Archive for June, 2008

Is Seminar Marketing Overdone?

Sunday, June 22nd, 2008

By Kathran Martin Dont believe the scuttle butt. Presented well and to the right audience with the right follow-up systems; seminars are still an extremely effective marketing tool for financial advisors. The problem is that many advisors arent paying attention to these details. Are there advisors using seminars effectively? Yes! In fact, some of the very top advisor coaches are convincing their clients to focus more on seminar marketing in these turbulent times and these advisors are reaping large harvests from their efforts. Why use seminar marketing? Begin with the end in mind, says Steven Covey. In this case, we want to collect a group of highly-motivated, high-value clients from our seminar marketing. We want the return on investment (ROI) to be extremely attractive. We want these to run like clock work. We want our seminars to consume the least amount of our time. Does that about sum it up? The primary objective of seminars is to generate a lot of new business, not to get compliments on your teaching ability, humorous stories or the quality of the meal you serve. There are several links in this chain: we need to make sure that the audience has the potential to meet our expectation, we need to close for appointments with 50% of the attendees and we need to convert those appointments into business. How do you get a target audience? What is your target audience? A target audience is one where the audiences needs and concerns are aligned with your value proposition and service offering. For example, if your ideal client is the active, affluent senior living in Temecula California then dont expect good results from a seminar that appeals to Baby Boomers with education funding concerns. In the seminar business there are two ways to qualify attendees: first is with the right mailing list and the second is through the invitations copy. The right list means using a vendor with a large enough database of households and data points about those households to match your target audience. If your target audience is affluent seniors, then you really dont have a targeted audience. Thats simply too broad. But if your target audience were retired boat owners in the state of Texas who were married, owned their homes and were over age 62, then you would be getting closer to a target audience. How do you qualify with copy? You want certain characteristics in your audience. For instance, you might be focusing on the IRA rollover market among retirees who own their homes in central Arkansas. When you write the copy you insert phrases like, You must attend this seminar if you are planning an IRA rollover in the next 6 months. Or, If your IRA is worth less than $250,000 then you might not benefit from this workshop. How do you get qualified, targeted leads to your seminars? Once you have aligned your value proposition with your target market you are well on your way. The next task is to rent space in the mind of your target audience through drip marketing. Drip marketing is extremely effective because you send promotional pieces with clear, constant and consistent marketing messages to a targeted group over a period of time. The group begins to identify you through the pieces and you become like a jingle they just cant get out of their heads. Once youre on their mind and they make contact, you simply have to follow through with your value proposition. As you send out your promotional pieces consider putting a schedule of your seminars in them, so theres plenty of opportunities for people to make it to your presentation. The more opportunities you give them to hear what you have to offer, the better your chances of getting them to your presentation. You can market your seminars through the promotional pieces to catch your target groups attention and drive them to your event. However, the copy in these pieces must not only have the aforementioned qualifiers, but must be fresh, engaging and professional. You must communicate quickly and often how you can earn or save them more money. If you are looking for more training and education on seminar marketing then go to BuildYourMarket.com and look under the market tab. You will find highly-detailed, easy-to-use marketing strategies to build out your brand, capture market share and reach financial independence. Does your CRM just lay there? Bring it to life with BuildYourMarket.com (http://www.buildyourmarket.com/) , the original web-based brand management tool for financial advisors. This one application integrates your CRM with your website and generates four color print-on-demand newsletters and postcards. If you are a registered rep, all your marketing communication is linked to your compliance officers desktop. Reprinted with permission from the Ezine: AdvisorMarketingNews.com- “Delivering Todays Trends the Advisor Professional” (http://www.advisormarketingnews.com/) Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathran_Martin http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-Seminar-Marketing-Overdone?&id=168426 free money grants for house loans personal loan interest rates auto loan poor credit payday loan legal n

American Morality - A Study in the Lesser of Two Evils

Thursday, June 19th, 2008

By Michael Bresciani Evangelist Vance Havner told the story of a boy who brought home a watermelon he had stolen from his neighbors farm and proudly showed it to his parents. They knew he had stolen the watermelon but after looking it over for a moment all his parents had to say to their son was Dont get any more of them because you dont know what they have been sprayed with. The parents knowing the unseen poison on the watermelon might make their son sick or even worse could kill him gave him what seems like a concerned warning. They ignored the command of God, thou shalt not steal and the concomitant effects of stealing that result from ignoring that commandment. Could the boy get sick from stealing? I can hear a line from a beautiful traditional hymn There is a Balm in Gilead, to heal the sin sick soul. I can also hear the warning of God from Romans 6:23the wages of sin is death The parents were concerned for the boys health but not for his future or the health of his soul. In a recent episode of the popular TV show Law and Order an enraged father beat and killed a homosexual man who along with his homosexual partner had adopted his son. The mother a drug addict never told the father he had a son and after being removed from her custody the boy was placed in the home of the homosexual couple. Anyone who knows their bible is aware that killing a homosexual person is just as sinful as being a homosexual person. In the end the man was tried and found guilty of murder and it would seem that alls well that ends well. Before the entire matter was disposed of the prosecutors gave a final argument that was based on the idea that it was the love of the homosexual couple that saved the boy from a terrible life without a home. Here is the choice; here is the lesser of two evils. One might ask first. is a home a destination for an entire life. Has the American dream become an end in itself or is there still something more? The homosexual union was bestowed a sort of reverent dignity because of the couples willingness to do what others would not. The constant daily example of a perverted and sinful lifestyle is ignored for the fulfillment of the American dream. Todays morality labors hard not just to ignore Gods commandments but to deny them and actively fight against them. Can good come from a sinful union? Jesus said it could not. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Matthew 7:18. The lifestyle of the homosexual couple would do far more harm to a boy if he was taught to accept it than years of shuffling around in foster homes. The lesser of two evils won this bout. Not forgetting that Law and Order is after all only fiction it is the message that we are addressing here and not the program itself. That men can become proficient in choosing between the lesser of two evils was known to the apostle James who saidAre ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts. James 2:4. How many parents today have boasted that even though there may not be much in their childrens behavior that is redeemable at least they dont do drugs? This is the lesser of two evils magnified or perhaps even glorified. Where will it end? Is beating people up OK as long as we dont kill them? Is robbery OK as long as we are not armed? Is stealing watermelons OK as long as we know they have not been sprayed with a toxic substance? This is just one example of a dangerous trend in America that leaves our children with only the choice of the lesser of two evils. This is no choice at all. Rev Bresciani has written many articles over the past thirty years in such periodicals as Guideposts and Catholic Digest. He is the author of two books available on Amazon.com, Alibris, Barnes and Noble and many other places. Rev Bresciani wrote Hook Line and Sinker or what has Your Church Been Teaching You, publisher, PublishAmerica of Baltimore MD. He also wrote a book published by Xulon Press entitled An American Prophet and His Message, Questions and Answers on the Second Coming of Christ. His book is now being heralded as the clearest book on the subject of the second coming of Christ since Hal Lindsey’s “Late Great Planet Earth” Rev Brescianis website is,http://americanprophet.org. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Bresciani http://EzineArticles.com/?American-Morality—A-Study-in-the-Lesser-of-Two-Evils&id=216293 bad credit score loan payday loans 30 min or less borrow money overseas lenders mortgage lenders specializing with bad credit

Get Onto The Playing Field of Love

Sunday, June 15th, 2008

By Jaci Rae Getting onto the FieldShedding a Little Light on theComplex World of Male - Female Relationships: Why we are the Way We are. So you’ve made it into the stadium and you are now stepping onto the playing field for your first day of practice with the Dallas Cowboys. Nervous excitement courses through your veins as the coach talks about the various formations he is going to run the team through and begins to discuss the different play calls and strategies he will be using during this season’s games. While much of what the coach talks about initially lies within the realm of football common sense and comes easily to you, there are a few nuances in the game plan that you will be unfamiliar with. Also, some of the plays are new to you and could cause complications and confusion in the season ahead if you don’t understand them. A team’s language will guide you in how to interact and communicate with your teammates on the playing field. This language that each player must learn is full of individual components, called the “plays.” For each “play,” there is a “plan.” Each of these “plays” and “plans” has been specially formulated through years of research and scientific study, producing entire systems of proven techniques that can make winners out of the players and teams. Once the methods were proven effective, they were gathered together and worked into a playbook for each team to base its “plays” and “plans” on. It is that playbook that each teammate must learn in order to be part of the winning team. This process is much the same as that of the “plays” and “plans” of a relationship. You need to read the manual, learn from those who are already where you want to be in their relationships and listen actively to your partner in order to learn how to speak their language. Once you learn this language, you can enter the game confidently and achieve victory! A woman’s perception of her relationship, as well as the language she uses within a relationship may seem very complicated, and sometimes confusing. You may find particular things in her language syntax that are hard to understand and certainly difficult to interpret! And as if that weren’t enough, many women have a tendency to turn over and over in their heads most of what is said to them, finding more than what may actually be there. While men tend to go with the flow without over-analyzing things, women try to find out what’s behind the words they see and hear when dealing with their loved ones. This process is intuitively part of their naturally protective circuitry, helping them emotionally guard themselves and their loved ones. Have you ever heard the statement, “You don’t want to mess with Mother Bear?” This applies here because women are built as nurturers and maintain a natural curiosity about their environment, in order to help them protect themselves and those they love from perceived dangers. This natural curiosity triggers what I like to call the “need to know” gene. Women have the “need to know” or to discover all the “information” about their surroundings and then make judgment calls as to any dangers that may affect those they love. This of course, can lead to any number of natural responses to the perceived dangers of their surroundings and an inherent desire to analyze all causes and effects. Because curiosity (analyzing) is a natural response for women, it tends to bleed over into other areas of their lives, namely their relationships. In addition to analyzing most of what is said to them, women may often have hidden meaning in what they say, even if they don’t intend to put it there. Men are not as complicated (in a good way) with their spoken language. What men say is most often what they mean. So, why is it that so many women seem to include hidden messages behind their words? In the same way that women tend to over-analyze things, sometimes they also include hidden meaning in their spoken words. The reasons for this can be partially found by looking at the traditional upbringing and social history of women. Parents and other adults teach women, at a very early age, that they need to be strong, confident and know what they want. They are also told that they need to be assertive and independent in order to succeed at fulfilling their dreams and desires for their future. In reality, though, oftentimes the media image of a woman is much different. Society in general, sees images of successful women on television and in the movies that are more demure and non-aggressive, but still get what they need and desire. The woman on television or in the media, who ends up with the man of her dreams, may have played it “coy,” playing off on her seeming “need” for the man. The media image presented is often in direct conflict with the way that a woman may have been raised. Because of these two conflicting images, women have now received mixed messages and are subjected to confusing images about the way they should behave in society. On top of this, women see the men around them as being intrigued and often fascinated by the media image of a woman, an image that may not always interconnect with the ideals and values that they, as women, were brought up with. Because of this, women may be unsure how to present themselves and may seek to bring forward aspects of both images at the same time. As a result, they may confuse the two images, hiding their true feelings and thoughts deep within their words, all the while struggling to achieve the final goal of communicating their needs or “message” to those that participate in their lives. Our environment has a great deal to do with how we relate and react to each other as well as how we communicate with other people. Another huge factor in our character make-up is the individual chemistry that everyone is born with. While much has been said about how different the sexes are, how much do we actually know? The facts show that men and women are conceived equally in terms of their overall intelligence. However, somewhere between the twelfth and fourteenth weeks of pregnancy, there is a testosterone wash that flows over the brain of a male baby. i This wash does not take place during the formation of a female baby. Let’s take a look at how the brain works and try to understand why this is so important. Testosterone is one of the main chemicals that enable the brain to manufacture and create serotonin, which is an important neurotransmitter in the brain, causing certain nerve cells in the brain to activate and become livelier. Serotonin can also act as an inhibitor. Most neurotransmitters can act as both an exciter and an inhibitor. Serotonin affects the brain’s interior, known as the ganglia. The ganglia are the network of the brain, which is divided into two cells, the L cell and the R cell. Scientists believe that one of these cells makes serotonin and the other produces dopamine. Dopamine is “a monoamine neurotransmitter formed in the brain and is essential to the normal functioning of the central nervous system. ii” Dopamine acts as an inhibitor in the ganglia, thereby causing a calming effect and dampening activity. It is believed that during the testosterone wash, a balance between the L cells and the R cells are set, determining the amount of serotonin and dopamine that the brain’s network will use. This also determines how spatially or temporally aware a person is, with men being born more spatially aware and women more temporally aware. A person who is spatially aware is generally a left-brain individual and someone who is temporally aware, is generally a right-brain individual. The word “spatial” is defined as “relating to space. iii” As men are generally more spatially aware, they tend to be better at judging distances, which comes in handy during parallel parking! The word “temporal,” meanwhile, is defined as being “of or limited by time. iv This may explain why women seem to be able to associate time and events without much difficulty. You know what I am talking about here men, that little thing that really bothers men about women — she remembers everything she thinks you have done wrong and when you did it! I believe this is due in part because of a woman’s propensity for temporal awareness. Because of the testosterone wash, men tend to be more “left- brain” oriented and women rely more readily on the “right-brain.” “Left-brain” individuals tend to be more interested in facts, inclined to logic and reason. They are more motivated in providing for the home and usually more interested in becoming engineers, mathematicians and scientist. These are just a few career choices that a “left-brain” individual might make. A “right-brain” individual tends to be better at, and more interested in, developing relationships and dealing with emotional issues. They are more inclined to emotions and passions and are generally more motivated by investing in the relationships of the home. Their career choices tend to put them in the roles of caregivers or into jobs where they can use their artistic, investigative and research abilities. This is in contrast to the general tendencies of “left-brained” individual. Again, a clearer picture begins to be revealed when we look at the differences between the sexes in this light. Most men might find a leisurely reading of Popular Mechanics or Programmer’s Security Desk Reference fundamentally more interesting than reading Ladies Home Journal or Parent Child Magazine, while women are just the opposite. This is simply a matter of one’s interest and NOT an intellectual issue, as both men and women can be motivated for various reasons to read on all the subjects mentioned. Remember that both sexes are born equally in terms of intelligence. My uncle gave me a funny example the other day of how men see women’s thought patterns when it comes to making decisions. I thought that this insight was a great example of men conquering and women looking for sequence and order before they tackle the matter at hand. Here’s what he had to say: “Men rule by action. Women rule by committee. For example: Man sees hill, climbs hill. Woman sees hill, forms discussion group, sets up hill climbing committee, votes for hill climbing team, schedules climb date, checks rain fall charts, does studies to locate best path, sends out scouts, and much, much, much, much later… finally climbs the hill.” The facts stated thus far pertain only to our pre-disposition at birth. The things we experience each day, the lessons that we are taught as we move through our daily lives and the personal choices we make along the way will also be determining factors in how “left-brain” or “right-brain” we become. These factors will also directly affect our communication with and relationship to others. The good news is that since each of us has the freedom to make personal choices, we can learn to hear and understand each other’s language when we step onto the playing field to begin practice! “Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands.” Psalms 119:73 Once you step up and onto the playing field, however, you will need to hear exactly what the coach has to say during practice if you want to make it to your first game. Copyright 2005 Jaci Rae and North Shore Records, Inc. For more information about Winning Points With The Woman In Your Life One Touchdown at a Time, go to: www.winningpoints.net or simonsays.com Jaci Rae is the #1 Best Selling author of Winning Points with the Woman in Your Life One Touchdown at a Time ISBN 0974622907 and The Indie Guide To Music, Marketing and Money ISBN 978-0-9746229-4-1 as well as the host of the Jaci Rae show. Dubbed by the media as “Racy Jaci” because of her quick wit and “The Rae of Hope,” for her powerful insight, please make sure to check her out at: http://www.jacirae.com To hear Jacis popular show, with some of the top behind the scenes as well as famous bands go to: http://www.jacirae.com click on the weekly show link. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jaci_Rae http://EzineArticles.com/?Get-Onto-The-Playing-Field-of-Love&id=106778 refinancing auto loans and personal loans often pay day loans ontario no fax no teletrak no verify no dp bureau cash loan best payday loans

Five Types of Marriages - Which Group Are You In?

Saturday, June 7th, 2008

By Beth Young There are a variety of different marriage “groups” out there. As you discover your group, you will be better able to determine if it’s the group you want to be in for the rest of your life, or if some adjustments are in order. Convenience Marriage When you got married, you were genuinely in love with your spouse. However, as the years rolled by and your time was taken up with jobs, children and other activities, you grew apart. Now you are in a marriage of convenience. You rarely see each other, and that’s okay, but you do wish you shared more than just the expenses of a household. Just as it took time to grow apart, it will take time to grow back together. Fear not, all is not lost if you are willing to put forth the effort. Start slowly by finding time to spend with each other and rediscover how wonderful your spouse really is. Take an interest in some of the things that interest your spouse, find some common interests to develop with each other; just start spending time together. Look for opportunities to plan a special activity or date that will help you get reacquainted. Abusive Marriage An abusive marriage is one where you are physically or emotionally abuse by your spouse. In many cases, this is a learned behavior from their childhood. Therefore, it can be unlearned with a lot of counseling and love. No one should be led to believe that they belong in this group, everyone deserves a non-abusive marriage relationship. Work on getting help for you and the abuser. If they are unwilling, then you need to get help dealing with the situation. It’s important to realize that if the abuse continues, then your only choice may be to leave the relationship. Status Marriage “Didn’t she marry well?” was heard by many of the guests at your wedding when you have a marriage for status. Yes, it’s important to marry a man that will provide for your needs. However, if you marry someone strictly for money or status and have nothing else in common…you’ll soon find that money isn’t everything. What do you do if you fall in this group? It’s never too late to discover things about your spouse that will endear your heart. Try to look for the good things your spouse does for your and your children. Thank them for those good things and encourage them to give of their time and not just things. Take time to get to know your spouse and develop a relationship that is based on deeper things. Invisible Spouse Marriage The invisible spouse marriage is one where you or your spouse are so busy with either work or outside activities, that you never see each other except passing at the front door…if that. There are some jobs that require a lot of time away from family. There are also people who give more time and effort to their job than their family. This may be due to a false sense of loyalty to their employer or their desire to be the number one guy/gal at work. Additionally, there are many great causes out there to affiliate your time and talents with. However, if it is as the expense of your spouse and family, then it’s too great a cost. Whatever the reason for your invisible marriage, it’s time to stop and figure out how to reduce your outside time and increase your together time. At first it will seem like a great sacrifice. Yet as you work together to figure out what things to streamline and what things will help grow your marriage, you’ll be surprised at the joy that will return to your relationship. Enduring Marriage These are the marriages that we all dream of, the ones where you see a sweet older couple hobbling down the sidewalk hand in hand and smiling. These marriages don’t happen by accident, they happen by positive, daily, consistent effort. It takes work to have an enduring marriage. A marriage that will endure financial hardship, illness, troubled children, heart breaks and more is enduring because the couple gets through all these difficult times by helping each other through them. Rather than saying, “Why me?”, they say, “Why not me?” and work together to get through the current challenge. They have the ability to get through these difficult times because the have built up a storehouse of happy memories, experiences and they trust each other to the end. They have laughed together, cried together, played together and worked together. They know they can always count on each other and that is what makes and enduring marriage endure. This marriage is possible for each one of us, if we’re willing to put forth the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly effort. So which group are you in…and do you want to stay there? It’s never too late to change groups…it just takes love, courage and a willingness to try. Beth Young is the Senior Editor of the leading marriage advise web site, MarriageAdvise.com. To download your free ebook titled, “101 Marriage Secrets” visit http://www.MarrigeAdvice.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beth_Young http://EzineArticles.com/?Five-Types-of-Marriages—Which-Group-Are-You-In?&id=89272 unsecure loans personal money tree loans hard money start up business loans bankruptcy ok low cost payday loans

Chinese Medicine

Sunday, June 1st, 2008

By CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd Find Chinese Medicine Schools in the United States and Canada. Students, who are seeking an alternative education and would like to gain knowledge and skills to become part of the lucrative field of Chinese medicine, may opt to enroll in one of many Chinese medicine schools. Students enrolled in Chinese medicine schools will learn that Chinese medicine is over 2000 years old, and is an ancient form of medicine. Consisting of acupuncture, moxibustion (moxibustion - using material made up of “moxa-wool,” in a form of a cone or stick; moxibustion is used to treat and prevent disease by applying heat to pints or certain locations of the human body), herbal medicine, acupressure, cupping, therapeutic exercise and nutrition; traditional Chinese medicine schools are notated by their principle teachings of internal balance and harmony, or “chi,” (life force) regulation through energy channels. In essence, Chinese medicine schools are widely known for their training in acupuncture techniques and herbology. Founded on the Yin and Yang principle, the five elements and Zang Fu, Chinese medicine schools teach evolutional treatments in modern Western civilization. Chinese medicine schools also instruct students in the uses of Qi Gong and Tai Qi Chuan in its methodology. Incorporating supplemental elements in a nutritious diet such as vitamins, minerals, herbs and other supplements are fundamental treatments taught in Chinese medicine schools as well. Overall, Chinese medicine schools extend knowledge and clinical experience to future practitioners, whereby learned methods can be applied to treat allergies, arthritis pain, weight control, quitting smoking, back injury pain, musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, stress, TMJ and PMS; among others. If you are interested in obtaining more information about Chinese medicine and its benefits, feel free to peruse our business member directory for accredited, Chinese medicine practitioners today or, if you’re interested in becoming a Chinese medicine practitioner, Holistic Junction offers a vast array of Chinese medicine schools from which you may choose to enroll. Take the leap and obtain a career in Chinese medicine today! Find your dream job! Let education within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you. Chinese Medicine Copyright 2007 The CollegeBound Network All Rights Reserved NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active. Resource Box: CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd - Freelance Writer and Web Consultant for HolisticJunction.com, in association with CollegeSurfing.com - Educational Resources for Healing Arts Schools, Chinese Medicine Schools, and other Alternative Medicine Schools. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=CarolAnn_Bailey-Lloyd http://EzineArticles.com/?Chinese-Medicine&id=456232 project pay day payday advance lender chex sys payday loans for self employed instant decision personal loans