Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

How I started my own Work at Home Internet Busines with V...

Have you always wanted to work at home? Have your own business? Didn’t think it was possible? No more commuting in traffic (plus gasoline prices right now are ridiculous). No more "business attire" (work in your jammies) and no more Corporate America breathing down your neck. I didn’t think it was possible. I had always been a pessimist. Didn’t think I could do it. Didn’t have the knowledge or. . .

Coaching Tips for Powerful Presentations

Tip #1 The purpose of your speech is to get results; to help people make changes and think or act differently. So start with the end in mind. What do you want people to do as a result of your speech? What do they need to know to do this? What do they need to feel to do this? Tip #2 Show your audience that coaching is a process. It is different from consulting. Do some coaching (role p. . .

Why Don't They Just Get It Done: 7 Performance Tactics fo...

Why Don't They Just Get It Done: 7 Performance Tactics for CEO's Otan Logi - Tactical Advisor AssociatesBuckling under the weight of chronic corporate restructuring, and frustrated by performers who don't respond to carefully crafted strategic plans, high level executive leaders are being confronted by a growing performance gap between what needs to get done and what gets done.Sound familiar? I. . .

The Link Factor

There are many different approaches and techniques required when optimising a website for a high ranking in your chosen search engine. In most cases loads of informative, relevant content is required as well as plenty of outgoing links to separate you from the cat like competition. But one of the most important factors that the search engines consider when reviewing your site is the amount of o. . .

Stress In The Workplace

According to the Australian Council of Trade Unions’ (A.C.T.U.) 1997 survey, fifty per cent of workers had suffered some form of stress at work in a 12-month period. The statistics in care professions were even higher, with the Department of Education and Training in Western Australia reporting in its 2002 Attitudes To Teaching Survey that seventy per cent of teachers identified workplace stre. . .

Alternative Options For Rising Interest Rates

As interest rates have risen in the last six weeks from record lows, homeowners are once again face with finding viable options to reduce the amount of interest paid on their home loans. The rush to refinance provided borrowers with good to excellent credit the opportunity to take advantage of low interest rates, that helped to reduce their monthly mortgage payments, which was the only benefit. . .

Design Web Site Around Affiliate Programs

When starting a Web business, most people choose a topic for their Web site and then look for products and affiliate programs related to that topic. In this article, I suggest searching for a group of related affiliate programs first, then designing your Web site around those programs. There are many affiliate directories and affiliate network Web sites where you can search for the best program. . .

The Quickest Way To Start A Business Online

Want to get into business fast with minimal investment?Want a business that will generate a steady passive Income?Consider This:Joining an affiliate program is one of the easiest ways to get into business quickly online!In fact joining an affiliate program is one way many of the successful business owners online got their rapid start!Isn't it time you joined this group of affiliate marketers?Le. . .

When is Enough: Enough?

Keeping your Business Website Fresh and Unique:Google PR, SE optimization, Keywords, Content, and More Content. That is the beauty of the information hi-way. It is like taking a road trip for the first time. The excitement, the unknown, and the mystery. Searching but not knowing exactly what lies ahead. As I travel the information hi-way, I wonder: When is enough: Enough?We continually add new . . .

Love The Thrill of Risk? Invest in an Annuity!

With the stock market in steep decline, people are looking for safe places to invest their savings. Many banks and investment companies are pushing annuities. Annuities offer a higher interest rate than CD's, but are they safe? You could view an annuity as a tax deferred CD. You don't pay taxes on the interest until you start drawing from the annuity. But there are some important differences be. . .

Control Stress or It Will Control Your Business

When we think about stress in the workplace, we usually refer to ulcers or heart conditions, but stress has a much broader impact. It is known that stress is linked to cancer, lung ailments, cirrhosis of the liver, immunity to common illnesses, back problems, and many other medical problems. It is estimated that stress is the underlying factor in 75 - 90% of all physician visits. We see the ef. . .

Managers Who Tap Into PR's Value

Business, non-profit and association managers get a ton of satisfaction when they do something really positive about the behaviors of those outside audiences that most affect their operation. Especially when they deliver external stakeholder behavior change, the kind that leads directly to achieving their managerial objectives; and even more so when they persuade those important outside fo. . .

PR Essential to your Success

Whether you are a business, non-profit or association manager, your success will depend, to a large degree, on how well you positively impact the behaviors of those outside audiences that most affect your operation. You need to create external stakeholder behavior change – the kind that leads directly to achieving your managerial objectives. And you do that by persuading those important ou. . .

Envelope Stuffing Scams

There are many work at home scams today, but one of the most common scam is envelope stuffing . You can go to any search engine and do a search on envelope stuffing work at home jobs , and see they all are ran the same way. Here's how it works: The most common scam offers to pay $3 or $4 per envelope you address or stuff. They ask that you send [to cover the cost of shipping and handling/. . .

Two Steps To Gain Free Website Traffic

There are many ways to get free traffic to your website. I have tried most of them, and was diappointed with the results that I had. I have found only two guaranteed methods that have brought traffic to my website, and best of all they are "Free"!I can honestly tell you that if you follow these two steps that I am going to tell you about, you will start to receive traffic to your website. I gua. . .

True Success In Wood And Water

Let's get right to the point, folks.We're all looking to succeed, in our own individual ways, and we're all looking for nuggets of wisdom to lead our course. We wake up every morning in search of meaningful thoughts that will carry the day. Sometimes optimistic little catch-phrases work; other times, a new insight into market dynamics or a book on client relations sparks that day's adventure.An. . .

7 Ways To Promote Your Business-FREE!

1. Free Classifieds: If you have the time to post you ads on classified sites , then this is a good place for you to start. Placing classified ads does work, but this method of advertising will take some time before you will start to see results. You will need to continually submit your ad to these sites , so your ad will stay near the top of the pages of these sites. Not everyone will get the . . .

How To Protect Yourself From Work At Home Scams

You have decided to start a home based business, but you want to find a honest, legit home based business.With all the scams out there , you are unsure of how to go about finding one that is not a scam. Before starting a home business, there are many factors to consider. Many work at home opportunities are honest and will not rip you off , but also, some are scams. By learning to research work . . .

How To Write Ads That Get Results!

You've got approximately 0.5 seconds to grab someone's attention with a classified ad. That is not much time for you to convince someone with your ad (s). You can dramatically increase your results with your ad (s) if you know how to write an ad to get results. Knowing how to write an ad that not only grabs the readers attention, but convinces them is the key to any ad. Below I have listed some. . .

Create Confidence With Your Writing

Whether you are writing a magazine article, composing a press release, or editing the sales copy on your website, the end goal is always the same - to influence the thinking, and probably actions, of other human beings. To do that, your writing must instill confidence in a mind that is inclined to doubt you.Here are a few tips on keeping the reader on your side.Keep your word count under contro. . .

Work At Home Moms - Start Your Business With Found Money

Think you can't afford to start your own Home Business? Think again! I have been able to budget the start up expenses of my own Home Business. I have to admit in the beginning I thought I would not be able to afford starting my own Home Business knowing it would take a small investment to get it moving. So what I did was kept track of all my spending habit for a couple of weeks. Was I surprised. . .

How To Compete With Amazon.com

If you are selling online,here is the down side of our business....you will never be able to compete with Amazon. (Or Kmart, or Target, or any other big outlet) Here is why, They buy directly from the manufacturer in such huge quantities that they are getting the product for a price that you and I (as small business owners) will never realize. That is an unfortunate fact of business.The other . . .

Prepare Your Communications For Growth

As the American economy emerges from recession, many businesses are now reexamining their marketing materials and realizing that their communications are outdated, ill-prepared for the return of a robust, competitive, growing economic environment. Strategies developed to survive hard times are often the wrong ones for profiting in good times.Here are five strategies for ensuring that your marke. . .

Sharpen Your Writing With Structure

At some point, every serious writer is forced to sit down and conclude that there is something seriously wrong with their work. It wanders; it is pretty in some spots and horribly ugly in others. It doesn't always make sense, and is uneven in places. Even though every sentence is grammatically correct, there is something fundamentally broken about the piece.It lacks structure.Structure is what . . .

Fight The Fluff!

The first and final rule of quality writing is this: what doesn't strengthen your writing, weakens it.There are no neutral words when you're trying to be persuasive - every word must be doing real work and every sentence must be necessary. Don't say in two sentences what you can say in one; don't use five words when you can use three. Don't use a five-syllable word when an available two-syllabl. . .

3 Money-Making Reasons to Display Your Newsletter on Your...

Seeing is believing. Unless your website visitors can experience your newsletter and appreciate its value, they’re unlikely to join your opt-in, email list. By posting your newsletter on your website, you encourage more visitors to subscribe and you drive more profitable traffic to your website each month.- Growing your opt-in email list is one of your most important goals. Your success depends. . .

7 Ways to Use Website Audio in Your Marketing Arsenal

Most visitors to your website are using computers with audio capabilities. Recently introduced techniques make it easy to take advantage of this capability.In the past, web audio was primarily decorative, consisting of musical fanfares or other clichéd sound effects. Now, you can use audio to multiply the impact of your message and create stronger bonds with your visitors.Audio’s power comes fr. . .

The Supervisors 14 Essential Truths For Communicating Wit...

One amazing, but sadly true, fact of today's advances in communication tools is that we really don't communicate much better than in the past. Indeed one recent study determined the number one advancement in communication tools was the availability of cheap on-line airfares. The airline trip was needed to clarify some earlier communication sent out electronically!Therefore a Manager/Supervisor. . .

A Dozen Tips for Starting an Import/Export Business

Thinking of starting an import/export business? Jennifer Henzel, a Certified Import/Export Trade Professional offers these tips for getting started: 1. Many countries have set up offices (Consulates or Embassies) in foreign countries to promote the exporting of their goods. The Consulates will supply you with industry directories and more. Embassies are located in a nation's capital and Consula. . .

I Want My Money Back

No matter what you do, there will come a time when a customer will ask for a refund for some reason or another. Do you give it to them? That depends. If you have an unconditional money back guarantee, there's no question. Refund the money -- no questions asked. What if you have no stated guarantee? What would you do? How would you proceed? Your best course of action will normally be to go ahead. . .

How to Use Humor to Increase Sales

Using cartoons can help brand your marketing and drive home important messages. Although surprisingly inexpensive to acquire, humor can be one of your most powerful marketing tools.Humor puts your readers at ease. Readers appreciate a touch of humor in an otherwise overly serious world.Humor operates on an emotional level, driving home your message in a far more memorable way than words alone. . . .

Assembly Work At Home Scams

Many people who need extra money would like to work from home. Unfortunately, some companies cheat people out of their money by preying on this desire to make money from home. Most work at home "opportunities" look like legitimate ways to make extra cash. They often advertise ads in local newspapers , magazines , or through E-MAIL. These ads typically say something like "EARN &2,500 A MONTH. . .

7 Work At Home Mistakes To Avoid

When I first started my own "WORK AT HOME" business, I had no experience whatsoever , and I did not know how to get started on the right foot. After a lot of trial and error, I have learned [and still learning] on what to do and not to do to get started in my "WORK AT HOME " business. Any one who had decided to start their own "WORK AT HOME" business , is going to make mistakes along the way. R. . .

Keeping Your Kids Safe While They Are Online

The INTERNET can be a dangerous place for your kids, if you don't know the risks that can occur while being online. It is our jobs as parents, to know what our kids are doing when they are online. It is up to us to keep them safe in everything that they do. Thousands of children use the INTERNET everyday without any problems at all, but we've all heard about the danger they could find themselve. . .

Six Lessons for Getting in the “Right Mindset” For Starti...

Believe it or not your childhood attitude towards a fence shapes your business mindset. As you’ll learn from my experience starting a business, having the right mindset is the key to being an entrepreneur. It’s all about being a fence hopper instead of a fence sitter. Remember being a kid? Did you sit on a fence and dangle your legs or did you hop right over that fence? The answer matters. It . . .

Start A Business For Under $100

There are a multitude of magazines and websites devoted to the sprit of Entrepreneurs, who by the way provide almost seventy percent of private sector jobs. The dream of almost every employee is to fire their boss, and start a business of their own. The best part about this dream is that it can be accomplished, and most ventures can be started for less than $100.The hardest decision to make i. . .

How To Save Money On Credit Cards

Some credit cards offer a cash advance option. But how good a deal is this? Not very. In fact, it can be downright expensive. Why? Because every time you use your credit card to withdraw case, more fees kick in: Cash advances can carry an upfront fee of 2 percent to 4 percent of the amount advanced. The advances have a higher interest rate than regular card charges. Interest charges begin . . .

How To Create A Mission Statement

Creating a mission statement can help you focus your business effort and do a lot of good in bringing your workforce together behind a common theme. The key to success is not just creating a mission statement, it's living the mission statement. A mission statement identifies the major purpose that you fulfill in providing products and services to customers. Your mission statement should: Inclu. . .

Organizing Business Cards for Effective Contact Management

Now that you've had colorful new business cards printed, and have been distributing them diligently, what do you do with the cards you collect from other people? If you're like most people, you have a stack of rubber-banded cards floating around you desk. Or you have been using them as bookmarks, toothpicks, and used gum wrappers and they are all over your office, car, wallet and purse ? but th. . .

Never Be Caught Cardless Again: Five Tips to Help You Rem...

Sorry, I Don't Seem to Have a Business Card With Me...Those could be the "famous last words" of the forgetful entrepreneur. If you habitually find yourself without a business card, you're habitually losing money; or at least the chance of making money. Your business card, more than any other marketing weapon in your arsenal, is what prospects and colleagues rely upon to remind them why they sho. . .

Using The Internet For Job-hunting

The Internet is a very useful tool for job seekers as it is a great source of information. Also, taking into account of a more wired world, getting online has never been easier. People can cost-effectively get Internet access in public libraries at broadband speeds. But with the fear of information overload, many job seekers do not fully utilize the many advantages of the Internet. This is nev. . .

How to find the Best Long Distance Rates

These days the best long distance rates are not found with your home carrier. There's too much competition in the marketplace and many people are discovering that a prepaid card can actually save them money. A coalition of long-distance phone companies has developed a package of reforms that will be implemented as soon as the Federal Communications Commission approves them. Ultimately, these ch. . .

Two Reasons to Use Timesheet Software

This short paper will expand on two key reasons to move to a computerized timesheet system at your company. There are more than two reasons of course, but these will be expanded on at a later date. The two key reasons to be discussed here are Timesheet Efficiency, and Timesheet Automation. Timesheet Efficiency is the concept of a single data entry exercise done accurately and quickly. Timesh. . .

The Importance of Timely Timesheets

Whether you are a small consultancy firm, a medium sized accountancy practice, or a code warrior for hire in a back room of your house then you have at least one thing in common: you are in business to get paid quickly, and for the work you have done. Timesheets are the usual method for tracking time you spent working and thus are the key to timely invoice generation. Timely invoice generati. . .

12 Ways to be a Confident Public Speaker

Speak from your heart. If you believe in what you say, than others need to hear it. All confident speakers fall in the P2 (passion plus persistence). Be sure your speech contains your most fundamental beliefs and comes from authenticity. 1. Prepare, prepare, prepare! 2. Practice in front of a full-length mirror, for small groups. Join Toastmasters. www.toastmasters.org 3. Be positive.. . .

The Hidden Power Of Understanding: A Secret To Building M...

You're busy with your business today, aren't you? You're pushing your mind and body to the limit just about everyday to handle all the activities that need to be done. But something is not quite right with this picture. Didn't you get into business to have more time freedom and more money to do what you want to do whenever you want to do it? Didn't you get into business thinking that once you g. . .

A Checklist For Drafting Business Letters And Emails

Write Right - You have an all important business letter or email drafted, proof read and waiting to be sent. Before you dash it off, use this self questionnaire to ensure that you have written to Express and not to Impress.= Is it actually necessary? Would a phone call or personal visit do? = What is the purpose of the document? Is it to - Request information / Clarify a stand or position / Pas. . .

Magnetic Business Cards: Make Your Marketing Message Stick

What is it about magnets that draw people to leave them on fridges and file cabinets for years at a time? Many people like to have the contact information handy for common service providers without flipping through a bulky phone book. Magnets are the perfect solution for being seen in this situation. It's a win-win relationship for you and the customer. Put Magnetic Business Cards to Work for Y. . .

Double Your Sales Potential With Double-sided Business Cards

Swapping business cards is one of the most basic and common forms of networking in the business world. With something that is so common practice, people often hand out cards blindly while not really thinking about what the card does AFTER you hand it out.How do your clients feel about your business card? Put yourself in their shoes.Is it valuable to them? Does it solve a problem? Take advantage. . .

Why PR is a Vital Force

Because it can alter individual perception and lead to changed behaviors. Something of profound importance to businesses, non-profits and associations who can sink or swim on how well they employ this crucial dynamic. Consider this simple blueprint that gets everyone working towards the same external audience behaviors insuring that your public relations effort stays focused: people act on thei. . .