Cool Beans SF

SUCH A TIME LIKE THIS

The LORD raises up people for different reasons
The Bible records stories of times and seasons
Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jonah and Esther are a few
Of those that God raised up, his bidding to do
How about Stephen, James, John, Peter and Paul
To do his work on earth, on them God did call

Brother Daniel was born and lived to record
Much about prayer and the workings of the LORD
He wrote that in the last days knowledge would increase
After he finished chapter 12, God let him rest in peace
Malachi was a prophet born to preach and write
His four chapters point to the dawning of a new light

In our present year of two thousand and five A.D.
God still raises up people like you and me
To do his work in such a time like this
To point others to Jesus so heaven they won’t miss
Knowledge has increased and many are running to and fro
God’s word is truth, this one thing I know

Copyright 2005 Irvin L. Rozier

About the Author

Author of My Walk with the Lord, www.selahbooks.com, various other articles and poems (do a google search or yahoo on my name), preacher, retired military

Since the beginning of printing technology, communication development has escalated to greater heights. Nowadays, printing technology had continuously proliferated in the world of communication through the postal mail system.

Consequently, the mailing system did not only serve its basic purpose but has, in some ways, diverted into a more lucrative function in the world of entrepreneurship and marketing. That is why most mortgage companies have engaged into the utilization of a mortgage list.

Hence, the mortgage industry followed the trend of this innovative marketing strategy. They, in turn, have come to use the mortgage list as their top marketing technique in order to boost their productivity.

Basically, the mortgage list is a collection of people’s names and addresses that represents the target market as far as a mortgage-lending business is concerned. In many instances, people who are included in a mortgage list are those that meet specific criteria.

For a mortgage broker who relies on direct marketing promotions as their way of promoting their mortgage refinancing packages, a mortgage list is considered as a vital element in accomplishing that goal. Therefore, most mortgage brokers understand that using a targeted mortgage list for their mortgage marketing campaigns, the success of their company relies squarely on the targeted mortgage list and the offer on the mail piece. It’s also a cost effective solution as opposed to an expensive media advertising campaign and at the same time an effective means of increasing the probability of a more responsive market.

Generally, there is a vast array of mortgage lists; some of the most used mortgage list criteria are as follows:

1. Basic demographic profile

This classification of mortgage lists refers to the demographic profile information of the people. The information contained therein is basically the primary source of most companies who seek the services of a mortgage list provider.

Under this category, the name, complete address, home telephone number, and the zip code of a consumer are all included.

2. The income data.

This category of mortgage list includes the income profile of the mortgage refinance prospects. This is very useful to mortgage lending companies who would like to promote their services to people who would most likely respond to their promotion based on their financial capability.

3. FICO scores.

This category relies on the FICO scores of the consumers who have an existing credit history.

Mortgage companies use the FICO mortgage lists to find prospective clients who are more closely targeted for the kind of mortgage refinancing that the mortgage company is interested in pursuing. In this case, the list can include those who have low FICO scores and have higher credit card debt so they are exceptional mortgage refinance prospects to pay off the high interest rate credit card balances.

With this type of mortgage list, mortgage-lending companies will have a greater edge on their marketing strategy by using the viability of the FICO mortgage list.

4. Home value

Because mortgages probes more on home equity programs and mortgage lending activities, companies who are in this kind of business will make use of mortgage lists with home values as a source of information. This means that people who would most likely seek mortgage refinancing are those who have higher amount of pending payables.

5. Bankruptcy files.

This category of a mortgage list refers to those who have already filed bankruptcy cases and who are in danger of imminent property loss. People on this list would make good mortgage leads because they would most likely seek the help of a mortgage refinancing company as an alternative move in their bankruptcy case, provided that the bankruptcy proceedings they have filed includes liens on properties etc.

6. Open mortgage balance.

Homeowners with an open mortgage balance for a mortgage list are great prospects for mortgage brokers & lenders. This is because people who have an outstanding balance on mortgage loans will most likely be interested in a financial solution such as home refinancing, home equity, or debt consolidations. Therefore, mortgage companies usually utilize this kind of mortgage list.

7. Name of lender.

This type of mortgage list would show a number of people who already have a mortgage with certain mortgage companies. To use this as your primary mortgage lead list, you will most likely end up with a number of potential clients who would also be interested in your services or products.

So, for businesses that are into mortgage lending, it is best that you use these mortgage lists so to help you in obtaining the kind of market suitable for the services that your company has to offer.

Chris Burns - American Profiles Mailing & Telemarketing List company. Providing telemarketing lists to the direct marketing industry since 1996.

A full service mailing & telemarketing list company with over 40,000 lists available. http://www.americanprofiles.net

Online counts and orders 24/7 http://www.mailinglistsusa.com

He has been to 2 Super Bowls. He is hailed as an offensive genius. His team is a perennial playoff contender. He is also one of the worst coaches in the NFL. A contradiction? Not when it’s Mike Martz.

After Dick Vermeil retired following the 1999 season, the Rams decided to give the job to their brilliant offensive coordinator, Mike Martz. After all, it was his schemes that gave the Rams the best offense in the NFL. Or so they thought. Despite being a good offensive coordinator, Mike Martz never made a good head coach. He is a poor talent evaluator, with a litany of draft miscues including Trung Candidate, Damione Lewis, and Robert Thomas. In fact, the best player Martz has drafted in 5 years (not counting the 2005 draft) is Adam Archuleta, a decent safety. Steven Jackson could become a very good player sometime down the road, but he hasn’t proven much at this point. Contrast this with the Rams 1999 draft class, which included Dre Bly and Torry Holt, 2 Pro Bowlers. In one draft, Vermeil unearthed more Pro Bowlers than Mike Martz did in 5. In fact, all of the standout players on the Rams during the Mike Martz period were inherited from Vermeil.

Torry Holt, Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce, Az-Zahir Hakim, Leonard Little, Grant Wistrom, Orlando Pace, Jeff Wilkins, Kurt Warner, and Adam Timmerman, among others, were all drafted or otherwise acquired by Dick Vermeil, not Mike Martz. True, under Mike Martz, this has been a very good team. But with the talent on this team in 2000, it should have won more than one Super Bowl. In 1999, the Rams had 6 Pro Bowlers. This is an incredible number, and reflects the astonishing amount of talent they had after their 1999 Super Bowl win. In 2000, the Rams still had 4 Pro Bowlers-all on offense-showing that the Rams offensive core was still in its prime and able to produce. In 2001, the Rams had 5 Pro Bowlers, again reflecting the amount of talent on the team. I could go on, but this is enough to show that the Rams had amazing talent through the Mike Martz years. The same level of talent that they had in 1999, they had in 2000 and 2001. Yet they never won another Super Bowl. At least part of the blame for this has to go to Mike Martz.

In 1999, the Rams had the number one scoring offense in the league and the fourth ranked defense, leading to a 13-3 record. The next year, the Rams ranked first in scoring offense and 31st in defense, leading to a 10-6 record. They ranked 31st in defense despite not losing any key defensive personnel. This can be at least partially attributed to Mike Martz’s ascension to head coach. He’s an offense first guy; defense is simply not important to him. In fact, his defenses have ranked in the top 10 just once during his reign, despite being handed one of the top defenses in the NFL.

Now let’s see if Dick Vermeil’s offenses suffered without the services of Mike Martz. In his first year, Vermeil inherited the 9th ranked scoring offense. Because of player losses, the offense was ranked 16th the next year. After one year of rebuilding, the team offense was ranked first, first, and second in the succeeding years. So was the Rams offensive success Vermeil’s doing or Martz’s?

Basically, Mike Martz has been able to have good teams because of the incredible talent base he inherited. He has not drafted well, so he has not been able to significantly replenish his stock of talent. Within a few years, when the older core players begin to retire, his team will begin to fall apart. You can only ride someone else’s coattails for so long. Sooner or later, Mike Martz will be exposed for what he is: a good offensive coordinator who is just not cut out to be a head coach. I just wish someone would have realized this sooner; with the core the Rams had, they could have won 2 more Super Bowls.

Vikas Paruchuri is a sports columnist who writes on the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB. He maintains a website at http://www.thehomefield.com with sports analysis and opinion columns.

Do you feel guilty about all the publications you purchase but never read — or the articles you read with great ideas or opportunities you never implement? Are you spending time recreating marketing materials because you cannot find what you wrote the preceding month or year? Do you run out the door for an appointment at the last minute because you could not find your keys or the directions you needed to get where you are going? Are you frequently feeling tired and overwhelmed? Do the people you care about express frustration at your disorganization or want to spend more time with you? If so, “getting organized” should be high on your priority list!

One of the continual frustrations in my career as a professional organizing consultant has been people’s misconceptions about what it means to be “organized.” Visions of unrealistically tidy desks and impossible mandates such as “Handle a piece of paper only once” conjure up feelings of frustration and impossibility. Fears of being imprisoned by a specific work style eliminate the reality of the freedom resulting from true organization.

What does it mean to “get organized?” Many people have a total misunderstanding of what it really means. I am trained as a musician. I look at organizing as an art form. Paint me a picture of what you want your life to be like, and I will help you get organized so you can get there! “Organization” is very personal. To identify whether a particular aspect of your work or life is organized, ask these three questions:

1. Does it work?
2. Do you like it?
3. Does it work for others?

Getting organized is about creating and sustaining a setting in which everything around you supports who you are and who you want to be - and allows everyone else you care about to do the same! The secret of getting organized and staying organized is what we call a “Productive Environment.” I have spent the past 25+ years assisting individuals and organizations to create and sustain a productive environment so they can accomplish their work and enjoy their lives. We do that by helping them organize their time, space and information.

If you are ready for a life that will help you increase your profit and decrease your stress, here are 9 proven principles to get you started:

1. Today’s mail is tomorrow’s pile:
Are you sick of the clutter in your life? Most people start getting organized by throwing away old stuff. Our most popular service is called The 8-Hour Miracle. We spend eight hours with a client with the promise of three things: 1) You will know what to do with every new thing that comes into your home or office. 2) You will be able to find anything we have filed or stored in that eight hours in five seconds or less. 3) You will have a Productive Environment GamePlan for handling whatever we didn’t handle in the eight hours we were there. If we do not live up to that promise, you do not owe us any money. How can we make that promise? Because we ignore all your old stuff, and set up a system to design the future you desire.

2. Organizing in and of itself is of no value.
It is merely a tool to help you accomplish something important to you. Ask yourself, “If I were organized, what would I be able to do that I cannot do now?” An inability to organize a particular aspect of one’s life often reflects a “should” mandated by someone else - not an inner desire to improve the quality of work or life, which is the only real reason for organizing anything! Always ask “Should I be organizing this at all?”

3. Clutter is postponed decisions.®
Not being able to decide what to keep, where to keep it, how long to keep it, etc. causes paralysis when it comes to organization. The good news is that there are really very few options. You can get rid of something, you can store it so you can use it regularly, or you can store it so you can use it if you want to.

4. Implement The FAT System.
Papers pile up on your kitchen counter or a desk because you have not made a decision. The good news is there are really only three decisions you can make: File (in case you want it in the future, Act (the ball is in your court to pay the bill, write the report, or make a phone call), or Toss (decide it is not necessary).

5. Eighty percent of what you keep you never use.
Ironically, often the more you keep the less you use. It is no mistake the simplicity movement is one of the fastest growing in the world! Continually practice The Art of Wastebasketry® by asking these questions:
• Does this require action?
• Can I identify a specific use?
• Is it difficult to obtain again?
• Is it recent enough to be useful?
• Are there tax or legal implications?
• What is the worst possible thing that would happen I did not have this? If you can live with your answers, toss or recycle!

6. Overresponsibility can become irresponsibility.
One of the major reasons people keep things is because they “might be useful someday.” For example, many people have every pair of eyeglasses they ever ordered while someone 20 minutes away cannot afford even one pair. Do you have difficulty letting go of things - even if you do not use them? Finding someone else who needs them more than you do will make it easier.

7. Half of any job is having the right tool.
For years I struggled with guilt about my inability to stick to an exercise program. The combination of spending 80% of the time on the road and negative childhood experiences about physical activities seemed insurmountable, until I discovered I could get amazing results using exercise equipment I could pack in my suitcase and use in the privacy of my bedroom.

8. Perfection prevents progress.
A creative mind always has more ideas than the physical body can carry out. Virtually everyone I know, including myself, feels guilty about not being able to keep on top of the “to read” pile. Consider spending more time contemplating what you will do as a result of what you have read than feeling guilty about what you have not done.

9. Asking for help is a sign of wisdom, not weakness.
Sadly, many people have been conditioned to feel that being successful means going it alone. Nothing could be farther from the truth. As president of The National Association of Professional Organizers, my theme, which I have subsequently turned into a theme for my life and my business, was “Together we are better.” I believe that statement applies to all of life. The only thing keeping you from getting what you want is finding people who can - and want - to help you get there!

Getting organized is an on-going process, not a destination. It is about progress, not perfectionism. When you feel less organized than you would like to be, forgive yourself, and move on. Substitute “If only…” with “Next time…” and you are on the right road!

Will any system turn you into a perennially “clean desk” person - unlikely! Messy desks are the natural outcome of a hectic pace. A place for everything and everything in its place - forget it, but it is half right! A place for everything means than when you want to clean up your office to meet a client, or just because you are sick of the mess yourself, recovering is no big deal! Some quick decision-making will clean off your desk in a matter of minutes, bring back a sense of control and get you on your way to productivity, profit, and peace of mind!

© Barbara Hemphill is the author of Kiplinger’s Taming the Paper Tiger at Work and Taming the Paper Tiger at Home and co-author of Love It or Lose It: Living Clutter-Free Forever. The mission of Hemphill Productivity Institute is to help individuals and organizations create and sustain a productive environment so they can accomplish their work and enjoy their lives. We do this by organizing space, information, and time. We can be reached at 800-427-0237 or at www.ProductiveEnvironment.com

The all important credit score! It determines the amount of loan you can get, it determines the interest rate at which you are charged for a loan, etc. Your credit score plays an important figure in your financial life. So what goes into making that all important score of yours? How does it increase, how does it decrease and what are the factors that go into its calculation?

Your credit score is a number that reflects on the likelihood at which you will pay back a loan. Scores range from 350 (high risk) to 950 (low risk). Credit scores do not take into consideration your income, how much savings you have or demographic factors such as gender, race or nationality. Your credit score is affected by your current debt level, your past delinquencies, your credit history and how many times your credit report is pulled up by various agencies. Your score considers both positive and negative information in your credit report. For instance, recorded late payments will lower your credit score while a good track record of making payments on time will raise your credit score. Timely payment of your bills is important to ensure you maintain a good credit score. The amount of balance you have left on your credit card, how many credit card accounts you hold and your use of revolving credit also affect your credit score to a great extent.

Your credit score and credit report is formed on the basis of your credit history and you need to have at least one account which has been open or updated in the past six months to get a credit score. If you do not meet the minimum criteria for getting a score, you may need to establish a credit history prior to applying for a mortgage.

All in all, if you can pay for all your debts in a timely and consistent manner and not take more debt than you can handle, your credit score shouldn’t be able to trouble you in life. So take care and be wise with your finances.

Sameer S Panjwani is the CEO and Founder of ChoiceOfHomes.com - A Real Estate Portal for Home Buying, Selling and Renting. Website url: http://www.choiceofhomes.com

Factoring has been practiced for centuries. The Romans sold promissory notes at a discount as did the Phoenicians. The word “factor” comes from Latin, the language of Rome. It means “to do” or “to make.” The Pilgrim’s journeys to America were financed by advances from a Factor who provided the funds to pay for the journey. The Pilgrims repaid the money with earnings from America. Factoring to this day is an extremely common business practice in Europe whereas many American business men have never heard of it.

Factoring is the selling of your accounts receivable for cash versus waiting 30-60 or 90 days to be paid by your customer. When you provide a Factoring company with copies of your invoices, the Factoring Company uses your invoices to make a loan to your company. It is a simple process and can be automated after the first transaction. Credit is not an issue when providing Accounts Receivable Loans or Financing. The Financial Companies looks at the credit history of the vendor not yours! This is exceptional good for small to medium size business that have been in business for less then two years.

My first experience with Factoring came when one of my Tax clients ending up with a sizable Tax liability one year. He ran a small Trucking company and had very few tax problems in the pass. However, because of a sudden burst in growth he was doing 2 to 3 times more business in the last half of the year. Because he did not have sufficient tax write offs, his tax liability really hit hard. He was actually having serious cash flow problems because of unplanned growth!

We talked about the situation, his taxes were completed and because he had rented a couple of trucks to keep up with the work load, we were able to use the rental cost as a write off. But there was still the self-employment tax and there was no doubt he had an increase in business income.

I didn’t say anything, but I was worried about his payment for the Tax preparation. I knew he was having cash flow problems and the tax bill did not help. Then he told me about the $30,000 worth of Invoices. Because the invoices had not been paid they were not included in his income for that year so I had no idea that he had invoices in that amount. In fact the invoices where crumbles up and scattered over his desk.

I went on the Internet and started to research “invoices”. I had never really understood Factoring before that time, but I had heard of it. We did not factor my client’s Invoices because he called the company he worked with, explained the situation and they paid him 50% of the Invoice immediately and the balance shortly after.

I had already researched “Factoring” or Accounts Receivable Financing and being a Tax person I was always looking for ways to help my clients pay their taxes as soon as possible, especially if they owed employee taxes.

I put an ad online and within days a CPA called. He had a client who imported culinary products from overseas. They needed to factor a fairly large invoice. I called one of the Factoring Companies explained the situation. The Factoring Company arranged for his company to do a Purchase Order from his supplier overseas. Once the Purchase Order was in place, we factored the Invoice. The client received over 90% of the Invoice amount within days. He then went on to repeat the deal 3 or 4 more times!

Purchase Order Funding is slightly harder to get then Accounts Receivable Financing, however, PO Funding is very helpful for Business who makes large purchases and resells to a third party. For more information on Purchase Order Funding and the advantages of Factoring go to http://www/taxeswilltravel.com

Cassandra Ingraham is a Licensed Tax Practitioner in the state of California. Her Tax Business specializes in Taxes, 100% financing for Credit Problem Clients (in 45 States) and Invoice Factoring. You can find more information at http://www.taxeswilltravel.com

The previous two Tech Tips took a look at eight basic features of portable MP3 players worth considering before laying down some serious money on one of these devices. Once you have a nice new MP3 player with plenty of space for music, you need to fill it up! There are several ways to go about building your digital music collection, and we’ll take a look at a few ways to do so.

The first thing to address may be the term “MP3 player.” Many of these devices play MP3 files, in addition to a variety of other formats. Many of the files available for download are actually in a format other than MP3, but the term has been applied to cover this whole class of devices, whether it is 100% accurate or not.

Create Your Own

There are numerous software titles available that make creating MP3 files from CDs (or other sources) a simple process. Most involve minimal input from the user once they have configured their preferences, and will take the audio and convert it into the digital format of their choice. During the “ripping” process, most applications will query an online database, such as Gracenote (www.cddb.com), and take care of the file naming and ID tagging needed to make storing, sorting, and accessing the files a snap with most players.

Some of these applications may already be on your computer. Microsoft’s Windows Media Player (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/mp10/default.aspx) is one program that any Windows user already has that is more than ready for basic WMA and MP3 file creation. Just drop in your CD and click “Rip”. Many other titles may have come bundled with hardware included with your system. For example, many optical drives ship with a copy of Ahead’s Nero (http://ww2.nero.com/us/index.html) or a suite of software from Roxio (http://www.roxio.com/en/index.jhtml). Either will handle the DVD or CD burning they were intended for, but also have decent MP3 creation modules, as well.

There are a multitude of free, or at least free-to-try, MP3 encoding software titles, and a trip to your favorite search engine may provide a list longer than you care to investigate. Some names worth checking out include EZ CD-DA (Digital Audio) Extractor (http://www.poikosoft.com/), EZ MP3 Creator (http://www.linasoft.com/ezmp3c.html), and Virtuosa (http://www.virtuosa.com/index.php).

The great thing about digital audio files acquired this way is that they are yours to use on whatever device you choose. The same can not be said about files obtained from either of the next two methods to be discussed. The files obtained from legitimate download services are protected by DRM (Digital Rights Management), which restricts the use of the downloaded files to a limited number of computers and compatible portable devices, as well as protecting the songs from redistribution by the end user. The files are yours to use, but not as freely as you may want, and perhaps for only as long as you maintain your account with the download service.

Pay Per Download

There are two main types of legitimate online sources of digital music… those that charge you for each download, and those that require you to subscribe to a service on a monthly basis. They offer the same types of files, but take different approaches to suit your budget and music needs.

Apple’s iTunes (http://www.apple.com/itunes/) may be the best known source for individual file downloads, thanks in no small part to the incredible popularity of the iPod MP3 player. What some may not know is that iTunes is not just for iPod owners, or Macintosh computer owners for that matter, but any PC compatible system can access the 99 cent downloads for use on their computer or compatible portable player.

Many other outlets offer digital music files for download, and even some mainstream brick-and-mortar stores have found their way onto the scene. Just as they have done with retail sales, Wal-Mart (http://www.walmart.com/music_downloads/introToServices.do) has managed to undercut the competition with their 88 cent music downloads.

Subscribe to a Service

Everyone is familiar with Napster (http://www.napster.com/) as one of the pioneers of file sharing, but they are back with a legitimate approach to music downloads. Although they do offer a program where you can download individual songs for 99 cents each, they offer monthly subscriptions for $14.95. This monthly fee allows for unlimited downloads, and could be the ticket for someone looking to keep their play list fresh on a regular basis. One caveat to this otherwise good solution is that the number of MP3 players supported is currently very limited. Also, once your subscription lapses, so does the ability to “access” your music. Basically, you are renting the songs.

Other subscription-based services are available, such as the one from eMusic (http://www.emusic.com/) that charges a monthly fee, but restricts the number of downloads permitted every month.

Choosing between a service that charges for every download or one that charges a flat monthly fee will most likely be determined by the volume of downloads one intends. If you only want a handful of songs every few months, it may be worth it to pay per song. But, if you intend to amass the ultimate collection of music ever known to man, subscribing to a service on a monthly basis is obviously more practical.

Go Underground

Whether through first-hand experience, or from the massive media attention, most people are well aware of other file sharing resources available on the Internet that can be used for acquiring MP3 files. Although the files are free, and users may feel they are operating anonymously, it may not be a safe means of acquiring media.

There are the obvious legal implications, as the RIAA has prosecuted file sharers for copyright violation (http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3497246), but there are other issues, as well. The integrity of the files being downloaded is not guaranteed, and people may wait patiently for a song to download only to find it is of poor quality, incomplete, or even worse… carrying a virus or trojan.

So, there are other pools of digital music, but swim at your own risk!

Final Words

Filling your new MP3 player doesn’t have to cost anything except the time it takes to encode the songs from your favorite CDs. But, paying for a download service is a sure way to have the songs you want as they become available and at a fairly reasonable price. These aren’t your only options for acquiring digital music, but when taking other routes, proceed with caution.

Jason Kohrs
MP3Tips
How to buy a MP3 player
and MP3 Tips.

My father, who owns a small parts store and garage for vintage British sports cars, called me up recently and droned on and on about how he is getting killed by the Euro. Confused as to how the Euro could possibly be affecting his small and seemingly insignificant business, I asked him how. “Because of the Euro!”

He went on to explain, after calming down of course, that the distributor that he orders his vintage parts from had increased their prices by roughly 30% due to the dollar’s poor performance against the Euro. Apparently, it takes about $1.30 USD to buy the same merchandise that may be acquired with 1 Euro.

Essentially, the relationship between the dollar and the Euro is the same as we have always had with the Canadiansonly we have become the Canadians in this bizarre scenario!

After getting off the phone with dad I decided to investigate this currency exchange question a lot further and came to one startling but very true realizationthe stock market is for chumps! Foreign Exchange is where it’s at.

The act of exchanging the legal tender of one country for that of another. People who play the currency exchange market (Forex) do precisely that! With the same amount of analysis or less in most cases, people anticipate the rate at which one currency will convert into another and Presto!profits please!

So if one anticipates that the Euro will be stronger next week compared with the dollar and I convert $50,000 into Euros, then next week when the Euro does in fact rise I can convert those Euros back into more dollars than I initially invested only a few days earlieror even the previous day! Why have your money tied up for extended periods of time praying for a good quarterly earnings report or being grateful for the peanuts thrown to you in the form of a dividend?

My father’s misfortune illuminated a new world for me. Trading currencies is simply better than playing the stock market and more profitable. Just as with the stocks, you learn which indicators to track and the fundamental principles which propel the market in one direction or the other. There are of course programs and courses out there offered by people who have played this game for years and who are now sitting back in luxury while the rest of us have seen our retirement plans devastated by that volatile mistress known as the stock market. So I ordered a Forex course and learned what I had to in order to start cashing in on this phenomenon. I stopped waiting on earnings reports and praying for those stocks to go up and started making money daily on in the currency exchange market!

My actual startup costs were only $300. Of course I already had my computer and internet connection, but for me the possibility of working only an hour a day from home and earning an extra few hundred dollars a week was amazing.

The course I ordered was Peter Bain’s Commercial Currency Trading Secrets. I just liked the idea of having a Successful Trader at my side at all times. And Peter’s course allowed me to do that through his DVD’s.

This for me is a great way to earn extra income. I might even quit my job one day soon and do this full time. Learn more about this extremely profitable business for yourself. Just go to: http://tinyurl.com/8udgt and check it out for yourself.

Paul Sanford
http://1forex.blogspot.com/

England?s intriguing & often nasty history is beyond question most rendered in it’s historic constructions and nowhere is this more evident than in those properties owned by the Royal Family & their formal ceremonies.

For a great period now the English Monarchy has been believed to be significant to the success of the UK. They have amused overseas tourists for many years and continue to rouse the appeal of guests of all years. Buckingham Place has been regarded as being the London home of the British monarchy since Queen Victoria became inducted as queen in eighteen thirty-seven. its one of a petite amount of functioning royal palaces enduring in England at the moment.

Buckingham Palace is used predominately as a place of work, but can also be changed into a social activities venue for the fifty thousand visitors asked to the Palace annually. There are well over 600 digs, including nineteen state quarters, fifty two royal & guest bedrooms, seventy-eight bathrooms, ninety-two offices, but more impressively an in-house cinema and swimming pool.

All through the spring & summer, overseas holiday-makers can tour around the lovely state bedrooms, that make the heart of the Palace. These fine rooms are enhanced with a gathering of the most finest riches from the Royal compilation, including sculptures by Canova and also paintings by the many illustrious painters for example Rembrandt, Rubens & Canaletto. Browse EnjoyEngland, the official site for tourism in England.

As a business owner or marketer, if you don’t reverse the risk in your product and/or service offerings, you’re really missing out in what can be one of the most powerful weapons in your marketing arsenal.

Risk Reversal Defined

Risk Reversal, in essence, means that you, the business owner, assumes all the risks associated with the business transactions, and your customers none.

Why Reverse The Risk?

The main reason that you’ll want to reverse the risk is so that you may boost your sales and profits.

Risk Reversal can easily be achieved by providing an Extraordinary Guarantee. An example would be an iron-clad, no-questions-asked money back guarantee.

Buyers, especially Internet Buyers, are generally skeptical. This is particularly so if they’ve never dealt with you or your business before. Your credibility is in question and the trust yet to be established. Even if they are your existing customers, it’s imperative that you employ this powerful marketing concept of Risk Reversal by offering a strong and extraordinary guarantee…

… Here’s Why:

Having a strong guarantee is one of the most effective ways to counter the skepticism and fears of the buyers in doing business with you.

If your customers or potential customers see a guarantee, especially an extraordinary one, they can be pretty certain that they’ll get what they’re after.

It shows them that you’re confident about, and have a strong belief in, your products and/or services.

It also goes to show that you’re reliable and trustworthy, and if they’re not satisfied with your offerings, they’ve nothing to lose.

The end result is that you’ll dramatically boost your sales and profits - sales and profits you would not have seen without the strong guarantee.

Here’s an example:

Let’s say in any of your promotional campaign, you normally sell 500 units of your product. Through a strong guarantee, you increase your sales by 8% or 40 units without spending any additional funds on advertising.

This translates to a total sale of 540 units for that campaign.

Let’s say you later experience a 10% refund of the additional sale of 40 units, that is, 4 units (10% X 40 units), which you won’t.

Even after the refund, you’ll still make an additional sale of 36 units just by offering a strong guarantee. These are sales that you’ll never get without the guarantee.

Now you can see how a strong guarantee will boost your sales and profits.

Then Why Are Many Business Owners Unwilling To Offer Such A Guarantee?

Many business owners have the misconception that people are only concern about the price of the product or service. Price, no doubt is a factor but only a minor one, and only to a certain extent. If the customers want something, and if you’re able to address their concerns and fulfill what they want, they’ll gladly buy what you have to offer.

Many business owners are also afraid that they’ll be ripped off. Just in case you think that you’ll be ripped off by offering guarantees, research have shown that this rarely happens as 99.5% of people are generally honest. Of course, there’ll be a few moral rejects who’ll take advantage of you but the additional customers that you’ll gain will more than offset the few that’ll take advantage of you.

Furthermore, very few people will go through the process of actually returning something that they’ve bought, unless of course, you’ve infuriated them. If you’re a savvy business
owner or marketer, you should know better than to infuriate your customers.

Think about this - the process of asking for a refund is a socially uncomfortable one; it takes confidence and self-assurance to ask for a refund even if you’re openly offering one.

Now, I must add that in order for your guarantee to achieve the objective of boosting your sales and profits, you’ll need to bear the following in mind:

1. You’ll need to have a quality product and/or service

2. You’ll need to address the customers’ deepest frustrations

3. There shouldn’t be any unreasonable conditions attached to it

4. It should preferably be for at least a minimum period of 90 days or more.

An example of a strong guarantee will be:

“Try out the product for a full 365 days! If it does not double your sales by the end of the 365 days, just return it and we will cheerfully refund your full purchase price.”

I believe you can see the power of the above statement. It implies that you’re so confident of your product that you’re assuming all the risks, not the customer.

Once you’ve got over the fear of reversing the risk, you’ll be ready to offer bold guarantees. A bold guarantee sends the message to your potential customers that “you’re reliable and your offerings are of high quality”. It takes away the risks associated with the purchase of your products and/or services, and it also lends you credibility.

As you can now see, risk reversal is one of the most effective ways to boost your sales and profits. Put this powerful marketing concept into practice immediately. Spend time on creating a sound and powerful guarantee, implement it, and you’ll see your sales go through the roof.

Copyright by Larry Lim, MarketingSphere

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Larry Lim is a practising marketing strategist and tactician who dishes out highly effective marketing strategies and tactics.
His Internet Marketing Strategy website is jam-packed with internet marketing secrets and softwares that will skyrocket your sales, and shoot your profits through the roof.