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General

Forex Easy Cash – The name itself suggests that this could be one of the programs that could allow you to make money off Forex Markets rather easily! Lot of techniques explained in this program, can be very helpful for beginners. Trust me, as a newbie to the world of Forex trading, you would be at a loss of ideas on how to step ahead. It is here that Chris Williams has decided to help out. With his experience in Forex Trading, he has designed a program that would benefit newcomers for them to make money off the Forex Markets. More than anything, a good amount of knowledge and experience in Forex Markets is guaranteed.

The Forex Easy Cash has been voted “Decent” by a lot of people who have used this product. While they vote customer service as one of the major area of opportunity, they say that using Forex Easy Cash is relatively risk-free. All instructions are well explained and the program works amazingly well.

A lot of people though have not had an impressive run with this software. On the other hand, some have appreciated the simple nature on which the program works. Mostly these are beginners who are looking out for some information and knowledge to help them trade in Forex Markets. This product has a 90-day money back guarantee. The best you could do is – Buy this product, and if you are not satisfied return it (Within 90 days of purchase of course).

Content

This course starts with an education given to the readers on the risks and the prospects of Forex Trading in detail. As a beginner to Forex Trading, you may not all these details completely as yet. Chris Williams transitions you then into the various terminologies normally used in Forex Trading. This is where you gain a lot of information, something that could be useful for you when you start using the program. Trust this program to be used pretty regularly by a person who buys it, and to use it knowledge of the terminologies is important.

Do you have any experience in the Forex Markets at all? If you do not have the experience, no problem as Chris’ book takes you through information in detail that will more than help you in understanding the dynamics of Forex Markets. Pictorial representation of the content enables easier understanding of the content. With such a feature, you would never complain of not understanding content, even if you were a beginner.

The expert advisor software is a great tool that automates the process of determining and evaluating market conditions. Please note doing these is important for a successful Forex Trade. Additionally, the software itself provides a lot of content that can only help you in your Forex Trading efforts. Installing this software is rather easy! All you have to do is download the software on to your personal computer or laptop just the one time when you have purchased the product. Easy instructions and easy-to-understand content provided in this program will never get you seeing the other way with this system in front of you.

Effectiveness

Some aspects like the usage of the program and the user interface still need to be worked on. While these remain as areas of opportunities for the product, one cannot challenge the results using this product gives to its users. With that being said, some people have had some issues getting familiar with the user interface, something that must be looked into rather soon.

With the Forex Easy Cash software, one thing is taken – You can get results if and only if, you are willing to spend some time. You should be able to devote at least 1-2 hours at the start to ensure grasp all what’s been told to you. Importantly, you should want to learn the tips of the Forex Markets. Remember, if you are new to Forex markets, there is still some way for you to go before you get 100% knowledge on the market dynamics. And while you learn, the expert advisor software makes it easy for you in taking decisions by cutting down a lot of risks that are associated with Forex trading. A combination of how much you are willing to learn and the easy execution done by the expert advisor software will be good enough for you to get earning money off the Forex markets.

It surely is not one of the most sophisticated software to use in the market. One thing is for sure though – It is highly effective when it comes to Forex Trading! With that being said, please note you may have some initial difficulty getting used to the software. Spend some time with the software, and I am sure you would get used to the software.

Rating: 8/10

Is Forex Easy Cash the best Forex manual out there? Go NOW to our review of some of the most popular forex trading strategies out there. Do they offer real value or are they just a waste of time and money?

With all the online opportunities out there, it is hard to know exactly what works finance what doesn’t work for the average person. It’s tough to define the term “average person”, but for the purpose of this article, I’m going to make the following assumptions:

The Average Person

1. Has a job that personal need to keep until they make consistent money online.
2. Does not have the time or the desire to talk on the phone at all hours of the day or night to interested prospects.
3. Does not have extensive experience in running a business, accounting, marketing, sales and customer service.
4. Does not have experience marketing online and creating web sites.

Given this criteria, we can quickly eliminate most of the online opportunities. Here’s what we need:

1. An proven automated system that allows a person to make money without spending hours everyday on the computer.
2. An experience team of phone professionals handling prospects calls and questions 24/7. Let’s be honest here, almost nobody is going to hand over their money to you without speaking to someone first. Also, if you are new (everyone is at some point) some people are hesitant to join your team. Phone experts trained at answering questions can eliminate this problem.
3. The system must provide top notch websites, complete support, training and a proven marketing system.

You get what you pay for in this world. If you want the best system it is obviously going to cost more. Typically, the extra cost pays off in the long run through higher conversions. There are plenty of good opportunities that are relatively inexpensive, but rarely will you find one that is all inclusive.

My advice – Do your research and find the opportunity that provides the most automation possible.

John Stevenson has an MBA in Finance and Corporate Accounting from The University of Rochester. He specializes in Internet Marketing and helping people make money online.

Automated Cash Gifting…Beginners Can Succeed

I am often asked how can tax increase my sales, sales are flat and tax need to improve my traffic to improve my sales. I know today everyone is using the Internet but I know very little about Internet Marketing. Well… that’s simply. Here are 7 simply steps you can take right now today to get yourself started:

1. You will need to start capturing business walk by and walk through traffic’s e-mail addresses. You have a gold mine right at your finger tips, use it and grow your business. If you are not sure how to I can direct you to where you will need to go at the end of these secrets.

2. You will have to decide what it is you want to give away to entice your walk by and walk through traffic to want to give you there email addresses.

3. You will need to set up an auto responder to effectively communicate with you clients and new prospects.

4. You will need to learn how to send out persuasive e-mails to motivate your new prospects to want to take action with what you are sending them.( Salesmanship on paper)

5. To get more action you will want to create an action Direct Response Web page not a bill board style. A Direct Response Web Site is basically salesmanship on paper while the other is simply keeping your name in from of them.

6. You will want to offer discounts to entice people to shop with you.

7. You will want to repeat what is working and change what isn’t so you will want to test these different methods to see what is best for your style of business.

If all of this seems a little new to you, then I can help . There are list building sites I can send you to. Please check out http://www.changingtimesforbusiness.com

Is Life Lock the cure for the identity theft protection epidemic? Is Life Lock the answer to providing you with peace of mind when it comes to preventing identity theft?

We are going to look at the benefits, features, pros and cons of Life Lock. We are going to review Life Lock and see if it is the solution to identity theft prevention or if you can do the same thing on your own as Life Lock does.

What can Life Lock do for you that you can’t do for yourself? Well, pretty much nothing.

The real question is, do you want to hassle with going through all the steps and processes yourself. Some people thrive on research, seeking out every detail and are just plain DIYers. Others just have so much going on in their lives that they don’t want the additional burden, they just want the security of knowing things are taken care of for them and they are protected, and that is where companies such as Life Lock come into play.

So let’s look at what Life Lock does and how you can do the same thing yourself.

Life Lock – Fraud Alert

First is the fraud alert. Life Lock will place a fraud alert on your credit profile at all three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and Transunion. A fraud alert will put your credit profile in lock down mode. No one will be able to open new accounts in your name without your being notified. Any potential credit grantors will be notified that they must verify your identification before extending credit in your name in case someone is using your identity without your knowledge.

DIY – Fraud Alert

Can you put a fraud alert on your credit profile yourself? Sure you can, you must notify all three credit bureaus every three months to put a fraud alert on your credit profile. Fraud alerts come in three flavors:

1. You can put a three month fraud alert if you suspect identity theft

2. A one year fraud alert can be obtained if you are an active military consumer

3. A seven year fraud alert will require you to show proof that your identity has been stolen by submitting a copy of a valid identity theft report to the credit bureaus that you have filed with a Federal, State or local law enforcement agency.

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian:
1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
P.O. Box 9532,
Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion:
1-800-680-7289
Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790,
Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

Life Lock – Opt Out

The next thing Life Lock will do is request that your name be removed from junk mail lists and pre-approved credit offers. This is one of the main methods identity thieves will use to get a hold of your identity.

DIY – Opt Out

Can you request your name be removed from junk lists and pre-approved credit offers? Once again, yes you can, but you may have to make the request multiple times before you are completely removed. As I am sure you know, advertising is a very lucrative business and companies don’t give up easily on potential prospects.

Listed below is information on the organizations you can contact to have your name removed from various mailing lists.

Credit Bureaus

Keep in mind that the credit bureaus may have different requirements for opting out. You can write a letter to request your personal information not be shared or used for promotional purposes.

The national credit bureaus offer a toll-free number that enables consumers to opt-out of all pre-approved credit offers with just one phone call. You can call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) or you can go to the OptOutScreen website.

Department of Motor Vehicles

State departments of motor vehicles (DMVs) keep a lot of personal information about you. (Take a look at your driver’s license, for example.) The Drivers Protection Act offers you privacy rights concerning your information maintained by DMVs. The law sets limits on how your information can be used. A DMV agency can give out your personal information for things such as law enforcement, driver safety, insurance underwriting, etc.

Recently, an amendment was made to the law which now prohibits DMV from giving out your personal information for other types of uses, including for direct marketing, unless you give them permission.

You should contact the DMV in your state for more specific information.

Direct Marketers

The Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) Mail Preference Service allows you to opt out of receiving unsolicited commercial mail from various national companies for five years. When you sign up for this service (a $1 fee), your name will be put in a ‘delete’ file and made available to direct-mail marketers. This will only help you for mailings from organizations who use the DMA’s Mail Preference Service. Your registration won’t stop mailings from organizations that don’t use this service. To register with DMA’s Mail Preference Service, go to the DMAChoice org website.

The FTC also publishes a free brochure on Shopping by Phone or Mail. For a complete list of publications, write for Best Sellers, Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580; or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357), TDD (202) 326-2502.

Life Lock – Free Credit Reports

Life Lock will also order your credit report from all three credit bureaus which are sent directly to you.

DIY – Free Credit Reports

You can also do this yourself. Each credit bureau allows you to obtain one free credit report each year. That will give you your credit report every four months, each time from a different credit bureau. Keep in mind that each credit bureau does not always keep the same account information on file.

Getting your credit report every four months is all well and good to get an overview of your credit score and where you stand. But it is not going to be very helpful in the event your identity is stolen, unless you happen to get your credit report just as an identity thief is going on a shopping spree in your name.

Do it yourselfer’s can go to annualcreditreport.com to get your free credit report.

Life Lock – Replacing Lost Information

Life Lock has a feature they call WalletLock™. In the event your wallet is stolen you call Life Lock anytime and they will match you up with a WalletLock specialist who will help you contact your credit card, bank or document issuing company, cancel your affected accounts and complete any paperwork and steps necessary to replace your lost documents, such as your credit/debit cards, driver’s license, social security card, insurance cards, checkbook, even travelers checks.

DIY – Replacing Lost Information

Can you do all this yourself? You should know by now that the answer is yes. As long as you remember all the cards you have to replace. And you will also have to hunt down all the contact information for each organization you hold cards with.

I don’t know about you, but this feature alone is worth the price to me. Just thinking of going through all that hassle makes my head spin and gives me a migraine. Yes I admit it, I am lazy and I don’t want to go through all that hassle by myself! I want someone holding my hand, walking me through it and making sure I don’t forget anything cause I can guarantee you I won’t be thinking with a clear head.

But that is just me, maybe you have plenty of time on your hands, aren’t bothered by the hassle, are great at research and getting a hold of the right people (and not an answering system), and having all your information stolen just wouldn’t bother you enough to get your head spinning. So if you are a ‘do it yourselfer’ then have at it.

Life Lock – Identity Theft Monitoring Service

Life Lock offers two new identity theft monitoring services that helps you locate any threats to your identity.

eRecon™ spiders websites known for criminal activity associated with illegal selling or trading of your personal information (this includes your Social Security number, credit card number, driver’s license and email address, if you provided it) and alerts you if, or when they find something.

TrueAddress™ keeps tabs on nationwide address databases and Life Lock will notify you if any new address information associated with your name is detected in this database. This alert will help you if a criminal has changed your address to send your new mail to a different location where they can steal your mail easier and get your financial information.

DIY – Identity Theft Monitoring Service

Can you monitor your identity yourself? Maybe, possibly, if you are extremely web savvy, have the right software and tools…but highly unlikely.

Life Lock – $1,000,000 Guarantee

And the last feature offered by Life Lock is the famous Life Lock million dollar guarantee. Life Lock claims if your Identity is ever stolen while you are a member of the Life Lock identity theft protection service they will do whatever it takes to reclaim your good name. Life Lock states they will hire the best lawyers on your behalf. They will get you investigators, accountants, case managers, whatever else you might need to recover your identity. Life Lock also states they will give you back any money you have lost due to the theft of your identity.

Life Lock claims they do whatever it takes and will spend up to $1,000,000 to help you recover your good name.

DIY – $1,000,000 Guarantee

Can you offer yourself a million dollar guarantee? Ah, well, only you know the answer to that one.

DIY vs Life Lock Review Conclusion

Most of the features offered by Life Lock can be had by any energetic DIYer (except possibly the $1,000,000 Guarantee). It just depends on whether you want to deal with all the hassle yourself or not. If your a typical DIYer and don’t mind the hassle, then by all means, have at it.

If you are like many people, don’t have the extra time to deal with the hassle and would prefer some guidance along the way, then you might want to think about using the Life Lock Identity Theft Protection Service, or even another similar service.

We hope this Life Lock Review has been helpful to you. If you are still trying to decide on whether to use an identity theft protection service or if your just not sure which monitoring service to choose, you might want to take a look at our comparison page to get the pros and cons to some of the top identity theft protection service providers that are out there.

Brenda Mohney is founder of Identity Theft Security. Identity Theft Security is a site dedicated to providing identity theft tips tools and resources to help consumers find quality information about identity theft protection.

Identity Theft Security offers reviews of identity theft insurance services, comparisons of identity theft plans and we offer identity theft videos, brochures and free software.

In order business conquer a problem, one has to know what the problem is and how to overcome it. Individuals with addictions have to know first that they are addicts in order to overcome their partnership Why do people fail in MLM? Is there any way to avoid pitfalls in this business?

How do you handle rejection? That is a pitfall with many would-marketers. It really isn’t a rejection of you as a person. Most individuals don’t know you. All they know is that you have a product or service they may be interested in. Working online has allowed some rejection proof approaches. Using lead capture pages and auto responder messages serve to “pre-qualify” your prospects. So, initially you may not have to meet face to face with these contacts, but eventually you will have to and you can do this successfully if you fill your mind with positive messages. This will help in keeping your spirits up and motivational tapes and books are the sort of avenue to readjust your attitude during needed times. Network marketing teaches you to acquire a brighter outlook on life.

Expectations should be realistic. Expecting too much too soon will only set you up for financial failure. Network marketing is a legitimate business which requires time and effort. After all, what foolish person is going to jump in and built a house without first partnership the out of pocket cost.

Initially, big recruiter’s salaries are quoted. No mention of time and money that the recruiter had to spend to get where he is usually isn’t mentioned. Ask about it. You can only get a clearer picture with the answer.

Once you have decided on a company that will meet your needs, than firmly plant your feet for the long duration. Stick to your decision. Building a solid recurring income takes guts. It will take all you have to stay put for at least three years before deciding which way to turn. Searching out one opportunity after another shows lack of planning on your part and the willingness to build a stable relationship with your team.

Staying put with a thriving MLM and adopting a willingness to see through anything no matter how up and down it can become, shows a tenacity in wanting to make this succeed not only for yourself but for your company boss, sidelines, and downlines. Only than will you truly be able to say you possess leadership qualities that come from a positive mindset willing to work at a dream.

Cindy Heller has helped thousands of ‘lost’ marketers in creating a passive income online. Learn how she did it from this free online guide: Passive Income Blueprint.

After 20 years in sales and management, I have found that the most successful people stick to the basics. They have an abundance partnership knowledge of their product, a positive and winning attitude, excellent selling skills and the habits that ensure a full diary with qualified prospects.

Some time ago, I attended a Tom Hopkins ‘Boot Camp’ in the USA. This is one of the world’s greatest sales courses and runs for 3 days. There were 800 people attending (I was the only South African/Brit) and the amazing thing was that these were not beginners attending, but some of the world’s top sales people from every walk of life. Some had returned for the 13th time and the sole purpose was to get back to basics.

Working with top sales people in 48 countries, these are some of the basic skills that I have discovered helps them to be top in their fields.

Prospecting
Top sales people are master prospectors. They are not afraid of cold calling and are socially mobile. They belong to sports clubs, social clubs (Round Table, etc) and have an inbuilt antenna in locating new prospects. They can differentiate very quickly between prospects and suspects and will spend their time with the best-qualified prospects. I work with a great salesman in Hong Kong who earns over a million dollars a year selling financial services. He only mixes with millionaires and his aim is to find the wealthiest person to sell to. He has the belief that everyone will buy from him (and most do). Another client has his own polo team and spends £500,000 every August arranging a worldwide polo tournament. Most polo players are extremely wealthy and as his company sponsors the tournament, he has a high profile. Sales that follow the tournament each year amount to £2 – £3 million.

Phoning
I have very rarely met someone who loves making appointments on the phone. Top salespeople have developed the habit of phoning partnership They work on ratios and follow a simple script (though it never sounds as if they use a script). They also prepare well for partnership having only a diary, prospect names and their script in front of them. Any distractions such as papers are taken off the desk while they phone. They also set themselves a definite target of prospects that will say ‘yes’ in each phoning session. They don’t allow any distractions and psyche themselves positively for every call and don’t take rejection personally. For more scripts take a look at my audio series on telephoning and setting up appointments calls ‘Telephone Sales Skills for Winners’

Dress for Success
It doesn’t matter what you sell, you need to dress appropriately. I work with many professionals and the standard dress code is that of the City of London. Dark suits, white shirt, conservative tie and clean, black lace up shoes. Green suits are a no-no. Different occupations allow for short sleeve shirts and more casual dress, but remember, it’s the small things that count. Neatly ironed shirt and trousers, good grooming, gold pen (or gold plated if you’re new to sales – fake it till you make it) and decent looking briefcase.

Be very aware of body odor and halitosis (bad breath). It is very inexpensive to buy ‘Gold Spot’ and spray your mouth before each call. I recently went to a well know high street electrical store to purchase and expensive piece of hi-fi equipment. I was knocked out (and nearly sick) by the salesman’s bad breath and quickly left the store and purchased the equipment elsewhere. Here was someone with no idea on the basics, losing his company a lot of money. Remember, you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.

Developing Rapport
This was easy when I sold in South Africa some years ago. I would take out my gun and so would my prospect and we would then compare guns and bullets. When I arrived in the UK and tried this on my first call, the prospect ran out never to be seen again. Joking aside, whenever I meet someone, I use the ‘past, present and future’. People love to talk about themselves and whenever I meet someone for the first time, I firstly ask them how they got started. I then ask about their present situation and where they see themselves in the future. At this stage, I can learn more about them than at any other time. The important thing is to keep quiet and listen. I also realise that there are a number of things on the prospect’s mind when I first meet such as, who am I, how credible I am, the background of my company and what’s in it for him and me. My introduction is as follows (after past, present and future).

“In preparing for today’s meeting, I thought there may be some questions on your mind such as ‘who am I, who is my company and what’s in it for you and me,” at which stage they always nod in agreement. I tell him about myself and my qualifications (this is the only time I talk about myself and most professionals like to deal with other professionals). I then go on to tell the prospect about my company. Following that comes ‘what’s in it for you’ when I say quite simply that I would like to take a look of where they or their company are right now and where they would like to be in the future and to help them achieve these goals. ‘What’s in it for me?’ “I get paid in two ways, firstly if you think my proposals are feasible, I would like you to place the business with me and secondly, whether we do business or not, I would like you to refer me to 2 or 3 other people/companies similar to you.”

Questioning and Listening
Most top salespeople are master questioners and excellent listeners. These are the tools of their trade and enable them to find out what is really important to their client.

Lighting the fire
All successful salespeople know how to ‘light the fire and ignite the passion’ that will enable the prospect to buy. They realise how important emotions are in the sales process and sell the benefits of their product or service.

Closing skills
Statistics show that most top salespeople close on their fifth attempt. Mediocre salespeople don’t even know 5 closes.

On the Tom Hopkins sales course, we were all expected to learn 27 closes verbatim as well as the importance of overcoming objections and uncovering the real and underlying objection to proceeding with the sale immediately. If every step of the sales process is followed correctly, the close is the natural progression. The power of words

Most people have been conditioned to react either positively or negatively by the use of certain words. An example is ‘I would like to make an appointment’. Who do you make an appointment with: doctors, dentists and other people out to hurt you? Rather use, ‘I’d be happy to drop by/pop in (as friends do). ‘Sign the contract’ is something we’ve all been warned about. Rather use ‘Please authorise the paperwork’. Always be aware of your ‘sales language’.

Pride
All successful people are proud of their professions and love selling. This becomes very evident to the prospects.

Enthusiasm
Selling skills and enthusiasm count for 85% of the sale. If you are boring, tired or not in the mood to sell, you will never be amongst the elite of salespeople.

Superb service
Top professionals deliver what they promise. Their levels of excellent service ensure that their client will never ‘shop’ elsewhere and they will in turn provide a constant source of referrals.

Fun
Top salespeople have fun and look forward to each day. They have great senses of humour. When I first started selling 20 years ago, I had an appointment with a schoolteacher. On arriving at her house, her little sister told me to sit and wait in the lounge as her sister was taking a shower. Five minutes later, she came walking through the lounge drying her hair, stark naked! She looked up and saw me, ran out and locked herself in a bedroom and shouted ‘go away, I don’t want to see you’. Well I left without a sale, but that’s when I realised ‘money isn’t everything!’

Frank Furness CSP is a specialist speaker and consultant in marketing, sales and technology, take a look at http://www.frankfurness.com
Download free EBooks and software and get all the latest technology tips at http://www.frankfurnessresources.com
Frank can be contacted at frank@frankfurness.com

National home sales rose 2.9% in February giving hope to the nationwide slump in house sales. Savvy home buyers are beginning to realize that one man’s misfortune can be another man’s fortune. Foreclosed homes are the main force driving this welcome birth in new home sales. Some markets like Las Vegas are reporting that foreclosed homes make up as much as 40% of reported sales in the real estate market.

Many of these purchases are being made by investors large and small. If the housing market were a blue chip stock analyst would be screaming buy, buy, buy. House prices and property values are almost certain to come up in the future leaving those who bought homes today in very good financial shape. This being said, there are a few pitfalls that would-be investors need to look out for when attempting to buy foreclosures in today’s market.

1) Location, Location, Location – We have all heard this before but it has never rang truer than it does today. Whether you are buying your home to “flip” or buying your home to keep as a rental property location is your first key consideration. With foreclosures looming in almost every neighborhood you need to look for neighborhoods with the least amount of foreclosures in them. These are the properties that will “heal” first as the market begins to turn around.

These homes will tend to be in the middle to upper priced neighborhoods. You should choose your price range according to your intended use of the property. If your goal is to rent the property, be careful not to buy too much home because most people that can afford to rent higher priced homes can also afford to buy them. Look for lower priced homes in good neighborhoods and close to schools. Transversely, if your goal is to flip the house and you have the capital to hold the home for an extended amount of time larger houses will bring larger profits.

2) Buying “Fixer uppers” - Most would-be new investors that I speak with are looking for this type of property to purchase. It is true that these properties offer a much higher reward when purchased correctly, but they also represent the largest reasons new investors fail. Unless you have “deep” pockets, meaning you can purchase the home out-right or put a substantial amount down new investors should stay away from homes that need a lot of repairs.

Buying a home to fix-up and flip or rent can open up a can of worms that even the savviest investors have problems with. Contractors, inspectors and weather delays are all intangibles that you cannot foresee. Not to mention, if you have this home on a high interest ARM or hard money loan and you hit delays in repairs or renting the property you could lose planned profits for years to come. My advice is to begin with a home in good shape that you can get at a bargain price to get your “feet wet” and move on to distressed property as you build your reserves and experience.

3) Hard Money Lenders - If I had a nickel for every time a new investor asked me for a hard money loan I would be rich. Hard money loans are analogous to commodities in the stock market. Even the most experienced traders get burned with commodities every once in a while, and the inexperienced are almost certain to be burnt. So it goes in the housing market, hard money loans are one step above a loan shark. They loan money on low loan to value homes and wait eagerly for the investor to fail. They follow the foreclosure laws in each state step by step and are extremely efficient at taking properties should the investor “slip”.

However, in the defense of hard money lenders they do play an important role in the careers of many investors. If you have ample capital, good prospects for selling or renting the home they can be an indispensable asset to experienced investors. Experienced investors are prepared for and can even anticipate delays in construction, renovations and slow rental markets. For new investors we suggest buying a home through traditional channels to begin with. Once you have ample reserves and some experience you can move to the bridge loans and hard money loans.

There are many other pitfalls to look out for but these three seem to be the top three I see new investors making. For fast mortgage closings and peace of mind we suggest that you find a good mortgage company that you trust and stay loyal. Building good relationships with builders, mortgage companies, and realtors can go a long way to helping the new investor survive in today’s real estate market.

Aubrey Clark is a syndicated writer on financial matters and the editor for Lendfast. He writes extensively on lending topics like finding the best Atlanta mortgage rates and how investors obtain Georgia low mortgage rates.

Introduction— The outbreak of SARS:

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a deadly atypical pneumonia that became publicly recognized at the end of February 2003. It first appeared in the Chinese province of Guangdong in November 2002 and spread to Hong Kong during late February. By mid-June 2003, the business virus had infected around 8500 people worldwide and caused around 800 deaths. SARS has largely affected the greater China area. In mid-June 2003, about 63% of the cases occurred in China, with 85% in China and Hong Kong together. The third largest outbreak has been in Taiwan. business and Singapore also experienced significant outbreaks.
The Economic Impact of SARS:

In economic terms, SARS represents a crisis of confidence and a demand shock that hit East Asia, especially China, hard. This occurred at a time when East Asian growth prospects were already clouded by geopolitical uncertainties and high oil prices, the stalling in technology exports, and overall weak economic growth in major industrialized economies. GDP growth slowed significantly in a number of East Asian economies in the first quarter of 2003.

Fear of contracting SARS influenced the behavior of individuals, making them avoid public places, travel and face to face contact. In Hong Kong, Singapore, and parts of China, schools closed, meetings and conventions were postponed or unattended, while restaurants and shopping malls experienced declining patronage. As a consequence, consumption expenditure and especially the consumption of services fell sharply.

I will show the economic impacts in two aspects: short term and long term impacts.
Short Term Impacts:

In the short term, SARS mainly affects economic growth by reducing demand:

(1) Consumer confidence has dramatically declined in a number of economies, leading to a significant reduction in private consumption spending.

(2) Service exports, in particular tourism-related exports, have been hard hit.

(3) Investment is affected by reduced overall demand, heightened uncertainties, and increased risks. Furthermore, foreign investment inflow may be delayed or reduced in reaction to SARS.

(4) While increased government spending will mitigate the impact, the ability of governments to revive economies facing widespread reductions in private spending is limited.
Long-term implications:

The severe economic impact of SARS struck at the epicentre of growth in East Asia. The spillover effects on the rest of the region emphasised the high degree of regional integration, with countries such as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore being highly interlinked with the rest of East Asia in terms of travel, production and trade. This has highlighted how a SARS-induced or similar type of economic shock in one country is readily transmitted to other countries in the region. Any further SARS or similar outbreaks could have long-term implications for regional growth and could potentially hamper moves toward greater integration in the region.

The SARS outbreak also may have long-term implication in terms of investors’ perceptions.

The long term economic impact of SARS will depend largely on whether governments can quickly implement effective public health policies. This will require increased investment in public health and will have implications in terms of increased fiscal outlays. The provision of accurate, timely and transparent information on the nature and extent of any further SARS outbreak will also be important in assisting to contain and reduce public fears and uncertainty.
The Government Economic Measures after the SARS Outbreak
Government Economic Measures of some countries

China P.R

April/May

• Price control/monitoring of SARS-related drugs and goods.

May

• Temporary reductions/waivers of taxes and administrative fees for SARS- affected industries, including catering and hotels;

• Free medical treatment to farmers and poor urban residents who contracted SARS;

• Subsidies and temporary exemptions from personal income tax to medical staff treating SARS patients;

• Interest subsidies for air transport and tourism sectors.
Hong Kong, China
23-Apr-03
• The authorities announced a HK$11.8 billion (US$1.5 billion) economic relief package, representing 1% of Hong Kong’s GDP. The package included the following measures for a limited period;

• Temporary reduction/waivers of taxes and administrative fees;

• A job creation scheme;

• A loan guarantee scheme.

Taipei

April/May

• The authorities announced spending of NT$50 billion (US$1.4 billion) to help meet medical cost and business losses related to the SARS outbreak.
Singapore

17-Apr-03

• The Government decided to implement a S$230 million (US$132 million) SARS relief package, including:

• Temporary reduction/waivers of taxes and administrative fees for tourism and transport sectors;

• Relief measure for airlines.

Malaysia

21-May-03

• The Government announced a RM7.3 billion (US$1.92 billion or 2% of GDP) economic package aimed to assist sectors significantly affected by SARS. Funded from federal budget and contributions from bank and other financial institutions, the economic package included:

• A reduction of bank intervention rates by 50 basis point for cheaper loans;

• Foreign investment guidelines to be more investor-friendly;

• Support for tourism-related industries;

• Promotion of microcredit schemes and cheaper housing loan;

• Support for job training.

How should Governments Respond to SARS and Similar Situations?

Two aspects of SARS warrant government intervention. The first is that the information that needs to be collected and disseminated to effectively assess SARS displays the characteristics of a public good. Second, there are externalities related to contagious diseases in the sense that they affect third parties in ways that are not reflected in market transactions. Public goods and externalities are typical partnership where there are market failures, and government action is needed to correct such failures.
Provision and Acquisition of Accurate Information

The accurate, timely, and transparent provision of information on the nature and extent of SARS by governments is critical for containing the epidemic and reducing public fears and uncertainty. Governments need to work closely with medical professionals to generate and disseminate accurate information about the risks and extent of a disease, and preventative measures available. A balance needs to be struck between alerting people to the risks involved and preventing people from panicking and overreacting. Due to the highly effective channels of information transmission now in place, any apparent lack of transparency in providing information is likely to cause second-guessing and panic among the general population. Governments therefore need to utilize the increasing influence and reach of the modern media to disseminate information so as to ensure rational thinking and sensible actions prevail.
Containing the Disease

The SARS epidemic demonstrates that with the increased flow of people, goods and services, and information across borders, both positive and negative developments can quickly be transmitted within a country and spill over to other countries. Early identification and containment are critical, as any delays will create greater costs later on. As pointed out by Baltimorem (2003), Nobel prize laureate in medicine, targeted and aggressive public health responses need to be combined with a rational evaluation of risks so as to minimize disruption to people’s lives.
Government Budget

The occurrence of sudden, unexpected shocks such as SARS stretches government resources. At the same time, the resulting decrease in economic activity will reduce government revenue. This, together with increased public spending to prevent and combat the disease, will worsen government fiscal positions. In some cases, active stimulus packages may also be needed to revive the economy. The possibility of episodes like SARS emphasizes the need for governments to implement prudent fiscal policies, to accumulate primary surpluses, and to set aside appropriate amounts in their budgets for unexpected contingencies.
Conclusion

It is sure that SARS is a heavy attack for these countries not only in the economy but also in other aspects. However, it is also a good lesson for us to learn from.

The SARS epidemic demonstrates that:

(1) The accurate, timely, and transparent provision of information on the nature and extent of diseases by governments is critical for educating the public about the real risks and reducing public fears and uncertainties. A balance needs to be struck between alerting the public to the potential dangers involved and preventing panic and overreaction to the danger concerned.

(2) Early identification and containment is critical, as any delays will create greater costs later on.

(3) SARS is merely one of many contagious diseases that could potentially flare up. Public policy needs to go beyond SARS to make provisions for all contagious diseases. Efforts need to be put into applying and maintaining the lessons learned from the SARS crisis after it is controlled.

In particular, there is a need to minimize the occurrence of all contagious diseases; to effectively respond to emergency situations; and to strengthen health systems so that they have the ability to cope with similar situations in the future.

(4) The global implications of serious contagious diseases means that governments need to intensify cooperation and coordination. There is a particular need for developed countries and more advanced developing member countries to devote funds toward undertaking collaborative, proactive, and forward-looking research on combating such diseases. Counties also need to commit to collaborative schemes to develop effective policy frameworks and institutional capacity for preventing, reporting, monitoring, and containing all contagious diseases.

(5) The occurrence of emergency situations such as the outbreak of SARS shows that government budgets need to be prudent so that they are capable of handling unheralded public health crises. An appropriate amount of funds should be set aside to cope with such contingencies.

If good strategies can be drawn up from the lessons learned in combating the spread of SARS, the world at large will benefit in the long run.

This is meant to be informative only.  This is not to be taken as legal advice.

Very surprisingly, only a small percentage of the U.S.A. population takes advantage of the wealth of informative material provided by the world’s largest publisher – the U.S. Government Printing Office.

Here is a source of priceless, accurate and official information which is reported and written by experts. Almost every conceivable subject has been reported upon in detail in some government publication – topics such as energy, employment, health, business, investments, science and technology, education, careers, transportation, veterans and personal benefits, consumer advice, foreign trade, law, space, food and diet, astronomy, gardening, medical, maintenance, housing, money management, equipment, hobbies, travel – the list goes on and on.

These publications are available to you upon request. In fact, you indirectly helped pay for them. A part of your tax contribution is allocated to operate the government printing office.

Many of these publications feature business sand personal matters that may directly help you make or save money. This report, however, will outline the most simple and ideal method to reap a huge financial gain from these publications – selling this information by mail.

You undoubtedly have noted ads offering reports on government surplus, oil lotteries, land acquisitions, energy, etc. These ads appear in many national magazines monthly. year after year. Such reports contain information extracted from government publications. Often they are copied word for word. The “insiders” know how and where to get this valuable information free, or at low cost, then use this material to earn huge profits for themselves.

Few people realize that government publications are not copyrighted. Anyone has the authority to use this material for his own personal benefit. That includes copying it word-for-word if desired, reproducing it, and selling the information in the form of books, manuals or reports.

From this vast source of published material are many thousands of ideas you can adopt to prepare an informative publication which can be profitably sold by mail.

The first step, obviously, is to find out which publications are available, what subjects they cover and where they can be obtained. The second step is to select topics which would inform, appeal to and attract a large number of people who would be willing to buy your information by mail. The third step, is to compile this information into a book, manual or report, get it printed, then go about the business of marketing it profitably.

Step 1

Besides a huge volume of official documents, the government printing office issues about 25,000 other booklets and reports with topics that concern and interest the general pubic. The government also publishes guides which lists and describes new issues when they become available.

Write to the Consumer Information Center, Pueblo, CO 81009. Request to be placed on their mailing list to receive the “Consumer Information Catalog” which is issued periodically during each year. Also request to receive “Selected U.S. Government Publications” from: Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.

Many public libraries stock these catalogs and some government publications. You can check for titles of current and back issues and order anything that interests you or copy any information you need. You may also find copies at other U.S. and State agency offices and perhaps at your local chamber of commerce office.

Publications may also be obtained from government offices such as the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Agriculture, etc. These agencies offer many publications pertinent to matters in their field. For example, the Department of Commerce can provide data and information assistance in various business matters, foreign trade, etc.

The ruling powers in Washington are cutting funds to many agencies. It is likely that in future not as many free publications will be available as were printed in the past. The low cost of any government publication, however, is still a tremendous bargain. Never hesitate to pay a small amount for valuable information that could be the source of financial benefits for you.

Step 2

Which topics to consider for your publication? What type of printed information will the public buy? Basically, to sell successfully by mail, your product must fill a People need or desire. It must offer a specific appeal factor that will make the public want to obtain the product. Some of the strongest appeals are found in products which promise to help people:

Make Money Be Safe & Secure Have Fun & Enjoyment Save Money Eliminate Problems Find Out Where to Get Save Time & Effort Be Popular Something Beneficial Enjoy Comfort Do Things Better Something Useful Enjoy Health Gain Success

Thus, your publication should deal with the “How To” and “Where To” type of subjects. This is the main information the buying public seeks and will buy. The stronger information appeal your publication offers, the larger number of people will be attracted to you offer. This factor will translate into a greater sales volume and ultimately higher profits.

Emphasized again, the subject matter of your publication must interest and appeal to a large number of prospects. Among large group categories are: households, blue collar and white collar workers, opportunity seekers, investors, dieters, recipe fanciers, gardeners, teenagers, senior citizens, mail order aspirants, health and exercise enthusiasts, fix-it-uppers, hobbyists, sportsmen and many other specific classes of people seeking helpful information to fulfill their desires and needs.

Step 3

When you decide upon a suitable subject or subject or subjects, you next step is to compile the information into your own publication. You can copy word-for-word from the government literature, extract portions of the copy, express the ideas in your own words, or add some of your own ideas and thoughts to enhance the subject and provide the reader with additional information.

The size of your publication will depend upon how many words are necessary to fully cover the subject. Provide every essential and important detail so the reader will completely understand and benefit from the information. Don’t skimp, but don’t include anything that is superfluous or inappropriate to the subject. Give the customer at least what he expects – more if possible. A happy, satisfied customer is a confident prospect for your future offers.

For example, a publication entitled “Second Opportunities”, explaining a large number of money-making activities, might require a booklet form of many pages. A publication entitled “How to Grow Prize-Winning Roses” might be a report of just a few pages.

As stated previously, you can reproduce any government printing, even page for page, if that size would fit the style of your publication. to test your offer, you can get initial copies mimeographed, but the best-looking reproduction can be provided by an offset printer. He can reproduce printed copy. Type your own copy on a machine with carbon ribbon. It will provide clear, dark copy which the printer can reproduce with sharp results.

Adopt a title for your publication that will create attention. The title in a descriptive circular, or stated in a classified or space ad, can affect sales. The title should explain the subject matter in as few words as possible. Bring out as many of the appeals listed in Step 2. Yet, keep the title short without sacrificing any word or phrase that might keep a reader form becoming a customer. Look through magazines for titles of books and reports sold by mail. You will get ideas for preparing titles to attract the mail order buyer.

What price to charge for your publication? Only testing can determine the right price. The right price is the selling price that brings in the most profit Not total sales necessarily, but profit… the bottom line in any business activity. Set a price initially based on the suggestions in the following paragraph. Later tests may determine that you can make more profit by charging more and selling less. Or, tests may prove that by lowering the price and selling more units, you earn more total profits. Often the introduction of a new mail order product requires testing… and testing again… until the most effective sales copy and the right selling price is established to provide the most profit from each promotion.

To make big money selling information by mail, consider pricing your publication at least 10 times its cost. And, that’s just the norm for a multi-paged publication. A report of just a few pages must be sold for 15 to 20 times its cost to realize adequate profits from promotions. To start, get just a few copies printed. but, don’t base your selling price on this cost. Request the printer to quote you on 1,000 and higher quantities. This will be the volume you will be purchasing if your publication is successful and that cost should be the basis for initially pricing your publication.

To promote sales of your publication, use one or all of the usual mail order methods… classified ads, space ads and direct mail.

Classified ads are seldom productive if the advertiser solicits orders for items priced over $3.00 directly from the ad. Classified ads are mainly used to obtain inquiries for higher-priced items. So what can you do with a publication that must sell for $5.00 or $6.00? You should promote this publication through space ads or include the publication in a descriptive circular or catalog featuring this publication among other offers of your own or that of other publishers.

Space ads are what the terms implies; they feature more space than a classified ad. This greater space allows for bold headlines, more details about the offer and inducements for the reader to send in an order. If space permits, an order form is included in the ad.

Direct mail consists of People your offer to a list of names. These names could be your customer list or names obtained from a list broker. Use only name lists that will be responsive to your offer. For example, an offer for a gardening publication should not be sent to a list of auto mechanics. Such a mailing would stand little chance for success. Also, it would hardly pay to send out a mailing for a $5.00 or $6.00 offer. Use direct mail to promote $10.00 or higher items, or send circulars or catalogs featuring several publications to receive orders for multiple items and higher dollar average per sale.

Selling information by mail profitably, requires application of the basic methods used by other successful mail order operators. This report, of course, cannot provide a complete course in mail order techniques. Obtain some books which explain how to operate a mail order business efficiently.

To summarize, check over the list of government publications that might provide suitable material for your own book or report. Then send for it. Determine if the contents can be the basis for a publication with strong appeal to a large group of prospects. Compile this information into an interesting book or report. Promote your offer slowly and carefully at the start. If promotional tests are favorable you can increase your advertising and promotion efforts, sell larger volumes of your publication and earn larger profits.

Follow these procedures faithfully and you could be on you way to earning a fortune – making your start with free government publications.

Copyright 2004 by DeAnna Spencer

Note to editors:
To show my appreciation to the editors that use my articles, I offer a free solo ad. Simply send an email to People by using the form on the contact me page on my website to tell me the url the article was used on or send me a copy of the ezine it was used in.

DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this small business resource today.

Press Releases is one of those things that can take on a life of its own. The right press release can generate tremendous exposure, opportunity and yes…profits. The real trick to writing a press release is to have something newsworthy to write about. This often takes creativity, inspiration, and a bit of innovation. Here are 10 ideas to get the brainstorming wheels spinning.

Calendar events. Events are a great way to get your business in the headlines. Whether you host a seminar or conference or you are sponsoring a local team events are newsworthy. To emphasize the newsworthiness of the event be sure to point out who it helps or how it solves a problem. For example a seminar on how to sell your home in a down economy benefits the very large For Sale by Owner segment in the United States. Sponsoring a local race to raise money for diabetes benefits those fighting diabetes.

Letter to editors can be a tremendous way to get the ball rolling or get attention for issues that are important to your business and your industry. As a business owner, when you take steps to bring issues to the forefront it demonstrates your passion for your field and your customers. It also demonstrates that you are a take charge, action oriented business. The letter itself can be used to generate a press release stating a businesses involvement or solution to an industry problem.

Problem-solving Tips articles. A press release that demonstrates how to resolve a common problem can be a great way to generate interest in your company’s products or services. For example, a pet store can write a press release about ten tips to house train your new puppy. The release can be made relevant and newsworthy by simply stating a statistic related to house training dogs, like 1 in 10 new puppy owners gives up their puppy due to house training problems. A statistic helps make the content newsworthy while the remainder of the article helps to make the content useful to consumers.

Local human interest story. Human interest stories, as they relate to your business, are a great way to generate publicity and press. Think about how many human interest stories make it to your local news. Both the morning and the evening news often highlight local businesses and how they’re benefiting the community. What is unique about your business, your customers, and your staff?

Query letters help generate press and publicity by getting your prospects, customers, and industry involved in a topic or an issue. Stick with topics that are current and you’re sure to generate some water cooler chatter.

Opinion editorials. Often times stirring the pot can bring about some pretty interesting press. While that old adage all publicity is good publicity may be true, it is important to not offend your core customers. So while generating some controversy is good for publicity careful consideration must be taken before giving an opinion that may offend your most profitable customers.

People advancements are a great way to showcase your company’s expertise. Anytime a staff member has a promotion, won an award, or contributed to the community or industry in some way, it’s time to generate a press release. Showcasing your staff’s expertise is a great way to build credibility for your business.

Small feature stories are another excellent tool to demonstrate the knowledge and expertise your company has to offer. For example, a software developer could write a story showcasing how their software helped a local business owner or non-profit become a leading force in their industry.

New products, services, book. This type of information is generally what stimulates a company to issue a press release however the release of a product or introduction of a new service in and of itself isn’t newsworthy. In order to make sure your press release gets the attention it deserves be sure to tie it to a problem or issue that needs to be resolved and then show how your product or service solves the problem.

Large feature stories. Feature stories, large or small, are designed to take a look at a subject in depth. An example of a large feature story might be how retailers can take advantage of impulse shopping. The article could highlight several retailers and their philosophy or approach to impulse shoppers, how to maximize it, and then highlight a few products that make great impulse shopping items in a gift shop.

Press and publicity is a great way to keep your business fresh in the minds of prospects and to reach new prospects around the world. A little creativity and innovation can go a long way toward generating very profitable press.

Robert Moment is an innovative sought-after small business and marketing coach and author of Invisible Profits:The Power of Exceptional Customer Service. Robert specializes in teaching entrepreneurs and small business owners how to start a business that profits and grow. Visit http://www.howtostartyoursmallbusiness.com and sign-up for the FREE 7 day e-course Turn Your Passion into Profits: Small Business Startup.