Time is a treasure that, if not used properly, can get away from us in a hurry. Your computer is a tool you can use to help you get a better handle on your financial, business and personal life. You can use your computer in ways you never dreamed of to get a better handle on your time. You do not need special software, just a willingness to learn, access to the Internet and certain websites.
Instructions
Step 1
Why waste money on stamps, envelopes and checks and risk them getting lost or stolen in the mail? Consider paying your bills on the Internet. For utilities, cities, taxes, mortgage, credit cards, cable, satellite or car payments, go to a website which allows you to set up payment through a bank account. You will receive email reminders each month when bills are due. If you want less hassle, you can set up automatic payments. You will need your routing number and bank account, both found at the bottom of your check. It is strongly recommended to pay bills online to avoid late fees and have a record of your transaction, as you will receive a confirmation number.
Step 2
Your computer can also be set up in a variety of ways to remind you of special days. You can have a calendar beep or send email reminders. For example, Yahoo calendar will send email reminders if you ask it to for certain days or appointments that you set up ahead of time. You can set up hourly, weekly or monthly appointments and obligations as well and include addresses and other information for easy reference.
Step 3
Don't know what to make for a meal? Recipe-challenged? Having company in a hurry? Try any of hundreds of recipe websites, including those of major food companies. Some links are listed below. All you need to do is print and go. In many cases, you can print to recipe in card size for your convenience, select ingredients you have on hand, type of food, portions, special considerations and more. Take advantage of the "recipe box" tool on many websites and save them as your favorites on the Internet. You can also have a recipe of the day emailed to you if you prefer.
Step 4
Got mail? Use your computer to send a letter or document via email for instant arrival rather than waiting on snail mail. You can also set it up to fax using Windows or the all-in-one machines on the market today. Why chance its arrival when you know instantly with email and fax if your documents and information arrived as intended.
Step 5
Shop and don't drop! You will indeed drop less on time and money in this case. Very often they offer free or low-cost shipping and you can hunt for exactly what you need. For shoppers needing specialty and hard-to-find items, this is a dream come true.
source : ehow.com
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Inexpensive HIV Monitoring Technique by Victorian Researchers
A new technique for monitoring the disease on HIV sufferers has been developed by Australian scientists. This test is hiv_life_cyclecheap price wise, thus will be a soothing thing for the HIV sufferers from any country. This test has been developed by the researchers at Melbourne based Macfarlane Burnet Institute, and will enable the experts to monitor the key CD4 T cells in people with HIV virus.
These cells are perfect and true indicators of development in the disease, and are a major target of HIV virus. By targeting these cells, HIV reduces their level. Not only this, but it weakens the immunity system of the victim that gives rise to AIDS.
40 million people around the globe have been diagnosed with HIV. Three million new cases are diagnosed every year. Currently, the monitoring technique is quite expensive and pricey. This technique uses flow cytometry, and is available in limited laboratories. In these circumstances, this new inexpensive test is a ray of hope for HIV inflicted people.
Initial validation state of this technology has been achieved with the funding by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the National Health and Medical Research Council. Research on the ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) based test has been led by Associate Professor David Anderson and Professor Suzanne Crowe. Researchers have established a company with the name of SeeD4. The received funds have reached up to $377,000 from the Medical Research Commercialization Fund (MRCF) and a $30 million fund supported by the Victorian Government. This innovative creation has been announced by Victorian Innovation Minister Gavin Jennings, who said, “The Victorian Government is taking action to promote health and lifestyle benefits through biotech initiatives, such as this new HIV test, which will also create jobs for Victorians.”
source : coolhealthtips.com
Microsoft Hardware To Launch Exclusive Windows 7 Features
Microsoft announced in a press release earlier today that all Microsoft hardware products will be fully compatible with the final retail version of the Windows 7 operating system. The hardware will make use of Windows 7 features such as Device Stage, Windows Flip or Windows Live Movie Maker and Windows Live Photo Gallery.
Device Stage. Microsoft Hardware mouse and keyboard products will support Device Stage, a Windows 7 feature that gives customers quick and easy access to common tasks, including product information, registration, settings and more for popular device categories such as cell phones, cameras, printers, portable media players and input devices.
Windows Flip. Microsoft mouse and keyboard users can easily see a thumbnail preview of all open windows with the press of a button. A full-screen preview of the application will automatically display, enabling the user to better identify and select the desired application.
Windows Live Movie Maker and Windows Live Photo Gallery. LifeCam users will be able to do more with photos and movies. With Movie Maker they can start a movie project with one click, and then upload video to social networking sites. Photo Gallery access will enable them to easily upload a photo that they can edit, tag and share with friends and family.
An additional feature called Taskbar Favorites was mentioned in the press release as well which will be available for Microsoft keyboard products.
the first of which is a timesaving feature called Taskbar Favorites that gives Microsoft keyboard users a smart new way to access their most frequently used programs and documents. Taskbar Favorites will map to the location of applications on the improved Windows taskbar. The applications in the taskbar can be easily rearranged just by clicking and dragging, and Taskbar Favorites will automatically adapt to the applications’ new locations.
source: Microsoft Press Release
Device Stage. Microsoft Hardware mouse and keyboard products will support Device Stage, a Windows 7 feature that gives customers quick and easy access to common tasks, including product information, registration, settings and more for popular device categories such as cell phones, cameras, printers, portable media players and input devices.
Windows Flip. Microsoft mouse and keyboard users can easily see a thumbnail preview of all open windows with the press of a button. A full-screen preview of the application will automatically display, enabling the user to better identify and select the desired application.
Windows Live Movie Maker and Windows Live Photo Gallery. LifeCam users will be able to do more with photos and movies. With Movie Maker they can start a movie project with one click, and then upload video to social networking sites. Photo Gallery access will enable them to easily upload a photo that they can edit, tag and share with friends and family.
An additional feature called Taskbar Favorites was mentioned in the press release as well which will be available for Microsoft keyboard products.
the first of which is a timesaving feature called Taskbar Favorites that gives Microsoft keyboard users a smart new way to access their most frequently used programs and documents. Taskbar Favorites will map to the location of applications on the improved Windows taskbar. The applications in the taskbar can be easily rearranged just by clicking and dragging, and Taskbar Favorites will automatically adapt to the applications’ new locations.
source: Microsoft Press Release
Intel Launches Core i7 975 Extreme Edition
Supplanting the Core i7 965 as Intel's flagship processor, the No. 1 chip maker today launches its Core i7 975 Extreme Edition. Clocked at 3.33GHz and built around the company's Nehalem architecture, the 975EE ranks as the fastest desktop processor yet available.
Built on a 45nm manufacturing processor and checking in with a 263mm2 die size, the 975EE boasts 1MB of L2 cache, 8MB of L2 "Smart" cache, a 25X clock multiplier, 6.4GT/sec QPI link frequency, and a 130W TDP. The new chip is also based on the newer (and more overclocking friendly) D0 stepping, which has just recently started showing up in newer Core i7 920 chips.
Reviews are out in full force now that the NDA has been lifted, some of which also include the Core i7 950, another new entry to the Core i7 family launched today. The i7 950 comes clocked at 3.06GHz with a 4.8GT/sec QPI speed.
Both processors are available now with street pricing in the $540-$570 (Core i7 950) and $1000-$1040 (Core i7 975 EE) ranges.
source : Paul Lilly - maximumpc.com
Built on a 45nm manufacturing processor and checking in with a 263mm2 die size, the 975EE boasts 1MB of L2 cache, 8MB of L2 "Smart" cache, a 25X clock multiplier, 6.4GT/sec QPI link frequency, and a 130W TDP. The new chip is also based on the newer (and more overclocking friendly) D0 stepping, which has just recently started showing up in newer Core i7 920 chips.
Reviews are out in full force now that the NDA has been lifted, some of which also include the Core i7 950, another new entry to the Core i7 family launched today. The i7 950 comes clocked at 3.06GHz with a 4.8GT/sec QPI speed.
Both processors are available now with street pricing in the $540-$570 (Core i7 950) and $1000-$1040 (Core i7 975 EE) ranges.
source : Paul Lilly - maximumpc.com
Tips For Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses
Whether you've just started out in business or taken the first step toward marketing your small business, there's a lot to learn. Whether you've hired a full-time employee or selected a partner you trust to work with to achieve your goals, you need to ensure your investment is good. To get your money's worth, maintain a healthy professional relationship, keep up momentum, and ensure a smooth process, consider the following tips.
1. Communicate your expectations and share the ideas in your head about all aspects of the project. A good partner or employee charged with managing a project will want to know what you expect, will ask questions to draw that out, help you articulate it, and make sure they understand it. Sometimes, however, it helps to be proactive in identifying and communicating what you want-and what you don't. With some introspection and honesty, you can also identify any preconceived ideas you have, especially about budget, costs, and the relationship. Sharing those upfront will allow your marketing person to help you understand what's possible, design a project scope that meets your needs, and ensures a mutually beneficial path.
2. Understand and believe in the value of what the marketing project will accomplish. Without clear, future goals and marketing projects that are investments towards achieving them, you have no way of quantifying success and so every expense can seem like an unnecessary cost. You-and you alone-must be emotionally and financially ready to promote your business or the project is not worthwhile. If your goal is "a more professional image through marketing," you must attach a value to that today. Whatever your goal is, in a best-case scenario, you feel as though you are getting a good deal and your marketing person feels they are being well compensated.
3. Be open to new ideas. The idea that you had regarding your initial project may not be the solution-or the only solution. Sometimes you will have a project in mind-something you believe you need because someone said so, your competition has it, or you read about it somewhere. By looking closely at the aforementioned goals, however, this may or may not be a professional marketer's recommendation based on your target market, product or service offering, channel structure, or any number of variables that they are trained to consider. Start discussions with the problem and you'll have a wider range of potential solutions to choose from that match your budget, your style, and your true needs.
4. Decide how the project will be managed. Most often, a marketing partner or employee was brought on to manage the project. Most of us went into business for ourselves because we are experts in our field. We know how to do something and do it well. If you are hiring a professional marketing person, chances are they can manage the project at hand (and will provide a plan or statement of work to do so) while you focus on doing what you do best. If you need to manage the project directly, however, let your prospective partners know the level of involvement you would like. This will ensure a good fit and an amicable relationship based on clear lines of who's-doing-what-by-when. (In best cases, however, the "how" is best left to your marketer. After all, that is what you're paying for!)
5. Make your project a priority. Once you've started, remain mentally committed to the project and don't lose sight of the goal. Many projects stall and have an impact on the quality of results, not to mention the bottom line. If you get busy and/or do not have the commitment level, fortitude, time, or money to invest in your marketing and/or entrepreneurial efforts appropriately, try to continue on a smaller scale or add resources to the project. For the project to run smoothly, responsiveness from all parties involved and adherence to deadlines should be expected. That said, your marketing person should be making your project a priority as well.
Like most professionals, your marketing person will be best prepared, equipped, and excited to see your project through-and you'll be pleased with the results-if you're able to establish a rapport and follow through on the tips above. When I take on a marketing project, I am just as invested in that company's or individual's success as my own because I realize that they are one and the same. I hope these tips provide food for thought and insight for you when your next project arises.
source : Tracy Diziere - ezinearticles
1. Communicate your expectations and share the ideas in your head about all aspects of the project. A good partner or employee charged with managing a project will want to know what you expect, will ask questions to draw that out, help you articulate it, and make sure they understand it. Sometimes, however, it helps to be proactive in identifying and communicating what you want-and what you don't. With some introspection and honesty, you can also identify any preconceived ideas you have, especially about budget, costs, and the relationship. Sharing those upfront will allow your marketing person to help you understand what's possible, design a project scope that meets your needs, and ensures a mutually beneficial path.
2. Understand and believe in the value of what the marketing project will accomplish. Without clear, future goals and marketing projects that are investments towards achieving them, you have no way of quantifying success and so every expense can seem like an unnecessary cost. You-and you alone-must be emotionally and financially ready to promote your business or the project is not worthwhile. If your goal is "a more professional image through marketing," you must attach a value to that today. Whatever your goal is, in a best-case scenario, you feel as though you are getting a good deal and your marketing person feels they are being well compensated.
3. Be open to new ideas. The idea that you had regarding your initial project may not be the solution-or the only solution. Sometimes you will have a project in mind-something you believe you need because someone said so, your competition has it, or you read about it somewhere. By looking closely at the aforementioned goals, however, this may or may not be a professional marketer's recommendation based on your target market, product or service offering, channel structure, or any number of variables that they are trained to consider. Start discussions with the problem and you'll have a wider range of potential solutions to choose from that match your budget, your style, and your true needs.
4. Decide how the project will be managed. Most often, a marketing partner or employee was brought on to manage the project. Most of us went into business for ourselves because we are experts in our field. We know how to do something and do it well. If you are hiring a professional marketing person, chances are they can manage the project at hand (and will provide a plan or statement of work to do so) while you focus on doing what you do best. If you need to manage the project directly, however, let your prospective partners know the level of involvement you would like. This will ensure a good fit and an amicable relationship based on clear lines of who's-doing-what-by-when. (In best cases, however, the "how" is best left to your marketer. After all, that is what you're paying for!)
5. Make your project a priority. Once you've started, remain mentally committed to the project and don't lose sight of the goal. Many projects stall and have an impact on the quality of results, not to mention the bottom line. If you get busy and/or do not have the commitment level, fortitude, time, or money to invest in your marketing and/or entrepreneurial efforts appropriately, try to continue on a smaller scale or add resources to the project. For the project to run smoothly, responsiveness from all parties involved and adherence to deadlines should be expected. That said, your marketing person should be making your project a priority as well.
Like most professionals, your marketing person will be best prepared, equipped, and excited to see your project through-and you'll be pleased with the results-if you're able to establish a rapport and follow through on the tips above. When I take on a marketing project, I am just as invested in that company's or individual's success as my own because I realize that they are one and the same. I hope these tips provide food for thought and insight for you when your next project arises.
source : Tracy Diziere - ezinearticles
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Tips to Get Pawn Loans
In recent times, men are highly interested to invest money on gold. The value of gold has highly increased after the recession and has chances of further increase in the coming days. For this reason, investment on gold is considered to be a wise investment. These days, for the increasing value of gold, many jewelers are also interested to purchase gold from individuals. A person who needs cash can sell the gold he has with him. When a person wants to sell gold then he should search for the best buyer who would provide him the best price.
To get the best price for gold a person needs to shop around for sometime. Prices of gold vary from one jeweler to other. One should take the quotes from different jewelers and compare them to know who provides the best price. Gold jewelry is always precious for the owners and one should always be careful while he sells the jewelries. The money earned from a gold jewelry can help a person solve a severe crisis situation.
There are many people who do not want to sell the gold that they have. In that case, a person can take a pawn loan. One can give the gold as a security for the loan and can take back the gold after the loan is responsible. To get the best pawn loan from the gold one need to check the websites, which offer this type of loan. Some of the best pawn loan services have experts who can help in providing the maximum loan for the gold. A person can opt for a loan online. This is an easy procedure. One can earn fast cash from the loan and use it to meet the requirements.
The experts have suggested checking the authenticity of the site, before taking a loan. All the sites in the Internet are not authentic and can cheat a person. Experts have recommended taking loan from the services, which are regulated by the government. This would ensure a person legal protection for his collateral loans. As a person would take a secured loan, he would have to pay lower rate of interest than the unsecured loan. This will help him save the money and repay the loan faster.
A person can take any amount of pawn loan depending on his requirement. But he needs to have the collateral for the security deposit of the loan. Generally, the gold loans or other pawn loans are taken for a short period of time. One generally pays back the loan as early as possible and get back his jewelries or other valuables. A person should pay the interests to avoid penalties. Before accepting a loan, a person should go through the terms and conditions carefully.
source : Bill Aitken - ezinearticles
To get the best price for gold a person needs to shop around for sometime. Prices of gold vary from one jeweler to other. One should take the quotes from different jewelers and compare them to know who provides the best price. Gold jewelry is always precious for the owners and one should always be careful while he sells the jewelries. The money earned from a gold jewelry can help a person solve a severe crisis situation.
There are many people who do not want to sell the gold that they have. In that case, a person can take a pawn loan. One can give the gold as a security for the loan and can take back the gold after the loan is responsible. To get the best pawn loan from the gold one need to check the websites, which offer this type of loan. Some of the best pawn loan services have experts who can help in providing the maximum loan for the gold. A person can opt for a loan online. This is an easy procedure. One can earn fast cash from the loan and use it to meet the requirements.
The experts have suggested checking the authenticity of the site, before taking a loan. All the sites in the Internet are not authentic and can cheat a person. Experts have recommended taking loan from the services, which are regulated by the government. This would ensure a person legal protection for his collateral loans. As a person would take a secured loan, he would have to pay lower rate of interest than the unsecured loan. This will help him save the money and repay the loan faster.
A person can take any amount of pawn loan depending on his requirement. But he needs to have the collateral for the security deposit of the loan. Generally, the gold loans or other pawn loans are taken for a short period of time. One generally pays back the loan as early as possible and get back his jewelries or other valuables. A person should pay the interests to avoid penalties. Before accepting a loan, a person should go through the terms and conditions carefully.
source : Bill Aitken - ezinearticles
Microsoft sets Windows 7 launch for Oct. 22
Microsoft will put Windows 7 on store shelves and computer makers will have systems ready to sell with Vista's successor on Oct. 22, the company confirmed today.
Microsoft will also offer discounted or free upgrades to Windows 7 to users who buy PCs in the months leading up to the operating system's launch in a program dubbed "Windows Upgrade Option," a company spokeswoman said Tuesday. Although the name is new, the program had been reported as early as January, when a usually-reliable Web site leaked information about the deal, including its July 1 kick-off.
Until today, Microsoft had been coy about naming a release date for Windows 7, although it edged toward a timetable last month. Both Bill Veghte, the senior vice president who runs the Windows Business unit, and Steven Sinofsky, the senior vice president of the Windows engineering group, said then that Windows 7 was on track for the holiday selling season, and would make the final milestone -- called "release to manufacturing," or RTM -- in mid-August. Today, however, other company spokespersons said Microsoft is shooting for RTM by the end of July.
Details on the Windows Upgrade Option were not immediately available, but analysts have assumed that it would resemble Vista Express Upgrade, a program that gave people who purchased Windows XP PCs between Oct. 26, 2006, and March 15, 2007, free or inexpensive upgrades to Vista.
Vendors were allowed to set the price, if any, of the XP-to-Vista upgrades, and it's believed that they will have the same flexibility for Windows 7.
This isn't the first time that October has been named as the likely ship date for Microsoft's new OS. In an interview last month, an Acer executive based in the U.K. said "October 23 is the date that Windows 7 will be available." The executive, Bobby Watkins, the managing director of Acer's U.K. operations, also confirmed that customers who bought a Vista-powered computer from the company in the 30 days leading up to Oct. 23 would receive a free upgrade to Windows 7.
Also last month, Computerworld used Sinofsky's mid-August RTM date to predict that Windows 7 would go on sale sometime between Oct. 11 and Nov. 4, based on the actual timetables of Windows XP and Vista, respectively.
source : Gregg Keizer - computerworld
Microsoft will also offer discounted or free upgrades to Windows 7 to users who buy PCs in the months leading up to the operating system's launch in a program dubbed "Windows Upgrade Option," a company spokeswoman said Tuesday. Although the name is new, the program had been reported as early as January, when a usually-reliable Web site leaked information about the deal, including its July 1 kick-off.
Until today, Microsoft had been coy about naming a release date for Windows 7, although it edged toward a timetable last month. Both Bill Veghte, the senior vice president who runs the Windows Business unit, and Steven Sinofsky, the senior vice president of the Windows engineering group, said then that Windows 7 was on track for the holiday selling season, and would make the final milestone -- called "release to manufacturing," or RTM -- in mid-August. Today, however, other company spokespersons said Microsoft is shooting for RTM by the end of July.
Details on the Windows Upgrade Option were not immediately available, but analysts have assumed that it would resemble Vista Express Upgrade, a program that gave people who purchased Windows XP PCs between Oct. 26, 2006, and March 15, 2007, free or inexpensive upgrades to Vista.
Vendors were allowed to set the price, if any, of the XP-to-Vista upgrades, and it's believed that they will have the same flexibility for Windows 7.
This isn't the first time that October has been named as the likely ship date for Microsoft's new OS. In an interview last month, an Acer executive based in the U.K. said "October 23 is the date that Windows 7 will be available." The executive, Bobby Watkins, the managing director of Acer's U.K. operations, also confirmed that customers who bought a Vista-powered computer from the company in the 30 days leading up to Oct. 23 would receive a free upgrade to Windows 7.
Also last month, Computerworld used Sinofsky's mid-August RTM date to predict that Windows 7 would go on sale sometime between Oct. 11 and Nov. 4, based on the actual timetables of Windows XP and Vista, respectively.
source : Gregg Keizer - computerworld
Low-Fat Dairy Products Can Help to Reduce High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure (or hypertension) is a serious health problem of modern times. It is estimated that currently, every third person above 50 suffers from hypertension, however, only 30% of such people are actually aware about high blood pressure as a reason of their poor health. Nowadays, hypertension becomes a malady of the people at much younger age than it was a century ago. Therefore, the results of a recent study carried out by a group of British and Dutch specialists, should not slip the attention of us all.
About 2245 people over 55 took part in this continuous experiment. They were grouped according to the type of dairy products they had to consume: high-fat dairy, low-fat dairy, cheese and cheese products, milk and milk products, fermented dairy. Every 6 years, the health condition of the participants was closely monitored by the scientists. It turned out that those people who followed a low-fat dairy diet (650 g a day) and regularly consumed milk products (651 g a day) had 7% lower risks of having hypertension. At that, positive changes in blood pressure could be noticed over 2 years of regular low-fat dairy consumption.
“Dairy provides minerals such as calcium and potassium which are important for blood pressure regulation. This study is an extra building block to an increasing body of evidence which suggests that dairy proteins and minerals play an important role in maintaining a healthy blood pressure,” Dr Judith Bryans, one of the leaders of the research explains. It is important that eating a low-fat dairy on a regular basis can also assist in maintaining a healthy weight and lower the risks of having high levels of bad cholesterol. The results of the Rotterdam Study were published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, April 2009.
by : Carla
source : guide2herbalremedies
About 2245 people over 55 took part in this continuous experiment. They were grouped according to the type of dairy products they had to consume: high-fat dairy, low-fat dairy, cheese and cheese products, milk and milk products, fermented dairy. Every 6 years, the health condition of the participants was closely monitored by the scientists. It turned out that those people who followed a low-fat dairy diet (650 g a day) and regularly consumed milk products (651 g a day) had 7% lower risks of having hypertension. At that, positive changes in blood pressure could be noticed over 2 years of regular low-fat dairy consumption.
“Dairy provides minerals such as calcium and potassium which are important for blood pressure regulation. This study is an extra building block to an increasing body of evidence which suggests that dairy proteins and minerals play an important role in maintaining a healthy blood pressure,” Dr Judith Bryans, one of the leaders of the research explains. It is important that eating a low-fat dairy on a regular basis can also assist in maintaining a healthy weight and lower the risks of having high levels of bad cholesterol. The results of the Rotterdam Study were published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, April 2009.
by : Carla
source : guide2herbalremedies
How to get the best price on a used car
There's alot more anxiety in the purchase of a used car then there is when purchasing a new car. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when going used car shopping.
Instructions
Step 1
Knowledge is the key when purchasing a used car. When looking for a used car, I always recommend taking along someone who has real knowledge of the workings under the hood. You might consider asking a mechanic that you know and trust, perhaps a parent or a friend who has enough knowledge that they will know a problem car when they see it.
Step 2
Do your research. In order to get a great price, you need to have an idea of what the car you are looking to buy is currently going for on the market. Kelley blue book is a great tool. You can search by year, make model and it will spit out the car value based whether you buy from a private seller or a dealership. It even adjusts the price based on the condition of the car such as fair, good, excellent. Makes sure you take the print out of the reports to the dealership wth you as a negotiating tool.
Step 3
Be prepared to walk away. Even if you fall in love with a car, you may just have to say no and walk out of the dealership if they refuse to budge on the price. Believe it or not, that's exactly what I did and the dealership actually called me an hour later and offered me a better price. Remember, sometimes it all comes down to who's the better bluffer. You or the salesperson.
source : ebnickiea - ehow
Instructions
Step 1
Knowledge is the key when purchasing a used car. When looking for a used car, I always recommend taking along someone who has real knowledge of the workings under the hood. You might consider asking a mechanic that you know and trust, perhaps a parent or a friend who has enough knowledge that they will know a problem car when they see it.
Step 2
Do your research. In order to get a great price, you need to have an idea of what the car you are looking to buy is currently going for on the market. Kelley blue book is a great tool. You can search by year, make model and it will spit out the car value based whether you buy from a private seller or a dealership. It even adjusts the price based on the condition of the car such as fair, good, excellent. Makes sure you take the print out of the reports to the dealership wth you as a negotiating tool.
Step 3
Be prepared to walk away. Even if you fall in love with a car, you may just have to say no and walk out of the dealership if they refuse to budge on the price. Believe it or not, that's exactly what I did and the dealership actually called me an hour later and offered me a better price. Remember, sometimes it all comes down to who's the better bluffer. You or the salesperson.
source : ebnickiea - ehow
How to Cut Marketing Costs without Endangering Business Growth
As business owners and/or marketers, we're all under pressure to cut costs. Unfortunately, many business owners get so intent on reducing costs, they lose sight of what it's going to do to the business. It's hard to grow - or even survive - if you don't have any customers.
Reducing marketing costs without screwing up your ability to grow is easier than you might think.
Here are five ways to do that.
Eliminate waste
Over the years I've looked at hundreds of marketing programs, and I can tell you honestly that nearly all of them have some kind of hole that either drains money directly or allows leads to be lost.
Before you cut anything, take a good hard look at what you're doing. Are there programs that aren't delivering the results you anticipated? Fix them or get rid of them.
Is there anything that can't be traced to increasing sales opportunities? Unless you have a pile of extra money, now is not the time to be spending money on marketing efforts that don't generate more leads or develop the ones you have.
Make fewer mistakes
Another way to say this is: turn to people who know what they're doing.
Marketing - which has never been exactly simple - has changed a lot in the past few years. Customers and prospects are in charge now, and they're looking for you online. If you're not on the internet, you're not in the game.
While I admire business owners who try to figure marketing out for themselves, it wastes a lot of time and it leads to mistakes that could be avoided with some experience.
You may not need a proven marketing pro on staff, but if you don't have one somewhere on your team you're probably wasting money.
Nurture what you've got
Successful lead generation programs bring in people in different stages of the buying process. Some are ready to commit more to you than others are. Some are ready to talk to a sales person and some aren't.
Think of any lead generation activity you've ever done: search marketing, email, advertising, telemarketing, networking, trade shows - it doesn't matter. Were all of the people who responded ready to schedule a two-hour demo of your product? Of course not.
But that doesn't make those people any less likely to buy from you in the future as long as you maintain a relationship with them.
If you're one of those businesses that has a bunch of inactive prospects sitting in a database (or on your desk), you may be better off nurturing those people than paying to find new ones. And nurturing leads can be a lot less expensive than generating them in the first place.
Increase conversions - not just inbound leads or traffic
This point is similar to the one above it, but it's important enough to look at from a different angle.
Let's say you have 2000 visitors a month going to your website and 60% of them leave your homepage without going anywhere else. Which do you think would be cheaper, changing your website so that an additional 20% (400 visitors) stay on your site or doubling traffic to the site? The results are the same.
(Hint: if you picked the first option, you're right).
Complex purchases - such as technology, high ticket goods, and ongoing services - are made up of many different conversion points where the buyer decides whether or not to spend any more time with you. Each of those conversion points can be tweaked to pass more prospects through and provide a better return on your investment.
Consider outsourcing
To have a successful marketing program today requires skills in multiple disciplines - some of which didn't even exist a decade or so ago. For example, you need website strategy and development, search engine optimization, paid search marketing, prospect conversion optimization, lead nurturing and web marketing - just to name a few.
Staffing an in-house team with all of this expertise would cost more than most small to mid-sized businesses are willing or able to invest. Yet you can easily - and cost effectively - get this expertise from an outside firm or group of individuals.
source : Susan Tatum - businessknowhow.com
Reducing marketing costs without screwing up your ability to grow is easier than you might think.
Here are five ways to do that.
Eliminate waste
Over the years I've looked at hundreds of marketing programs, and I can tell you honestly that nearly all of them have some kind of hole that either drains money directly or allows leads to be lost.
Before you cut anything, take a good hard look at what you're doing. Are there programs that aren't delivering the results you anticipated? Fix them or get rid of them.
Is there anything that can't be traced to increasing sales opportunities? Unless you have a pile of extra money, now is not the time to be spending money on marketing efforts that don't generate more leads or develop the ones you have.
Make fewer mistakes
Another way to say this is: turn to people who know what they're doing.
Marketing - which has never been exactly simple - has changed a lot in the past few years. Customers and prospects are in charge now, and they're looking for you online. If you're not on the internet, you're not in the game.
While I admire business owners who try to figure marketing out for themselves, it wastes a lot of time and it leads to mistakes that could be avoided with some experience.
You may not need a proven marketing pro on staff, but if you don't have one somewhere on your team you're probably wasting money.
Nurture what you've got
Successful lead generation programs bring in people in different stages of the buying process. Some are ready to commit more to you than others are. Some are ready to talk to a sales person and some aren't.
Think of any lead generation activity you've ever done: search marketing, email, advertising, telemarketing, networking, trade shows - it doesn't matter. Were all of the people who responded ready to schedule a two-hour demo of your product? Of course not.
But that doesn't make those people any less likely to buy from you in the future as long as you maintain a relationship with them.
If you're one of those businesses that has a bunch of inactive prospects sitting in a database (or on your desk), you may be better off nurturing those people than paying to find new ones. And nurturing leads can be a lot less expensive than generating them in the first place.
Increase conversions - not just inbound leads or traffic
This point is similar to the one above it, but it's important enough to look at from a different angle.
Let's say you have 2000 visitors a month going to your website and 60% of them leave your homepage without going anywhere else. Which do you think would be cheaper, changing your website so that an additional 20% (400 visitors) stay on your site or doubling traffic to the site? The results are the same.
(Hint: if you picked the first option, you're right).
Complex purchases - such as technology, high ticket goods, and ongoing services - are made up of many different conversion points where the buyer decides whether or not to spend any more time with you. Each of those conversion points can be tweaked to pass more prospects through and provide a better return on your investment.
Consider outsourcing
To have a successful marketing program today requires skills in multiple disciplines - some of which didn't even exist a decade or so ago. For example, you need website strategy and development, search engine optimization, paid search marketing, prospect conversion optimization, lead nurturing and web marketing - just to name a few.
Staffing an in-house team with all of this expertise would cost more than most small to mid-sized businesses are willing or able to invest. Yet you can easily - and cost effectively - get this expertise from an outside firm or group of individuals.
source : Susan Tatum - businessknowhow.com
