Who Is Your Real Competition?

Who Is Your Real Competition?

by: Sean DกSouza

If you design kitchens, is another kitchen designer your competition? Most likely not. And the sooner you can position and modify your marketing strategy against your real competition, the sooner you will start to see more business come through the door. So Who Really Is Your Competition?

The answer to that is alwaysNever the most obvious. So letกs take the example of the kitchen designer. Having decided that another kitchen designer isn’t his competition, he now has to decide who is his real competition.

His Real Competition Could Be A Car Salesman

Is this for real? How can a car salesman be a kitchen designerกs competition? Letกs analyse this more carefully. A kitchen and a car are both fighting for the same thing The householderกs limited budget.

If the kitchen designer, were able to convince a couple that a kitchen is more important than a new car (which he could easily do if there was a foodie around), he now has a better chance of them dropping the car in favour of the kitchen.

The Advantage Of This Method Of Positioning

The most obvious advantage is that you’re not losing any current customers. All your past advertising is bringing in the customers that are looking for kitchens anyway.

What it does do however, is bring in a new lot of customers that would never have thought about kitchens, if you hadn’t implanted it in their minds. Effectively, you have both, customers who are looking for kitchens as well as customers who are forfeiting their new cars in favour of new kitchens.

How Your RePositioning Can Help You Focus

We had a client who ran a laundromat. Her current customers were people who did not have washing machines. Obviously, her business went up and down based on the season and on her customers limited budget. We got her to refocus her marketing strategy on a new target Customers who had washing machines.

These customers had the money, but no time. By deciding that her real competition was time she decided to target people who had limited time instead.

As a result, she was now targeting busy people while other laundromats were targeting people with washing. This positioning actually helped the laundromat stand out from the rest of the competition.

How The Laundromat Did A Full 180

This repositioning did a couple of things for them. One, it helped them focus on their target audience. Consequently, they changed their name from just XYZ Laundromat to Bizzie Buggers.

It was catchy and bang on target. It also now meant that busy customers (with the money), were more likely to stop over and drop their washing. Plus they had the regular customers walking through the door anyway.

What You Need To Do

Sit down and write who your immediate competition could be. Then write down what your business is really up against. Here are some examples.

These aren’t necessarily your right targets but they help you see things in a different light and help you determine who your real competition could possibly be.

Cartoonist= Photographer

Computer Salesman= Filing Cabinet

Car Dealer= Expensive Restaurant Meals

If you would like to learn more about the way the human brain works, and how customers make buying decisions, go to http://www.5000bc.com

Thereกs a vast library of free articles and information on topics as varied as copywriting, small business ideas, public speaking, sales conversion, psychological tactics, branding and other marketing related subjects. Go to http://www.5000bc.com today. Youกll be amazed at what you find there.

About The Author

Sean has developed a system called Psycho Tactics. PsychoTactics unlocks the working of the human brain and radically tweaks the way you think and act about your business. This results in clarity of thought and greater profits.Today, Sean is constantly teaching small business ‘How they too can do the same?’

Thereกs a vast library of free articles and information on topics as varied as copywriting, small business ideas, public speaking, sales conversion, psychological tactics, branding and other marketing related subjects. Go to http://www.5000bc.com today. Youกll be amazed at what you find there.

[email protected]

This article was posted on January 13

by Sean DกSouza

The Pleasures Of a Luxury Watch

The Pleasures Of a Luxury Watch

by: Argentonio Vigilanza

Purchasing a luxury watch that is a good investment.

Many people consider luxury watches an extravagance. To them it makes little sense to spend thousands of dollars on a Rolex or a Cartier, when there are essential payments to be made. The same is true about cars. They say why spend 90,000 dollars on a brand new sports car when a sedan or a station wagon in 9,000 dollars would do just as well. After all, they both have four wheels, an engine, a steering wheel and a gas pedal and they take you where you have to go.

However, luxury watches are different! They serve many purposes. They are precision instruments that are finetuned for perfect accuracy, and give you the right time all the time. Thatกs their purpose, no doubt. But luxury watches adorn the stylish and fashionable wardrobe. Itกs a matter of style. Some people feel naked without a belt, others feel absolutely desolate and deserted without their luxury watches. And it is not about time only. Even if they are surrounded by scores of digital clocks, cell phones, microwaves and other timetelling devices they are ill at ease without their luxury watch.

Aside from their functionality and sharp looks, luxury watches also confer a sense of status on their wearers. A stunning Rolex or Breitling can denote great taste and class every bit as much as a Jaguar or Mercedes. In fact, with the premier foreign car manufacturers diluting their brands with 30,000dollar versions of their classic autos, one could argue that some luxury watches are a greater status symbol than some highend vehicles.

To buy a luxury watch you need a discerning eye. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, and only a true connoisseur can tell the difference. They have a flair for style and quality. They choose their watches with as much care as they would choose a home to live in. They compare brands, quality and prices. They consider various factors such as mechanisms, escapements, complications, dials and many more aesthetic factors like watch bands and bezels. They enjoy looking at various brands as much as they love buying the watch thatกs close to their heart.

So if you want to add some style to your life, think of buying a luxury watch. For one thing, itกs easier to carry around than a luxury car!

About The Author

Argentonio Vigilanza is the owner and webmaster of Fa Watch, a leading Internet directory for watch information. For more watch information and resources, please stop by: http://www.fawatch.com.

This article was posted on August 25

by Argentonio Vigilanza

Can the Average Person Earn a Stable Income Operat

Can the Average Person Earn a Stable Income Operating an Online Business?

by: David Moore

Is a workathome business using your computer as your income tool realistic for the average person? First, let me say that I do not believe in the notion of an ขaverageข person. There is no such thing. If there were, we wouldn’t have different acumens, different personalities, and different talents. My wife has many exceptional talents. She is extremely intuitive and seems to be able to see right through anyone who is not what they appear to be. But some of the basics (I think) of comprehension have passed her by. After 33 years of marriage I only learned last week that she was unaware of the procedure of putting gas into the car without having to squeeze the lever on the nozzle and keep holding it down. She didn’t realize you could slip the lever onto a notch and the flow of gas would shut off automatically when your tank is full. And she’s always fulfilled the function putting gas into her car, or ours, when we only had one car and she was driving it.

So on this very cold day she asked if I would mind taking her car to the station down the street to fill it with gas. She told me her hands got too cold when holding down the lever and she couldn’t find her gloves. UNBELIEVABLE! How could anyone not know you don’t have to keep holding the lever down with your hand? But you know what, I’ll bet there are lots of similar functions we take for granted whose utility others do not understand. At the same time, I’m sure there are things we don’t understand, or that we do the hard way when a much simpler application is available to us.

What’s my point? If we keep thinking the same way we’ve always thought, we’ll keep getting the same results we’ve always gotten. Einstein said it best. ขThe significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.ข

Having dispelled the notion of ขaverageข let me say that yes it is true that a workathome business using your computer as your income tool is realistic for anyone who can read and write and perform the basic functions of life whether you keep holding the lever down, or you do as I do and slip the lever into the notch on the nozzle while you get back in the car and listen to ball game on the radio until the tank is full.

But regardless of your acumen, your personality, or your unique talents, to be successful with an online business you have to have three important qualities, 1) a willingness to learn, 2) patience, and 3) focus.

You can’t just jump into an online business opportunity, no matter what it is and no matter what is promised and expect to earn money without first learning something about it. So if you’re unwilling to learn don’t get started. You’ll lose money and you’ll get frustrated and angry with yourself and everyone else.

Secondly, if you expect to earn $4000 your first month in an online business you’ll be extremely disappointed. If that’s what you are promised then that’s your first clue that what you are considering is NOT a reputable business. Now if you’re internet business savvy and you can bring along contacts and methods from previous ventures then it’s a possibility. But for the vast majority of us it’s like trying to make a call on a cell phone with no battery. You can punch in all the numbers you want but you won’t get through to anyone.

This leads me to my third point, FOCUS. Depending on where you go for the statistics, as many as 97% of people who start an online workathome business drop out before they have been in the business for even six months. It takes time to learn and patience to put that learning into practice. So if you’re unwilling to stay focused, if you’d rather watch ขAmerican Idolข every night so you can get in your vote, or if you’d rather stay glued to the TV to watch your favorite team win some and lose some every night you won’t succeed. Why?

Back to the simple principle. If you keep thinking the same way you’ve always thought you’ll keep getting what you’ve always gotten. So making money online is really not about acumen, or personality, or talent. Anyone can succeed and realize significant monthly income through the power of FOCUS.

I was reading a passage of scripture recently from the book of Jeremiah. This is what it says. ขIf you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how can you manage in the thickets?ข YOU HAVE TO STAY FOCUSED!

About The Author

David Moore is a member of the Wealth Online Website system. He is a home based online business entrepreneur, but his first love is his wife Cheri and their three grown children (and one awesome grandson). Dave teaches in the Social Science Department at a University (parttime) and has served on the administrtative staff of a faithbased humanitarian aid organization. He has completed post graduate programs in both Cross Cultural Communications and Higher Education Administration. He believes strongly that the application of all selfgenerated wealth must include a provision for giving back to the commmunity, the church, and other worthy causes. If you would like more information on his online business, please visit his website at: DavidMoore.ws.

This article is not copyrighted.

[email protected]

This article was posted on April 20

by David Moore

Natalia Nazarova Stars In Movie Postmark Paradise

Natalia Nazarova Stars In Movie Postmark Paradise

by: Keith กMuzikManก Hannaleck

Title: Postmark Paradise

Featuring: Natalia Nazarova and Tantoo Cardinal

Format: DVD

Genre: Human Interest

Release Date: June 29, 2004

Film Maker: Entertainment Paradise Group /A Thompson Clay Film/Distributed by

Vanguard Cinema

Websites: http://www.natalianazarova.com/index2.htm / http://www.postmarkparadise.com

http://www.vanguardcinema.com

Actress Natalia Nazarova plays a charming and heart warming role as Viktoria, an unsuspecting mail order bride from Russia, in an independent film titled Postmark Paradise. Nazarova has been very busy woman. Besides filmmaking, the world of music has been blessed with her many talents via some fine jazz and pop vocal albums. This is her first American film role.

Natalia is charming in this film and anyone that watches it will surely fall in love with her character. The classic underdog theme makes a good storyline and is a surefire hook for those that like movies full of the emotion and the story of people’s lives. For her American debut, this is a fabulous effort. This young lady is star material and I would hope that someone influential in Hollywood will have sense enough to give her a chance as a leading lady in a major motion picture, I am sure she could handle it quite well. I became very engrossed in this picture and enjoyed it entirely. There was fine acting in this film; all of the characters were true to life, which made it easy to become a part of the story, as if you were right there living it.

The story of the film begins with a TV newscaster explaining how gorgeous and eligible Russian girls are looking for an opportunity to come to America and marry any willing American man, then the scene changes to the bar The Dirty Shame located in Paradise Michigan. A group of local men are in the bar feeling good and decide to check into the mail order bride phenomena. Chick (Randall Godwin) masterminds the execution of the mail order bride for their friend Jake (Vincent Angelini), who is doing time in jail for drunk driving. The expectant bride Viktoria, is delivered at his homecoming party at the bar.

When the big moment arrives, Jake comes strolling into the bar and Viktoria stands up an introduces herself with a big beautiful smile and Jake takes one look at her and shrugs his shoulders, sits at the bar, and starts drinking and telling stories. Jake has no clue what this is all about, he is taken home later in the evening falling down drunk, thinking that the girl is a present for the night from his drinking buddies. That night Viktoria leaves in distress and Reenie (multiple award winning actress Tantoo Cardinal), the only barmaid at The Dirty Shame, sees her walking down the road crying. Many more life situations and drama develop thereafter.

The film tells a unique version of the American dream in small town America, following several twists and turns, the story ends unexpectedly, which I found most pleasant and satisfying. Natalia performs several of the songs in both Russian and English on the film’s soundtrack. Look for it about June 29, on DVD and Video. Rated PG13

© Keith กMuzikManก Hannaleck http://www.muzikreviews.com

April 6, 2004

The Cast for Postmark Paradise

Reenie…..Tantoo Cardinal

Viktoria…..Natalia Nazarova

Jake…..Vincent Angelini

Chick…..Randall Godwin

Matt…..Dale Inghram

Bud…..Donald Phelan

Sweeney…..Bill Selzer

Merle…..Todd Lewis

Red Dog…..Elmer Cardinal

About The Author

MuzikMan is an author of thousands of reviews, interviews and articles found all over the Internet.

[email protected]

This article was posted on April 06, 2004

by Keith กMuzikManก Hannaleck

กHow to Make Money Online…Driving your Car.ก

กHow to Make Money Online…Driving your Car.ก

by: George Papazoglou

Here’s an alluring income generating strategy, that’s widely adopted by top MLM Agents, Small Firms, Entrepreneurs and Marketers in virtually any field of industry. It still amazes me how most Internet entrepreneurs overlook this ‘nocost’, powerful, freeadvertising system, which is…

To Making Money Driving your Car with ID Plates!

The potential of free advertising using car plates is widely adopted by small firms to gigantic corporations. You can promote any kind of opportunity, or your own business with ID Plates. It is projected that an ID car plate can generate as many as 5000 new customers per year.

Hint: If you promote an affiliate program, you still can capitalize on ID plates by redirecting prospective visitors to a profitable merchant via your web site. All you have to do next is create an ID Plate by identifying it with your own URL. Better register a unique web site to track the success of your ‘boulevard campaign’;)

Think about it… your online business will harness costfree solid advertising, as drivers will consistently ‘observe’ your web site promoted as you drive your car, park and even at traffic jams or stoplights.

You could register a web site that intrigues *curiosity*; a URL that’s short and memorable to fully exploit this awesome promotion technique. After all, gigantic corporations like IBM, Microsoft and thousands of small businesses utilize this marketing concept why not you?

In fact, one of my most lucrative marketing programs, promotes its’ conceptual 90% with ID Plates ( you can find it at: http://cashchecks.com?ar ). Don’t take this offline marketing strategy for granted you could generate an extra 46figure income annually, even without an advertising budget.

Brand your business with every ‘viral technique’ you can think of กleave no stone unturnedก. In plenty of circumstances, your customers ‘frequentby’ even in the most unsuspected places… so,‘ID Plate’ your roadway to the bank!

About The Author

George Papazoglou, is the Author behind http://websitepromotion.gr

This article may be freely distributed / republished, as long as it contains the authorกs credits and the precise entirety of the provided article, titled: กHow to Make Money Online…Driving your Car.ก

[email protected]

This article was posted on October 28, 2003

by George Papazoglou

Give Your Web Site a Small Business Marketing Tune

Give Your Web Site a Small Business Marketing Tune Up

by: Jeremy Cohen

Your web site is like your car. Both are significant investments that require the right features and regular and proper maintenance to ensure maximal satisfaction and performance.

Your car is a finely tuned machine. You bought it not only to get you from point A to point B but also perhaps to have some fun and look good as you go. If you purchased your car new its engine had no wear. To keep it running like the day you bought it you maintain it regularly: you change the oil every 3000 miles, you inspect its belts and hoses, you check its fluids and rotate its tires (or at least you should). Without such attention the money you spent on your car will eventually seem like a mistake as it sits idly in your garage because it won’t start.

Your investment in your web site deserves the same care you give your car. While the purpose of your car is to get you from place to place, the purpose of your web site is to help you develop new business and become more successful. It doesn’t matter if your business is retail sales or professional services, your web site is supposed to act as your store front on the Internet. While your web site doesn’t need its oil changed or tires rotated it does require maintenance to ensure it performs as the marketing tool you intended it to be when you paid to have it developed.

Here are five things you can do to tune up or add to the marketing function of your web site.

Fresh content

Fresh content will keep your visitors coming back to your site just like the oil and gas in your car help ensure it starts every time you put the key in the ignition. If you neglect to maintain fresh supplies of either, you’re asking for trouble. Your visitors seek fresh content. Once your visitors realize they’ve gotten all their going to get out of your site they will not return. Add new, relevant and helpful content to your site as often as you can and you will keep your visitors happy and returning.

Keywords

Your keywords are the words your visitors use when they think about the products or services you provide. They are like the make and model of your car they are what get noticed. Your visitors use keywords and phrases to perform searches at sites like Google and Yahoo! to find what they need. They recognize and respond to these words when they see them featured in search listings, advertisements and other promotional materials. Make sure you know your keyword phrases and incorporate them into the Title, Meta Tags and copy of your web site.

Copy

The advertising copy of your web site can be likened to the amenities of your car. Your car has a stereo, cup holders and convenient storage space to address your wants and needs as you drive. The copy of your web site should do the same thing. To maximize the marketing function of your web site’s copy make sure it focuses on the problems, wants and concerns of your clients. Your visitors will be more likely to identify you as the solution to their problem if you demonstrate to them that you understand their needs.

Require Action

Just like your car requires you to step on the gas to make it go, your web site requires your visitors to take the action you want them to take in order to function as an effective marketing tool. No one has to tell you to step on the gas. Your visitors need to be told what to do. Tell them to ขbuy nowข or ขrequest our catalogข. If you don’t they might ever know that’s what they’re supposed to do.

Get Contact Info

Getting contact information from you visitors is like remembering the keys to your car. If you can’t get into you car and start it, you’re not going anywhere. Likewise, if you don’t learn who your prospects are you can’t continue marketing to them. Most people who visit your web site will not buy from you the first time they stop by. In most cases, it takes between six and eight marketing contacts with a prospect before they choose to purchase something. Your prospects are no different. If you acquire their contact information you will be able to repeatedly market to them.

Take the steps you need to maintain your web site and it will run smoothly and get you where you want to go.

About The Author

Copyright 2005 Jeremy Cohen, Better Marketing Results

The author, Jeremy Cohen, helps small business owners and professional service providers attract more clients and be more successful by helping them deliver a web site that sells and improve their marketing materials to generate more interest in their products and services Get his free marketing guide, Jumpstart Marketing: More Profits, Clients and Success:

http://www.bettermarketingresults.com/marketingservices.asp

[email protected]

This article was posted on February 15

by Jeremy Cohen

Lessons Learned At Gunpoint

Lessons Learned At Gunpoint

by: Andre Clelland

กIf you do anything foolish or try to get out of the car we will shoot youก were the terse words which hung in the air like a bad smell.

The small car was being driven at over 120 KPH down the dark roads and highways. Beside me at the wheel of the car, was one man. Behind me, sat his partner, with a cold gun pressed against the back of my head. There was no doubt that they would do what they said.

A few hours before many thought had been in my head. I had many plans and things that I intended to do. But now, I was focused on ONLY ONE THING getting home alive.

I knew this happened often where I was visiting but never expected it to happen to me. Life was cheap, and over 100 people died each week at the hands of criminals like these. They wanted the car, and I was taken along to give them more time. Nerves were tense and something could go badly wrong.

Everything was focused on getting home alive…

That night I focused on keeping myself and the others calm. We knew that if we were stopped by the police it would become a shootout and we would be killed. We talked and I persuaded them not to tie me up and throw me into a gutter. Within one hour I was left in a dark industrial estate with my hands tied.

Within one more hour I was at home… alive…

WHAT IS THE POINT OF THIS STORY? Is it just to tell you about my experience? NO! I want you to answer one simple question.

If you knew that you had to earn $100 online within the next month what would you do? If the gun was pointed at your head and you had to make money online or face the consequences what would you do?

There are many folks out there who have never made one cent online. You would like to make money but since itกs not essential you have never bothered doing anything about it.

What about you… If the gun was pointed at your head today and you were given 30 days to earn at least $100 what would you do? (and in case you are wondering you can do it easily)

What am I getting at? I am trying to tell you that if you want to earn that $100 you are going to have to do some specific things. You need to learn quick, but most importantly you will need to start doing what your have learned do it now!

Do you see what I mean? I am challenging you to work at your business during the next 30 days. Focus on one program. Create your own website with your own domain name. Promote your website and services.

Work… work… work… and then work some more. It will cost you less than $100 cash but it will take time, enthusiasm and effort.

About The Author

Andre Clelland

If YOU have reached the stage where the gun is at your head and you MUST make money online, then we have tools that will help you. We have searched the internet for free or cheap (no more than $1) resources that you can use to earn money within the next 30 days…

Check it out today at http://www.optinleads.info

[email protected]

This article was posted on October 30, 2004

by Andre Clelland

Sirius Satellite Radio vs XM Satellite Radio – Wh

Sirius Satellite Radio vs XM Satellite Radio – Which Streams Should You Choose?

by: C. J. Gustafson

Just as many TV viewers have come to consider cable TV a life necessity, so too is satellite radio becoming a mainstream replacement for traditional AM/FM listening. Yes you have to pay for it, but just as with cable, you get way more channels and edgier, more innovative programming. Plus, you don’t lose your favorite station as you travel across the state or country. And satellite players show the artist and name of the song, which is definitely a plus for those who like to know what they’re listening to. In the U.S. there are just two main players in the satellite radio industry, Sirius and XM. WorldSpace, which has been broadcasting the longest and covers the most area, currently does not offer coverage in the United States. So with just two providers to pick from, one would think that the choice would be easy, but each has its own pluses and drawbacks and the decision usually comes down to budget and personal preferences.

How It Works

In 1992, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allocated a spectrum in the กSก band (2.3 GHz) for nationwide broadcasting of satellitebased Digital Audio Radio Service (DARS). Of the four companies that applied for licenses, only two were granted rights to broadcast; Sirius (formerly CD Radio) and XM (formerly American Mobile Radio). Each company has satellites in orbit above the earth to transmit their programming. Programs are beamed to one of the satellites, which then transmits the signal to the ground, where your radio receiver picks up one of the channels within the signal. Signals are also be beamed to ground repeaters for listeners in urban areas where the satellite signal can be interrupted.

In many ways, Sirius has set the tone for the industry, being the first to offer commercial free programming on all its music channels and has larger selection of receivers, adapters and other products. XM has a cheaper subscription fee, at least for its basic plan, which offers much the same fare as its competitor.

Both providers have partnered with automobile manufacturers to offer satellite radio in new car models. And each has systems that will search the channels for your favorite music and alert you when and where the songs are playing. Choosing between the two companies can be difficult since each has its advantages. Here is some information that may help listeners choose between the two.

XM Satellite Radio

XM satellite radio offers 68 commercialfree music channels, 33 news, sports, and talk & entertainment channels and 21 dedicated traffic and weather channels. XM is the exclusive satellite radio provider of FOX Sports Radio, Sporting News Radio and the worldกs only 24hour NASCAR Radio channel. It does not offer NFL programming.

Equipment

XM has several choices in equipment. For just under $120, you can get the Delphi XM Roady receiver. This complete package comes with a microantenna, cassette adaptor, 12V power adaptor, and a universal mounting bracket. For another $10, you can upgrade to the Roady2, proclaimed as the smallest satellite receiver available. In addition to the typical satellite radio features, it allows you to scroll up to 20 stock symbols and has 30 channel presets.

The Delphi XM SKYFi is a receiver with a more advanced display. It gives you more information about each song and the fiveline display lets you see whatกs playing on other XM channels before you switch. The SKYFi2, which costs $30 more, gives pause and play functions. It must be combined with an adaptor kit for home, vehicle or audio system. These adapters range from $70$100 in price.

Coming in November of 2004, the Delphi XM MyFi, touted as the worldกs first XM2go receiver, becomes available from XM. It comes with car kit, home kit, rechargeable battery, headphones, antennas and more for $349.99.

Sirius Satellite Radio

Sirius satellite radio offers 65 channels of commercial free music, plus more than 50 channels of great sports, news and entertainment programming. They are the only one of the two competitors to offer NFL coverage, including playbyplay action and pregame gab.

Equipment

Siruis offers a host of equipment options. Customers can choose from over 15 plug and play options. Average receivers sell for $99.95 and can be combined with a car or home adapter, or a choice of different boomboxes. For the same $99.95, the Sirius Sportster adds special features for the sports enthusiast such as Game Alert, which prompts you when your favorite NFL or other sports teams are playing and Game Zone, which lists all of the playbyplay games and scores on Sirius by league.

Or for $149.99 you can cover all your listening needs with the Sanyo CRSR10 Plug & Play System. It includes home and car kits for use at home, office, truck, RV, boat or car and antennas for home and car. It has 20 presets and a builtin wireless FM transmitter for use on all 100 FM frequencies. If a boombox is not your style, you can go with a home system that integrates with you existing audio equipment. Prices range from $250 up to $2000.

You can put a headunit in your car, throw in a tuner and antenna and you’re wired for satellite in your vehicle without the portable receiver and adapter. Sirius has over 15 headunits to choose from in prices ranging from under $200 to over $1000. Some of the more reasonably priced units come with CD players and removable fronts.

Comparisons

So in the world of XM vs Sirius, it’s a tough call and depends on your budget and listening preferences. The following satellite radio comparison summary consists of information taken directly from the websites of the two satellite radio companies.

Sirius Satellite Radio

Pricing

$12.99/month with annual & lifetime options available. Extra receivers for an additional fee.

Activation fee

$15 by phone, $10 online

Commercial free

All 65 music channels are commercial free

Online listening

Listen online for free. On any computer. With no extra fee.

NFL coverage

Live playbyplay coverage of every NFL game and the only 24/7radio channel dedicated to allthingsNFL, all year long.

Available in new cars

Exclusive car partners of Daimler Chrysler, BMW and Ford.

Customer service

24 hour Customer Care by toll free phone number and email.

XM Satellite Radio

Pricing

$9.99 basic package premium programming, such as Playboy and XM’s own High Voltage are available for an additional monthly fee, as are extra receivers.

Activation fee

$14.99 by phone, $9.99 online

Commercial free

All 68 music channels are commercial free

Costs an extra $3.99 a month.

NFL coverage

No playbyplay. No local NFL coverage. No original NFL programming.

Available in new cars

Exclusive car partner of GM.

Customer service

Customer Care is open 18 hours a day.

Satellite radio appears to be here to stay. The offerings keep getting better and the decision between the two keeps getting tougher. Equipment is available at store locations and websites of retailers like WalMart and Best Buy and through the providers’ websites. For static free, commercial free radio listening and your favorite stations wherever you go, satellite radio is the choice of millions. Installation and activation are easy. In fact the toughest decision may be deciding which provider to choose.

About The Author

C.J. Gustafson is a successful freelance writer for http://www.1stDishTV.net She frequently writes on topics such as satellite TV and car audio accessories. She vows her next car will come with a factory installed satellite radio.

Copyright 2004 1stDishTV.net

This article was posted on November 10, 2004

by C. J. Gustafson

Hone Your Edge, Stay Focused

Hone Your Edge, Stay Focused

by: Duane Gordon

A common hazard faced by new entrepreneurs is a lack of faith in the power of their offer. Many business people lose focus because they are worried they wont generate enough cash flow from their core product. They attract potential customers with outstanding expertise but then muddy the water by trying to sell anything those customers want, regardless of how it fits into their business plan. This is confusing, both for the customer, who doesnt really know what type of business you have, and for yourself. Heres how to stay on track.
Many business people lose focus because theyre worried they cant generate enough cash flow from a small group of products or services. You attract potential customers with your outstanding expertise but then muddy the water by offering anything those customers want, regardless of how it fits into your business plan. You lose focus. If you dont focus, you wont have the knowledge you need to help your customer. You need to solve problems and offer a complete solution. You can only do that well in your area of expertise.
Losing focus sets you up for failure. If you cant solve your customers problems, your business wont earn a reputation as a good resource. This applies to any type of business. Imagine that you offer computer accounting services. You are an excellent accountant; you have a good reputation and an excellent rapport with your customers. If your customer needs a new computer, chances are they will ask you if you sell computers. Lose focus and you may be tempted to say yes. After all, you know computers… you use them all the time for your computer accounting business.
However, while you may use computers in your business, you are not necessarily an expert in the computer retail business. You may not know the best wholesalers. Youre not equipped to deal with repairs. You probably wont make money selling the computer after you invest all the time necessary to learn how to do it properly, and the time you invest takes time away from your already successful business. Whats worse is that a customer dissatisfied with your service wont tell other people not to buy a computer from you, shell tell them not to deal with you at all.
If you lose focus and try to be all things to all people, you will not be as successful as you could be in any business. Successful businesspeople tell you to focus on what you do best. Master your business and give your customers value. If your customer comes to you looking for something that is not part of your core business, refer her to someone else. In fact, you could even make a deal with another Web site and have them refer customers to you as well.
Affiliate programs do exactly that. In the end, you serve your customers better and they will continue to value your advice, your products and services. There are ways to offer more products and services to your customers and increase your cash flow without losing your focus or diluting your brand. Lets look at a concrete example.
MarieLynn and I were talking about a new business she wants to set up. MarieLynn is interested in mobile entertainment systems. In fact, shes looking for a DVD player for her car. She often travels by car with her husband and daughter, visiting family in other cities. Her daughter is now old enough to ask the dreaded question, กAre we there yet?ก She thinks it would be interesting to get a VCR or DVD player for her car to keep her daughter (and husband!) quiet and entertained.
Doing some research, she quickly realized there was a business opportunity here. Buying a car that has a DVD player included costs about $10,000 more than average because they tend to be luxury models. Thats a bit expensive for a DVD player! She looked for places that sell kits for DVD players, much like the kits you can get for car stereos. She found there were very few stores that would add a DVD player to a car, and she couldnt find any กdoityourselfก kits on the market. She was sure other people were having the same problem.
As we discussed it, I agreed this was a perfect business opportunity! I pointed out that this was a highpriced, highmargin product with relatively low shipping costs. We base our business strategy on establishing relationships with our customers and we can do that best with fewer customers. After all, were not trying to be a WalMart or a Dollar Store.
It had the advantage of being a product that requiring a good deal of expertise. Which DVD player is best? Which models fit in which vehicles? There was even potential for information products like plans for customizing older vehicles to accept a DVD player.
Imagine the longterm potential for offering DVD movies that play well to a traveling audience. MarieLynn will be able to warn her customers about movies with car crashes and highspeed chases that may give the driver a nervous breakdown, and she can recommend movies that keep her own daughter occupied. Moreover, whom do you think her customers will come back to when they change vehicles? As we talked, we both became excited about the possibilities.
I was convinced กDVD Players for Your Carก could be a perfect application of the Ride the Wave philosophy. Then MarieLynn also told me her research showed her that mobile and wireless networking products were selling well now. Everyone wants an alwayson Internet connection, and more and more people have multiple computers in their house that they want to network without drilling holes and running wires.
She was thinking about starting a business selling mobile and wireless networking technology and she would include the กDVD Players for Your Carก business with it. After all, there isnt any type of device more mobile than a car, is there? She was worried she might not sell enough car DVD players to make a profit and mobile networking was a highend market and there werent many people doing it. She was also worried that she might not have the expertise people were looking for when it came to DVD players… after all, she didnt even have one in her car yet. She was still shopping!
Theres a good chance many of you will have the same experience, though not necessarily with DVD players and mobile networking products. You will have doubts about your idea and doubts about your expertise. You will worry that you wont make enough sales of one product and youll be tempted to add other products to your online store. Ill tell you the same thing I told Marie Lynn.
Dont lose focus! The กDVD Player for Your Carก idea is excellent. It would only get lost in a กMobile and Wireless Networkingก Web site.
Remember: Your brand, your business name and its reputation, is your most valuable asset. Your must build and protect your brand over anything else. Your brand will be the true secret of your success and the source of the longterm security of your business and your income. Think of your brand as your position in the hearts and minds of your customers. Where are you in the hearts and minds of your customers? Remember your business strategy and you have every chance of success. Its easy to get distracted and lose your focus. Stay on track!

About The Author

Feel free to reprint this article on your Web site or in your electronic or printed publication. If you wish to edit the article for length or style, please contact me prior to publishing. When publishing the article, simply include the short กabout the authorก byline as shown.
Duane Gordon is a personal eBusiness Coach and Author of กRIDE THE WAVE, How to Succeed in the Next eBusiness Waveก Learn to turn your passion into a successful Internet business. http://www.ridethewaveonline.com/default.asp?a=1223&t=0022WSAR4A10001&d=surfsup/

This article was posted on July 26, 2004

by Duane Gordon

How To Get People To Read Your Ads

How To Get People To Read Your Ads

by: David Bell

Rule One: The Headline

The headline should summarise the whole offer. It should grab the eye, and make you want to read the subheading. The headline should intrigue and captivate the reader. Itกs sole aim is to make the reader continue on to read the body text. You should take great time and trouble over the headline. Lets say we’re selling a book on home security, yes, I know, boring and you might start with something like this:

กCRIME FIGURES UPก

This is very bad, but typical of an amateur. People don’t care about กcrime statisticsก. Thatกs boring, they only care about their own house or car being broken into. OK, how about this:

IS YOUR HOME AT RISK?

A bit better, but not brilliant. it does personalise it and does play on peoples fear. Itกs still pretty weak though. What we need is a headline that will grab you by the throat and force you to read on. How about this:

HOW TO BURGLE YOUR OWN HOUSE AND STEAL YOUR OWN CAR

Now thatกs what I call a กkillerก headline. Youกve just got to read on, haven’t you? Always think very carefully about your headline. Make it extremely intriguing, interesting or exciting. If you’re selling a กstraightก product, then use a slightly different approach, the headline should state what the product is, with a few adjectives in front. Say for a Tea Trolley, your headline would be:

New, Italian, Foldaway TEA TROLLEY

There should also be a picture of the product. the picture and the headline simply act to grab the eye of anyone who is remotely interested in purchasing this type of product.

Rule Two: The Subheading

The subheading should expand upon the story hinted in the main heading, and draw the reader inexorably into reading the body text. Subheadings for straight products should outline the main features and benefits of the product. Again, boring, but this is what works, A subheading for the Tea Trolley would be:

กNew from Italy, Lightweight, Foldaway Trolley is available in your choice of three colours.ก

As I say, boring, but this is what works, so don’t try and get clever or กartyก.

Hereกs the subheading for the security book:

กIกve nicked hundreds of cars and done over fifty burglaries. Would you like to know what Iกve got in mind for YOUR place?ก

Brilliant, or what??!! Youกve just got to read into the body text, haven’t you?

Remember this is the MAIN function of the heading and subheading. Notice the quotes, it seems as though the guy was talking to YOU, the reader of the advert, but the quotes imply that it is just something that this burglar said, some time ago, to whoever it was he was speaking to.

Rule Three: The Copy

Always overstate the product, but within the bounds of truth and reasonableness!

For some reason long copy, sell books. People will actually read an entire page of text if the story is strong enough. for straight products, the body of the text really just gives the feature and benefits, together with a slight allusion to an improvement in lifestyle.

A classic piece of rubbish for the security book would be:

กWe at ACME security have been leaders in the field of home security for over seventy years, winning the Queens award for industry on at least five occasions.ก

So what? Who cares? Whatกs that got to do with ME?

Hereกs an important little technique which can be used to fascinate your readers. itกs the ‘reverseก technique. In this technique, you take what is considered an obvious and well know fact about your subject, and then state the exact opposite in your advert.

We all know that in order to keep burglars out, we have to lock doors. Right? I mean, thatกs obvious. OK we’re going to take this obvious fact and simply state the exact opposite. like this:

Why leaving doors UNLOCKED can sometimes be better than locking them.

กHow can this be?ก you ask yourself.

Why fitting a car alarm can sometimes result in car thieves flocking to break into your car.

กWhatกs that?!! surely with an alarm fitted, theyกll give your car a miss?ก Well it depends. There are several reasons why sometimes (which is all I said) the opposite might be true. For example, if you have a car alarm then that means you have something worth stealing. also car thieves are full of machismo and they like stealing difficult cars, they stay clear of the easy ones because thereกs not enough danger and excitement. Most car alarms can be bypassed. Get the idea?

I hope this helps in your future marketing decisions.

About The Author

David Bell

http://www.wspromotion.com/

Advertising research and development center

This article was posted on April 14

by David Bell

I’m Gettin’ Really Torqued!

I’m Gettin’ Really Torqued!

by: Gene Simmons

For those of you who have been living in a cave for most of your lives, you can translate the ขtorquedข in the heading of this article to ขmadข or ขangryข. For today’s discussion of anger, let’s quantify the intensity of our focus with the words ขdownright, PO’d!ข I think that’s quite clear. Let’s proceed.
The first question is ขWhat makes you really angry (as in PO’d)?ข
Inconsiderate, rude people? Bad drivers? Lousy service? Brainless bosses? Dumb subordinates? Idiot lawyers? Answering machines? The government? Waiting in line? Foreigners? Big business? Potholes? Traffic jams? Airports? The news? TV programming? Your significant other? Your kids? Your neighbors? Uncle Harold? Aunt Edna? The stupid dog? The dumb car? The danged washing machine? Your lost keys? The toilet? The pillow? Your socks?
Wanna know what makes me really, really mad?
Nothing…
Hmmm, OK – how about what sometimes makes me upset and sort of irritated?
That would be me.
Huh?
Me. Just me. I’m the one who ขmakesข me upset and sort of irritated once in a while. I’m the only one who can ขmakeข me do that. No one else, no event, no situation can make me get mad. Our anger doesn’t come from the outside. It can’t. It’s strictly an internal emotion that surges – and sometimes even erupts – as the result of our perception and feelings about an ขoutsideข situation.
From the way it looks, we humans are probably designed and assembled with the brain wiring and foundation programming it takes to feel and express anger. Although experts disagree on the ability to logically differentiate between anger and distress in very young infants, we parents can all remember the early signals of displeasure to varying degrees in our youngin’s. Spitting the strained peas in Grandma’s face is a good example.
How did we learn how to be angry? From our exposure to anger around our humble abode and in the rest of our environment in our early years, we learned that getting hacked off is just what we humans do when we’re not pleased with a given situation. We learned that it’s OK – and sometimes even expected – that we make a yucky face, clench our fists, stomp our feet, beat on the table and scream obscenities at the top of our lungs (another strange expression that I suppose is not to be confused with using the middle or lower part of our lungs…our language is weird…). We learned – and duly programmed our subconscious – to react to the displeasing events in our lives with the appropriate (or for us personally – applicable) level and intensity of anger.
Guess what? It doesn’t need to be like that. We all have the ability to reprogram our little minds to respond to the displeasing events in our lives in a less stressful and much quieter manner. No, it’s not necessarily easy to do however, once we recognize and admit that our megaanger is not something that is just normally a part of human nature – and that we do have the ability to consciously control it – we have completed a huge step in the right direction. Becoming hacked off is an automatic decision our minds make for us. Not becoming angry then, must be a conscious decision we make that will override our automatic one.
You might try this. The next time you feel the anger starting to surge, take just a couple of seconds – or a few minutes or longer to realize what is happening, think briefly about the event or person who is triggering the anger, then decide if you really want to let your subconscious continue on it’s programmed path – or if you want to consciously step in and modify this effort. Anger toward a person or situation can be expressed assertively – not aggressively at a reasonable volume while being respectful of the rights and opinions of others. This can lead to open communications and a resolution of the problem. Will it? Who knows but it’s worth a shot. Sure beats knocking somebody’s skull in.
In the coolingoff period, you might just discover that the situation was not nearly as critical as you had first imagined. Perhaps someone (maybe you?) didn’t have all the facts and the conflict was the just result of a misunderstanding. Maybe once you stand back and see the circumstances from a slightly different perspective, you might decide the whole thing was pretty silly to start with and there is nothing really worth pursuing. Or, you may even admit that entire situation was completely out of your control (influence) so getting angry is just a futile waste of energy.
Probably the worst thing anyone could do is suppress the anger. To tuck it away deep down inside. This could lead to major problems later either in a potential catastrophic confrontation, in a ขtorpedoingข of the other person – or in an eating away of your mental/emotional stability or deterioration of your physical being. Not a good thing to have happen.
Anger toward an object (car, refrigerator, keys) is pretty much a waste of effort and energy. It’s likely a situation (danged car broke and I don’t have the coins to fix it) or ourselves (I don’t know how to fix the danged car) that we’re angry at. Stuff happens – and sometimes we even help it happen by ignoring signals that sooner or later we’ll need to do something to take care of an impending problem. So now it’s ขlaterข – and we need to fix something.
Anger, at a considerably lower intensity than downright PO’d, can be beneficial in that it can help us identify situations that we might want to address – either in an external situation or within ourselves. Anger is not all as bad as some folks would lead us to believe. The important thing is that we recognize its source (that’d be us) and take whatever steps are needed to bring it back under our conscious control. This includes professional counseling if necessary.
Life’s too short to for us to eat up a bunch of time being angry. Why don’t we all just have a superduper triple sized banana split instead? Just a thought…

About The Author

Gene, through NuPathz.com, provides an easy reading selfhelp blog along with affordable books and materials written to help folks find the road to a more enjoyable lifestyle, to pass on some of life’s ขsecrets for survivalข in a chaotic world & offer a few smiles along the way. Itกs a downtoearth, simple approach to discovering a better life. You can visit Gene at http://www.nupathz.com/

This article was posted on June 03, 2004

by Gene Simmons

Drive Yourself to More Auction Money

Drive Yourself to More Auction Money

by: Brian McGregor

Big ticket items are increasingly popular on eBay.

Cars are probably one of the best examples of this.

In fact, eBay is the largest dealer of used cars in the USA. And eBayกs car sales in the UK is also growing significantly. Every 16 seconds, a car is sold on eBay!

If you’re an eBay seller, hereกs an idea you might like to consider to make extra cash.

The vast majority of car dealers don’t use eBay. They advertise in the press, usually locally, and their customers likewise usually live within reach of the car dealer.

What eBay Motors has successfully proved is that people will bid on cars from owners hundreds or even thousands of miles away.

Why not take your eBay selling expertise, and offer your services to car dealers in your area?

You know how to create auctions, take and upload photos, and manage auctions. The dealers have vehicles which are getting a tiny fraction of the exposure which eBay could offer.

You might decide to offer this to dealers on a nocost basis. In other words, you bear the cost of eBayกs listing and selling fees. The benefit here is that there is no reason why the dealer shouldn’t give you the goahead. They could get a sale without cost to them and no extra effort on their behalf. Thatกs what I call a nobrainer!

Alternatively, you could pass on the fees to the dealer on the basis that they would be spending money anyway on press advertising.

The other commercial arrangements are simple. You could work on a commission, where you get a percentage of the sale price. Or you could agree a price which the dealer will accept for the sale of the car, and anything you can get above that price is your profit. This would work particularly well if the dealer has had a vehicle for some time, and has no interest in it.

The best types of cars to sell on eBay are those that are unusual for one reason or another. It might be vintage or classic vehicles, sports cars or high value models. You’re best to avoid what might be termed กnormalก cars. It also depends on the kind of dealers you have in your area.

One of the major potential problems is easily handled. You can’t expect the dealer to cease trying to sell a vehicle which you have on eBay auction. In every auction you run for a car, you state that the vehicle is also on sale in other ways, and that you reserve the right to withdraw it before the end of the auction period. You will see such statements on many eBay car auctions.

This idea doesn’t have to be limited to cars. There are big ticket item opportunities in several categories. You’re looking for retail outlets which tend to concentrate on local advertising and local trade. Examples of this would be jewellers, antique traders and real estate operations.

With big ticket items, just one or two sales per week could make a significant difference to you.

Worth thinking about!

About The Author

Brian McGregor specializes in showing website owners how to make more money from their sites by applying inventive and original use of eBay. For a free copy of ‘The eBay Traffic Funnel’ which shows how to use the power of eBay to make more money with your website, visit http://www.moreauctionsales.com/websites.

[email protected]

This article was posted on December 16, 2004

by Brian McGregor