Keeping International Business Simple

The Internet has exponentially increased the ease of working with international customers and suppliers. The Internet Technology eliminates a lot of boundaries and makes it convenient to conduct business globally.

Doing business overseas.

1.Start simple. Start with Anglo-Phone countries with a legitimate banking system and established regulations.

2.Unique Product. Offer Uniqueness otherwise someone in a different country will undercut you on price.

3.Get Help. Get professional advice, it does not have to be expensive, there are lots of free resources provided by the government on brokers and freight forwarders.

4.Exercise Caution: There are plenty of fraudsters ready to prey on the Ill-Informed Entrepreneur. Remember; there is no Free lunch.

5. Communication:

a. Develop Key Messages: Craft clear, consistent, and truthful key messages that address crisis, and response.

b. Spokesperson: Designate a credible and well-trained spokesperson to communicate with the media and stakeholders.

c. Media Relations: Establish a protocol for interacting with the media, including press releases, interviews, and press conferences. Respond promptly to media inquiries.

d. Social Media: Use social media to provide real-time updates and engage with concerned individuals. Monitor social media channels for feedback and misinformation.

6. Legal and Compliance:

a. Legal Counsel: Consult with your legal counsel to ensure that your actions and statements are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

b. Documentation: Maintain detailed records of all actions taken during the crisis for future analysis and potential legal issues.

7. Convenience and Accessibility:

Make it easy for customers to do business with you. Streamline processes, offer convenient payment options, and provide accessible customer support. Optimize your website and mobile apps for user-friendliness and accessibility.

Regularly gather and analyze customer feedback to identify areas for improvement.

Encourage a culture of continuous improvement within your organization, focusing on enhancing the customer experience.

I wish You Great Success.

Keeping Buyers Happy

Customer satisfaction is a critical aspect of any business's success. Satisfied customers are more likely to remain loyal, recommend your products or services to others, and contribute positively to your brand's reputation. 

How do you get happy customers?

Here are strategies for achieving and maintaining customer satisfaction.

Understand Customer Needs and Expectations:

Conduct market research and gather feedback to understand what your customers want and expect from your business. Segment your customer base to tailor your products, services, and communications to specific customer groups.

Sell less expensive goods to generate first time buyers, for example, eBooks or accessories such as guitar strings and wool, and then offer more expensive products, (guitars and knitting machines!), as back-end products.

Deliver Quality Products and Services:

Ensure that your products or services meet or exceed industry standards and customer expectations.

Regularly assess and improve the quality of what you offer based on customer feedback and market trends.

Excellent Customer Service:

Train your staff to provide exceptional customer service. Friendly, knowledgeable, and responsive employees can make a significant difference.

Create clear customer service policies and empower your employees to resolve issues quickly and effectively. You could try offering bonus gifts and product updates that extend beyond the refund date for your product, this will make people less likely to return goods.

Effective Communication:

Maintain open and transparent communication channels with your customers. Provide updates, relevant information, and answer inquiries promptly.

Use multiple communication channels, including email, social media, and phone, to reach customers where they are most comfortable.

Personalization:

Tailor your interactions with customers based on their preferences and past behavior. Personalized experiences make customers feel valued.

Use data analytics and customer relationship management (CRM) tools to track customer interactions and preferences.

Consistency:

Provide a consistent experience across all touchpoints, whether online or offline. Inconsistent service can lead to confusion and dissatisfaction.

Ensure that your brand messaging and values align with the customer experience you deliver.

Employee Satisfaction:

Happy employees are more likely to provide excellent customer service. Invest in your employees' well-being and job satisfaction.

Remember that customer satisfaction is an ongoing process. Consistently meeting and exceeding customer expectations is key to building lasting relationships and sustaining your business's success.

I wish You Great Success.

Managing Crises

Managing crises effectively is crucial for individuals, organizations, and governments.

Triumph and Crises are cyclical, our success in business and personal lives depends on how effectively we manage all seasons to minimize damage and maintain public trust. 

• There is always a solution to a problem.
• Crises need to be looked at as opportunities.
• Crises should galvanize you to action and stimulate your creative thinking.
• The solution to a problem is often an improvement on the situation that existed before the problem.
• Crises help you break uncreative habits.
• Giving up is the only guaranteed method of losing.
• Solutions to problems will often come from the most unexpected sources.

Crises can take various forms, including natural disasters, public relations issues, financial emergencies, and more. 

Here are steps to manage crises.

1. Preparation and Planning:

a. Risk Assessment: Identify potential crisis scenarios and assess their likelihood and potential impact on your organization.

b. Crisis Team: Establish a crisis management team with designated roles and responsibilities. This team should include key decision-makers, communications experts, legal counsel, and subject matter experts.

c. Crisis Management Plan: Develop a comprehensive crisis management plan that outlines procedures, communication strategies, and specific actions to take in various crisis situations.

d. Training and Drills: Train your crisis management team through simulations and drills to ensure they are well-prepared to respond effectively when a crisis occurs.

In problem situations, keep your eyes and mind wide open and expand the membership of your team. It is not over until it is over - and even then, it is not over.

I wish You Great Success.

Thread of Hope

Poverty is not a lack of material things but the lack of purpose.

People hardly earn above their personal development, 

here are a few things that can make this a productive season:

• Honor your loved ones by living a life they can be proud of.
• To love and to be loved is the greatest of human connections.
• Common human experiences such as marriage, children and friendship, shape people's lives. 
• Enjoy more of life experiences.
• Invest regularly in your professional, personal and spiritual growth.
• Plant the seeds today and profit from the fruit harvest tomorrow.
• Your time might be the only thread of hope for a friend.
• Let the people you care about know you care.
• Do not let fear of failure cripple your determination to succesd 
• Opportunities are cyclical, when you get a second chance embrace her with all your might.
• Learn to commit 100% to everything you do.

People do not succeed because they have talents or knowledge, they succeed because of how they use those skills.

Have a great season

Mentor 2

Selecting a mentor should be taken seriously, it is not just a matter of finding someone you like. Choose mentors that have genuine history of success.

There are several people who look only at superficially successful people as role models for their own goals, do not make such mistake.

For instance, there is a good chance that some of the companies cited as models of efficiency in the top selling business books and magazines will be out of business in the next five years. There is a need for great care in selecting a mentor whose success will stand the test of time. Choose based on their achievement of goals that are similar to yours, they should have overcome some of the obstacles you are facing.

Ideally, a mentor really represents both the challenges you face and what you intend to become in a particular area of your life.

Benefits of a mentor

Learning from Experience- Mentees can learn from the mentor's experiences, including their successes and failures, which can save time and avoid common pitfalls.

Career Advancement- A mentor can provide insights and advice on how to advance in a chosen career or field.

Confidence Building- Having a mentor can boost a mentee's confidence by validating their abilities and potential.

Networking- Access to the mentor's professional network can open doors and create opportunities.

Personal Growth- Mentors can help mentees develop personally as well as professionally, promoting a well-rounded approach to life and work.

Long-term Perspective- Mentors often provide valuable insights into long-term career planning and development.

Merry Xmas. Enjoy the festive season, get close to family, make new friends and find a mentor. 

See you in the New Year

Tax Knowledge

Tax knowledge covers a wide range of topics, including tax laws, regulations, and procedures. 

Types of Taxes:

Income Tax- Tax on an individual's or entity's earnings, including wages, salaries, dividends, and interest.

Corporate Tax- Tax levied on the profits of businesses and corporations.

Sales Tax- Consumption-based tax imposed on the sale of goods and services.

Property Tax- Tax on the value of real estate or personal property.

Excise Tax- Tax on specific goods like alcohol, tobacco, and gasoline.

How much tax knowledge do you have? 

How effectively can you answer the following questions?

- Should you own properties in your own name, via a limited company, a partnership or another structure?

- Do you know the Key changes to the tax treatment of investment properties.

- How to become non domiciled for tax purposes and how this tax status can help you pay virtually no tax.

- How rental income is treated by the revenue and how to minimize your tax bill.

- Which expenditures related to your property business you can legitimately offset and which you can't.

- Tax loopholes that apply when carrying out maintenance on your properties - understanding the difference between a repair and a capital improvement.

- How to properly offset interest paid on loans including mortgages.

- Why do so many professional property investors set up property management businesses and how are they using them to help them save tax?

- Advanced strategies for reducing your income tax bill.

- How to pay less tax when purchasing properties - stamp duty strategies for the smart property investor 

including tips for mitigating stamp duty.

- The rent a room relief and how to use it to reduce your tax bill.

- What is capital gains tax? When does it apply?

- How to use PPR relief to completely mitigate capital gains tax.

- How to time your property purchases and disposals to minimize the amount of tax that you will have to pay.

- Husband/wife strategies for reducing taxes.

- How to quickly and easily calculate your capital gains tax liability.

- How and why are holiday lets are treated differently to buy to lets and why do so many smart property 

investors choose to own holiday lets.

Why It Matters:

Corporate Tax Planning- Tax knowledge is crucial for successful corporate tax planning. Businesses can strategically manage their tax liabilities through informed decisions.

Compliance Efficiency- Efficiently handling compliance-related tasks reduces costs and ensures adherence to tax laws.

Government Perspective- Governments may desire firms to be aware of tax legislation to minimize administrative costs and encourage specific actions (e.g., investment in research and development).

You should have an understanding of Tax Ethics:

Ethical Considerations- Adhering to ethical standards in tax planning and reporting.

Tax Evasion vs. Avoidance- Understanding the distinction between legal tax planning and illegal tax evasion.

Staying informed about tax laws and regulations is crucial for individuals and businesses to ensure compliance and make informed financial decisions. Consulting with tax professionals can be beneficial, especially when dealing with complex tax situations. Additionally, tax knowledge is subject to change, so it's essential to stay updated on relevant developments.

I wish You Great Success.

The Business of Marketing

As a business owner, you are in the business of MARKETING.

What % time do you spend on the following?

Production- the creation of the product/service. Most people 30%

Operation- the running of the business. Most people 50%

Marketing- the marketing of the product/service Most people 20%

For a new business the stats should be:

Production: 20%

Operation: 20%

Marketing: 60%

What is the size of your backend:

Many business owners have a front-end product or service, but they have no backend, where most of the profits are really made. The business of marketing is to retain and service your old customers, one of the ways to ensure you have a successful business is to think about what the customer would like next.

If a customer is happy with your first offering, then there is a good chance they will purchase something of a higher value. Create a product to market to your customers once they are happy with your first offering.

This could be your most lucrative product.

Always be upselling and downselling!

When a customer says yes to a product, what do you have to offer them during their 'buying mood'?

Mc Donalds, 'would you like chips with that?' to which most people say 'yes'.

Italian Restaurant, 'would you like garlic bread to start' to which most people say 'yes'.

What can you offer instead of your primary product?

What can you offer at 'point of sale'?

What can you offer that beats your competitor?

What if they say 'no' to your first offer? 

Always downsell something of less value, that way they may buy something as opposed to leaving without a purchase.

I wish You Great Success.

Selecting a Book Title

Finding a great title for your book can be one of the most challenging yet satisfying.

processes you will go through. The title is the purpose of your book and very

important that it presents your book’s subject in the best way possible. It needs to

grab your audience's attention, make them question and think and act by picking up

the book and start reading. Then eventually buy.

You’ll need to go through a series of questions, digging deep into the why, how and

what motivated you to write the book in the first place… 

Then dialogue with as many arguments and questions as possible to unearth the

underlying concept.

One way is to write down a bunch of possibilities and have people vote, another way is to go through the manuscript. looking for ‘themes’ and any re-occurring words.

You can start by creating phrases of 3-5 words, short preferable. 

Look at them over and over and keep reworking them until you get what you want. 

Remember, do something every day toward your book and promotion.

You can get a Title before writing the book. However, if you decide to write the book first.

consider the following creative genres!

Travel Writing:

a. Share your travel experiences and tips for a specific destination you've visited.

b. Write a fictional travelogue set in an imaginary or fantastical location.

c. Create a "bucket list" of places you dream of visiting and explain why each one is on your list.

Fantasy:

a. Build a magical world with unique creatures, rules, and cultures. Create a story set in this fantastical realm.

b. Explore the life of a character who discovers they have extraordinary magical abilities and must learn to harness them.

c. Write a fable or allegory that imparts a moral lesson through fantastical elements.

Personal Development:

a. Share your strategies for overcoming procrastination and boosting productivity.

b. Write about a challenging personal experience and the lessons you've learned from it.

c. Create a guide on achieving work-life balance in today's fast-paced world.

Remember that the key to successful title and writing is practice. 

Choose a topic that resonates with you, and don't be afraid to experiment with different genres and styles. 

Happy writing!

I wish You Great Success.

Perfect Press Release 2

A press release is a written communication distributed to members of the media to announce news, events, or other noteworthy developments related to a company, organization, or individual. Press releases serve as a tool for public relations and can help generate media coverage, raise awareness, and build credibility.

A well-structured press release typically includes the following elements:

Heading- Contains action verbs and grabs attention.

First Paragraph- Answers the questions: who, what, why, and where.

Body- Provides additional context, quotes, and relevant details.

Length- Most press releases are succinct, usually just one page (or two pages at most).

Press releases live in the public domain, which means your stakeholders and customers can see them. So, instead of thinking of a press release solely as a ticket to earning news coverage, consider it as a valuable piece of marketing content.

So, how do you draft the perfect headline?

Follow these steps:

1. It needs to be short with few words.

2. Write for your targeted audience.

3. Abbreviations and slang are good for Headlines

4. You can make a statement, a prediction, raise a question, state a statistic or report news

5. The statement is something bold: Donald Trump Must Resign, says economist

6. The question makes you think: Should Trump resign? asks economist

7. The statistic paints a picture: 62% say Trump should resign

8. News hits hard: Trump Is One Step Away from Resigning

9. Predictions have lots of flexibility: Trump Could Resign Tomorrow

10. Referencing something in the news is always helpful

11. Link your headline to things that matter most: love, health, wealth, fun, beauty, art, business.

12. Start your story with the word: EXCLUSIVE

Content and Style:

Lead Paragraph- The first paragraph should answer the who, what, when, where, why, and how questions. This is where you provide the most critical information.

Quotes- Incorporate quotes from relevant individuals within your organization or experts in the field. Quotes add credibility and a human element to the press release.

Body Content- Elaborate on the main points, providing supporting details and context. Keep paragraphs short and use bullet points or subheadings for readability.

Objective Language- Write the press release in a neutral and factual tone. Avoid exaggerated or promotional language.

Conciseness- Keep the press release to one page if possible. Journalists appreciate brevity and clarity.

Follow-Up:

After sending the press release, follow up with key journalists or media outlets to ensure they received it and to answer any questions. Remember that a well-crafted press release is more likely to capture the attention of journalists and get coverage. Tailor your press release to the interests of your target audience and the media outlets you're reaching out to.

 

Finally, consider the news value of your announcement to ensure it is newsworthy and relevant to the media and the public.

I wish You Great Success.

Adverting and Promotions 3

Consider conducting market research to understand your audience's pain points, desires, and motivations. Craft your advertising messages to address these aspects, showcasing how your offering provides a solution or fulfills a desire, making it more appealing to potential customers.

Example:

Feature- "Our new smartphone has a 16-megapixel camera."

Benefit- "Capture stunning, high-resolution photos with our new smartphone and relive your memories with crystal-clear clarity."

Incorporate customer testimonials or success stories that highlight how your product or service delivered on its unique promise. Real-life experiences can be powerful in reinforcing your USP.

Carefully proofread and edit the advert for grammar, spelling, and clarity. It should be error-free and polished. Timing is crucial. prepare the advert well in advance of the event or announcement to give time to review and plan coverage.

"PPC" ('pay-per-click') adverts...The interesting thing about these adverts is the fact that you can actually pay less than someone else competing on the same keywords- even if your search result is placed higher which traditionally should cost more.

The question is Why?

If you are more 'relevant' than they are, then you will pay less than they do...all other things being equal i.e your main site is relevant.

How is 'relevancy' determined?

The more people who click your advert as compared with the number who see it will suggest that you are more relevant. In other words, if your advert is shown 1,000 times and you get 100 people clicking through and your competitor only gets 50'click throughs' per 1,000 ad times -then you're more 'relevant' and you pay less.

This kind of logic applies to eBay too - the more relevant you are the higher you are in the search results.

I wish You Great Success.

Perfect Press Release 1

A press release is a written statement issued by an organization or individual to announce news or information to the media and the public. It is a valuable tool for conveying important developments, events, or announcements and is commonly used by businesses, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and individuals to generate media coverage and public awareness. 

Here's how to write an effective press release:

Formatting and Structure:

Header- Include your organization's letterhead or logo at the top, along with your contact information (name, title, organization, address, phone number, and email).

Release Date- Specify the date when you want the press release to be published or made public.

Headline- Craft a clear and attention-grabbing headline that summarizes the main news or announcement in a few words.

Sub headline (optional)- Provide a brief sub headline that expands on the main headline.

Dateline- Include the city and date of the press release.

Body- Write the main content of the press release in a clear and concise manner. Use the inverted pyramid style, with the most important information at the beginning and less crucial details following.

Include a brief paragraph about your organization at the end of the press release. This paragraph provides background information about your company or entity.

Press Releases can be submitted to press release sites. Press releases have two broad purposes:

1- To attract the attention of the media and generate free publicity.

2- They can also be used for search engine optimization purposes.

When searching for an expert on a given subject, the media often search the internet. So, if your press releases are keyword optimized, the media will find them. To rank highly for the chosen keywords, it is important to put your most important keywords in your press release titles and throughout the body of the press release.

The search engines constantly crawl leading press release sites, they know that this is where breaking news are often first posted, and they want to have the content listed for their users. A properly keyword-optimized press release submitted to the leading press release sites, can give you the top ranking for your keyword.

I wish You Great Success.

Emotional Words

People don't buy things for rational reasons. They buy for emotional ones. They want to feel good... hopeful... satisfied... proud... relaxed... acknowledged... secure... .... If you can identify the underlying emotional needs your product or service satisfies, you can write copy that identifies with your reader in a very intimate way. 

With the right emotion expressed with words you can connect in a way that says you've found the solution to the very problem their emotions are driving them to solve.

That's powerful stuff.

So how can you write emotionally charged sales copy that connects with your reader? 

Start by looking at the problem your product solves. What's the underlying emotion it addresses?

The first step to writing emotionally charged copy is to identify which "power" emotions are at the core of your product. Then use those words to write sales copy that converts the MAXIMUM number of visitors into paying customers...

Here is one powerful emotion.

Fear of Loss:

One of the most powerful human drivers of change is fear. Fear of losing those things that are most important to us. It could be our sense of security that's at stake. Our money. Our health. Or even our happiness. When you identify fear, you can write salescopy that speaks to that emotion, and indicates how your product will overcome that fear. 

Here are some examples of copy that recognizes fear and offers a solution to it:

- "Lose $5,000 tomorrow without this advice…"

- "Protect your computer from viruses that can wipe out your entire hard drive."

- "Selling your home? Avoid the top 3 mistakes that can cost you thousands of dollars!

"Notice how these examples use words like "protect" and "avoid"? 

Just as there are power emotions, there are power words that correspond to those emotions! 

What are some other power words? 

- Save

- Secure

- Safety

- Clinch

- Red flag

- Defend

Keep in mind that when you identify negative emotions like fear, your ultimate goal is to show how your product or service takes away these fears. Your job is to identify the fear that is there, relate to your reader based on that emotion, then provide relief from that unpleasant emotion. That's why the power words related to fear are positive.

I wish You Great Success.

Tackling Worklessness

Quakers (A Christain religious group) formed 1650 believed Business and Marriage is a form of worship and in the depth of recession formed businesses like Sony, Barclays Bank, Lloyds Group, Clarks, Cadbury, Oxfam, Imperial Oil (Exxon) which are still very successful to date.

"A Success Story, I believe for most people has been and still is to provide an adequate living for themselves and their family: that means a home, a measure of financial security, to have hope, to have opportunities and have time for their friends. Planning, preparation, persistence, and opportunity are still very much part of the formula to achieve that Dream. Today, it may take several career changes, several new disciplines, several new associations and plenty of brainstorming during one's lifetime. It may mean moving to a different part of the country or starting one's own business. Whatever it is, keep on the pursuit of your own success story." 

Brainstorming is an extremely good way of scanning through your resource of knowledge to achieve that success. A brainstorm can work with an individual or a group. This technique requires the generation of as many ideas as quickly as possible without criticism. 

Sometimes stepping away from the stress point for a while can help refresh your mind. Take breaks, go for a walk, or engage in activities that allow your mind to wander creatively. Draw inspiration from movies, music, art, or other forms of media. Sometimes, a song, film, or painting can trigger creative ideas.

Your success story starts with:

1- Discovering your Passion

2- Communicating your Passion

3- Monetizing your Passion

4- Managing your passion

 

Learn to turn your Passion into Business as we tackle Worklessness and Youth Crime.

I wish You Great Success.

Accumulate Ideas

Pay attention to your surroundings and experiences. Observe people, places, and events. Sometimes, a simple observation can spark an idea for a story, article, or essay. As you go about your day, try to accumulate ideas for articles in your mind. You can use this time to consider various titles for your articles and to recall relevant events. Keep a notebook for ideas. 

I find that an article becomes quite easy to write if I have;

a. A good title

b. key points

c. knowledgeable on the subject

Having written many articles on different topics, I know how difficult it can be to write on a subject I have very little experience on. When writing on new topics it can be hard to offer something unique and original. So, when starting out stick to what you know and wait until you have developed a good background on a new subject before writing.

Find writing prompts online or create your own. Prompts can provide a starting point when you're feeling stuck and help you explore new themes or perspectives. You can also use mind maps to visually organize your thoughts and make connections between different concepts. This can help you see the bigger picture and identify potential writing avenues.

Here are some writing ideas across different genres and topics to inspire your creativity:

1. Fiction:

a. Write a short story that begins with the line, "The old, dusty book sat on the shelf for years, untouched, until..."

b. Create a futuristic world where technology controls every aspect of daily life. How does one character rebel against it?

c. Write a mystery story where the protagonist tries to solve a crime with an unusual or unexpected detective, like a child or a pet.

2. Non-Fiction:

a. Share your personal experiences and lessons learned from a challenging life event, such as moving to a new country, overcoming a fear, or a personal achievement.

b. Explore a topic you're passionate about, whether it's a hobby, a social issue, or a niche interest, and write an informative article or essay.

c. Interview someone interesting in your community or field and write a profile piece about their life and experiences.

3. Poetry:

a. Write a poem inspired by a vivid dream you've had recently.

b. Create a poem using the theme of "rebirth" or "starting anew."

c. Write a series of haikus that capture the changing seasons or the beauty of nature.

Writing ideas can come from unexpected places, and it's essential to stay open to inspiration. The more you cultivate your creativity, the more ideas you'll be able to develop into engaging and meaningful writing projects.

I wish You Great Success.

Motivate your Affiliates.

There are a few things you can give your affiliates to keep them motivated to SELL:

Fair commissions: If you’re not giving your affiliates a significant portion of the business they refer to you, it’s simply not worth their while to promote you to their list and their visitors. After all, the credibility of their recommendation is on the line! You can offer 25% to 50% commission on every sale. It might seem like a lot, but you wouldn’t have had that sale otherwise... OR any of the other revenue you’ll generate when that customer buys AGAIN, straight from you!

Timely response: Provide great customer service. If they are having trouble with some element of your program, make sure to follow and get things sorted out quickly. Not only will you ensure that your affiliates stay active, but you’ll also avoid a bad public review of your program!

Salescopy: What’s so special about your product? make sure your affiliates have the answers! 

Give them plenty of benefit-rich copy to get your message across effectively to guarantee great conversions. 

Graphics and photos: Provide quality images and graphics for your affiliates so they can put YOUR best foot forward! That includes any banner or photos for reviews. The best way to provide both copy AND graphics is to set up an Affiliate Resource Center on your website where affiliates can sign in to get everything they need.

Special deals or offers: Make sure to think up a few special deals for JUST your affiliates to offer! 

If you’re offering discounts of any kind, make sure to let them know so they can use that angle to promote your products too!

Product updates: If you change any of your products in any way, (in terms of product features, pricing, etc.) let your affiliates know right away. They should not be misrepresenting what you offer. 

Timely payments: The payments should be automatic and reliable. Pay them commissions on time!

Many people who run affiliate programs find this to be the biggest benefit for using an affiliate management system...  

I wish You Great Success

Biometric Security

Biometrics are the oldest form of identification. Fingerprints have been used to identify people at crime scenes for more than 100 years.

What is new about biometrics is that computers are now doing the analyzing: thumbprints, retinal scans, voiceprints, and typing patterns. There's a lot of technology involved, in trying to both limit the number of false positives (someone else being mistakenly recognized as you) and false negatives (you being mistakenly not recognized). Generally, a system can choose to have less of one or the other; less of both is very hard.

Biometrics can vastly improve security, especially when paired with another form of authentication such as passwords. But it's important to understand their limitations as well as their strengths. On the strength side, biometrics are hard to forge. 

On the negative side, biometrics are easy to steal. You leave your fingerprints everywhere you touch, your iris scan everywhere you look. Regularly, hackers copy prints from objects touched, and posted them on the Internet.

Passwords can be changed; Passwords can be backed up but if someone copies your thumbprint or you alter your thumbprint in an accident, you're stuck. Biometric systems need to be analyzed in light of these possibilities. 

Biometrics are unique identifiers, but they're not secrets.

A stolen biometric can fool some systems. Remote logins by fingerprint fail, if there's no way to verify the print came from an actual reader, not from a stored computer file.

A more secure system is to use a fingerprint to unlock your mobile phone or computer. Because there is a trusted path from the fingerprint reader to the stored fingerprint the system uses to compare, an attacker can't inject a previously stored print. 

However, researchers have made false fingers out of rubber or glycerin. Manufacturers have responded by building readers that also detect pores or a pulse. The lesson is that biometrics work best if the system can verify that the biometric came from the person at the time of verification. 

Biometrics are easy, convenient, and when used properly, very secure. Understanding how they work, and fail is critical to understanding when they improve security and when they don't.

I wish You Great Success.

Seasonal Key Phrases

Seasons reminds us of the beauty and diversity of the natural world and encourages us to embrace change, adaptability, and the passage of time. It's a reminder to cherish each season for what it brings and to find joy and meaning in the ever-changing rhythms of life.

Seasonal key phrases are words and expressions commonly used to describe features, activities, 

weather, and events associated with the four main seasons: spring, summer, autumn (fall), and 

winter. These phrases help depict the characteristics and cultural aspects of each season

Spring:

Flowering plants or bulbs for gardening enthusiasts.

A picnic basket filled with gourmet snacks and outdoor essentials.

A colorful umbrella or rain jacket for staying dry during April showers.

A subscription to a gardening or outdoor magazine.

Summer:

Beach towels, sunscreen, and a beach bag for summer outings.

A portable Bluetooth speaker for outdoor gatherings and parties.

A gift certificate for an ice cream shop or smoothie bar.

Outdoor games such as bocce ball, cornhole, or beach volleyball.

Autumn/Fall:

A cozy knit blanket or throw for chilly evenings.

A basket of seasonal fruits, nuts, and gourmet chocolates.

A pumpkin-scented candle or potpourri for home decor.

Tickets to a local fall festival or hayride.

Winter:

A warm and stylish scarf, hat, or pair of gloves.

A basket of hot cocoa mix, marshmallows, and festive mugs.

A subscription to a streaming service for cozy nights in.

A gift card for a spa day or massage to combat winter blues.

At this time of year, there's a substantial increase in searches based on gift-related keywords, as shoppers look for presents for their loved ones. For example...

Hobby-Related Key Phrases:

Golf gift idea.

Fishing gift idea

Video game gift idea

 

Individual - Specific Key Phrases:

Christmas gift for Fisherman

Christmas gift for Plumber

Christmas gift for Student

So, make sure you've set up a pay-per-click campaign to take advantage of these seasonal searches -- and you'll increase the number of holiday shoppers to your site. But don't just write your ads and call it a day!

To get the highest possible conversion rate from your PPC campaign, you need to continue the theme of the keywords you're bidding on in the salescopy. So, if someone comes to your website after searching with the key phrase "Christmas Gift for Student," your copy on the landing page needs to explain why your product will make a good gift for a student. If there isn't a direct connection between the copy in the ad, and the copy on the page, visitors can easily feel they've landed on the wrong page... and leave again.

These phrases often evoke the feelings and activities associated with each season, reflecting the changes in weather, nature, and cultural traditions that occur throughout the year.

One final word of advice: Avoid more general keywords and phrases, such as "Christmas Gift". You won't get the kind of qualified traffic that you need.

See You at the Top

Close the Sale

Closing the sale is perhaps the most stressful and challenging part of the sales process.

There are secrets that can unlock your very own selling skills.

Here are 3 closing secrets that can easily triple your sales.

#1: The Preference Close- Also called alternative close is based on the fact that people like to have choices. They don't like to be given an ultimatum to either buy it or not buy it. To apply this technique, you simply structure your close by saying, 

"Which of these would you prefer, A or B?"

You should always try to give the customer two choices. Even if you are selling a single product, you can give him two choices with regard to payment, or delivery. 

For example, 

"Would you like this delivered to your office or to your home?" 

"Will that be MasterCard or Visa?"

#2: The Secondary Close- Also called incremental Close, it is extremely popular. It is a way of helping the customer make a big decision by having him make a small decision first. Instead of asking the customer to go ahead with the product or service, you ask a question about a peripheral detail, the acceptance of which means a sale.

For example, you could ask, 

"Would you want this shipped in a wooden crate, or would cardboard be all right?" 

"Would you like us to include the drapes and rods in the offer?" 

"Did you want the standard rims or would you like the customized racing rims on your car?"

In each case, if the customer agrees to or chooses the smaller item, he has indirectly said, "yes" to the entire offering. People often find it easier to agree to small details than they do to making a larger commitment. You get commitment bit by bit to the entire offer.

#3: The Authorization Close- This is often used to conclude multimillion-dollar transactions. 

At the end of the sales conversation, the salesperson simply asks if the prospect has any questions or concerns that haven't been covered. If the prospect has no further questions or concerns, the salesperson takes out the contract, opens it up to the signature page. 

"If you will just authorize this, we'll get started on it right away." 

The word "authorize" is better than the word "sign."  

Offering to "get started right away" is better than sitting there hoping for the best.

Whatever you do, just be prepared to ask for the order.

I wish You Great Success.

Strategies for New Business

There are four strategies you can use to find a new product or service to start or build your own business. 

LOOK IN YOUR OWN FIELD: The first strategy is to find a new product or service in your own field or skills. You may have a million dollar idea in your own mind. Many people have had the experience of having an idea for a product or service nag at them over and over again that you keep ignoring it. 

The average person has four ideas each year, any one of which would make them successful if they would just follow through. So, look into your own field or skills. Look into your own mind. Look into your own ideas.

LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES WHEN YOU TRAVEL: The second strategy is to find a new product or service while you travel. Keep your eyes open for opportunities. An ordinary man started his fortune by traveling east and spotting opportunity in a unique type of orange drink called Orange Julius and then getting the exclusive rights to sell it in a large Western city. He developed a high positive cash flow from his Orange Julius business and expanded into real estate. Sometimes just finding a new product or service that is doing well somewhere else that hasn't come to your market area can make you wealthy.

GET THE RIGHTS TO SELL IT: Remember your objective, when you find a new product or service, is to acquire the rights to sell the product or service exclusively in your market area. Sometimes these rights are available for the asking. Peter Thomas got the rights for Century 21 to Canada simply by going to the offices and asking when it was a young company. From that, he turned Century 21 into one of the most successful real estate franchises in Canada. 

BE SURE IT IS ALREADY SUCCESSFUL: Sometimes just asking for the right to sell it in your market area is all you have to do. Here's the key, though. Before you bring a new product or service back to your market area, be absolutely sure that it sells well somewhere else. Many people advertise products outside their market area because they are not selling inside their home market, so make very sure that the product is selling well already in other markets.

DEVELOP A WEALTH-MAKING ATTITUDE: keep your eyes open and alert to new business opportunities occurring around you. Develop a wealth-making attitude. You can be very successful by building commercial property across the street shopping centers. The traffic from the shopping center will make your commercial space extremely valuable. So be alert to what is going on around you.

BE SURE YOU LIKE IT YOURSELF: Remember you will only be successful marketing and selling something that you believe in and use yourself. It is a critical mistake to sell a product or service that you can neither afford nor use. 

You must really believe in the product. 

You must be excited about the product. 

You must absolutely believe that this product can enhance the lifestyle of someone else. 

Then be eager to tell them about it.

ACTION EXERCISES: 

1- New business mentality; Look around you for new products and services that people need, want and are willing to pay for.

2- Wealth making attitude; Look around you for opportunities to sell products or services that 

are not currently being offered, at either higher prices or in greater quantities. 

The possibilities are everywhere.

I wish You Great Success.

Survey Designs

Surveys can be a useful source of information for planning and effective marketing.

Designing your survey takes a bit of skill, but with a small amount of consideration you'll have no problem putting an effective one together. Just be sure that you're putting the questions in a logical order, and not exhausting your customers by asking for too much detail.

Here are a few tips to help you design a better survey:

Start with the good stuff -- To ease your customers into the survey, start off with some simple questions they can answer without a lot of thought. This can be something as simple as basic demographic information (age, location, etc.), which also happens to be useful information.But don't load up the front end with all of the easy questions. Save a few for the end of the survey. That way, it won't get increasingly difficult throughout, which can cause some people to bail before they complete it.

Avoid asking too many questions -- 5-10 minutes is about the maximum length you can reasonably expect somebody to spend answering a survey, so be sure to limit your questions.At the same time, be sure to let your respondents know up front how much time will be required to complete it... and be honest! People will begin to drop out if it starts to take longer than you say.

Give your survey an introduction and ending -- It's a good idea to include an introduction to the survey, to clearly explain what people are required to do. At the same time, it's a nice touch to end the survey with a "thank-you" page, just to let people know you appreciate the time they spent taking the survey.

Respect people's privacy -- You may want to collect personal information like age, income, and occupation. If you do so, make sure to reassure your customers beforehand that you have a strict privacy policy, and remind them that their answers are all confidential. When it comes time to write the actual questions, make sure you write in a relaxed, conversational voice, and avoid things like abbreviations, acronyms, and double negatives.

You want to be sure that EVERY person who takes your survey clearly understands all of the questions.

Here are a few tips to help you write compelling and effective survey questions:

Avoid asking leading questions -- Be sure that your questions don't sway your customers toward answering them in a particular way, or giving an answer that's not actually true. For example, don't say: "How quickly did we resolve your problem? " This assumes that the problem was indeed resolved.The question you should ask is, "Was your problem resolved?"

Avoid questions that rate more than one thing -- Avoid asking questions that require people to rate more than one thing at a time.For instance, don't say: "How fast and accurate did you find our customer service representative?"While the service may have been fast, it may not have been accurate (or vice versa) so this question is impossible to answer accurately.

Focus on asking "close-ended" questions -- In a survey, a close-ended question is one that can be answered with a simple yes/no or other specific piece of information, or a selection from multiple choices.This makes the survey faster and easier for your customers, and the results more simple for you to manage.So instead of a question like "What did you think of your customer service experience?" try something like "Did you enjoy your customer service experience?"

Be consistent with your questions -- If you ask your customers to rate certain things on a numbered scale, make sure to use the same scale each time.So if they need to rate something on a scale of 1 to 5 in one question, avoid using a scale of 1 to 10 elsewhere.

Watch out for long questions -- If your questions are too long, your customers will soon get tired of answering them, and abandon the survey. Look for questions that can be broken into two or more parts.

Don't test your customers' memories -- Try not to ask your customers to recall a lot of information that happened far in the past. They'll soon get bogged down trying to recall specific details, and if they're in a hurry to complete the survey, will often abandon it.

Enjoy

See You at the Top