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Market segmentation is widely defined as being a complex process consisting in two main phases:

- identification of broad, large markets

- segmentation of these markets in order to select the most appropriate target markets and develop Marketing mixes accordingly.

Everyone within the Marketing world knows and speaks of segmentation yet not many truly understand its underlying mechanics, thus failure is just around the corner. What causes this? It has been documented that most marketers fail the segmentation exam and start with a narrow mind and a bunch of misconceptions such as “all teenagers are rebels”, “all elderly women buy the same cosmetics brands” and so on. There are many dimensions to be considered, and uncovering them is certainly an exercise of creativity.

The most widely employed model of market segmentation comprises 7 steps, each of them designed to encourage the marketer to come with a creative approach.

STEP 1: Identify and name the broad market

You have to have figured out by this moment what broad market your business aims at. If your company is already on a market, this can be a starting point; more options are available for a new business but resources would normally be a little limited.

The biggest challenge is to find the right balance for your business: use your experience, knowledge and common sense to estimate if the market you have just identified earlier is not too narrow or too broad for you.

STEP 2: Identify and make an inventory of potential customers’ needs

This step pushes the creativity challenge even farther, since it can be compared to a brainstorming session.

What you have to figure out is what needs the consumers from the broad market identified earlier might have. The more possible needs you can come up with, the better.

Got yourself stuck in this stage of segmentation? Try to put yourself into the shoes of your potential customers: why would they buy your product, what could possibly trigger a buying decision? Answering these questions can help you list most needs of potential customers on a given product market.

STEP 3: Formulate narrower markets

McCarthy and Perreault suggest forming sub-markets around what you would call your “typical customer”, then aggregate similar people into this segment, on the condition to be able to satisfy their needs using the same Marketing mix.

Start building a column with dimensions of the major need you try to cover: this will make it easier for you to decide if a given person should be included in the first segment or you should form a new segment. Also create a list of people-related features, demographics included, for each narrow market you form – a further step will ask you to name them.

There is no exact formula on how to form narrow markets: use your best judgement and experience. Do not avoid asking opinions even from non-Marketing professionals, as different people can have different opinions and you can usually count on at least those items most people agree on.

STEP 4: Identify the determining dimensions

Carefully review the list resulted form the previous step. You should have by now a list of need dimensions for each market segment: try to identify those that carry a determining power.

Reviewing the needs and attitudes of those you included within each market segment can help you figure out the determining dimensions.

STEP 5: Name possible segment markets

You have identified the determining dimensions of your market segments, now review them one by one and give them an appropriate name.

A good way of naming these markets is to rely on the most important determining dimension.

STEP 6: Evaluate the behavior of market segments

Once you are done naming each market segment, allow time to consider what other aspects you know about them. It is important for a marketer to understand market behavior and what triggers it. You might notice that, while most segments have similar needs, they’re still different needs: understanding the difference and acting upon it is the key to achieve success using competitive offerings.

STEP 7: Estimate the size of each market segment

Each segment identified, named and studied during the previous stages should finally be given an estimate size, even if, for lack of data, it is only a rough estimate.

Estimates of market segments will come in handy later, by offering a support for sales forecasts and help plan the Marketing mix: the more data we can gather at this moment, the easier further planning and strategy will be.

These were the steps to segment a market, briefly presented. If performed correctly and thoroughly, you should now be able to have a glimpse of how to build Marketing mixes for each market segment.

This 7 steps approach to market segmentation is very simple and practical and works for most marketers. However, if you are curious about other methods and want to experiment, you should take a look at computer-aided techniques, such as clustering and positioning.

Otilia Otlacan is a young certified professional with expertise in e-Marketing and e-Business, currently working as independent consultant and e-publisher. She developed and teach her own online course in Principles of e-Marketing and is also a volunteer Economics teacher. Contact Otilia through TeaWithEdge.com, her e-Marketing articles and resources portal.

Audio PHP Program is amazingly effective as it simply helps your Site to convert better. One thing is for sure – you must always be unique on the web. Learn how it works, take 2 minutes to read this article.

Short background

The following advanced Audio PHP Program enables you to quickly convert music/audio file(s) to Web-Format. It works fast and requires very minimal user intervention. You provide it with the requested files, then decide on which player-style you like the most, and that’s it. By the time it completes the job you get a small code that needs to be embedded onto your desired webpage.

Just for you to know, the following process generates a ‘streaming webaudio’ – it doesn’t have to be fully downloaded in order to start playing it.

We can easily identify the potential here and the fact that it provides incredible opportunities for any webmarketer; for example: adding your voice right where customers complete the final steps of the order process (can dramatically decrease the number of last minute dropouts) or the ability to ‘smash’ the silence of the world-wide-web and make WebPages come alive.

Tip to go

Before you make your first steps while using this technology: speak fluently and with confidence – your listeners must feel it in your voice. One other thing: there are various complicated and expensive solutions on the net’, begin with the small ones – in most cases you won’t need more than that.

Summary

If you really want to boost the success of your online business, no doubt that Audio PHP Program is one of these solutions that you should seriously consider. Take a moment and imagine what would have happened if your WebPages could suddenly “speak”. Now is the time to take action – it is recommended to use it so you could instantly evaluate the wide range of benefits that it provides.

Learn how PHP Audio Program easily enables you to convert, upload, and play streaming audios that generate more traffic and increase your Website’s conversions.

Visit: http://www.AudioInWebsite.com

According to a recent pasta survey taken among Italian chefs and experts – these are the 7 most common mistakes most people make when cooking pasta…

1. Not using a large enough cooking pot

This is probably the most common “pasta cooking” mistake. The very minimum that the experts recommend is four quarts of water for one pound of pasta. But Italian chefs and pasta experts use more than that; between five and six quarts of water for each pound of pasta. This gets the very best results.

Why is all that water necessary? Because pasta needs enough space to move around in order to cook properly. Not using enough water causes the pasta to stick to the side of the pan, which makes it thick, sticky and unpleasant. When you use enough water you will definitely notice the difference in the taste and texture.

2. Adding oil to the cooking pot

It is hard to determine just where this idea came from originally but 44 per cent of Americans say they add olive or other oil to the cooking water. I suspect the idea is that the oil will stop the pasta from sticking together. But what it actually does is make the pasta too slick for any sauce to stay on it properly. If you have used enough water and remember to stir your pasta regularly as it is cooking, it will not stick together. Therefore – no need to add oil.

3. Not adding salt to the water

Because we are constantly warned about the perils of salt in our diet, many cooks will add only a tiny pinch of salt or none at all, to the cooking water. This is a mistake. Pasta needs plenty of salt because salt “roughs up” the surface and keeps it from becoming slimy. Add about a teaspoon of salt per each gallon of water. This seems like a lot but every good Italian chef cooks it this way and it really does make a difference. And here’s the good news: The pasta does not absorb salt in the same way that vegetables or potatoes do, so you will not be eating all the salt that you use in the cooking water.

The exception to the ‘add plenty of salt’ rule is when cooking fresh pasta, which does not need salted water. The fact that it’s fresh negates the need for salt because fresh pasta has a different surface than dried pasta.

4. Adding the pasta to the water before the water has boiled

Pasta must be cooked in boiling water from the start. Add the pasta to the pot when the water has come to a full rolling boil. It will stop boiling when you add the pasta so make sure you get the water boiling again as quickly as possible. To add pasta to cold water and then heat up the water is a sure guarantee pasta will not cook properly.

5. Not stirring the pasta once it is cooking

Pasta needs to be stirred while it is cooking. This stops it sticking together (especially spaghetti and linguine). When pasta doesn’t stick together it all cooks consistently.

6. Overcooking the pasta

Different people will cook the same pasta for as much as five minutes difference and each will claim they have cooked their pasta perfectly. But, while accepting that taste is a subjective thing, there are people who undercook their pasta and people who overcook their pasta. Undercooking is less common because undercooked pasta is crunchy and obviously difficult to chew. Overcooked pasta (much more common) is limp, loses its shape easily, and won’t hold a sauce well. Unfortunately, overcooked pasta is not salvageable so you’ll have to throw it away and start again.

The key to cooking pasta well is to keep testing it as you cook it. There will be a guide cooking time on the packet so about a minute before that time is up, start testing the pasta. It is ready when it is slightly firm to the bite – a state the Italians call “al dente” (firm but not crunchy). At the al dente stage, turn off the heat and drain the pasta in a colander. Shake the pasta to get rid of all excess water (be especially careful to do this if they are pasta shapes which catch pockets of hot water) and serve immediately. The pasta continues to cook while it’s draining it in the colander, so when you are testing, remember that what you eat will be cooked for a minute or two longer than what you’re testing in the pan.

7. Rinsing the pasta after cooking

51 per cent of Americans say they rinse their pasta immediately after cooking. This ruins good pasta. When pasta reaches the al dente stage it means thereare just the right amount of starches on the surface to absorb the sauce you will serve with it, which is where pasta gets its entire flavor. If you rinse, you take away these important starches.

There are two exceptions. First – if you’re cooking for a pasta salad, the pasta does need to be rinsed because you don’t want the pasta to be sticky if it’s being used in a salad. After rinsing with boiling water then rinse again with cold water to stop the cooking process.

The second exception is if you have cooked your pasta in too small a pan and the water is cloudy and starchy. In that case it may be worth rinsing the pasta with boiling water to remove these starches.

By stepping out of your comfortable cooking routine and implementing these tips, you will be cooking pasta correctly. The difference is substantial. I promise you that your pasta will be cooked to perfection and will taste delicious with your favorite sauce.

Happy cooking!

Patti Mays is an expert cook who’s all about delicious, simple, affordable foods. Her down-to-earth website features tried & true recipes that are easy to make; helpful tools & gadgets, (most of which can be ordered on the site) great ideas, and tips. She has developed a large following because of her unpretentious style and humorous approach to life. Patti and her husband live in Boise, Idaho.

http://www.GreatCookingIdeas.Com

Lights! Camera! Action!

Now with our exclusive movie party theme, your birthday child can star in their own movie!

That’s right, with fun kid birthday parties one-of-a-kind movie making adventure, you can turn your child’s birthday party into a movie making party they’ll never forget.

Imagine how excited your birthday child will be when they get to tell all their party guests that everyone is going to be in a movie… Wow! This is going to be super fun.

“The Great Birthday Treasure Hunt” is an original 3 minute mini-movie script exclusively from Fun Kid Birthday Parties and it’s yours absolutely FREE.

And when you order your free movie script we’ll even send you our easy to follow tips on how to put together this super fun one-of-a-kind movie party theme that everyone will love… And you’ll have a great time too!

Movie Party Theme

Everyone has dreamed of starring in a movie… And now your birthday child can star in “The Great Birthday Treasure Hunt” a fun 3 minute movie production.

Movie Party Invitations

Make your invitations into a “Movie Star Contract.” You might write something like this:

Movie Star Contract

“You’re so talented and glamorous that (your family name) Productions would like for you to sign this fun contract to appear in our latest blockbuster movie production titled “The Great Birthday Treasure Hunt.”

We’re celebrating (first and last name of birthday child)’s birthday on (day and date of the party) at our (your family name) Productions movie studios from (start time and end time of your party).

(First and last name of birthday child) will be starring in our movie adventure and wants you to be one of the movie’s co-stars.

“The Great Birthday Treasure Hunt” will be filmed on location in and around our movie studio.

Our movie party theme will include time for autographs, movie games and activities, movie screenings and our studio commissary will be providing delicious movie production treats for our entire cast.

Please sign this Movie Star Contract and call your agent (name of agent to ask for) at (telephone number) to RSVP for your movie star roll in our original movie production.”

The (family name) Productions movie studio is located at (address).

Come dressed as your favorite movie character. (or you can have everyone show up in whatever costume you’d like, western, The Incredibles, Princess, fashion, or whatever theme you want).

Movie Party Theme Decorations

Your decorations can include a director’s chair, a megaphone, scene slate, light cut outs, camera cut outs, studio signs like “Hot Set”. “Birthday Movie Set”, “Hollywood Studio”. .

Movie Party Theme Games And Activities

You can make your movie production your entire party or you can set up some movie related activities and games.

Movie Party Theme, Screen Your Dailies

After you shoot the scenes for your movie, “The Great Birthday Treasure Hunt”, you can screen the raw unedited footage. Your guest will love seeing everything, including all the fun out-takes and bloopers.

Movie Party Theme, Snacks And Refreshments

Movie sets always have lots of snack food nearby for all the actors and crew… Favorites include M & M candies, Gummy Bears, nuts, fruit slices, veggie slices, chips and dips and any other finger snacks your birthday child might like.

Have fun and put a sign on your table that reads “Studio Commissary”.

Kid Movie Party World Premiere

One of the fun things about shooting a movie as a special birthday party is that you can have a second party as well. We’ve done this and everyone loved it!

Once your movie is edited, you’ll want to have your movies “World Premiere.”

Print out some movie ticket invitations, roll out a red carpet, invite the “paparazzi” (photographers) to snap pictures and video as your stars arrive.

Have some popcorn, screen your movie!

Follow your movie’s world premiere with an Academy Awards style party. Hand out awards (special best actor certificates) to all your actors! And let everyone make an acceptance speech. This is a lot of fun. This will be a movie premiere that everyone will remember!

To get you started on this unique, one-of-a-kind movie making adventure, Fun Kid Birthday Parties will send you a copy of our 3 minute movie script, “The Great Birthday Treasure Hunt” absolutely free. And we’ll include our easy to follow tips on how to put together this fun movie production for your birthday child.

To get your free kids movie party script visit us at Fun-Kid-Birthday-Parties.com and fill out the easy form at the bottom of the page.

Mike Dougherty is a movie and television writer, producer, director, video editor and regional Emmy award winning videographer. Most recently as a Hollywood screenwriter “the Long Ride Home” a western movie starring Randy Travis is based on Mike Dougherty’s short script. To get your free kids movie script, visit http://fun-kid-birthday-parties.com/kid-movie-party-theme.html right now

Getting links from other blog owners that already have pages indexed by the major search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN has become one of the most effective methods for building quality traffic. But finding blogs that have an adequate Google Pagerank is even tougher as many of these blog owners don’t wish to swap links with new blog owners for fear of loosing their Google Pagerank or seeing a decrease in their pr.

So how does new bloggers obtain quality links, and get their blogs indexed quickly?

Many bloggers have found blog hopping works quiet well, or taking part in blog memes or submitting your blog to blog directories work very well for creating traffic and readership over time, but where does a new blog owner begin what’s the most effective way?

All the above!

There is no secret technique to success, it takes a little bit of work but if done effectively it’s well worth it in the end.

Start by Blog Hopping or Searching for related blogs

Blogger.com has a unique feature included in their navbar that’s displayed at the top of each blog hosted with Blogger.com, that allows visitors to randomly select the next blog, or search for other blogs that may interest you!

This is referred to as blog hopping, by randomly searching or jumping from one blog to another blog looking for common interest articles that you can relate too and comment on. While commenting on individual blogs you have the opportunity to leave your blog URL. But don’t become a spammer just to get your blog URL listed, leave positive comments and relative ones that relate to the article in question.

As most bloggers will simply delete comments that where left in bad taste or resemble anything that looks like spam or self promotional. Bloggers are smarter then you think and the objective here is to create backlinks and readership by socializing with other bloggers with the same common interest you share. The last thing you want to do is come off looking like a spammer.

Blog Memes

Another activity popular with bloggers is ‘Blog Memes,’ as there fun little activities that bloggers have created to help promote or interact with other bloggers. Many of these popular memes can be found by using your favorite search engine.

Many of the popular memes can be found quiet easily by searching blog memes, Thursday 13, Wordless Wednesday and Photo Hunters just to name a few.

Once you have created a readership, you may wish to try and create your own memes or blog activity for other bloggers to interact and take part in, as bloggers especially like to network together as a community. Their approach to the web is more sociable than webmasters who deal with clients, coding issues or other business related issues.

Bloggers are a new unique breed of webmaster and SEO experts, as they have found dozens of effective ways to maximize their blog popularity.

So how does a new blogger get quality backlinks?

Bloggers like webmasters are always looking for quality links, blogs with good search engine positioning, quality content and have a decent Google Pagerank.

This is why new bloggers especially need to take a very active part in updating and spending time creating content for their blogs. Posting often and insuring your content has something that other bloggers can relate too, is the key to any new blog owner’s success. But keep in mind that you want to create interaction with your readers. Your articles should leave the opportunity for bloggers to leave feedback about your articles good or bad.

If you provide quality content other bloggers are more likely to link back to you!

Be sure to ping your blog after every update using Technorati.com and Pingoat.com, and keep posting regularly — the minimum you should post is three times a week, remember search engines love content as any SEO expert will tell you – content is king.

Host your blog on your own domain rather than a free service. WordPress is the most commonly used free blogging software and, it’s free and comes with many key features to ensure your success.

It’s also easy to install if your web host offers Fantastico, and can be installed with minimal knowledge. But if your not to savvy with scripts and web related programs I recommend http://www.Visionthishosting.com for your blog hosting needs as they offer WordPress installed with all Blog hosting plans at affordable rates that start at $2.99 a month and they will install and configure your WordPress Blog for FREE with all blog hosting plans to help you get started with your blogging experience!

Commenting on Blogs

Take time when commenting on other blogs that interest you, then simply let the blog owner know that you enjoyed their topic and may refer to it in your next blog post. This step could be the beginning of a quality link exchange that’s 100% effective.

Blog Directories

The most important – submit your blog to blog directories. Now there are 1000′s of blog directories online so rather then list all of them I’ll recommend my favorite “Blogging Fusion Blog Directory“. Like most blog directories they have become the Web2.0 structure for blogs that wish to get quality backlinks, readership and search engine visibility.

It’s no secret that search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN index and frequently crawl these types of directories often. Good blog directories also offer the ability for bloggers to include their RSS feed, creating deep inbound links insuring your blog content is crawled and indexed quickly. Blogging Fusion Blog Directory is just one of these directories that offer FREE and Paid submission!

Getting quality links is the well known successor for many bloggers and SEO experts. As major search engine like Google that uses algorithms to rely on and determine which links are quality backlinks to determine Pagerank or relevancy for search engine positioning is very important.

When submitting to blog directories, be sure to select a category that best suites your blogs topic or affiliation. Blog directories are also another great way to search for link partners related to your genre and creating partnerships.

Follow these simple methods and you will be off to a great start with creating your own social network of friends among the blogasphere!

This article may be reprinted freely as long as the author byline and links stay active.

About the Author:
Shawn DesRochers is the CEO of a successful SEO & Web Design Support Forum http://www.Invision-Graphics.com. He also helps administrate on of the most popular Blogger support forums online at http://www.bloggertalk.net where bloggers can get answers to their current questions.

This alphabet lists 26 key benefits and best practices of using a real estate blog. Not all of these entries will apply to every individual blogging scenario, but they all apply to real estate blogs in general. So you are bound to find something useful here that you’ve never considered before.

Here you have them, real estate blog benefits and best practices … from A to Z.

Authoritative

Everyone knows you have to understand a subject well in order to write about it or explain it to others. When agents blog about the real estate scene in their cities or towns, they position themselves as authorities on the subject. In this way, a real estate blog can be a useful tool for positioning, branding and differentiation.

Believable

If used properly, a real estate blog can make the agent (or company) behind it more believable. And let’s face it … in the post-Enron, low-trust world of corporate skepticism, a little believability can go a long way. Use your real estate blog to communicate openly and honestly with your audience. Lose the fluff and the jargon. Be candid and sincere. And speaking of being candid…

Candid

It’s a mistake to treat your real estate blog as “Website, Part 2.” Blogs are easy to publish, so you can publish to them more frequently. In this way, a real estate blog can become an ongoing dialogue between you and your audience (potential clients). To get the most out of this dialogue, and to achieve the believability mentioned above, a real estate blog should take on the candid, heartfelt voice of the author.

Direct

Real estate blogs are direct-to-reader / direct-to-consumer. You simply type your message, click the “Publish” button, and your message becomes instantly viewable online. Unlike other forms of business communication, there are no journalists or editors to put their own spin on things. Your message goes from you, directly onto your blog, and directly to your audience.

Enthusiastic

In a perfect world, only the truly enthusiastic bloggers would publish real estate blogs. But this is not the case, and as a result there’s a lot of “half-hearted” blogs online today. Half-hearted commentary stands out like a purple elephant in the blogosphere. This kind of blogging actually does more harm than good. On the other hand, enthusiasm comes across in blog posts — but enthusiasm is both positive and contagious.

Flexible

The number of ways you can use your real estate blog is limited only by your imagination and energy. Maybe your blog will be a source for local real estate news. You can do that. Or maybe your blog will cater to a certain niche, such as condo buyers or home sellers. You can do that too. With the versatile publishing capabilities of most blogging programs, you can set up your blog to support any business, marketing or communication objective.

Google-friendly

A real estate blog can help you increase your online visibility in several ways. For one thing, a blog can help you expand your website with new content, easily and efficiently. Blog daily for a year, and you’ll have 365 new pages of content. And search engines love topical content. A real estate blog is also more “social” than a regular website, so with time and effort your blog can acquire links from other blogs. This “link popularity,” as it’s known, can do wonders for search engine ranking.

Happening

Generally speaking, real estate blogs are much more “happening” than their website counterparts. Blogs are easier to update than regular websites, which is important in the ever-changing world of real estate, interest rates, etc. When you update your blog often with quality content, it becomes an active resource that people are more inclined to read, revisit and recommend.

Informative

When you keep people in your area informed about the local real estate scene, you increase the usefulness of your real estate blog. You also increase the likelihood of future business from those readers, not to mention the likelihood they will recommend your blog to others. Blogging is a simple but effective way to keep people informed. Before you publish a new post, get in the habit of asking yourself, “How will this blog post help my readers?” If you can answer that, publish a way. If you can’t answer it, rethink the topic.

Jargon-free

In general, blogs are not the place for corporate speak or “fluff” content. This applies to the real estate blog as well. Write your blog in your own voice. Don’t try to impress people with your vocabulary. The best blogs convey quality information in a conversational style. This will increase your readership, the level of dialogue, and (ultimately) the blog’s profitability as a client-acquisition tool.

Knowledgeable

Dr. John Tuccillo, former Chief Economist for the NAR, recently said: “With the expansion of the number of Realtors, the level of competence has fallen to its lowest point ever.” If this general perception spreads to the public in general, it could cause real problems for real estate professionals. This is another area where a real estate blog can benefit you. Use your blog to show readers how knowledgeable you are on your subject. Just remember, some of your readers will know as much about the subject as you do. So check your facts before posting!

Lead-producing

You stand to gain a lot from the interaction and trust mentioned previously in this list. When you interact with your blog readers in a positive way, you have a much greater chance of turning them into clients. You can also configure your blog to allow reader comments, which is another way to generate leads and start a dialogue.

Manageable

Blogging programs simplify the web-publishing process to such a degree that anyone can do it, regardless of their web experience. In fact, a single individual could easily manage a large web presence if it were built on blogging technology. This is ideal for real estate agents who operate independently, without the benefit of an I.T. department.

Non-invasive

A well-written real estate blog will “pull” readers into the message, as opposed to pushing the message on the reader (like magazine ads). People can sign up for your blog in total privacy, either by using the blog’s RSS feed or an email subscription option (if you provide one). The readers come to the blog — it is not thrust upon them. As long as blogs in general adhere to this non-invasive, respectful approach, they will be held in higher esteem than other communication channels like email.

Operational

A real estate blog is more than a simple communication tool. It can serve operational roles as well. This could include internal collaboration (like an intranet) or outward instruction (like a home buying seminar online).

Purposeful

Before you publish your first blog post, you should determine the purpose of your real estate blog. Sure, you can always dive right in and figure out your purpose as you go. But your blog will be more effective (and easier to produce) if you have a purpose and plan ahead of time. Ask yourself, “What do I want to accomplish with my blog? Who is my ideal audience? What information would they find useful?”

Qualitative and Quantitative

When real estate blogging is done well, it has both a quantitative and qualitative affect. The quantity of content will increase your website’s usefulness and search engine visibility. The quality of content helps you position yourself as an expert and differentiate yourself from other agents in your area (see entry for “Knowledgeable” above).

Recyclable

Blog content can be reused for many purposes. For example, you could expand your blog posts into article-length and publish them online for additional exposure and web traffic.

Straight-shooting

This point is somewhat repetitive of ‘C’ for candid. Guilty as charged. But it’s worth repeating, so I’m repeating it. The most popular real estate blogs got to where they are partly by being straightforward. In this context, straightforward refers to both the design and the content of the blog. Real estate blogs that are “overly designed” tend to look more like websites than blogs. I truly believe this reduces their candidness and authenticity. The same goes for the blog’s content. Blog postings that are straightforward and candid will generate more interaction and “buzz” among readers.

Thoughtful

The best real estate blogs are thoughtful. I don’t mean thoughtful in the sense of “kind” — although kindness does go a long way on the Web — but thoughtful as in “full of thought.” Each time you publish a blog post, put some thought into the content. Make sure it (A) supports your overall blogging goals, (B) gives your readers useful information, and (C) reflects well upon you as a real estate professional.

Usable

When you first set up your blog, it will be straightforward and easy to use. The default settings of most blogging programs are designed this way for a reason. But some people feel the need to clutter up their blogs with all kind of nonsense, reducing the blog’s usability and readership in one swoop. Avoid this. Keep you blog clean and easy to read. Web readers and researches are skilled at hopping from site to site. They don’t need much of a reason to bail out on you, and they’ll do just that if your blog is hard to navigate.

Voluntary

You should blog because you want to, not because you think you have to. If you start a real estate blog just because everyone else is doing it, it will lack the heartfelt enthusiasm that’s a trademark of popular blogs. (See “E’ for enthusiastic above.)

Wise

Your real estate blog is the ideal place to share your wisdom about the industry. This will help you position yourself as an authority in your field (letter ‘A’ above) and foster the trust mentioned under the letter ‘T’ above. A “tip of the day” series is a prime example of this. It’s a great way to share your real estate wisdom, and it’s the kind of thing that will keep people coming back to your blog and recommending it to others.

Xstensible

Yes, I cheated with this letter. But real estate blogs are truly extensible (and you try to produce an adjective starting with ‘X’). Your blog can grow as your audience grows, or as your company grows. You can add additional authors, perhaps a colleague in the mortgage industry. You can add sections to cover additional topics. You can expand a blog however you need to support your objectives. And it doesn’t require an I.T. department to get it done. Blogging programs are designed to be extensible.

Yours

A real estate blog can have one author or several authors. I’ve seen popular blogs published by individual agents, as well as some published by teams of writers. But the blog has to belong to somebody. It should be yours, or his and hers, or all of yours. Somebody needs to own the blog. Otherwise, nobody will trust what it has to say.

Zippy

The dictionary defines zippy as “lively and full of energy.” These are great traits for a real estate blog. If you are passionate in the way you publish your blog, it will eventually connect with readers who are equally passionate about the subject matter. These are the kind of people who will promote your blog without being asked to do so! It goes something like this: “Hey, Barbara, you have to check out this real estate blog I’ve been reading lately. Let me send you the link…”

* You may republish this article online if you retain the author’s byline and the ACTIVE hyperlinks below. Copyright 2007, Brandon Cornett.

About the Author
Brandon Cornett is the author of a popular real estate blog that covers marketing-related topics. He is the author of several e-books on blogging and Internet marketing. Learn more at http://www.armingyourfarming.com

We have to admit, all of us have been on the to-don’ts list of fashion at least once in our lives. More than just putting together pieces of clothing and accessories and hoping that it pulls together, some people take fashion more seriously than you think. Creativity and attitude are insufficient when it comes to the fashion industry. Proper training from the top fashion universities has become a necessity in becoming a popular fashion designer.

Fashion universities know that the fashion industry is a competitive field. Designers often go back to school to take refresher courses as they don’t want to be left behind on the latest trends. The following then are tips to fashion designers on how to stay in fashion in the industry.

1. Be innovative

Fashion universities teach their students how to stay current. Fashion designers are trend-setters. Practically speaking, they are the ones who dictate what savvy people will be wearing in the next season. People follow fashion designers and it is the job of fashion universities to instill that trend-setting mindset to their students. Immersing yourself with fashion and being exposed to anything and everything can kick up your creativity level. Remember that clothing is supposed to be a way of expression which puts a heavy responsibility on the designers. People will be wearing your design which means that designers should remained challenged to always come up with new ideas to express oneself.

2. Fast-paced

The fashion industry is a fast-paced environment that requires constant innovative designs. Fashion universities can keep you up to date with the prevailing trends at a time, but by tomorrow, a brand new concept will be introduced. With technology, design software can also be used by not only speeding up the process of designing but also make use of techniques that cannot be instilled in pencil drawing. As the industry goes from season to season, fashion designers will always have to be a season ahead of everyone else. Fashion universities then keep students conscious of the shifting demands and opportunities of the fashion industry. Fashion designers should know how to think quickly and master their skills because something new has to be put on the store shelves for next season.

3. Broaden your options

There are hundreds of fashion designers that dream of getting their designs on the runway. Graduates of fashion universities are usually either self-employed or work for a clothing and apparel company. Inadequate capital and social connections are factors that hinder good fashion designers to be seen in fashion shows. As only a handful of designers get recognized in the fashion industry, fashion universities regard several options to which students should consider. Make-up Artists, Stylists, and Fashion Merchandising are but some examples of careers that are closely related to fashion design which are also offered by many fashion universities.

Fashion universities are best suited for those who truly have a love for clothing and fashion. Staying in fashion can be both a tiring and rewarding career. Like Heidi Klum says in her popular TV show called Project Runway, “One day you’re in, and the next day you’re out”.

Diane Ting is a freelance writer based in Manila, Philippines. She is an experienced SEO writer that can produce unique and quality content. She can write for a variety of topics but her interests and expertise include Events Planning, Advertising, Behavioral Sciences and Swimming. Contact her at diane_ting@yahoo.com for writing services.

Make Sure You Understand Your Motivation for Selling

Are you thinking about selling your business?

This simple one-question quiz will help you to better understand your motivations behind this thought. A better understanding of your underlying motivations will help you make the right decision.

Select the answer closest to your actual reason for thinking about selling your business.

A. “I’m selling my business because of the money I will make on the sale”.

B. “I’m just tired and it’s not fun anymore.”

C. “I have too many irons in the fire and can’t keep up”.

D. “I’m ready to retire from owning my business”.

A. “I’m selling my business because of the money I will make on the sale”.

This is rarely a good answer if it is the primary answer. Most small businesses sell for 1 to 3 times yearly cash flow after adding back all owner salary, benefits, fringes, interest and amortization/ depreciation.

Larger mid-sized businesses generally sell for to 3 to 7 times cash flow after deducting for the cost of executive management. While this sum can be significant, it is usually only a few times what you will make this year.

Continuing on with the business will usually make you more money in the long run. On the other hand if you have an offer in hand from a public company at 20 times earnings, take it.

B. “I’m just tired and it’s not fun anymore.”

This question requires careful digging into the reasons for the thought. If you are really ready to get out of the business, then it is a good reason. If the real reason is that you are just tired under the current conditions and as soon as things improve you will get excited again, think long and hard.

Often during the sales process your broker, intermediary, or other advisor will provide coaching to improve obvious defects in the business to make it more salable. Sometimes measurable improvements occur for the business. Suddenly the owner doesn’t really want to sell now that things are moving again.

This is a bad situation for everyone. If what you need is coaching to get out of a rut, hire a coach; don’t sell your business. But, if you are really mentally done, sell the business before you completely run it into the ground.

C. “I have too many irons in the fire and can’t keep up”.

This is a valid reason to sell a business. It is a somewhat common occurrence for multi-location operators who either buy one too many sites or just end up with one or two sites that are too far away to manage.

Often the constant attention you must diverte to an under-performing site will lower earnings of the whole chain. Just remember when pricing the underperforming site for sale that if your not selling much in terms of profits or revenues your not going to get much in terms of price. An old adage that applies here is that the first loss is the cheapest loss. In this instance be prepared to take your loss and move on.

Another variation is the entrepreneur who has a new venture that is overtaking the older established business. Time constraints, management abilities, and variations in potential down stream financial returns may make it desirable to sell the older business. This can free up resources allowing better overall financial returns.

D. “I’m ready to retire from owning my business”.

This is the king of reasons to sell. Just make sure its true. Selling a business often means walking away from it completely. Retiring sellers often want to think that they will be invited guests indefinitely.

Usually once the nuances of the business are understood the new owner will want to take the reins and run the business his way. At settlement you will sign an enforceable non-compete that legally and ethically obligates you to leave your old client base behind.

Another frequent issue is that the retiring owner has run the business “just to meet my needs” the last several years. In those instances the lower performance is what the business sale price is going to be based on. If you as a retiring owner want the full price based on what the business could really do – generate those results yourself and sell the business when the numbers are strong.

In general buyers are the least suspicious about dealing with retiring sellers. If the retiring owner has run the business well up to the end they can often get a small premium on their price.

The Bottom Line

There are thousands of variants to these four reasons to sell your business. Each variation comes down to the same underlying thought process-are you selling because of short term issues you will overcome or are you selling because it is time for you to get out? No one can answer this question for you but your future success and happiness may depend upon getting you it right.

If business is slow in your industry but you are hanging on, and you like the business as much as another career, then don’t sell. Get the marketing, accounting, coaching or other help to get out of your rut and make it to the good times.

If you are completely burnt out, it really is time to retire, or you have much better things on the horizon then sell the business while it is still performing well in order to maximize your sales price.

Gregory R. Caruso is an expert at helping business owners plan and execute the sale of their businesses. Greg is an inactive CPA, attorney, and business owner with 20 years experience. He can be reached at www.successfulexits.com [http://www.successfulexits.com].

Whether you are traveling by air, car, train or foot, carefully consider the needs of your pet and thoroughly review the options available to you and plan accordingly. You should always consider your pet’s health, safety and preferences when deciding whether to take your pet with you or leave them home with a qualified pet sitter. If your pet becomes anxious, motion-sick or does not enjoy new and different situations, especially older dogs, then the best choice is often to leave them at home where they feel safe, secure and comfortable.

Always do what is best for your pet. If air travel is involved, then leaving pets at home with a good pet sitter is usually the preferred option. When you do travel with your pet, deciding what to take is always a good place to start. Depending on the mode of travel and the length of the trip, you will need to pack any necessary medications and medical records, especially if your pet has chronic health problems or is currently under a veterinarian’s care for an ailment. And the appropriate paperwork is essential if your travels take you across international borders (see the links below for specific requirements).

Then you will need the basics like food, food/water bowl, pet first aid kit, bed, leash, collar, required tags (ID and rabies), and grooming tools if your dog requires regular grooming, pet waste bags, crate, and toys (especially an interactive or chew toy that will keep them entertained). You will also need litter and a litter tray or disposable litter trays for your cat. Just in case, take a recent photograph along. It will be much easier to locate your pet if it becomes separated from the family if you have a photo to show people. And if your pet has an embedded ID chip you will need to have the phone number of the company and your account details so you can immediately contact them.

Your pet should have its own bag so you know where everything is and can grab items when you need them. Don’t forget to carry some water if traveling by car, and remember to take enough of your dog’s regular food for the entire trip. If you can’t find the same brand on the road, abruptly changing a dog’s diet can cause stomach upset and diarrhea, something to be avoided while traveling. It is always best to stick to their regular feeding schedule as well.

If you are traveling by car and your pet is unaccustomed to car travel, begin preparing in advance of any long trips by first getting your pet comfortable in the car and then take it on several local trips of increasing duration. This will help minimize the risk of motion-sickness and help it become accustomed to car travel. If your pet appears to be prone to motion sickness consult your vet. Your dog should never be allowed to ride in the passenger seat, on your lap or allowed to run loose in a moving car.

Always use either a crate or one of the available safety harnesses or other barrier systems to restrain your pets. Restraining your pet is as important to their safety as buckling up is to yours. Some states even require restraints on pets in a moving vehicle. Restraining your pet serves the same purpose as our seatbelts; they help protect your pet in the event of an accident and they keep them from distracting the driver or jumping out an open window. Restraining your pet also maintains control of your pet when you stop for gas or a snack.

Crate-training your pet at home pays big dividends while traveling Not only does the crate provide a safe place for your pet while traveling when secured to the seat or floor of the vehicle, but your pet will feel at home, safe and secure in their comfortable crate wherever your travels take you. And crates are the most effective way of restraining cats and small dogs in a moving vehicle. Your local pet store will carry a variety of styles, sizes and makes.

For larger dogs, or if your pet prefers, there are also pet restraints available that work with your car seat belts or cordon off part of your vehicle. There are a wide variety of styles and types including harnesses, seat belt attachments, car booster seats, and screens and netting that create an internal barrier in your vehicle. Whichever method you choose, make sure it fits your pet and car, is comfortable and your pet will tolerate wearing it for hours at a time. And keep your pet’s head inside the car window to avoid eye injuries. Stop every two hours; this is advisable for you as well as your pets. Stretch your legs and take a walk. Be a responsible pet owner and don’t forget the pet waste bags and antibacterial wipes. Finally, never leave your pet alone in a parked car. They may attract thieves and can easily become overheated and distressed even on a cool day.

Traveling by air is always stressful for an animal so visit your vet well in advance of the planned trip to make sure your pet is physically fit and don’t fly your pet unless it’s absolutely necessary. But if you must, always check with the specific airline carrier and ask about all regulations (see the websites below for more information). Find out what their requirements are including quarantine periods at your destination and if your pet qualifies to ride in the cabin or must be sent as checked baggage. You will need to determine the container requirements, check-in times and health documentation needs as well. Always use a good quality container in good condition; many mishaps occur every year from pets traveling in damaged or poor quality containers.

If your pet must travel as checked luggage use a direct flight and travel on the same plane as your pet. Don’t travel when temperatures are forecast to be above 85 degrees F or below 45 degrees F. When you book your flight ask the airline if you will be allowed to watch your pet being loaded and unloaded and when you check-in, request that you be allowed to do this. After you’ve boarded, notify the Captain and the head flight attendant that your pet is in the cargo area. If your flight departure is delayed or has to taxi for longer than normal, ask that they check the temperature in the cargo area and report back to you.

Even if you know that your pet is a nervous flyer it is not advisable in most situations to use sedatives to calm them. According to the American Humane Society and the American Veterinary Medical Association, sedatives for air travel are not recommended because it is much more difficult for an animal to regulate their body temperature and maintain their balance and equilibrium if they’ve been sedated. Because of the altitude and temperature of a plane’s cargo area pets that fly in the cargo area are also more susceptible to respiratory and cardiovascular problems if sedated.

Before any trip get your pet’s papers and medications in order. Learn about the area you will be visiting in case there are diseases or hazards foreign to you and your pets. Your veterinarian can give you advice if you will need any additional vaccinations or medications. Have your vet perform a routine examination on your pet. Get any required legal travel documents (for air travel, contact the airlines for specifics that you’ll need to give to your vet), make sure your pet’s vaccinations are up-to-date, and get any medications your pet might need during the trip.

If you’re giving your pet medication specifically for travel test them on your pet several days before you travel to ensure the dosage is accurate and that there are no adverse side effects. Depending on where you’ve been, another examination by your vet after your trip might be a good idea to check for parasites such as, roundworms, tape worms, hookworms, heartworms, ticks and fleas, that were picked up while you were away.

If you are traveling overseas there are very strict and detailed regulations for transporting pets. Be sure to follow the vaccination requirements exactly. You don’t want your family pet to undergo any unnecessary quarantine periods. Pets are an important part of the family so be sure to take the time to plan and properly prepare them for the family vacation. By planning ahead and knowing what to pack, what to expect, and what to do each step of the way, you will ensure that your pet has a safe and stress-free holiday.

The DogSmith was founded in 1998 by Niki Tudge, a leading proponent of positive animal training techniques. The DogSmith mission is to enhance the lives of pets and their owners by improving their relationship and the quality of the life they share, through; 1. Providing professional support and training to Pet Dog owners, 2. Supporting and assisting animal shelters and rescue organizations to minimize the number of unwanted animals and 3. Offering affordable and professional care for family pets.

To learn more about the DogSmith and their ARRF (R) and MTR (R) methodologies visit http://www.888DogSmith.com