subject. 5. You run into one of your customers at a restaurant. He’s sitting with a large group of people, but still jumps up to greet you. When he turns to introduce you to the rest of the group, he: A. Describes your business perfectly. B. Gets it mostly right. C. Manages to describe one aspect okay, although he got a couple major points wrong. D. Described someone else’s business. At least that’s what you think he was doing. He certainly wasn’t talking about your business. E. Didnt quite get your business’ name right. For that matter, he didn’t pronounce your name correctly either. 6. You feel like you’re getting your money’s and/or time’s worth from your marketing efforts: A. Most definitely. B. Definitely. C. Not sure. D. Don’t want to talk about it. E. You’re getting a great return — after all, you spend hardly any time or money marketing so ANY return is huge. 7. Overall, how would you rate your marketing in terms of meeting your overall business’ goals? A. Exactly on track. B. Doing pretty good. For the most part, your marketing is helping you meet your business’ goals. C. You’re still in business so you guess something must be working. Although you’re not exactly sure what. D. Business isn’t so hot. E. What goals? Scoring: Mostly As. Your marketing message is definitely the life of the party. It’s getting in front of your target market and your target market is responding to it. Better yet, you aren’t wasting your efforts reaching people who have no interest in what your business does. Great job. The only caution I would offer is to not allow yourself to be lulled into a false sense of security. Things change. Markets shift. Don’t allow your current success to blind you to a new competitor or a new product or a changing marketing landscape. History is littered with companies who allowed themselves to lose market share or even be toppled by a shift in the marketplace. Mostly Bs. Your marketing message may not be the star, but it’s certainly turning heads. While you could be getting more from your marketing efforts, you’ve definitely accomplished much. Your target market is both getting the message and acting on it. You’re seeing a slow and steady growth in your business. While everyone would love to the next “overnight” success, truthfully that’s not terribly realistic. Marketing is about slow and steady growth and even an occasional setback. While huge marketing success is great as a goal, you should be very pleased with what you’ve accomplished. Mostly Cs. Your marketing message has about half of its dance card filled. Your business is flat. Probably as flat as your marketing. Your business is certainly not growing and may even be slowly declining. While there’s nothing wrong with holding the status quo, this is still a precarious place to be. If you’re not careful, you could find your business sliding into the “business is not so good” category. I would suggest taking a hard look at your marketing message. Maybe you’re not reaching your target market at all. Maybe you’re wasting your marketing efforts by getting your message in front of people who will never buy your products or services. Or maybe you are finding your target market, but your marketing message isn’t persuading them to do business with you. Maybe the marketplace or your target market is changing. Or maybe it’s a combination of things. Mostly Ds. Your marketing message is hiding in the bathroom and has been there for awhile. This is not a good place to be, but you already know this. If it isn’t too late, I would suggest a complete revamp of your entire marketing plan. Maybe your target market isn’t right. Maybe you have too much competition. Maybe you’re competing on price (never a wise selling point). Maybe you’re not differentiating yourself enough from your competition. Maybe you’re not explaining your product correctly. Or maybe it’s something even deeper, a major problem with your product or business. But don’t lose heart! Its still very possible to turn things around. Remember, all successful people suffered setbacks (and downright failures) at some point in their careers. You can make a comeback. Mostly Es. Your marketing message is still outside looking for a place to park. Many service-based, single-person businesses find themselves in this category for instance consultants, coaches, graphic designers and (ahem) copywriters. You never really take the time to put together a marketing plan or market yourself in any orderly manner. When work falls into your lap, you happily snatch it up. When it doesn’t, you find yourself wringing your hands a lot. Yes, I too was in this category. When I first started my business, I didn’t write down my goals and promoting myself was haphazard at best. Believe it or not, I was actually pretty successful for several years using this model. I was lucky. I had good, loyal clients who I could count on for repeat projects. However, even with good clients, you still end up with the “feast or famine” business model. Does this sound familiar? Work starts raining from the heavens, so you hole yourself in your office and focus on, what else? Getting the work done. And you’re so busy with paying work, you stop promoting yourself. When you finish the work, you pick up your head, look around and discover there’s nothing new waiting for you. So you rush out, start networking and contacting people and pretty soon the work is raining down again. And you stop promoting yourself because you’re busy andyou get the picture. In this model, you aren’t really growing your business. You don’t have time. You’re either doing billable work or looking for billable work. Even if you use outside help during the busy times, the busy times don’t last so you can’t build your business. Speaking from someone who’s been there, I would strongly, strongly urge you to take a hard look at your business, your goals and your marketing model. A regular, sustained marketing campaign can lead to regular, sustained work. Your cash flow will even out, and you can start outsourcing certain tasks on a regular basis so you can start growing your business. (A note on Question 4 in case you thought I had the answers reversed. The point of this question is to find out if you’ve picked marketing vehicles that are reaching your target market or if your marketing is so scattered it’s reaching people who have no interest in purchasing your products and services. Don’t waste your time and money driving just anyone to your business target people who have the interest and the means to purchase your products and services.) Michele Pariza Wacek is the author of “Got Ideas? Unleash Your Creativity and Make More Money.” She offers two free e-zines that help subscribers combine their creativity with hard-hitting marketing and copywriting principles to become more successful at attracting new clients, selling products and services and boosting business. She can be reached at TheArtistSoul.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michele_Pariza_Wacek http://EzineArticles.com/?Quiz:-Where-is-Your-Marketing-Message?&id=11352 cheap phentermine online no prescription buy phentermine with cod rx pharmacy phentermine phentermine and pharmacy

Taking Charge of the Job Interview

Sunday, December 30th, 2007

By Louise Fletcher You are not alone if you dislike job interviews. Many senior-level executives, accustomed to being in control, are uncomfortable with the uncertainty of the interview situation. The good news is that you can take charge of every interview, by using a common interview technique to your advantage. Im referring to the technique of behavioral interviewing, which simply means that interviewers ask very specific questions about real situations. The theory is that your past behavior is the best predictor of how you will behave in the future, so employers probe your background for clues. Lets imagine that XYZ company is looking for a Marketing VP who can generate a lot of buzz with a small budget. In order to understand your experience in this area, an behavioral interviewer will ask: Tell me about a time when you had to promote a product with very little cash. or : Describe a time when you created a lot of excitement about a new launch using non-traditional marketing techniques. Behavioral interviewing has become quite common over the last 15 years and, you may well have experienced it yourself, either as an interviewer, or an interviewee. Provided you are prepared (and well talk about this in a moment) a behavioral interview gives you an excellent opportunity to talk in detail about your experiences and accomplishments. Unfortunately, many interviews still follow the old format the questions may be arbitrary, sometimes based on the content of your resume, sometimes on the preoccupations of the interviewer. They may also be very general in nature. For example, if the XYZ company isnt using behavioral interviewing, they may ask VP candidates a question such as: How much experience do you have working with a small budget? This question doesnt invite the same detailed response as the request for a specific example but who needs an invite? The secret to wowing them at every interview is simply this: act as though your were asked a behavioral question, even when you were not. Imagine two different candidates for this fictional marketing position. When asked How much experience do you have working with a small budget?, Candidate A replies, Ive had to do that a lot actually most of the companies I worked for were small to mid-size, so there was never a lot of opportunity to spend money. Im very good in those situations and I always find a way to make things happen. Candidate B, however, gives a behavioral answer: Ive had to do that a lot actually. Let me give you a recent example… you know the film Dark Night? I created the campaign around that movie with a $10,000 budget. It came to my attention because it was the only film all our staff were excited about, although it was a low-budget, independent production. I decided to create a really cool web site themed around the film, and then we planted seeds of interest on forums and in chat rooms … the whole thing took off within weeks and the movie eventually grossed millions. We never did run a single TV advertisement. By answering in such a concrete and specific way, Candidate B brings himself to life and ensures that he will be much more memorable than his competition. You can use this technique for any question that is vague or general in nature: Q: How much do you know about?…. A: Im very familiar just recently I …. Q: How often have you had to ….? A: Thats something Ive done frequently … actually, I remember when … The technique also works when an interviewer asks a hypothetical question: Q: What would you do if …..? A: Well, I faced a similar situation just last year. What happened was … Preparation is Key To prepare effective stories you must first focus on the employers needs and then develop examples that demonstrate your ability to meet those needs. The employers needs Research the company before you go for the interview identify their key business issues (Are they growing rapidly? Are they in a crowded marketplace? Are they planning new product launches?) Get into the minds of the companys executives and ask yourself: Given their business issues, what will they want to know about me? Developing Your Examples Use the C-A-R (challenge-action-result) formula to develop stories that demonstrate your ability to meet the needs of the employer. If you know from your research that ABC Corporation needs a sales executive who can forge new strategic partnerships, develop stories about your experiences in that area. Describe the initial challenge (e.g. need to enter a new market), the actions you took (researched the market, identified targets, met C-level decision-makers) and the results (built partnerships worth $15 million in revenues within 12 months). If your interviewers have been trained in behavioral interviewing, youll be exceptionally well-prepared. But if not, youll be able to separate yourself from all the other candidates by telling compelling, interesting and targeted stories that demonstrate your ability to add value. Louise Fletcher is the President of Blue Sky Resumes (http://www.blueskyresumes.com). She is also the Co-founder and Managing Editor of Career Hub (http://careerhub.typepad.com), a leading source of free job search information for professionals and executives. Louise is a frequent contributor to job search publications such as Monster.com, The Ladders, Net-Temps, Job Bank USA and Employment Spot, and her work is featured in numerous resume books, including the JISTworks “Expert Resume” series. A recognized leader in cutting-edge job search techniques, Louise has helped 1,000s of professionals secure a better position through effective career marketing. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louise_Fletcher http://EzineArticles.com/?Taking-Charge-of-the-Job-Interview&id=215766 cheap phentermine no perscription rx pharmacy phentermine cheap phentermine buy phentermine pay cod

Building Your Online Network for Real Estate Professionals

Saturday, December 29th, 2007

By Jeremy Redlinger Not only is new home purchases and existing home purchase fallen for the past year or so the mortgage industry has seen brokerages collapse. I believe the pattern to continue this way for some time to come. I also believe there is something you can do about it to survive these times. Right now online networking and marketing is how many real estate professionals are getting ahead. There are many ways to go about your online networking. Online forums are helpful when it comes to new marketing ideas. You can also blog away to help get your word out. If you have your own website, I am sure you have heard of link exchanges. The thing about link exchanges is that you have to know where to put them. I have spent countless hours on my SEO tool trying to figure this out. I have searched keyword after keyword after keyword and have had some success, hey after only 3 months if you go to msn search and type in Minnesota refinance mortgage, you will see me listed at the top of the first page. I’m sure you have also seen or tried pay per click or pay per call leads, but are you really trying to spend that type of money for those leads, and internet leads I’d like to hear from one broker who has got what they expected. In short, we need a cost effective way to market to our local customer because thats who we care about. Since you took the time to read through this I am happy to let you know that I have a solutions. If you would like to get listed on a new local search engine for real estate professionals check this one out at my local search page. If you wish to be listed visit me here to submit your website. I will also give you a text link back to your home page. There is just a small listing fee of $5 to help maintain the directory. Your listing is guaranteed for 3 months. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Redlinger http://EzineArticles.com/?Building-Your-Online-Network-for-Real-Estate-Professionals&id=387373 mail order phentermine buy phentermine without a prescription phentermine 37.5 mg overnight shippimg no prescription buy phentermine without prescription

Loan Repayment - Watch Those Extras

Friday, December 28th, 2007

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michael_Challiner]Michael Challiner Following a complaint made by Citizens Advice in 2005, claiming that aspects of the payment protection insurance (PPI) market were severely harming the interests of consumers, a report has been published by the Office of Fair Trading. Payment protection insurance is designed to safeguard borrowers ability to keep up loan payments and in theory it should make it easier to avoid getting into debt. If the borrower suffers an illness, an accident or loses their job, then PPI should step in and pay out for a specified period of time. It appears that borrowers are not being made aware of exclusions which may mean that they cant make a claim. In addition to these omissions, it appears that borrowers have no true idea of the real cost of cover and do not receive suitable information on the product.What is making matters worse is that providers are using an assortment of very different terms for the same products. Not all borrowers need the protection that these policies offer. Prior to taking out the loan they would not have considered the purchase of additional insurance and it is a fact that almost 90% of unsecured loan providers automatically calculate the cost of the PPI in the full figures for the loan. If you apply for a personal loan you are likely to find an amount for PPI added to the bottom of the calculations and may even assume that this is a pre-requisite, which could be taken as misleading. The Office of Fair Trading revealed that the variance in the prices were not relative to the cost. There were cases of virtually identical policies costing from 16 to around 40. Product providers seem to be doing very well out of selling the cover, with the cost of claims showing as a very small proportion of the annual income of 5 billion which they receive from premiums. In the PPI industry as a whole, the Office of Fair Trading was not happy with regards the provision of clear information on PPI prices, although this was not totally the case. It was commonly found that marketing literature was on display without any indication whatsoever of costs. When taking out a loan, 25% of borrowers had the mistaken impression that by taking out a payment protection plan, their application for credit would be viewed more favourably. Sales agents earn a considerable income from the sale of the product and commission of 60% of the product price is common. An amazing 7.5 million PPI policies are sold every year, despite the fact that they are unsuitable for a great many borrowers and many of them are incredibly expensive. A feed-back session on the Office of Fair Trading report is being held. Further action is then expected and this is very likely to result in them offering encouragement to companies to improve the product which they offer to their clients. Plans are then likely to be put in place for a code of conduct. These moves would be on a voluntary basis. In the event of companies not complying with whatever moves are proposed, it is possible that a full investigation and recommendations could be handed to either the Financial Services Authority or to the Competition Commission. In the meantime, remember that this is a purely voluntary form of insurance. Cover for accident, illness or loss of job can be found in other forms. Indeed it is likely that many borrowers who have paid for this expensive cover are already amply insured via other products. Check the facts carefully. Its your money. Loans 4 me great articles based around [http://www.loans-4-me.co.uk]Loans. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Challiner http://EzineArticles.com/?Loan-Repayment—Watch-Those-Extras&id=312523 buy phentermine on line without prescription and overnight shipping phentermine without doctors prescription buy phentermine no prescription phentermine 30 mg diet pills

Six Smoothie Recipes for Constipation and Acne Relief

Friday, December 28th, 2007

By Rudy Silva I recommend drinking a morning smoothie if you have constipation or if you have skin problems like acne. Drinking a high fiber smoothie relieves and prevents constipation. It will also provide the nutrients that are necessary for having or keeping a nice clean and smooth skin. So, here are the six smoothie recipes you can blend. * Apple Smoothie * Apple-Barley Smoothie * Apricot Smoothie * Peach-Rice Dream Smoothie * Pineapple Smoothie * Strawberry Smoothie Apple Smoothie Mix in the blender the following. 1-2 small apples cut into wedges1 banana1 cup 50:50 rice dream: almond milk cup or less of raisins soaked overnight1-teaspoon honey1-2 cubes of ice1-teaspoon lecithin granules2 tablespoons flax seed oil Start by mixing the banana and the liquids. Then add slices of apples to get the consistency you like. In all of your smoothies add flax seed oil for nice smooth skin. I also add a tablespoon of flax seed straight into the blender and the blender will chop them up.Apple-Barley Smoothie Mix in the blender the following. 1 cup of sliced apples with peel1/2 cup of cooked barley1/4 cup of soaked raisins1/4 teaspoon of vanilla flavoring11 cup of 50:50 rice dream: almond milk1-teaspoon lecithin granules2 Tablespoons flax seed oil Make sure you use the lecithin granules in these smoothies since lecithin helps to breakdown the flax oil into tiny droplets and makes it more digestible. Apricot Smoothie One cup of fresh apricots or dried apricots that were soaked overnightJuice of 1/2 a lemonTwo oz. of prune juiceOne teaspoon or more of oat banOne teaspoon of mineral wheyOne tablespoon of flax seed oilOne tablespoon of lecithin granules Add a slight amount of distilled water or ice cubes to make the consistency to your liking. This smoothie is good for constipation and acne. Peach-Rice Dream Smoothie Mix in the blender: 2 fresh peaches with peel1-cup rice dream1/2 banana1-teaspoon sesame seeds1-teaspoon sunflower seed1-tablespoon lecithin granules2 tablespoons flax seed oilIn place of rice dream you can use almond milk. I now only use almond milk to make my smoothies. Place all of the seeds straight into the blender. This smoothie has plenty of fiber. You may want to increase the amount of sesame and sunflower seeds. Pineapple Smoothie Mix the following in a blender. 1-2 cups of fresh pineapples1/2 cups apple slices1/4-cup fresh apple juice1/2-cup almond milk (more or less as needed)1 banana1-tablespoon lecithin2-tablespoons flax seeds2 teaspoons bran (wheat, oat or rice) You can add more lecithin if you like. Lecithin does not have a taste. This smoothie is jam packed with fiber. Strawberry Smoothie Mix in a blender the following ingredients. 1 banana1-tablespoon of lecithin granules1-teaspoon of any type of bran1 cup or more 50:50 rice dream: almond milkNow add strawberries one by one with the blender on until you get the consistency you like.1-tablespoon flax seeds1 or 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds1-teaspoon sesame seeds1 tablespoon of flax seed oil You can add liquid minerals or vitamins to these smoothies and give them an additional nutritional value. There you have the smoothies that I make. Start making and drinking them and see the health benefits that youll get. Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. He writes a newsletter call natural-remedies-thatwork.com. More acne hints and information on his acne e-book can be found at: http://www.stop-constipation.comhttp://www.acne-remedies.for–you.info Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rudy_Silva http://EzineArticles.com/?Six-Smoothie-Recipes-for-Constipation-and-Acne-Relief&id=33990 internet pharmacy phentermine american pharmacy phentermine prescription phentermine 37.5 buy cheap phentermine 37.5

Ladies Choice. Will any Man Do?

Thursday, December 27th, 2007

By Vlady Peters Every woman in the room agreed that Crichton was a cracker of a butler. Even before you began to open your mouth to say, Crichton, I need there was a shawl around your cold shoulders, drink in your thirsty hand, and a foot stool under your weary feet. But for these high-society ladies to have any design on Crichton as a possible lover. Forget it. When all was said and done, Crichton was just a butler. An admirable butler, to be sure. But butler none the less. When these Lady Marys were looking for a good time, they wanted a man whod tango them through the night, help them lose a small fortune at the black jack table, and send them into peels of laughter with his after dinner raconteureeing. For all his fetching and carrying, Crichton wasnt such a man. Then something happened to change all that. On one of those sea trips that Crichtons employers took from time to time, their vessel struck a reef, and the passengers found themselves stuck on a deserted island. All the Dukes and Marquises and Freddies and Lords, who comprised the voyagers, stood around fiddling their thumbs wondering what the heck to do. Not so Crichton. Unfazed, he cut some wood, build a fire to start boiling the billy, swung through the trees to fetch some bananas, and picked a bundle of fig leaves with which to start weaving a bale or two of cloth for the day when the current wardrobe was beyond repair. The women were entranced. A man so in tune with his environment and his situation was a man to be admired and desired. And no man or woman show themselves to such advantage as when they are completely at ease and in control of who they are and where they are. Currently, according to US statistics, the most desired honeymoon destination for American couples is Hawaii, the form of travel a cruise, a resort promising a spa and some activity a definite plus, and a beach near by almost a necessity. But I guess Hawaii gave that away. In the end, however, whatever type of honeymoon the couple choose, a background against which they both shine is what really matters. It will make them remember what made them so attractive to each other in the first place. Vlady Peters is an Australian Civil Marriage Celebrant authorised to perform marriages in Australia. She also perform general ceremonies such as Baby Naming, Renewal of Vows and Commitment Ceremonies. To learn more about her as a celebrant and an author visit vlady at http://www.weddings-celebrant.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vlady_Peters http://EzineArticles.com/?Ladies-Choice.-Will-any-Man-Do?&id=50182 brothers pharmacy phentermine cheap phentermine online prescription doctor’s pharmacy phentermine my little pharmacy phentermine

When Can I Appeal A Court’s Decision?

Tuesday, December 25th, 2007

By Charles Brown Generally, under the legal system in the United States, parties to a trial have the right to appeal to a higher court if they believe the outcome they received from a lower court was in error. However, only questions of law are grounds for appeal, not questions of fact. This means that if the party simply feels the jury (or the judge if the case was heard in a bench trial) arrived at the wrong conclusion as a result of the facts presented, that is not grounds for appeal. But if the party feels the judge made an error in interpreting the law, that issue is grounds for an appeal. Suppose the judge allowed the jury to hear a witness testify about something he did personally see or hear, but was instead told by someone else who claimed to have seen or heard this matter. Under most circumstances, this type of testimony is called hearsay because the actual witness on the stand was not the person who saw or heard the matter being testified about. Now suppose, the jury renders an unfavorable verdict based upon that hearsay testimony. Now the party who lost this case my appeal to a higher court claiming the judge erred in allowing that testimony to be heard by the jury. This is an issue of whether the judge made an improper decision based on the law, not whether the jury made an incorrect verdict based upon the facts presented in the trial. The appeals court does not rehear the facts and testimony and render a new verdict, they will simply decide whether the lower court must conduct a new trial without admitting the hearsay testimony into evidence. Other questions of law might be whether the judges instructions to the jury were correct, whether the partys constitutional rights were violated, whether the lower court had proper jurisdiction to hear this case, whether a statute of limitation has been exceeded, or whether the damages awarded were excessive under the law, etc. In most cases the party will have a limited time to file an appeal (often 30 to 45 days after the lower courts verdict). Also, in order to appeal, your attorney must have raised an objection to this issue during the trial and have been overruled. It is not acceptable to comb through the trial transcripts later and find an error that should have been objected to during the trial and then file an appeal. The appellate court can either affirm the lower courts verdict, reverse it, modify the verdict, or order a new trial. Charles Brown, JD is a former criminal defense lawyer who now writes about legal topics. Visit him at Ask A Criminal Defense Lawyer, http://askcrimelawyer.blogspot.com, where you can submit your questions about your legal rights, what to do if you or a family member is ever charged with a crime, how to choose a criminal defense lawyer and how to work with your lawyer throughout your case. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Brown http://EzineArticles.com/?When-Can-I-Appeal-A-Courts-Decision?&id=444462 tramadol without a prescription next day fedex buy cheap tramadol tramadol ultram ultram prescription buy consultation free hydrocodone online tramadol

Wedding Dress Cleaning Tips

Monday, December 24th, 2007

By Daniel Brown You should aim to dry clean your dress as soon as you can after your wedding. This helps avoid the danger of untreated stains becoming oxidised and increases the likelihood of successful cleaning. Always have the dress dry cleaned prior to storage, even if the dress looks clean stains such as perspiration and drinks stains can evaporate, but over time begin to affect the fabric. On the day avoid rubbing stains, if you spill something on your dress blot it gently, rubbing can damage the fabric permanently. As far as stain removal goes give the dry cleaner the first chance to remove the stains. Experience is the most important factor in the successful cleaning of your dress find a reputable dry cleaner. Ask to see the dress before its packed, even if the cleaning results are not perfect its best for you to inspect your dress after its been cleaned. Then you can discuss the possibility of further treatment. No dry cleaner can be 100% successful 100% of the time (any dry cleaner who offers you cleaning guarantees over the phone should be a magician not a technician), however experience and the latest techniques can help deliver the best results Find a dry cleaner before the event in case disaster strikes on the day you can have the dress attended to quickly. Also in the event that you are going away for a long honeymoon you can send a friend/relative in with your dress. Labels are important to the professional dry cleaner, if you remove them keep them so you can supply the dry cleaner with the necessary information Trimmings and beads often wedding dress makers will embellish dresses with additional items. This may cause a number of problems for the dry cleaner. Some beads are not suitable for dry cleaning and may melt/dissolve during cleaning; a reputable dry cleaner will test before cleaning. Other items such as glitter can be glued on; often the glue will dissolve during dry cleaning removing the adornments . One way to minimise these problems is to speak to the wedding dress maker before cleaning and confirm the care instructions for the dress. Youve had your dress cleaned now what? STORAGE Dont leave your dress in the plastic from the dry cleaners over time plastic can give off chemicals which discolour fabrics Remove the safety pins over time they can oxidise and mark the dress with rust marks If you are having your dress boxed, make sure it is being packed in acid free tissue paper. This helps prevent yellowing of the dress (remember that even with proper care it may be impossible to prevent all yellowing over time). Check the dress periodically while in storage, in case the dress is deteriorating through inappropriate storage. Its good to refold the dress to prevent permanent creases. Dont use plastic storage boxes while these are great for seasonal storage, they are not suited to long term storage. If any moisture develops inside the box the fabric can develop mildew It is important that the textile can breath if so the humidity around the dress remains constant and the likelihood mould/mildew is reduced Ideally the dress should NOT be stored in an area which is prone to high humidity (like your attic) or damp (like your basement), fluctuating temperatures increase the risk of deterioration. Often a wardrobe or under the bed is the best place. If the dress is not boxed make sure it is stored away from sunlight and artificial light, in the long term they can cause degradation and fading of fabric. Feel free to contact us to discuss your wedding dress cleaning! http://www.themastercleaners.com/ info@themastercleaners.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Brown http://EzineArticles.com/?Wedding-Dress-Cleaning-Tips&id=231674 ultram without prescription tramadol no prescription required 200 tablets meridia buy tramadol online meridia online buy meridia ultram buy online

Never Suppress Your Dreams, Take An Unsecured Loan To Fulfill Your Needs

Saturday, December 22nd, 2007

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Pranav_Das]Pranav Das Most of us require money for some or the other reason. The money can either be borrowed from friends and relatives or it can be taken as loan from a professional moneylender. If you want a large amount of money you may not get it from friends. And when you approach a finance company to procure a loan it may ask you for collateral. The situation gets tougher for you when you dont have any property to pledge before the lender. It may also be a case that you have a house but you dont want to put it at risk. An unsecured loan is the solution to your problem. An [http://www.uk-direct-loans.co.uk/unsecuredloans.html]unsecured loan is one that is provided without the borrower keeping any collateral with the lender. Since there is no mortgage involved in the deal, the lender is at higher risk while the borrower is at minimum risk. The rates of interest charged on unsecured loans are generally high compared to secured loans. Also, the monthly installments are bigger and the repayment duration is shorter. On the other hand unsecured loans are more favourable because you dont have to go through the hassle of approaching brokers. You are also saved from being involved in much paper work as you are not keeping any property at risk. This is one of the biggest benefits of an unsecured loan, as you will not lose your property in case of non-payment of the loan. An unsecured loan can be utilised for a number of purposes. It can be used for the renovation of your house. You can buy a new car with it. You can fund your childrens higher education. You can finance your holiday trip. You can use it for buying household items. There can be uncountable ways to use the loan amount. The best way to get an unsecured loan is to sit before the computer and surf through some of the useful internet websites. There are numerous companies that are providing unsecured loans on the internet. You just have to fill up an online form and your loan is sanctioned within a short span of time. Author: The author is a business writer specializing in finance and credit products and has written authoritative articles on the finance industry. He has done his masters in Business Administration and is currently assisting UK-direct-loans as a finance specialist. For more information please visit ==> http://www.uk-direct-loans.co.uk Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pranav_Das http://EzineArticles.com/?Never-Suppress-Your-Dreams,-Take-An-Unsecured-Loan-To-Fulfill-Your-Needs&id=149125 buy ultram online without a prescription online prescription tramadol buy cheap prescription ultram pharmacy online tramadol

Weight Loss Success — The Most Important Determinant

Saturday, December 22nd, 2007

By Michael Smith, MD Adherence to diet for one year, not the specific diet plan, is the most important determinant of successful weight loss. According to the results of a randomized trial published in the January 2005 issue of JAMA. When comparing Atkins, Ornish, Weight Watchers, and Zone diets, the author recommends the “low fad” approach. The Low Fad Approach Successful weight loss is best achieved by following the low fad approach. The low fad approach to losing weight involves moderate reductions in caloric intake with increased physical activity. There is nothing “fad” about this approach and is supported by a few studies. The fact that the low fad approach is backed by scientific evidence is key…the fad diets currently in the market have very little credible evidence supporting their claims. “The scarcity of data addressing the health effects of popular diets is an important public health concern, especially since patients and physicians are interested in using popular diets as individualized eating strategies for disease prevention,” write Michael L. Dansinger, MD, a Preventative Medicine specialist from Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Dansinger goes on to say, “Some plans minimize carbohydrate intake without fat restriction (eg, Atkins diet), many modulate macronutrient balance and glycemic load (eg, Zone diet), and others restrict fat (eg, Ornish diet).” So, besides the lack of evidence backing the claims made by fad diets, there is no consistency from one diet to the next within the same category of diet type. This makes it extremely difficult to study the fad diets and measure the effects on your health, let alone your chances for successful weight loss. But there’s hope for dieters…the low fad approach or “Low Fad Diets.” Successful Weight Loss…The Evidence Supporting Low Fad Diets At a single academic medical center, 160 overweight or obese adults were randomized to the Atkins, Zone, Weight Watchers (calorie restriction), or Ornish diet. The total time of the study was one year. The age range was 22 to 72 years, mean body mass index (BMI) was 35 kg/m2 (range, 27-42 kg/m2), and all participants had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes. After two months of maximum effort, participants controlled their degree of adherence to the diet. Primary outcomes were changes in baseline weight and cardiac risk factors at one year, and dietary adherence rates based on self-report. The percent of subjects who were able to finish the study and stick with their diets for one year were 53% for Atkins, 65% for The Zone, 65% for Weight Watchers, and 50% for Ornish. Participants who discontinued the study were assumed to have no change from baseline in their weight. At one year, mean weight loss was 6-7 pounds for Atkins, 6-9 pounds for The Zone, 6-8 pounds for Weight Watchers, and 6-10 pounds for The Ornish Diet. Compared to subjects that quit the study before one year, the subjects that made it to one year experienced greater weight loss. In each group, approximately 25% of the initial participants maintained a one-year weight reduction of more than 5% of initial body weight, and approximately 10% of participants lost more than 10% of body weight. The amount of weight loss was associated with the self-reported level of dietary adherence. Basically, the longer a subject stayed on the diet that they were randomized to, the more weight loss they experienced. However, the type of diet they were on had no real effect on the amount of weight loss. The type of diet also had no effect on dropping their blood pressure or lowering their cholesterol level. Successful Weight Loss Conclusion The author concluded, “Each popular diet modestly reduced body weight and several cardiac risk factors at one year.” Overall, dietary adherence rates were low, although increased adherence was associated with greater weight loss and cardiac risk factor reductions for each diet group. The study limitations include the inability to identify a “best diet” and the limited ability to exclude long-term safety risks. Lastly, the author stated, “One way to improve dietary adherence rates may be to use a broad spectrum of diet options, to better match individual food preferences, lifestyles, and cardiovascular risk profiles.” I have always supported the idea of more personalized weight loss plans. The General Clinical Research Center via the National Center for Research Resources of the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Boston Obesity Nutrition Research Center supported this study on successful weight loss. To Healthy Living! Michael A. Smith, MD Chief Medical ConsultantDiet Basics Website The complete study can be found at JAMA. 2005;293:43-53, 96-97. Dr. Smith is the Chief Medical Consultant for Diet Basics, a content rich weight loss web site. He is dedicated to the education of all dieters. Please visit his site at Diet Basics. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Smith,_MD http://EzineArticles.com/?Weight-Loss-Success—-The-Most-Important-Determinant&id=57053 tramadol no prescription no consultation cheap prescription ultram without buy tramadol cheap online order tramadol