Business and Money Making Ideas

How to Prepare a Demo Case

2015-02-03T11:27:00.001-08:00

Product presentations are much more effective when a live example is given. Here are some tips that will help you prepare a demo case for just such an occasion.

Pick a travel case that is large enough to accommodate your product, but also light enough for you to carry easily when it is full. These cases may be purchased through companies who sell luggage as well as some major home improvement stores. Don’t think conventionally. Your demo case doesn’t have to look like a suitcase. Evaluate your product and choose the case that will best protect it and even help to present it.

Compile your company’s literature, your business cards, some pens, and some paper and include these things in the demo case. If your product includes many small pieces, make inserts with separate compartments to include in the case. If your product needs electricity to function, determine a way to have only one power cord and use it to supply all of the devices. Verify that the power cord is long enough to stretch at least 10 to 15 feet from the case. Many electrical devices are designed to be mounted to a surface or a rail. If your product includes this feature, mount it to a clean and professional looking board.

Before each presentation, stock the demo case with plenty of products. It is common for a customer to like some features of a product but not others. If you have a variety of products in your demo case, you have a better chance of showing them exactly what they want to see. If your demo case is successful, make several duplicates of it and supply them to your distributors so that they will have the same sales tools.

Tips

Don’t make the demo case too heavy.

If your travel includes commercial transportation, be sure your demo case meets all of the necessary requirements.

How to Shop for Less Money at the Grocery Store

2015-01-28T12:06:00.002-08:00

Don’t pay more money than you should for food and necessary household products when you shop at the grocery store. Use these helpful tips to save some money.

Prepare for your trip to the grocery store by evaluating exactly which foods and household products you need to buy well in advance of visiting the grocery store. Carefully planning the meals that you will prepare for your family is a very important first step to saving money. Make a detailed list of all required items, but do not list them by popular brand names. Use phrases like “laundry detergent, steel wool pads, and toilet paper.” It is convenient to pick up brand name items at the store when you see them on your list and then look up and identify that same name on the shelf. This is known as brand recognition and it does not happen by accident. Only choose brand names if you are able to find a discount coupon for the product that makes the price comparable to generic or store-branded items. This also applies to recipes. Just because a recipe calls for a certain type of ingredient, there is most likely a cheaper alternative that will produce the same taste and the same results.

Do not go to the store on an empty stomach. If you shop while you are hungry, you will be tempted Visit the store in the evening after you’ve eaten supper and after the crowds have dispersed. Anxiety over being surrounded by too many other shoppers or knowing that you have to hurry home to prepare a meal will impair your ability to choose the best items for your money. You need plenty of time to stand still and calculate price versus quantity of each item before you commit to placing it in your cart. If you have trouble performing mathematical calculations in your head, be sure to take a small calculator with you. When you place the item in your cart, check the item off your list, but also write down the current price. This information will be useful for your next visit to the store.

to buy unnecessary food items that you would not ordinarily want.

Choose the store where you will shop carefully. Don’t shop somewhere just because it is convenient to do so or because you know other people who shop there. Compare prices on as many items as you can and look for weekly specials. If you have a membership to a store that sells items in bulk, evaluate whether the savings that you get from buying the larger quantity makes it worth buying that much. If you know other people who use the same items, offer to split bulk items into smaller parts and each person chips in their portion of the price.

Shop alone if possible. Having children or other people with you is distracting. When shopping with friends, they often want to tell you which products are best and they will encourage you to buy things that you would usually avoid. The exception to this is if you associate with individuals who shop aggressively for bargains. These people are your allies. Watch them closely and learn from their habits.

Sign up for one of the store’s “preferred shopper” cards. These cards allow you access to discounts that are not available otherwise. Most stores will post specials for card holders on each aisle beside the products. If you do not have your card, many stores can search for your member number by referencing other information, like your telephone number. If they cannot, ask the person in line behind you if they mind you using their card. Most decent people have no problem with this.

Avoiding a Job Interview Scam

2015-01-22T06:35:00.000-08:00

When you really need a job, it’s easy to overlook things that would normally alert you to a scam. Here are some tips that may help you identify a fake job interview.

Send out resumes and cover letters to potential employers with job listings matching your area of expertise. Keep a list of the ones you contact and record the date. Follow up with them to improve your chances of acquiring an interview. Be wary of employers who you have not previously had contact with who call or email a job offer or interview.

Do adequate research on any employer before you go on the interview. Determine their location, what type of business they are, and what type of services they offer. Inquire with the Better Business Bureau and see it they have registered complaints. Ask friends if anyone is familiar with the company.

If everything checks out, agree to the interview and go prepared with copies of your resume, cover letter, and a list of references. When you arrive, look closely at the property. Is it in a safe area? Do they have security guards or cameras? Do they look well-established? Only enter the building with the bare necessities and leave most personal belongings at home. Turn off your mobile phone or pager before entering as well.

Do not give the interviewer any personal information during the interview, like your social security number, or any bank information. You name, phone number, address, and then the standard list of past-experience type questions should be the only things they ask you. If you do not want to answer a question, politely refuse. It is your right. You may fear missing out on possible employment, but you don’t want to give someone too much information until you know they are legitimate.

Pay close attention to the requirements versus the compensation package that they offer. Does it seem like a good match or does it seem a little far fetched? Also be very cautious if they seem too eager to give you the job with minimal questions or interview time. If this happens, do not agree right then. Tell them that you would like to think it over and that you will contact them very soon with a decision. Ultimately, you want to find the perfect job, but you should never get so desperate that you leave yourself open to a scam.

How to be Environmentally Friendly in the Workplace

2015-01-21T06:43:00.000-08:00

Environmental consciousness is a hot topic at the moment, but the concept of protecting and preserving the world that we live in should be a part of everyone's daily routine. I've compiled some ideas that will help you to influence your employer to "think green."

If your goal is to influence your employer and co-workers to be kind to the environment it is important to not be afraid to make suggestions when you identify problems. For example, if someone constantly leaves lights on in rooms that are not in use, say something! If you don't want to confront them directly, speak to your boss and ask them for assistance.

Be aware of devices and activities that waste energy and resources. Replace incandescent bulbs with fluorescent or LED and turn them off when they are not needed. Replace old toilets with new low-flow models to conserve water. Turn computers off when they are not in use or at least be sure to configure them to use "Energy Star" features if available. Only heat and cool areas of the building where it is necessary. If your business has a large roll up door that employees and visitors open and close as they enter and exit an air-conditioned area, consider installing a smaller door beside it so that the larger door can remain closed.

Install weather strips or repair the seal on entrances where air freely flows through the cracks. Only water grass and natural areas outside the business as needed and try not to waste water. If several co-workers go to the same restaurant for lunch, be sure to carpool. Post friendly conservation reminders throughout the office to help keep the these important issues on everyone's mind. Set conservation goals and offer incentives to employees who meet them. Try to only do business with vendors who do their part to protect the environment. For instance, if your company has a website, use the services of a web host who is environmentally conscious. On your website, mention the things that you do to protect the environment. It helps to influence the visitors who read it and may give them some great ideas that they can adopt at work.

Learn to recycle. This includes sorting paper, plastic, and glass and sending it to the proper facility for processing, but there are plenty of other ways. In your shipping department, buy recycled cardboard boxes and reuse boxes and packing materials from incoming shipments. Use ozone safe, recycled bio-starch packing peanuts instead of Styrofoam. In your sales, marketing, and accounting departments, reduce your paper usage by sending advertisements, notices, and confirmations to customers electronically. When computers or office equipment is decommissioned, consider donating it to other local businesses or to schools. If the equipment is to be disposed of, do it properly.

If your company manufactures parts, use non-hazardous components and recyclable materials. There is a directive called RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) which was adopted in the European Union in 2003 that addresses these issues. Please visit their website at http://www.rohs.gov.uk/ for more details.

Saving the environment is an important job and all businesses should be enthusiastic about contributing. Everyone needs encouragement and a friendly reminder from time-to-time, so if you notice areas that need improvement, be sure to discuss them with your employer. Also, email a link to this article to your employer and ask them to read it. Most likely, they will appreciate your concern and take action.

Avoiding Online Money Making Scams

2015-01-18T07:04:00.000-08:00

Supposedly, there are opportunities on the Internet for the average person to become a millionaire overnight with little or no effort. I have spent time and money "investing" in some of these opportunities and I want to help you avoid spending money on something that will offer you no return.

The first thing to consider when reading an article about making money online is, does the article sound believable? Does it sound legal? Does the program or system that you are buying into produce anything tangible or of any real worth to anyone? Does it offer a guarantee or trial period?

If everything seems to be legitimate at first glance, then it's time to do some investigating. Does the website offer contact information? Is there a phone number listed? If so, call the number and try to speak to a living human being. If you can't get through to anybody now, imagine how hard it will be to get a refund later if needed.

Visit the Better Business Bureau's website (www.bbb.com) and search for the website address (url) for the company that you are considering paying for services. Are they registered? If so, do they have any complaints against them? Do a whois lookup on the domain name. (ex. makelotsofmoneyovernight.com) Web sites like register.com are useful in performing a whois lookup. What name is the website registered under? If you search on this name, what information can you find online? If you find other web sites associated with the original website, search for them with the Better Business Bureau as well.

If you decide to make a purchase from a website, check to see if the "check out" page is on a secure server. If you are using Internet Explorer, look for the yellow lock symbol at the bottom of your web browser. Also be sure the web address begins with "https". When making a purchase, use a credit card rather than a debit card. Credit card companies usually cover fraudulent spending if someone obtains unauthorized access to your account.

Making Money Risk-Free Online Without Spending Your Own

2015-01-09T06:45:00.000-08:00

I am going to share with you several easy ways that I have made money online over the last few months. They are all easy to do and best of all, they're all FREE. Not a scam or a sales pitch. I don't want anything from you other than your attention for a few minutes

After having tried and failed to make money using advertised systems, I decided that I wanted to make just a little money; just something for my troubles. It didn’t have to be a lot. I just didn’t want to have to pay anything to do it and I wanted to do something simple. I’m going to share this information with you. This is not a scam or some weird system; it’s just advice from me to you. Some of this advice may even be quite obvious for some of you, but if I can help just one person who is desperately in need of some money, then my job here is done. I don’t want your money or your personal information or anything like that. Also, I am not affiliated with the websites mentioned in this article. Using this advice won’t cost you anything other than your time. These are just several things that I’ve found lately that you can actually use to make some money online.

Set up a free checking account at your local bank using whatever their minimum deposit is. This should preferably be a new account that doesn’t contain your life savings. It will be used, for starters, to set up a PayPal account and then later it will be used to hold the money you make. That money can then be withdrawn as cash or transferred to another account for safekeeping.

Set up a free email account. I prefer Google’s Gmail (gmail.com). This is important because some of the following suggestions will result in SPAM and you don’t want that coming to your regular email account.

Set up a free PayPal account (paypal.com) This will require you to have a checking account (your free one) and you have to verify your account by confirming two small deposits that PayPal will make to you.

Set up a free account with InboxDollars.com (Survey website) using your free email address. They pay you to sign up ($5 currently.) Use your correct contact information. One of the offers under InboxDollars is to set up a free EBAY account. Do this and then place a bid on a $.99 item that you will more than likely not win. Currently, this ebay offer is worth an additional $6 in your InboxDollars account, but you have to go through with at least one bid. There are other legitimate survey websites out there, but this is the first one that I have actually received money from.

Now, find several of your friends who want to make money too. Have them set up free email accounts and then refer them to InboxDollars.com. For each friend that signs up and makes it to their payout ($30) you will earn $5. It took me a month to reach my $30 payout because I didn’t participate in any of the high dollar offers ($10 and up) that require me to share my credit card number. I only participated in daily surveys ($1 each) and also signed up for the free offers that paid for me to sign up. The free offers are things like signing up to receive information from schools or signing up to participate on other survey websites. As always, use your best judgment and don’t give away too much personal information. Keep in mind that when you do reach your $30 payout point, you have to wait 30 days from the end of the current month before they issue your check. This is done for security purposes and it is a little inconvenient, but hey, it’s free money. Also, they will take $3 from your total balance for fees, but it’s not money that you already had. Be sure to continue to read the emails you receive from InboxDollars daily to keep your account active. This is something that you can do on a continuing basis to generate funds. It’s not fast, but it’s consistent. Also, you will start to notice a healthy amount of SPAM showing up in your SPAM folder in your Gmail account. Just go through and select them all and delete them occasionally. Aren’t you glad you didn’t use your normal email account? :) Hits4Pay is another website that pays you to read email. They are similar to InboxDollars. See below for a link to their website.

In the meantime, I used my EBAY account to sell random items throughout my house that were taking up space and that I no longer needed. Some examples of things that sell very easily are video games and systems, DVD’s, die cast model cars (very popular!), and books. There are fees involved when you sell things on EBAY, but I’ve found that if you regularly pay off your EBAY account using your PayPal account, you will stay fairly well ahead and never spend any money out of your checking account. Just be sure to leave enough money in your PayPal account to cover these fees. If you do not have enough money in your PayPal account to cover the fees, it will be withdrawn from your checking account. Do some research on ebay fees to find ways of saving money. If you are considering listing an item for $1.00, the insertion fee is $.40, but if you lower the price by a penny to $.99, the insertion fee is cut in half to $.20. Also, if you happen to have a website of your own, you can set up a folder just for EBAY pictures and then use HTML to link these pictures to your auctions and save even more money. PayPal also has their own fees, but they’re not too bad.

Another useful online tool is the website Craigslist (craigslist.org) Craigslist is divided into different areas of the country and it is comparable to the classified section of the newspaper. The only difference is that it’s free! You can list items for sale or barter that you no longer need. Do you have some exercise equipment or furniture that you want to get rid of? Why not make some money from it and have someone else take it away for you? You can also find items on Craigslist that people are giving away for FREE! All you have to do is contact them and go pick it up. What are you going to do with all this free stuff? Well, remember that free EBAY account that you set up? Sell these items for profit. Friends and family are also good resources for free things. Offer to help them clean out their storage areas and get rid of old junk. You’d be surprised how much of that “old junk” is very valuable to someone in another part of the world.

True, using these methods will not make you rich overnight and I don’t expect to be featured in Forbes any time soon, but these ideas do help to make some money. For example, using the ideas mentioned above, I’ve made over $600 in just a little over a month, the majority of it from EBAY and Craigslist. Granted, you and I may not have the same type of personal possessions to sell, but yours may be worth much more than mine.

One last tip, set up a blog on blogger.com, write articles like this one. Sign up for Adsense and and configure the ads to display on your blog. If your articles become popular,and someone happens to click on your ad, you will make money!

I hope these tips are helpful to you and that they make you as much money as they have for me!

Conducting a Great Customer Visit

2015-01-01T06:52:00.000-08:00

In order to make a good impression when visiting a customer, there are several key things that any salesperson should do.

When scheduling a customer visit, it is important to set a specific day and time that you will meet with them. Be sure to get plenty of sleep the night before your visit and have your business attire clean and ready to go. Choose appropriate clothing based on the type of customer you are visiting. Organize your company literature into a packet that you can hand to your customer which includes a current catalog, your business card, a thoughtful letter, and possibly a quotation. Know well in advance how to get to the customer’s location. Take along a map and a set of written directions. If you need to refuel your vehicle, do it the night before so you don’t smell like gas fumes during your visit.

When getting ready on the morning of your visit, do not wear strong colognes or perfumes. If you are a smoker, try to wait until after your visit to have your first cigarette of the day. If you drink coffee, brush your teeth or chew some gum after your last cup. Eat a light breakfast. Check your appearance in the mirror and also verify that your hands are clean. Arrive at the customer’s location at least 15 minutes early. If there is a reception desk, be polite to the receptionist. Offer them your business card so that they will have your name and company name in front of them when they announce your arrival. Try to have some meaningful conversation with the receptionist. It is not uncommon for the person you are visiting to have a close relationship with their co-workers. If you are not personable or ignore the receptionist altogether, the consequences may be greater than you think.

Take a few deep breaths while you are waiting to meet your host. Be sure to smile and keep a friendly demeanor about you. If there are other people waiting in the reception area or if someone walks in, be polite and say “hello” or “good morning” to them. You may cross paths with that person at a later time and date.

While presenting your products, be sure to allow your potential customer the opportunity to speak and listen closely to what they say. All people appreciate courteous attention. When they present you with a business card, do not place it in your wallet and do not put it away without looking at it. That is commonly perceived as rude. Take a moment and read their card. Offer a compliment about some aspect of their business card or title. If you have a shirt pocket, place their card in that pocket or in your briefcase.

When leaving, be sure to speak to the receptionist again and tell them to have a good day. As you drive back to your office or on to your next appointment, be mindful of other businesses that you pass along the way and write down their names. Follow up with your potential customer by sending them a thank you note and by also calling them on the phone.

Protecting Your Money

2014-12-17T06:56:00.000-08:00

How do you protect your hard-earned money? Is it residing in a checking or savings account? Is it stuffed into a mattress inside your house? What would happen to you if suddenly you realized that your wallet or purse had been stolen or that someone broke into your home and took your mattress? There are ways to lessen the impact of these tragic incidents.

As you work to grow your wealth over time, it is important to plan ahead for unforeseen tragedies that could impact your financial infrastructure. For instance, what would happen if someone stole your debit card or robbed you while you were withdrawing money from an ATM? Would you be able to recover quickly? My advice is to open free checking accounts with several of the leading, FDIC insured, financial institutions (at least three of them.) Look for free checking accounts that do not have fees or minimum balances (they do exist.) These accounts may not have tons of perks, but all you need is for someone to hold your money and you also need a quick and easy way to make deposits, check your balance online, and withdraw from it. Confirm that the account includes "fraud protection" so that if someone does manage to spend your money without authorization, you will be covered 100%.

Plan to start separating your paychecks and set aside some money to put into each of these accounts. It does not have to be a huge amount of money. Every little bit helps. Do not spend any of the money that you put into these accounts unless you have a terrible emergency and withdrawing money from them is your last resort. Be sure to only carry one or two of these debit cards with you and lock the others up in a safe place where they will not easily be found.

Another idea is to give yourself an "allowance" with each paycheck and deposit this money into one account that does not hold the majority of your earnings. Make this the only debit card that you carry with you. That way, if someone steals this card, they will not be able to withdraw all, or even most of your money. Whatever you do, be sure not to have your PIN number in the same place with your debit card.

Check your balance for each account at least weekly or more often and be sure that there are no strange transactions that you have not authorized. Opt out of having the paper statements mailed to your home for these accounts so that they are not accidentally sent to the wrong place or opened by the wrong person. Also, be sure to periodically check your credit report to be sure no other accounts or loans have been opened without your permission.

Over time, hopefully, you will see the balances in each account begin to increase to the point where you have as much in each account as you started with in your main account. This is possible through determination and a little self-sacrifice. If something bad happens and one of your accounts is compromised, you will still have the means to pay your bills and continue to function while your financial institution investigates your claim and helps you to recover your lost money. You may find, at some point in the future that you have saved enough money in one of your accounts to begin investing the money or to buy something nice that you've always wanted without having to buy it on credit or put a financial strain on your main checking account. Good luck and be sure to keep an eye on what's yours.

Protecting Your Company from Fraud

2014-12-02T07:01:00.000-08:00

Stressful times often bring out the worst in people. People who are desperate to support their family may make bad decisions and turn to crime as a solution. And then there’s the usual cast of thieves and scammers who do things like that on a daily basis. It’s unfortunate, but many businesses will become the target of crime this year. As a business owner or employee it is in your best interest not to leave your company unprotected.

As technology provides the business world with new opportunities, it also opens the door for new threats. It’s not enough to rely on the security measures of yesterday to protect your computers and sensitive data. If you do not have a properly configured firewall isolating your computer network from the Internet, then you might as well hook up a networked computer in the parking lot for anyone to use. Employee training and good communication about threats is also important. Employees can open the door from within the company network and unleash all manner of evil upon you if they are not closely monitored and educated. Spend the time and money to hire an IT professional or train someone within your company to perform in that role.

How secure is the building where you work? Are there monitored security cameras? Locked gates and doors? Keypad entry protection? These are not really options but rather necessities unless you work hundreds of miles from civilization. Companies should keep all doors locked to keep intruders out. Special measures should be used to keep sensitive information and company equipment from leaving the premises as well. All important company documents should be destroyed instead of just thrown away. Familiarize yourself with different types of fraud, like check washing, and identity theft.

Another key protection is to have a good legal representation in place to assist with legal decisions. Don’t trust your skills with searching the Internet to know the right decision to make. Know exactly what the law entitles you before you go in any new direction and keep your company from being the target of frivolous lawsuits. Also, educate each employee as to the level of authority they have and do not let them make decisions for you, especially when they are dealing with an unknown caller. Monitor all bills, especially from utility companies, who under law can now allow third-party billing by other companies in most states.

As strict and tedious as this all sounds, it is in the best interest of your employees and the company as a whole. Good prevention keeps your company from having to apologize for stupid mistakes later.

How to Design an Inexpensive Trade Show Backdrop

2014-11-28T12:23:00.000-08:00

A trade show is an excellent place to meet new prospects and advertise a business. Without an attractive backdrop and signage, many prospective customers will pass you by.

Promoting a business at a trade show requires special equipment to attract visitors, including a backdrop, signs, lights, and other advertisements. There are now many companies that will build trade show displays in a variety of shapes and sizes. The problem is that these solutions often exceed a small business' advertising budget.

Visit a local provider of retail store equipment. In addition to the ideas mentioned in this article, you may discover many useful pieces of equipment to promote your business through simply browsing their inventory. We chose 4 pieces of black powder coated steel grid panels, measuring 8 feet by 2 feet. Also, we purchased grid connectors and specially designed lights that connected easily to the top of each grid panel.

Arrange the grid panels so that each stands 8 feet tall. Connect the panels using special grid connectors to form the shape of a letter "W." Use at least 3 connectors between each panel. This structure is very sturdy and will stand on its own with no support. To increase the strength and add additional safety, special "L" shaped footers may be purchased which attach to the bottom of 2 grid panels and hold them together in a right angle. Using two of these footers will allow the four grid panels to stand together, connected as a "W" shape.

Contract a local sign manufacturer to produce several signs with your company logo and some information about your products. If you provide the art work, this should be relatively inexpensive. The material called "sentra" is very sturdy and makes an attractive sign. The signs that were made for us used a white sentra board with vinyl printed stickers attached to it. Drill a hole in each of the upper corners to allow the sign to hang on the grid panel using cable ties.

Attach the signs to the grid panels and position a light above each one to illuminate it. This is very important as a dark sign looks very uninviting. Now all that is needed is a table, some sample products, brochures, and several sales people to work the booth.

Don't spend more money than necessary!
Visitors are attracted to brightly illuminated and attractive booths.
Use your imagination to decorate your booth and make it unique.
Do not hang heavy articles from the grid panels that may cause them to become unstable.
Follow safe wiring practices when connecting lights and other electrical equipment!

How to Demonstrate a Product to New Customers

2014-10-19T12:19:00.000-07:00

How do salespeople make someone see the value in a product that they’ve never seen or heard of before? It’s not that difficult for the average person to do when they follow several easy steps.

Learn everything that there is to know about your new product. Have several associates write down as many questions as possible and then determine the answers for each one. Know all associated facts, figures, and test data that is relevant. Be an expert on your product and know a lot more about it than your competitors. Practice your demonstration in front of a test audience who has no prior knowledge of your product. If you are performing this demonstration at a trade show, try to condense the most important parts of the presentation into the first 15 to 20 seconds. You may not have much more time than that initially.

Do not assume that your potential customers know anything at all about this new product. Begin by asking several pointed questions to evaluate how well they know the type of product that you are presenting. Adjust your communication with them appropriately and speak on their level. Now, identify a problem area in their life or in their job that your product will satisfy.

Use as many visual aids as possible. The majority of the world learns easier when you show them something rather than just tell them about it. Find a way to demonstrate your product that will defy their logic. Try to determine the best visual display to impress them and help them to remember what they saw for at least for several days. Don’t leave them hanging with unanswered questions, though. Form a bridge of thought that will lead them back to the practical use of your product to meet their needs.

The most important thing to do is to collect the potential customer’s contact information so that you can follow-up with them later. When you do call, be sure to reference something memorable from your demonstration that will help them to remember who you are. Be sure you are the one to call. Don’t leave this important follow-up to someone else.

Get the business and then be sure to thank your new customer.

Tips

Know everything about your product

Be aggressive, but not obnoxious

Even if you know that someone probably won’t buy your product, tell them about it anyway and do it with enthusiasm. They just may tell their friends and who knows where that will lead?

Choosing the Best Location for a Trade Show Booth

2014-09-30T11:15:00.000-07:00

Have you ever left a trade show and wondered why you hardly attracted any leads? Did you do something wrong? Was your booth not attractive enough? Did you not use effective signs? Maybe the problem was the location where you setup your booth.

If you have previously worked a specific trade show, build upon your experience of that show and repeat your efforts when it is presented in the same exhibit hall again. Were you satisfied with the amount of traffic and the number of quality leads? If so, leave well enough alone and guard your secret diligently. If your results were less than stellar, maybe it’s time to try a new strategy.

Look closely at the floor plan for the show. This is probably available online. Look for familiar companies and see where they position themselves. Most shows have similar themed companies grouped together. You don’t want to set up too close to a competitor, but you also don’t want to isolate yourself and make it hard for visitors to find you.

Do not choose a space right at the entrance of the main hall. You will receive a flood of traffic all at once that will overwhelm you and then everyone will pass on by. When visitors have seen the rest of the show, they will be tired and probably have little time to stop and talk to you on the way out. Do not choose a space that is close to restrooms or a food court. Things like that have a tendency to distract people. Do not choose a space in a side hall that is connected to the main hall by a door or hallway unless you just want some quiet time to reflect on your thoughts.

Take advantage of a space drawing for booth availability if it is provided and try to choose a booth Choose the side that faces early morning traffic so that you attract the people who just rushed the entrance and then slowed down after passing the first few aisles to look around. Use a company sign that is very specific in describing what your company offers.

that is close to the end of an aisle and near the front of the main hall, but at least two or three aisles away from the entrance.

Spend some time walking the show and take note of which companies have the largest crowd and how much time people spend at the booth. It is a good idea to set up near them next time, but directly next to them. You want to benefit from the large numbers of concentrated people, but you also don’t want your visitors noticing something interesting in a larger both and losing interest in you. Pay attention to the companies who have annoying attractions or people in their booth. Make a note of it and avoid setting up near them. Annoying people usually don’t change their habits year after year and nothing is more aggravating than to have a talkative exhibitor from another company in your booth, distracting you while valuable potential customers size you up and then keep walking. One last thing, if you are a small company and you transport your booth an set it up yourself, pay attention to the proximity of the loading area to your booth. Being near the loading area can make a huge difference to you on the first and the last day of the show.

How to Get Through Airport Security Checkpoints Quickly

2014-09-22T10:38:00.000-07:00

Seeing the airport security checkpoint is intimidating for those who don’t travel by air very often. Long lines and frustrated travelers make the checkpoint seem like an unfriendly place. Security screenings don’t have to be an overwhelming experience if you are prepared.

Visit the website for the airport where your flight will depart. They should have a list of regulations for passengers. These rules are subject to change, so don’t assume if you’ve flown before that you know what to do and what not to do.

Dress appropriately. Don’t wear shirts with offensive messages or outfits that are too revealing. Think comfort and simplicity. Check all of your pockets before leaving for the trip and remove all metal objects and anything that could be considered dangerous or questionable. Sandals or flip flops are great footwear for flights because they can be slipped on and off quickly and easily. Carry a backpack or duffel bag and put your loose change, keys, mobile phone, and anything metal in your bag. This will be your carry-on bag. Make sure there is nothing dangerous in the bag. Pack all liquids, toiletries, razors, etc. in the luggage that you check at the counter when you receive your boarding pass. You don’t need any of those things on the plane, so why let them slow you down? If you require medication during the flight, have all of the necessary information about the medicine with you and be sure the name on the bottle is your own.

Arrive at the airport least an hour and a half before your flight boards. Be serious when passing through the security check point and pay attention to everything going on around you. There will be plenty of time for jokes and horseplay once you get to the gate. Watch the security agents for cues, respond when they talk to you, and follow all directions. If they select you for additional screening, don’t get angry or ask why. It’s a random procedure that is enforced in order to keep us all safe and it usually only takes an extra few minutes at most. Be polite to everyone around you and speak in a normal voice.

Have your boarding pass and ID in your hand because it will be reviewed by several security agents as you advance through the check point. Remove your sandals or flips flops and put them in a plastic bin. Place your backpack or duffel bag in a separate plastic bin. If you have a laptop computer, remove it from its carrying case and place it in a plastic bin. All of these items should be placed on the moving belt. Be sure to remove your belt if the belt buckle is prone to trigger the metal detectors.

If you are selected for extra screening or if someone traveling with you is, then watch each other’s belongings as you wait. Following these simple tips will make passing airport security check points faster and easier and it will increase the chances of you making your flight if you’re in a hurry.

Tips

Treat airport security agents with respect. They are there to protect you.

Don't make jokes or act stupid while passing through security checkpoints, especially about anything related to the airport or the airplane! Security agents take your words and actions very seriously and may not let you through!

How to Turn Debt Reduction and Bill Paying into a Fun Game

2014-08-15T11:20:00.000-07:00

Who enjoys paying bills? Online bill payment services have made the task easier for some, but it’s still boring and who likes to let go of their money? At least have some fun doing it. Turn paying bills and reducing debt into a fun role playing game!

Identify all of your assets and debt. Make a list or a spreadsheet and include everything from your mortgage and car loans to your checking and savings account balances. We are going to give an alternate identity to each item. Checking accounts are your weapons and magic, while savings accounts are your life energy. You should designate an amount of money that you want to deposit into savings each month. If you meet your goal, your alter ego stays healthy. If not, you become injured or sick and you must find ways to earn extra money to “heal yourself.” As the savings account grows, so does your level. If you have $1000 in savings, you have achieved level one. For each thousand you aquire, you “level up.” Set goals so that when you reach a certain level, like level 10, you treat yourself to something, like a new HD television. This will reduce your level for a while, but you will have just as much fun reaching it again.

Monthly bills become evil henchmen. You can defeat them temporarily, but they keep coming back each month. Give each a separate identity. If you have artistic ability, create a drawing of how they might look. Make the water bill an evil ghost pirate and the power bill an evil fire demon, etc. The amount of the bill is the character’s total life points. If you make a minimum or partial payment, then you only injure them. When you pay the bill completely, you vanquish that foe, at least until next month. Devise ways to reduce the damage that enemies inflict on you by reducing services or conserving energy and water, or changing spending habits. Weaken your foes so that they are easier to defeat.

Larger debt, like a mortgage, a home equity loan, or a credit card, are identified as your boss characters. They are strong and can withstand multiple hits, and ultimately, they cannot be defeated until they are paid in full. They may possess the power to regenerate or heal themselves through monthly interest. Think of clever ways to defeat them, like casting a freeze spell on them and transferring their balance to a zero interest credit card. This will prevent them from healing themselves at least for a while and give you the opportunity to attack. Then use a strong weapon like the “Mighty Blade of Income Tax Returnia” to deliver a devastating blow to the enemy.

Make the game even more exciting by involving your spouse as another member of your party and let them attack monsters and boss characters from a separate bank account. You’d be surprised how quickly you can vanquish foes when you work as a team. Leave messages or send emails to each other and say funny things, like “Today, I learned the magic spell of Reduction and cast it upon T. Wyvern, the Protector of the Mysterious Cable. This lowered our monthly damage by 5200 hit points.” If several married couples decide to play this game, you can encourage each other to reach new levels and share tips on how to defeat enemies more efficiently. Create fun and even humorous new weapons and magic spells in order to enhance everyone’s experience.

How to Create Custom Stock Watchlists Using E-trade

2014-08-11T11:29:00.000-07:00

Trading on the stock exchange can be a challenging experience for a new investor. Many tools are available to help do-it-yourself traders, but sometimes, they are not easy to find and use. This article details how to easily create custom watchlists using the E-trade website in order to track stocks from different companies.

Sign up for an E-trade Financial account and deposit the money that you wish to invest. While waiting for the funds to transfer, begin researching the companies that you are considering investing in. This area is found under the “Quotes and Research” tab.

To add the stock to a watchlist, there are two options. From the “snapshot” screen of the company’s stock, there is a link on the right-hand side of the screen under “Quick Links” for “Add to Watchlist.” Clicking this link will add the stock to your generic watchlist.

Finding the watchlist can be a challenge and when we do find it, we will address the second method for creating custom watchlists. Click the “Trading & Portfolios” tab and then click the “Portfolios” sub-tab. Once you have purchased some stock, it will be displayed on this screen. Now, click the dropdown box beside “Account/Watchlist.” There is an option on this list labeled “Investments to Watch.” Selecting this option will present a screen displaying all of the stocks that have been added to the generic watchlist.

Let’s say you want to group these stocks into categories, for example, breweries. This is very easy to do. Beside the dropdown box, there is a link for “Create / Edit List.” Click “create.” Step 1 on this screen is to give your watchlist a name. We’ll name it “Breweries.” Step 2 has a box where the stock symbols, or ticker symbols may be typed or copy/pasted from another source. Try adding these symbols (without the quotes) “ABV,BUD,SAM,TAP,PMID,HOOK”, and then click the button labeled, “Add Holding Information.”

From the dropdown box, you will now have the option to view the stocks that you own, the generic watchlist, and any other watchlist that has been created. For an easy way to find different stocks from companies in similar industries, use Google and search for terms like “breweries stock” or “automotive manufacturer stock.” Have fun, but invest your time and money wisely.