mugugag blog

Police Auctions Information: No, a police auction is not where you go to buy a policeman. Most people do not realize that police agencies, including local police departments, county sheriff departments, as well as state and federal law enforcement agencies end up with a lot of confiscated, lost, or abandoned property. This property ends up in the agency’s possession as the result of arrests, forfeitures, and just plain carelessness on the part of the property owner who sets a camera down in some public place and walks away.

Once the agency has accumulated enough property they will hold a police impound auction. The purpose of the police impound auction is two-fold. First, they want to empty out their property rooms which, in the case of some state and federal agencies, may be the size of a warehouse. Second, they want to turn this unclaimed or forfeited property into cash. This cash usually goes back into the agency’s budget, but it is sometimes earmarked for the particular government’s “general fund”. No matter where the money ends up, police auctions are usually a big money raiser for larger departments.

Forfeited Property and Police Impound Auction: Items that fall under this category are usually the creme de la creme of the police auctions industry. This is where you can find anything from motorcycles and cars, to boats, airplanes, and homes!

Forfeited property is generally the result of drug arrests where it was determined that the seized property was either used in the commission of drug-related crimes, or was purchased with money that was received as the result of a drug-related crime.

When you bid on this type of property at a police impound auction you are agreeing to accept the item “as is”. You need to be aware that the term “as is” does not simple refer to blemishes or minor damage. If, for example, you buy property at auction, and that property has tax liens placed against it, you will be expected to clear those liens before you can take rightful ownership. The same holds true for mortgages or car loans.

You can find some real bargains at police auctions for this type of high-value merchandise but you need to perform your due diligence so you don’t end up in red ink after the transaction.

Unclaimed and Abandoned Property: You would be shocked at what kind of property that people either lose or simply walk away from. You would be equally shocked at how many honest people find that property and turn it into the police department. Ultimately, if no one claims the property, and the owner cannot be otherwise be located — it ends up at a police auction where it is sold to the highest bidder.

Police auctions can be fun and profitable. Especially police auto auctions. Watch your local papers for announcements, or contact the law enforcement agencies in your area and find out when they are running the next police auctions. Http://DEAauctions.COM is an unchallenged leader in the Auction information Industry and will transform the way you search and locate the Billions of dollars in property that is auctioned off throughout the country every year.

Auction Process: Most jurisdictions have specific laws, or ordinances, that deal with how the auction will be conducted. In almost every instance, the agency that is conducting the police impound auction is required to publish a full description of the items that will be auctioned as well as the date, time, and location of the auction. they will also publish payment terms which may be cash, money order, certified check, or any other payment method that they choose to accept. They will usually also publish additional terms such as how long you have to remove the property form the auction site once you win the bid, plus any legal disclaimers that the lawyers think need to be mentioned. This publication is normally placed in at least one major newspaper that serves the area with in the law enforcement agency’s jurisdiction.
The purpose of this publication is first: to notify the owner of the property that they have one last chance to redeem it before it is sold at auction, and second: to generate publicity for the police auction so that it will be well attended.

Depending upon the size of the agency, and the agency’s experience conducting auctions, a police auction will either be run by the police department itself, another government agency that is responsible for fiscal matters, or an outside auction company.

The police auction might be held on the steps of the County Courthouse, a room inside of some government office, or a public arena. The location of the police auction depends a lot upon the size of the agency and how much property is being auctioned off.

Some police auctions require that you register as a bidder in advance, while others let everyone and anyone show up at the day of the auction. Bidders are usually allotted time to inspect the goods before the actual police auction begins. You should take advantage of this time because it is a very bad idea to bid on anything that you haven’t had time to inspect.
Once the auction starts, you simply bid on the items that you want. Have a budget in mind and don’t bid more than you’re willing to pay. It’s easy to get caught up in the bidding frenzy and end up paying far more than you intended to.

Police auctions can be fun and profitable. Especially police auto auctions. Watch your local papers for announcements, or contact the law enforcement agencies in your area and find out when they are running the next police auctions. Http://DEAauctions.COM is an unchallenged leader in the Auction information Industry and will transform the way you search and locate the Billions of dollars in property that is auctioned off throughout the country every year.

Technorati tags: police auction property agency auctions

Knowing your NICHE MARKET and where to find your NICHE is more important than the product you sell.

Most Netpreneurs take a narrow view of NICHE MARKETING as a limitation on their business, when in fact it is the POWER that provides longevity to their business.

The biggest mistake most new netpreneurs make online is that they have no idea where, or what, there NICHE MARKET is and therefore, sell their product to everyone and anyone and in the end sell to no one.

A common misconception is that - if you build it they will come. The truth is you have to find your NICHE and get them to come to your site.

In talking to new netpreneurs the first question I ask is who are you selling to? The almost instantaneous reply and always the same answer is: ‘everyone and anyone’.

The next successions of questions I then ask are:

what type of product are you selling
who would use your product
What problem does your product solve
Is your product distributed easily
Who would benefit from using your product

Simple questions, but not so easy for many netpreneurs to answer. If you take some time and answer these very straight forward questions you will find that by defining your NICHE you will be better equip to go straight to the source, than taking a stab in the dark and hoping it will all work out.

You will also find that by defining your NICHE MARKET you will:

Help define your Interne Marketing Strategy
Develop products/services that appeal to your NICHE
Set yourself up as an industry leader
Optimise your site for search engines so your NICHE can find you easily
Maximise your marketing budget where it counts.

Once again I ask you: WHAT’S YOUR INTERNET NICHE MARKET?

The truth can be found in your answers

Technorati tags: niche product market netpreneurs marketing

The Old Way - Command and Control

Although workplaces and management styles have come a long way in the last decade, the command and control style of management remains common practice in many companies. This management approach basically means that employees are told exactly what to do, when to do it and even how it should be done. The manager is in charge, has all the answers, and fixes all the problems.

It’s no surprise that plenty of people find this approach demotivating - and that workplaces with a command-control style are rated as pretty unsatisfying. When it comes down to it, none of us really enjoys being told exactly what to do, and neither do our employees. When people feel as though they have no say and are given no opportunity to contribute outside of their work tasks, then they switch off and become disengaged.

The command and control approach is being phased out for a more collaborative and engaging style - a ‘Coach’ approach or being a manager-coach. This is a positive shift - as long as we are clear about what the new expectations of managers really are.

Coaching - What does it really mean?

The coaching profession has exploded in recent years, diversifying across many different fields and industries. All of these people are dedicated to helping others achieve their goals, improve aspects of themselves or their business, or move forwards from where they are today.

In a work environment, the role of a manager-coach can be described as :

- achieving results and excellence through others rather than personally taking care of things, and

- focusing on developing employees in order to achieve business results rather than micro-managing their every move.

Adopting coaching as a management style requires managers to help other people unlock their potential and enhance their own performance. It’s about supporting people to learn instead of telling them what the answers are.

The New Mindset

The mindset of the manager-coach is to create an environment that fosters learning, independent thinking and opportunities to contribute. The manager-coach doesn’t want to be seen as a solution provider. Rather, they want to be seen as a facilitator, paving the way for team members to achieve their results.

Coach managers are a role model for others. They are excellent listeners and communicators, providing perspective and encouragement whilst setting high standards and expectations.

There are 8 ways to make coaching behaviours part of what you do:

Number 1:

Stop thinking about employees as people that need to be controlled or managed and give them the latitude to take actions and make decisions. Trust is a vital component of this equation. If you can’t trust people to do their jobs well, then you either have the wrong people in the jobs, or you have the right people but you haven’t trained them sufficiently. A third option is that the people are properly skilled, but the manager just can’t let go.

Number 2:

Listen, listen listen. If there are unhappy or disgruntled people in your business, you can guarantee that at some stage they’ve tried to tell you what the problem is. It’s likely you weren’t listening (or didn’t want to listen), or perhaps your initial reaction made the person think twice about bringing the problem to you. Truly listening is one of the greatest skills to develop, regardless of your role. Good listeners are genuinely interested, convey empathy, and want to find out what’s behind the conversation. Great coaches are great listeners -without exception.

Number 3:

Focus on developing the strengths of each employee rather than managing merely for results. Identify each person’s development needs and commit to following through on them. When people are growing and improving, their enthusiasm and effectiveness is greater. And they feel more connected and loyal to the company for supporting them.

Number 4:

Endorse effort and growth instead of pointing out failures or errors. As individuals, we all know how seldom we are given positive feedback, but how often we are reminded of our “mistakes”. Instead of pointing out errors, the coach-manager accepts them as learning opportunities and uses them to develop their employees. The focus is on making sure the same mistake doesn’t happen again by fixing the source of the problem.

Number 5:

Stop providing solutions. Managers often achieve their positions after being technical specialists, and so will have an opinion or view on how to “fix” situations or problems. The mindset is that it’s usually faster to tell someone what to do, or do it yourself, than give your employees an opportunity to figure it out. By always providing the answers, managers take away the learning opportunity for their employees to come up with alternative (and potentially better) ways of doing things. If you catch yourself about to provide the answer, take a deep breath and ask a question like: “What would you do in this situation?”

Number 6:

As a manager, stop making all the decisions. You don’t have all the answers all of the time. Engage those around you - your team and peers - when it comes to finding a way forwards. Involvement breeds ownership and engagement. The more you can find opportunities for people to contribute to the decision-making process and encourage people to have their say, the more your employees will feel connected and satisfied with the company.

Number 7:

Be unconditionally constructive - no exceptions. Don’t patronise or be critical of others - take complete responsibility for how you are heard. If you catch yourself about to make negative remarks, take a breath and rephrase your words to get your message across without the emotional attachment. It is possible to phrase everything in constructive terms - even a negative sentiment. Practice makes perfect!

Number 8:

Create an environment where people want to work with you, and feel valued and respected. Make it clear to your employees what they are responsible for, but give them the latitude to go about it in their own way. In short, treat them the way you would want to be treated.

The Wrap-Up

The true success of a leader can be measured by the success of the people that work for them. When managers and leaders adopt a coaching style, the productivity, motivation and satisfaction of the employees increases, which filters through to bottom -line results. All this makes for an engaged workforce who are committed to giving the business as much as it is giving them. And as an extra incentive, adopting a coaching style of management results in a much more enjoyable workplace for everybody!

Megan Tough, Director of Action Plus, is passionate about helping people enjoy their businesses. She works internationally with business owners to systematically remove the stress points from their business, giving them more time and space for - well -whatever they want! Visit her at http://www.megantough.com for more information on taking the stress out of your business.

Technorati tags: people employees number style managers

Stay with me on this, the ‘penny may drop’ about half-way
into the article!

Target - in very general terms, this article is targeted at
anyone involved in business, whether it be offline
‘real-world’ business, or online ‘cyber’ e-business.

Let’s define the title.

“jigsaw” - a puzzle with multiple parts which requires some
element of skill to correctly piece them all together in the
right way, making one complete ‘picture’.

“virus” - an infection which grows, replicates and spreads.

Make sense yet? No!

One of the key fundamental basics in business starts with
this. Business is based on the law of ‘Supply and Demand’.

In simple terms, this means that if people have a demand
(need or want) for something, then someone (perhaps you, or
other businesses) supply them.

In simpler terms…. Have a product or service that customers
want, then provide them with it.

JIGSAW…. Now has 2 parts / pieces…. Product (or service) and
customers (people who want / need it).

If YOU are the business supplying customers with what they
want, you may look at other products which complement or
contrast. You may also look at adding new ways to deliver
your product or service, perhaps new markets / countries /
demographics…..

You may also want to have different versions / types of your
product…. Plus you may want to promote / market your company
in new / additional ways.

Also, you may want to have added computer systems, take
payments in different forms, different currencies…..
translation (remember - stay with me on this!)

You have seen competitors using ‘800′ Freephone numbers…..
You’ve read about fax-back services, call-centers,
fulfillment services….. You want to get involved in these.

JIGSAW….. From the original (and simple) 2 parts / pieces…..
Your jigsaw now has many more, even dozens (or more) of
pieces. The simple puzzle is infected. It’s spreading and
growing. .. It’s out of control.

The original focus you had, is now a distant blur. Even if
you had as many arms as an octopus, you still wouldn’t piece
together THIS puzzle.

Let’s take just one piece of a small, simple jigsaw puzzle,
and call it “Advertising, Marketing, Promotion”. They all
mean the same…. ’spreading the word’.

This single piece can start like this. Put a simply poster
in the back of your car, on a notice board, in a shop
window.

Then, get business cards, then marketing ‘postcards’…….then
leaflets, a brochure, a full-color glossy brochure….a
catalogue…..CD Rom business cards, interactive multi-media…

Advertise in the local ‘free papers’, then a small ad in the
town newspaper, then a half-page….full-page ad…. Full
color……. Then a 10 second ad on radio….. Then 30 seconds…..

Then 20 seconds on local / cable TV….. Then 60 seconds…..
And on…and on.

Get a domain name, a website, software, design, hosting,
auto responders, mailing list, Flash, Audio, Video,
Keywords, Meta Tags, Keyword Density, Pay Per Click, Search
Engine Optimization…

Ask a few friends to hand out some leaflets for you, create
a reseller program, an affiliate program, an introducer
scheme, get the software, the systems, Advertising Agencies,
Copywriters, Professional Marketers, International Business
Promoters…..

Where will it all end? With an army of Armani suited Harvard
Graduates jet-setting all over the planet, trying to sell
your widget?

Once the virus infects, it spreads, it grows and it can get
out of hand very quickly.

Your ‘Jigsaw Puzzle’ is infected, the infection has spread,
and grown and replicated the couple of pieces you originally
started with, and turned into something unmanageable.

Just as you cannot take antibiotics to cure a virus in
health, there is no simple cure in business.

Prevention is the best cure.

Your Jigsaw Puzzle should start with the simplest of forms….
2 pieces (remember the 2 parts to basic business? Supply and
Demand - have a product or service which people want or
need, and give it to them (well…. Sell it!).

Make sure the first two pieces of your puzzle fit together
perfectly, before you even think about adding pieces.

Once the first 2 are set, then perhaps consider expanding
your jigsaw puzzle but ONLY ONE PIECE AT A TIME.

Once that third piece fits, then move on. Don’t try adding
multiple pieces all at the same time, and trying to fit them
altogether in one go.

If you’re first few (2, 3 or 4) pieces of your puzzle don’t
fit, then STOP.

Stop right there. Reassess the situation.

If you cannot get the pieces to fit correctly before moving on,
then perhaps that piece of the jigsaw, doesn’t belong to your puzzle.

Many people fall flat on their face by ignoring this point.

If they cannot fit the pieces, they put them to one side,
and get more pieces to try….. And some of them won’t fit,
put them aside…. Get some others…

INFECTED!!!

The final part of the article goes back to our army of
Armani Suited Harvard Graduates… remember them?

The point of that paragraph was to illustrate how
the ‘infection’, if unchecked, will go on and on…
where will it end?

Is your Jigsaw Puzzle ‘infinite’? How far will you push your
business? Is there a point where it’s just too much?

You may have carefully put together your jigsaw puzzle -
completed - finished….. And you may not even realize it!

Know when and where to STOP… and BLOCK the Virus.

Technorati tags: business puzzle jigsaw pieces piece

You are not a failure if your project fails. Making mistakes
and having failures is a part of life. You can accept them
and learn from them or be bitter and give up your dream.
Failures are actually your training ground. You can learn
valuable lessons from them. If you learn from them, you can
make them the stepping stones to your success.

There is a simple truth that many never learn. If you keep
on doing what you have been doing, you will keep on getting
what you have been getting. This holds true in your business
life and with your personal relationships. If you are happy
with what you’re getting, keep doing it. If not, try
something else.

Don’t give up on your dream. Keep fine tuning it until it
works. Most people have to make a few adjustments before
they find what works for them.

Children learning to walk, don’t give up because they fall
down. They get up and try again. Adults who fail a few times sometimes get the notion that success is not for them. They
give up on their dream and take the jobs that no one else
wants. It’s tragic that many quit when success is just
around the next problem.

There is a strong temptation to have a pity party when you
fail. What you need to do is examine yourself in an
unemotional way. Learn to be your own coach. Figure out what
went wrong, and why. Visualize how to make it better the
next time.

When things go wrong, we often become our worse enemy. We put
our self down and begin thinking that we are a worthless
failure. That is simply not true. Armies usually lose a few battles before winning the war. The fact is, your creator designed you for success. It is your negative attitude that
is getting you down.

Successful people refuse to think about defeat but
concentrate on success. You become what you think about.
When you think about failure, your subconscious mind drags
you down, but if you think about what you believe you can
do, it will send you soaring. Learn to think positively,
and you will be successful.

When you get stuck, you need someone you can turn to for
help. Do what you do best and get other specialists to do
the rest. There are many who have been through that will
lend a helping hand for a reasonable price.

Depending on yourself can cause many tensions. You need
someone bigger than you to lean on. Your Creator is an
invaluable resource. He wants to help you with your
problems. Consult him on a regular basis. You will feel
better about it when you leave your worries with him.

Discouragement can be good or bad depending on how you
interpret it. It may be evidence that you don’t fit, or it
could just be the negative feeling you get when you try
something new. If the requirements are within your ability
and your gut feeling says it’s for you, go for it.

Technorati tags: learn think give keep them.

One of the most often overlooked items when it comes to maintaining computer systems is the importance of backups. Whether you are a casual home user, an everyday power user, or a computer professional if you care about the data that you have stored on your computer then some form of BACKUP STRATEGY is necessary to ensure the safety and integrity of your important information.

All information Technology professionals agree that the biggest threat to business survival is loss of data.

There are many ways to lose your data. If you are not using some form of backup plan (such as an offsite data backup service), you are taking a risk every day your data is not backed up. Bedsides the obvious perils, such as a stolen or destroyed laptop, there are many other reasons why you should be considering some form of data backup storage. For example, have you ever installed a program on your computer that completely ruined your Windows installation? Perhaps you upgraded your Windows Service Pack level only to find out that your computer cannot boot anymore. Not to mention viruses, worms, human error and hardware failure.

Although you can possibly have this data recovered by professional hard drive recovery specialists it is VERY expensive to have the process done, and can involve being separated from your hard drive for weeks or even months while the unit is being repaired. Even if the specialists manage to get most of your data recovered there is no guarantee that they will be able to rescue all or any of it, nor is their any assurance that it will be in a completely usable state when you get it back.

For pennies on the dollar (compared to data recovery services) you could have planned ahead before disaster struck and used an online backup service to keep your data safe and sound.

Offsite data backup services work by backing up a subset of files that you choose. You can back up just certain particular files that are important to you, or your entire hard drive. You can set these backups to occur as often as you wish, and can even set your computer to back itself up overnight while you sleep. Many of these online backups are completely transparent, meaning once you set up the software and your account, you can simply forget about it and rest assured that your data is being backed up on a regular basis. Most importantly, it is safe and secure in an offsite location, impervious to all threats to your data.

If you value the files you create on your computer you should definitely look into an offsite data backup service to make sure you never have to endure the loss of critical data.

Your DATA is your LIFE. Protect it!

Harald Anderson is a freelance writer and webmaster for http://www.online-remote-data-backup.com. Experience the Digital Peace of Mind that accompanies a secure disaster recovery routine for your business.

Technorati tags: data computer backup data. offsite

When developing or updating a marketing plan, knowing where to start is often a challenge. To better develop effective marketing strategies, begin by gathering information about both your business and the larger business environment (competition, trends, statistics, etc).

Internally, the amount of information you gather about your own business will depend on your company size. Information can include business strategies and plans; company marketing plans; pricing; and income statements. Employee knowledge is also a valuable resource. As you gather information, if you at first turn to internal sources then expand your understanding through external resources you will do fine.

External information about the business environment often takes the form of existing research, articles, competitive information, and industry news. While these are often available in both print and digital, the focus here is finding information online.

Gathering Information Online — Getting Started

The numerous news sources and billion or so Web pages available on the Internet make finding information much easier than in pre-Internet days. Before the Internet, gathering information meant trips to the library, purchasing expensive publications and reports, and commissioning your own primary research. Now, it is a matter of knowing where to search.

You can start searching the Internet by looking in each of the general areas below. Organize useful material as you find it. Purchase, bookmark, or file each resource so you can draw upon it during marketing plan development.

These external resources, together with your internal company information, will be your initial knowledge base as you develop your Marketing Plan. As you progress along the planning process and the specific information you need become clearer, these initial resources are likely to be jumping-off points for gathering more specific information.

Information Sources

Annual Reports and other SEC Filings. These documents are required by publicly held U.S. companies and often include statistics and other industry information.

Books. Books can often provide detailed insight and analysis you cannot find elsewhere.

The Government. At last count 100 U.S. Federal agencies had statistical programs, many with data available on the Web. You can find the complete list at fedstats.gov/agencies/index.html.

Message Boards and Newsgroups. You can pick up on trends, hot topics in the industry, and competitor information by following discussions.

News Articles. These often give clues to the business environment and can lead you to additional information sources.

Newsletters. By reading and subscribing to competitor and industry newsletters you can get insight into current promotional tactics and other activities.

Research Sites. Archives, press releases, newsletters, and executive summaries on these sites can provide relevant research findings and statistics.

Search Engines and Directories. Search by keyword or drill down into directory sub-categories to find information.

Subject Sites. There are some general sites — suite101.com, about.com, and business.com to name three — with numerous topic-specific pages. Check for pages relating to your industry or product.

Trade Associations and Publications. You will often find industry information, statistics, and membership lists online.

White Papers and other Company Publications. Companies will sometimes publish free white papers that summarize the industry trends or other information.

Search these resources and follow a sound marketing plan strategy for greater business success. For more about developing marketing plans read the articles at http://www.MarketingPlanArticles.com .

About the Author

Bobette Kyle draws upon 12 years of Marketing/Executive experience, Marketing MBA, and online marketing research in her writing. Bobette is proprietor of the Web Site Marketing Plan Network ( WebSiteMarketingPlan.com ), and author of the marketing plan and Web promotion book “How Much For Just the Spider? Strategic Website Marketing For Small Budget Business,” http://www.HowMuchForSpider.com/TOC.htm .

Technorati tags: information marketing often business industry

KNOW WHAT YOU NEED
Understand how you intend to use business financing, how much funding you need and how you intend to repay the loan. Be able to communicate this clearly and confidently with prospective lenders.

UNDERSTAND YOUR CURRENT SITUATION
If you are an existing business, are you profitable, and does your balance sheet have positive equity? What does your credit look like? Have a clear understanding of any existing liens and lien priority. Know your credit score and answers to derogatory credit issues (liens, judgments, slow pays, collection actions) before presenting your application. If there have been credit, profitability or equity issues in the past, present a credible argument as to why these issues have been resolved or how this loan will change this situation.

KNOW YOUR OPTIONS
All lending is critiqued from a risk standpoint. Certain levels of risk will qualify for certain types of financing. The level of risk is reflected in the cost of the financing. The more secure a lender’s money is, the less it costs you. Get creative. Financing takes many forms, and is available from a wide range of sources.

Standard (conventional) bank financing usually offers the best interest rates, however it is the most difficult to qualify for. These loans appear as a long-term liability on the business balance sheet. Conventional loans are available through banks and other lending institutions and can be guaranteed in whole or part by the SBA.

Revolving Lines of Credit are another form of business financing. This type of loan is secured by accounts receivable or inventory and is available from a bank or an Asset Based Lender. Credit cards are a form of revolving line of credit. An Asset-Based Line of Credit (ABL) is considered alternative financing and is available to borrowers who are too highly leveraged for a bank.

Real Property, Equipment Leases and Notes are another form of business financing. In these contracts the collateral for the loan is the property or equipment itself. When there is no outstanding balance owed on the asset, the property or equipment could be used in a Sale-Leaseback transaction. Here, the asset is sold to the lender for cash, and the borrower leases the property from the lender until the loan is paid.

Landlords can be a source of financing. It is not uncommon for a landlord to contribute dollars or rent concessions to the development of a tenant’s space. For this loan, the landlord may require a Percentage of Gross Sales Clause in the lease as repayment. Extended vendor terms for purchase of product may provide short-term operating capital loans.

In the event that additional credit strength is required, loan guarantors or borrowing someone’s credit may help the borrower qualify for less expensive financing. Be flexible. Your final package may be comprised of several lending solutions

PRESENT A CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLE PROPOSAL
Lenders need to know who you are personally, professionally and financially. The lender needs to evaluate Income Tax returns (Corporate and Personal), financial statements (income statement and balance sheet) and a cash flow projection. The balance sheet has to look a specific way. The Current Ratio should be at least 1:1, and the Debt to Equity Ratio should be at least 4:1.

Be specific as to how the money is going to be used and how it will be paid back. Lenders want to know what is securing their debt. Lenders evaluate the quality of the collateral, and want to insure that it is adequate to secure the debt in case of default. A secondary source of repayment is required prior to granting standard financing. The personal guarantee of the borrower is often required. In some situations, a lender may seek secondary collateral. Secondary collateral is simply some other asset in which you have equity or ownership, i.e. equipment, property, inventory, notes.

Business funding is not difficult if the borrower is creative and realistic. Know how much money you need and how you are going to use it. Be prepared to defend your needs and anticipate the lender’s questions. In the event that a lender cannot grant your request, perhaps it is the way a loan is packaged. Find a lender who is willing to make recommendations that will help you find financing. A good lender will tell you quickly if they can help you or not. If an intelligent and organized package is presented, a timely response is warranted.

Written by Monte Zwang of Steele Development Corporation, a consulting firm specializing in business development and financial strategies. You can reach Steele Development by calling 206.878.9666 or online at http://www.Steeledevelopment.com

Technorati tags: credit lender financing. business loan

Want to save paper, save money and wow your business contacts at the same time? Use a cheap key chain “pen drive” (a small flash memory card that jacks to a USB port) to create an interactive “business card” that will stand way out from the crowd.

Upload the drive with your filled-in Outlook/Plaxo contact or virtual business card and add a few free offerings such as an short MP3 demo of a class or training, a white paper, workbook, ebook - whatever is pertinent to your business. Keep the drive with you and whenever someone is talking to you about your work and has access to gear that will accept your drive (PDA, laptop, pocket PC, USB-capable smart-phone, etc), you can just offer to download your inclusive package into their device.

No more agonizingly expensive waste of newly obsolete business cards whenever you need to update or change your contact information. One less “what do I do with this” business card for your contacts to have to deal with when they get home from whatever networking event you’ve connected at. And you can constantly tweak the content for relevance, change seasonal discounts, update with limited special offers, and so on!

A few caveats:

1. Choose your selections carefully. Opt for high-value, high-return options that will benefit the receiver, not just the giver. You can include a brochure, if it seems appropriate, but make the bulk of your offering valuable, pertinent and something they’ll want to pass on to friends (taking your information with it)!

2. Respect your contact’s time and available memory! Make sure that you don’t pack it so full that it will overload smaller devices or take 20 minutes to download! If you have large-file offerings you’d like to share, consider creating a single html “web page” to download instead, with the links embedded in it. Your contact then simply opens the page, logs onto their ISP and clicks through to get all the great stuff you want to share!

3. Don’t push! Not everyone is comfortable letting just anyone download stuff into his or her devices. If this is a concern, offer to take their card and send them the information via email. You’ve already made a good impression just by being ready and willing to pass on valuable items on the spot. Anything beyond that is pure gravy.

With just a bit of careful decision-making and common sense, a pen drive business card can be an amazingly successful vehicle for generating greater interaction, creating an environment of valuable informational exchange and providing a source of interesting conversation. It can include anything from a PowerPoint presentation to a multi-media product demo to an audio/video clip of your services or presentation skill - all condensed into one tiny, cigarette lighter-sized bauble. You can even buy them in designer shapes and colors, or imprinted with your logo. And, while we have been discussing mainly business applications, it is a technology that lends itself to a nearly infinite variety of adaptations. How many ways you can think of to use this idea?

(c) Soni Pitts

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Soni Pitts is the Chief Visionary Butt-Kicker of SoniPitts.Com. She specializes in helping others reclaim “soul proprietorship” in their lives and to begin living the life their Creator always intended for them.

She is the author of the free e-book “50 Ways To Reach Your Goals” and over 100 self-help and inspirational articles, as well as other products and resources designed to facilitate this process of personal growth and spiritual development.

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Day after day my in box, and I’m sure yours as well, fills
with opportunity propaganda on how to make money. Do this,
and poof, you’re rich. Become an affiliate and sell my
ebook, and poof, you’re making lots of money. I don’t know
about you, but I can’t tell what’s a good opportunity and
what’s not any more. Because of this, I created a list of
nine criteria, a sort-of checklist, to use when I do find
something that I don’t think is full of “poof.”

1. Is the product any good — in my opinion, and in my
markets?

This is especially true for me. I’ve found that
informational fre*e products are nothing more than a tease.
I just get tired of wading through 150 pages to find four
pages that have anything “real.” In addition, if they
aren’t decently organized or written, less than 2 out of 25
reach this from the hundreds I’ve read, how different is the
information?

Why would anyone want to pay $49 or $249 for the same thing
offered in a $20 book? E-books aren’t books. People don’t
buy them for the same reason. Even if the product isn’t an
informational product, what is different, unique, and
important enough for me to buy that I can’t buy somewhere
else for less? Are the solutions clear, or presented from
the producer’s viewpoint and give me a sale dance?

Some people don’t care and sell anything. Does this
producer fall into that category? If they do, it’s usually
apparent. I’ve asked website owners who sell outside
products about many confess they haven’t read or tried it,
and don’t care about its truthfulness or value, just the
revenue. I cringe when I get an e-mail that personally
promotes a teleseminar and then in the material it says,
“first time given.”

How does this build trust and credibility? Well, it
doesn’t. Smart people don’t return. The seller now incurs
the label of the producer. Please, please, please, if you
come across a poor product, ask for a refund. These people
are counting on you not having the courage or taking the
time to ask. If this would occur more frequently, the
marketplace would demand and receive higher quality.
Silence keeps poor products circulating. Vote with your
wallet.

2. What is the market demand status for this product?

Where on the bell curve does demand fall? The bell curve, a
symmetrical curve for illustrating where a product stands in
the sales process, slowly rises for new products, reaches a
curved plateau, then spirals down, sometimes fast, sometimes
at the same grade of its rise, depending on the product and
economic market conditions. This holds true for physical or
information products wherever distributed.

How long has the product been in the marketplace? Is it
new, old, or been over exposed? This takes some research.
Caution though, if the original producer doesn’t answer your
question, that gives you the answer. What plans does the
producer have for future sales product? Is it being offered
to just anyone? Is he just starting? One strategy for
ebooks sales is to sell to early adaptors, then set up an
“everyone” affiliate program. What is their definition of
“everyone?”

Is the opportunity going from retail product to Internet?
Some opportunities don’t work well with this conversion.
For instance, take Coke, it’s sold retail and won’t work on-
line. Website hosting and domain name is now an over sold
opportunity. Jumping in on this product is jumping in on a
plateau product that requires major pushing for production
if you want enough worthwhile revenue. Are you willing to
put enough effort into it (discussed later)?

3. Who Is The Producer?

Is the producer a stable company or new? The major reason
new businesses have difficulty selling is because people
take a wait and see stance. People prefer to buy from
successful people and companies. Statistics confirm that
85% of new business will not be around next year. People
want to buy from successful ventures, successful people,
people that have stability, tenure.

At this point, if I am unable to uncover any solid
information about the company, I don’t continue past this
point. Don’t have any hesitancy about emailing or calling
them with questions. Many times, I can’t even find a phone
number. No response, drop the opportunity and move on to
another.

4. Revenue Generating Realty Check

Of course, the promo material will state the highest
projections and usually leave out negative particulars.
Ignore this, find, and calculate your own probabilities.
Since I have a heavy background in accounting, it’s easier
for me to do this. Not your area, then ask an accountant
for assistance, take a class, find a book, and learn this
calculation. The skill will serve you many ways in the
future.

Remember to set your personal feelings aside when evaluating
an opportunity. It distorts the facts. Sell with emotions
but don’t make a decision to invest your precious resources
with it.

Calculate your break even point, what income you want, how
many sales equal that over what period, are three questions
that need an honest answer. E-books need 117,000 to 225,000
exposures to generate sizeable revenue. How are you going
to get that number? Yes, that number is possible.

5. Pricing

Can the buying market afford the price? How much
discretionary income does the prospective buyers make? Can
they afford the product? Where does your price stand with
the competitors? If you’re price is higher, is there value
there to justify the difference? Value in the eyes of
buyers, not yours. Pricing doesn’t always make or break an
opportunity, however, if it’s the only opportunity it can
cost the company existence.

6. Is this a one-time sales product?

Finding a product that generates revenue without any
expenses is hard to find and needs top consideration. One-
time sale products require more marketing and cost per sale
is higher. For instance, a membership access fee to all
available ebooks and updates would generate higher revenue
and profit than selling individually because cost of sale is
less.
Another example: A website hosting company has higher
marketing costs to get you as their subscriber. Afterwards
there is little expense to keep you. They also have the
pain of transferring to another host on their side.

7. What type of marketing system is the producer using for
the product?

How is the producer supporting you in your marketing
success? Some companies provide all the materials, some
don’t. Do you have to do all the marketing production? Do
you have the skills, time, or patience to do it? If they
don’t provide it, how much is it going to cost you? A
sizable profit margin can look great until you calculate in
$5,000 for a generating the marketing material needed to
sell. Be very clear on this one, it is a major downfall to
many opportunities. Know exactly what you need and what it
is going to cost you in time and money.

8. Are you going to do the pitching, the sales calls, and
the follow-up?

Be realistic, do you have the time, the skills, patience,
and courage to do all these parts? If you are short on time
because of a full-time job, are you willing to give up your
evening hours to follow-up on inquiries, do mailings, or
make sales calls? What is your comfort level with sales?
If not, what is training going to cost — in time and money?
Is it worth it then, or can you pass this up and find
another product that is a better match?

9. What same category spin-offs products are available?

Can you find other similar products that build on this
product? Once a customer buys one product from you and they
are pleased, they will consider another in the same
category. You can also double up and do 2 for 1 specials or
promote with a “one free with the purchase of.”

In Summary

Keep your eyes open, know your boundaries with the product
and the marketing. Search for the unsaid costs, the ones
the company doesn’t want you to discover until after you
purchased or made the initial investment. Take the time and
talk with others selling the product that have no connected
to the outcome of your decision.

Catherine Franz, a Professional Marketing and Writing Coach,
specializes in product development, Internet writing and
marketing, nonfiction, and training. Newsletters and
articles available at: http://www.abundancecenter.com
blog: http://abundance.blogs.com

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