Five Ways to Profit from Using Video Online

The newest media wave to hit the online shore is video. Individual emails abound with links to "the funniest video ever," or blurry clips of new babies or birthday parties.

Businesses, on the other hand, have largely been left standing on the shore, scratching their heads and wondering if there's any real value to be earned from diving into making their own live video broadcasts, video emails or video on demand infommercials. Here are just five of the many ways video adds to the bottom line of any company.

1. People remember more of your message.
While people generally remember 10% of what they read and 20% of what they hear. But, they'll remember as much as 50% of what they see and hear together. Before anyone can act on your message, they need to process and remember it.

2. Increase responses by up to 30%.
A call to action is much easier to follow if it is actively delivered. Sound and motion are powerful action drivers, especially when they are delivered by your sincere enthusiasm and passion for your topic. Companies who have made the switch to video email and on- demand broadcasts have reported response rates jump as much as 30% following a broadcast.

3. Build your credibility.
People do business with people they know, like and trust. When you cut through the technological barriers of the Internet and put yourself online, you put "your self on the line" as far as viewers are concerned. The time it would normally take you to build a relationship with a potential customer can be dramatically shortened as a result.

4. The cost savings are obvious.
Anytime you can avoid the high costs of sending someone on the road to meet with clients or attend a meeting, the bottom line savings are immediate and obvious. In addition to any costs associated with attending a meeting, you need to factor in travel costs covering airfares to taxis and tolls, hotel costs, meal expenses, and even your internal costs to process the expense paperwork.

5. Soft cost savings multiply returns.
Spare yourself the productivity drain and the physical and mental tolls travel takes on your company's road warriors and you could enjoy "soft" cost savings that dwarf your hard dollar travel costs. Want an example? Look at your own calendar for the past month and count up just the hours you spent traveling to and from meetings. Multiply that by your hourly wage, and then by the number of employees in your firm.

If reasons like these don't help you convince the reluctant decision makers in your company to add video to your communications mix, please be patient with them. Historically they are in good company.

There were many who claimed the smeary images on hard to handle rolls of paper called "faxes" could never function in place of an original document. And who, they asked, would ever want to spend more time typing an email message when they could so easily pick up a telephone and place a call?

Liz Micik has spent 25 years helping companies use the right market, right message, and right media to get the results they want. She turns your video learning curve into a fast and easy profit curve in her newest book, "Cue the Director: 10 Simple Steps to Online Video Success." Visit http://www.powerpresenters.com to learn more and have free weekly video tips emailed to you.

So None of Us Arrived With an Owners Manual! A Fresh Perspective on the Drive to Lead (part 1)

So, none of us arrived with an Owner's Manual, neatly referenced to enable us to look up our ails, appreciate where we are, and, understand what is next. We expected its indelible validation to enable us to navigate some of the more fearful and exhilarating moments in our lives.

Most of us have a deeply felt need for one to give us the courage to look into a few dark corners and understand what is really going on. A validated abbreviated version would do, anything that says, " I was intended to be made this way', and "This is what to do to get the best from me."

Most of us realize many years later that we have been searching to create and validate our Owner's Manual for Life. We want independently created and validated information on our 'model' and 'type' to confirm our life long struggle to prove who we are. It will enable us to finally acquire the peace of knowing we are meant to be this way. Who cares now how different, strange, wonderful or wacky that is! Now it is OK as someone else says so.

So we assumed we were meant to be made this way but couldn't convince anyone else it was OK.

So here we are this tiny little baby, brand new in a strange and wonderful place. There are big people who are our parents, maybe there are small people who are our siblings, maybe there are other people who are our care givers, adoptive parents, extended family and more.

Once we become aware of where we are we begin to explore. We want to learn how to make this place work for us, how to command it, how to master elements of it. We want to be great at something. Maybe it is something that will make us a household name or maybe it is something that will make a smaller but no less significant contribution. Our deepest desire is to be the best us we can be.

When we look around we find so much variation in all those other people here. They are of such various types that we have our first trepidation, how are we going to work it out. There isn't another us here so there must be an Owner's Manual, a dedicated book with detailed information on what to do when, where and how to achieve the opportunity we know is out there for us.

Imagine arriving with Ian Thorpe sized feet, a love of water and a powerful need to extend ourselves as far as is possible. No one else is in that league, there is no one to follow, a new path needs to be created. So it is with all of us for our own expression of greatness.

Every tangible item on this planet that is created in material form by man has an owner's manual. Look at your average stove, computer, CD diskman, mobile etc. Sometimes the language is convoluted being translated by dictionary into English, however the general meaning is usually clear and we can construct the item from its flat pack or learn how to program our 54 functions on the VCR. All unique features are explained.

Then, if this is obscure, there is the telephone help line with dedicated staff to answer the 20 most commonly asked questions about this model. Maybe there are 20 of us on the planet but just at different and remote locations. Hence we conclude there must be an Owner's Manual for our model and it should have arrived with us.

So here we are a creation of God, or at least that sparkle in our parent's eyes. Who was supposed to write the Owner's Manual? My sense is we actually want the one from God, initially one from the god-like people who are our parents might do, but often we recognize pretty early on we are different in some critical way. It would have more sustainable impact to have the highest source available.

Now where is it? Maybe we expect a book, a pamphlet or even video. Something to wave around to the outer world to prove who we really are and that we are designed this way to be a great 'something or other. Maybe it is a dedicated memory file. A file in our memory full of the richness of who we are and what we need to do to do our best this time around.

For those of us who are auditory it would have a wonderful sound track, full of all the intonation we expect to hear to understand. For those of us who are visual we would expect powerful symbolic videos of information showing us how it is and what to do. For those of us who are sensate we would expect a track to stimulate our feelings and enable us to associate what we are doing with the validation of knowing the truth. All in all it would be the most masterful, rich and wonderful file of information.

It would validate our souls, that deep something within us that craves to be told we are just fine and always have been and our job here is to learn and master some or many aspects of reality. It would be able to be shown to others so that they could appreciate that we are a refined, validated, fabulous model of our time and that they are meant to appreciate this rather than belittle or confuse us by asking why we aren't like them.

Surely a wonderful thing to have!

Unfortunately we can't find it. Not anywhere. No matter where we search, what we assume it should be, how it should appear, somehow it isn't here. Once we reach this conclusion our primary search is finished whether it was conducted internally, externally or both.

Now we need to decide why as the tension of not knowing is too much to handle.

This article may be reproduced in printed or web format, provided the resource box below is included.

Rosemary Johnston is a professional corporate and personal coach. Working with executives from some of Australia's largest and most successful companies for over 15 years.

Rosemary's new book, "How To Develop Your Leadership Style and Skills To Take Charge of Your Career and Life" is now available to download at her web site. Read about some of the success Rosemary has had coaching leaders in Australian blue chip companies. http://www.leadershipfirst.com.au

How Many Ways Do You Have To Justify Your Price?

If you were selling a mansion, and you were selling it for 25 cents, some wiseacre would inevitably respond, "It costs too much."

When that happens, are you prepared?

As an excercise, make a list of 20 "reasons why" your services are worth your fees.

Why is life better with your offer? Have you done extensive research or development? How many years of experience do you and your team bring to the table? What would happen if they DON'T take you up on your offer? (What would they "lose"?) What are things "You Get" by purchasing from us? How are your clients protected when they purchase from you? (Do you have a guarantee?)

What are the bonuses you include? How long do you support the sale?

Do you include "extras" that your competitors don't include?

Make up an extensive list, on paper, or into a tape recorder.

Brainstorm with your salespeople, your staff, your best customers, and your vendors to make this list complete.

Then, next time, when your prospect says, "It costs too much," you will be prepared to handle those price concerns smoothly.

When you can justify your price attractively, everybody wins.

You get the sale, and your client benefits from your offering.

Are you with me on this?

Joe Nicassio designs marketing campaigns, and coaches entrepreneurs to improve their bottom-line profits. To get your free CD "Joe Nicassio Reveals Marketing Philosophies And Secrets That Advertiser Don't Want You To Know" Send your snail mail address to FreeCD@RapidResultsMarketing.com

Underestimating the Power of In-House PR

Do small-business owners always have to rely on large PR agencies to get attention from the press? An entrepreneur recently asked me this question during a networking event for women business owners. Of course my answer was, "No," but not for the reasons one might expect.

Ultimately, I do believe the time comes when a company needs professional guidance from a PR agency -- be it a large or small one -- to secure media coverage. But I also believe that a really media savvy small-business owner, or a two-person marketing team can do a fantastic job in promoting an organization. Here's how I know it can work.

A few years ago during the dot.com boom, I worked for a small online publishing company. We had a terrific technical team and staff, two great products, but no one knew the company existed. As a start-up, it was crucial for the company to gain awareness through media exposure because advertising was too expensive.

Since our marketing department only consisted of two people -- the marketing director and myself, there was a bit of concern within the organization as to whether we had enough in-house resources available to successfully get the company much-needed ink. So the company's executive team hatched an interesting plan. They offered our in-house marketing team the chance to bid on the company's PR project as if we were an outside agency.

My experience had always been in public relations, rather than product marketing. My boss' experience had always been the opposite. We seized the opportunity to combine our knowledge, skills and research.

Our tiny two-person team matched PR wits squarely against four established pros - including one former White House aide. Guess what? Our ideas prevailed, and the company decided to ditch the notion of hiring a big PR firm in favor of keeping the in-house team.

Before long we were generating some memorable press for our company. Over a two-year period we placed stories on our company in more than 100 media outlets - from MSNBC and Forbes to the Wall Street Journal and Wired News online. We did it by studying what the big PR agencies did well, and also by using our department's "smallness" to our advantage. Here's how you can do it, too.

Research your company.

Forget that you own or work within the organization. Really invest the time in understanding your company's structure, the executives and their backgrounds, the products and technology, the industry in which your company belongs, competitors and experts, and most of all the target audience -- the people who stand to benefit most from your product or service. If you know all of this information, then you'll be in a better position to brainstorm ideas on how to get the media's attention. Doing this also helps in flushing out your overall marketing plan -- which PR is only a part.

Research the reporters who cover your company's industry and study the types of stories that they like to write.

Learn their deadlines and how they prefer to be contacted. Introduce yourself by phone and make it a point to speak with them regularly -- not just to talk about your company, but also about the industry in general. Use those conversations to offer up source materials that will help reporters write terrific stories. If you are able to do this successfully, you will become a trusted source that reporters return to repeatedly, and you will significantly increase your chances of gaining coverage for your company.

Always Return Media Phone Calls Immediately.

Keep yourself and your organization at the ready to receive phone calls from the press. Make sure that reporters know how to reach you in a 24-hour cycle. This means they should have your office, cell, home, and pager numbers, as well as a contact e-mail address. If you still happen to miss the call, return it ASAP. Always prepare yourself or members from your organization to conduct interviews from anywhere, at any time.

Conduct proper follow up after the interview.

This is not a call to find out when a story will be published, but rather a call to make sure that the reporters have everything they need in order to write a favorable story on your organization.

Whenever our company executives were interviewed by reporters, one team member would always accompany them to the interview to take careful notes. Alternately, the other team member would remain in the office on standby. If, during the interview, the reporter indicated a need for specific information, an urgent message would be relayed back to the office so that the team member had time to gather the information. Without fail, we always had the requested information waiting in the reporter's e-mail inbox before they arrived back to the office. This may seem like a small task, but getting it right could really decide whether or not a reporter selects your story, or moves on to a new one.

The important point to remember here is this. Never underestimate the power and dedication of your in-house staff. Before you make the investment in retaining a PR agency, look at your internal talent first. What you find just might surprise you, and their drive to succeed will become contagious throughout your entire organization. And when the time comes to hire a PR firm, you will have a ready-made collaborative team in place to work with your outside agency. Your in-house team knows your company better than anyone and that's where you, as a small-business owner, have an advantage over the "big boys" at the large PR agencies in getting the media's attention.

About The Author

Carolyn Davenport-Moncel is president and founder of Mondave Communications, a global marketing and communications firm based in Chicago and Paris, and a subsidiary of MotionTemps, LLC. Contact her at carolyn@motiontemps.com or by phone in the United States at 877.815.0167 or 011.331.4997.9059 in France.

Teaching Reading: Part One

One of the biggest milestones in our children's education is when they learn how to read. You've probably asked yourself, "When is the best time to teach my child to read?" You can research this until you are blue in the face, but the answer is really very simple. You've already started, because from the moment your child is born, you are teaching him. We talk to our babies. We read to them. We sing to them. We recite silly little verses while we change their diapers or put them in their car seat. We hug and cuddle our children. We play with them. We laugh with them. We read to them.

The key to becoming a good reader is an early and varied exposure to language. What does this mean? Basically, the more you can expose your child to language, the better. How can you do this?

Read aloud to your child every day. Probably the most important daily activity parents can do with their children is to read aloud. Reading to children increases their knowledge of the world, their vocabulary, their familiarity with written language ('book language'), and their interest in reading. From being read to repeatedly, children learn that reading is enjoyable, that pictures provide clues to the story, that books and print go from left to right, that print represents words and meaning, that stories have a beginning and an end. By listening, watching, and asking questions, they add to their vocabulary and increase their comprehension. Repeated reading not only helps children learn to read but also has an impact on school success. Lifelong enjoyment of reading is directly related to daily reading.

Reading aloud is not just for children who are too young to read on their own. In our next article we will give specific tips on how to read aloud, as well as suggestions as to what you can read aloud to children from birth to age 12.

Talk to your child in normal, everyday language. Communicating with your child, from infancy onward, is one of the most pleasurable and rewarding experiences for both parent and child. Children are avid learners at all ages, absorbing information through daily interactions and experiences with other children, adults, and the world. Your baby is listening to everything you say, and he's storing it away at an incredible rate. Instead of using "baby" words, teach him the correct names for people, places and things. Speak slowly and clearly, and keep it simple. By using "baby talk", children don't have a chance to broaden their vocabulary beyond the very basics, and they don't develop proper speech patterns.

The more interactive conversation and play a child is involved in, the more a child learns. Reading books, singing, playing word games, and simply talking to your child will increase his vocabulary while providing increased listening opportunities. Here are a few suggestions to help improve your child's communication skills:

? Talk to your toddler about what she did during the day or what she plans to do tomorrow. "I think it's going to rain this afternoon. What shall we do?" Or discuss the day's events at bedtime.

? Play make-believe games.

? Read your child's favorite books over and over and encourage her to join in with words she knows. Encourage "pretend" reading (let your child pretend she is reading the book to you).

Play rhyming games with your child. You can help your child improve auditory (listening) skills by teaching how to rhyme. Knowing how to rhyme will help your child read word "families" such as let, met, pet, wet, and get. Notice that rhyming words have same sound endings but different beginning sounds. Some words don't look the same: ache, cake, steak but they rhyme.

To summarize, learning how to read begins in children's ears. Parents lay a foundation for success in reading by talking to a child, reading books to him, and playing auditory games such as rhyming. The more books you read, the bigger your child's vocabulary becomes. A bigger vocabulary allows him to recognize lots of words while he reads. If you've read books to him about cheetahs and warthogs, it's more likely he can read those words when he comes across them as he reads on his own.

Tom & Shelley Cooper

Tom is a Director in a large humanitarian aid organization and Shelley left a successful career as a financial analyst to work in education because of her love and concern for children. They have two children who were the inspiration for their web site: http://educational-toys-4u.com

Limiting Cell Phone Use for Re-Allocation to First Responders

Judging from the 9-11 hearings and many reports by first responder organizations for increased needs during major catastrophic events or INTERNATIONAL Terrorism Attacks of communications, it appears that the average citizenry with personal needs will also need their personal communication available to contact family members, make arrangements for travel, etc. If First Responders soak up all available communication lines, methods, frequencies then the people effected will not have their needed communications.

Yet we must understand that if the citizens tie up all available civilian lines such as cell phone towers then the First Reponders once maxed out will have to take control of those communication systems for official use. This will cause immediate chaos as people become hysterical and ordinary people attempt to do things which they would never normally do, such as run a road block with their cars in order to get to loved ones. This is also a real problem if you need to isolate people who may have been exposed to biological weapons, becuase you need to keep them from spreading it until you can deliver the medicine.

In reading this report:

First Response Communications Are Critical to U.S. Terrorism Strategy.

http://fcw.bitpipe.com/data/detail?id=1086200723_388&type=RES&src=KA_RES_20040626

DESCRIPTION: In this article, the operations chief for all federal response assets at Ground Zero talks about the future of standards-based interoperable communications.

It explains the excessive needs for communication to repsonders as the size of the event is bigger. The larger the crisis the more communication which is needed. In the 9-11 attacks there were condemnation for the unprepared nature of the communication chain by loved ones who had lost family members.

A system could be put in place that limited cell phone calls to 2 minutes, by use of a recording that explained that the limit for phone call was 2 minutes and that there is a restriction to more than two phone calls every 10 minutes. Thus this might solve the issue of having to turn off public use of the cell phones system for use by only first responders, which could cause mass hysteria and worsen the problems.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs

Getting a Debt Consolidation Loan

Should you find yourself getting in over your head with debt, you might be a prime candidate for a debt consolidation loan. These loans are designed for those with a heavy burden of debt, and are used to consolidate a large number of debts into a single manageable payment. The debt consolidation loan is used to pay off the other debts, leaving only the loan itself in need of repayment.

How much should I borrow?

Considering that a debt consolidation loan is designed to replace other debts, the amount that you borrow should be as much as you need to pay off the total sum of your outstanding debt. If you're unable to get the total amount that you need to pay off all of your debts, then you should at least borrow enough with your debt consolidation loan so that you can pay off your largest debts (and hopefully make headway toward the others.)

How much debt do I need to have before consolidation?

There isn't a set amount of debt that you must have before considering a debt consolidation loan; the loan is simply a way of handling debt that is reasonably beyond your ability to pay it back. Many debt consolidation loan companies offer loans of ?50,000 or more, though a growing trend is to offer loans starting at ?5,000 as well so as to take care of outstanding debts before they climb as high as the larger loans. Lesser loans can also be used as a debt consolidation loan, though they occasionally have other criteria that must be met (especially in much smaller loans.)

What collateral do I need?

As the bank or finance company will obviously be aware of your debt problem when you apply for a debt consolidation loan, you'll need to be able to supply collateral for the loan (meaning that you'll have to be able to guarantee the loan with some property that the lender could sell should you not repay.) The collateral can vary depending upon the amount of the loan as well as the lender, with the most common forms of collateral being automobile titles and real estate property deeds. As these are usually higher-priced items, using them as collateral allows for a larger debt consolidation loan? not to mention giving a greater incentive for repayment.

A debt consolidation loan can give you a new start if you can't handle all of the various payments you're expected to make that you can't afford. It's also a great way to pay off old debts that may have been turned over to collection agencies, and should be looked at as a viable option before considering more serious actions such as bankruptcy.

You may freely reprint this article provided the following author's biography (including the live URL link) remains intact:

About The Author

John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

Basic Buddhism - Doing What is Right

I find of particular interest in the Eastern Religions many threads that survive in other, later, belief systems. Not only do they survive in textual fact, but they seem to be super relevant to New Age and reformed movements. I speak especially of Right Action, Positive Thought, Positive Action, seeing only Good in all things and all people and believing in a Oneness.

And I think that a reason for the solid base of affinity to Eastern beliefs is that they represent a way of life more than they do a religion. I would have to say that Hinduism and Sikhism are exceptions, but I have maintained for years that Buddhism is a way of life and not a religion. Tao means: the way!

This is not to say that this thinking is not spiritual, it is, very given to meditation, petitioning and prayer, to the Cosmic, the One, God. But what is absent from much Eastern thought are the dogmas, perversions and threats that are so much a part of some organized religions. Instead, it is free thought, choice, love of beauty and Nature, love of others, respect for humankind and, in my opinion, a monumental hope for the future.

Buddhism has but one basic doctrine, which is taught by mostly all of the world's religions: Avoid what is bad, do what is good. And purify the mind. Those who learn Buddhism learn kindness, detachment from the causes of suffering, meditation, relaxation, generosity, courtesy and helpfulness. Those who practice Buddhism are happy people.

Far more important than the person of Buddha is the idea of teaching. This is timeless and central to the faith. Buddha was a human being, Siddharta Gautama, who lived and taught the principle of freedom from greed, selfishness and ignorance.

Excerpts from a new book, "Looking for a Better World." Read more at: http://www.buybooksontheweb.com/description.asp?ISBN=0-7414-2134-8

Dr. Malkin holds a B.Sc. in Business and a Masters and Ph.D. in Religion. He has made hundreds of visits to schools with a moving and effective motivational presentation, urging teens to do their personal best. His mentorin programs have empowered many, many children. His quest for years has been to teach the power of Right Action, working towards the goal of a better world.

A New World Record Bass

Many people go to Florida to fish for that trophy bass but did you know that 4 other states have a bigger state record than Florida? Not only that but one of the states is said to have produced a new world record. Florida's record bass is 17.27 pounds, but others often cite an uncertified fish of 20.125 pounds (a fisheries biologist did not physically see the fish to certify it). Leaha Trew supposely caught a new world record largemouth in California. It weighed 22 pounds, 8 ounces, beating George Perry's 1932 record catch by 4 ounces. The problem is there was only one picture taken of it and it wasn't certified by a biologist or a California state fish and game offical.

Where is the next world record coming from? Florida, Georgia, Mississippi or Texas? More than likely it will be from California. Gregg Silks has already caught 2 bass over twenty pounds and says he has lost a world record fish of 24 pounds. Who is to argue with him since he knows what 20 pound plus bass look like? 22 of 25 of the largest bass ever recorded has come from California. The next world record bass in my opinion, is going to be from the lakes of San Diego water system. Just look at the stats:

Dixon: 21 pounds 11 ounce bass

Jennings: 18 pounds plus

Murray: 18 pounds plus

Poway: 18 pound 2 ounce

These are just a few of the lakes, all the lakes holds monster bass. Not only that, there are big bass all over California, Leaha Trew caught her bass in Sonoma County. While I am not taking anything away from Florida, as I have lived there and seen many 10 pound plus bass taken from there, California is growing bigger bass and people are catching them. Just check with the water district before you plan a trip as some have restrictions and are closed at certain times.

Charles E. White has fished for almost 50 years for bass from California to Florida. In his lifetime, it is estimated that he has caught over 6,000 bass. His biggest bass is a 12 pound 14 ounce that hangs on his wall in his office.

Charles has fished with people who have never fished for bass before and taught them how to become successful anglers and also has fished with the Pros in Florida. His website about fishing for bass is at: http://www.bassfishingweekly.com

Like It Or Not, You Have A Score To Settle! Part 1

Just when most people finish with school and can stop worrying about test scores, there's a new kind of scoring that enters the picture. It's called credit scoring. And, its impact on your financial future can mean more to you than a college degree.

Why It's So Important:

Ever wonder how a creditor decides whether to grant you credit? For years, creditors have been using credit scoring systems to determine if you'd be a good risk for credit cards and auto loans. More recently, scoring has been used to help creditors evaluate your ability to repay home mortgage loans.

Precisely what is credit scoring?

Credit scoring is a system creditors use to help determine whether to give you credit. Information about you and your credit experiences, such as bill-paying history, the number and type of accounts you have, late payments, collection actions, outstanding debt, and age of your accounts is collected from credit applications and your credit report.

Using a statistical program, creditors compare this information to the credit performance of consumers with similar profiles. A scoring system awards points for each factor that helps predict who is most likely to repay a debt. Total number of points helps predict how creditworthy you are; how likely it is that you will repay a loan and make payments when due.

Why is credit scoring used?

Credit scoring is based on real data and statistics, so it usually is more reliable than subjective or judgmental methods. It treats all applications objectively. Judgmental methods typically rely on criteria that are not systematically tested and can vary when applied by different individuals.

To develop a model, a creditor selects a random sample of its customers (or a sample of similar customers if their sample is not large enough), and analyzes it statistically to identify characteristics that relate to creditworthiness. Then, each of these factors is assigned a weight based on how strong a predictor it is of who would be a good credit risk.

Each creditor may use its own scoring model, different scoring models for different types of credit, or a generic model developed by a credit scoring company.

How reliable is the credit scoring system?

Credit scoring systems enable creditors to evaluate millions of applicants consistently and impartially on many different characteristics. But to be statistically valid, scoring systems must be based on a big enough sample. Remember that these systems generally very from creditor to creditor.

Although you may think such a system is arbitrary or impersonal, it can help make decisions faster, more accurately, and more impartially than individuals when it is properly designed.

In fact, many creditors design their systems so that, in marginal cases, applicants whose scores are not high enough to pass easily, or are low enough to fail absolutely are referred to a credit manager who decides whether the company or lender will extend credit. This may allow for discussion and negotiation between the credit manager and the consumer.

What happens if you are denied credit or don't get the terms you want?

For the answer to that crucial question and how to improve your credit score, be sure to read Part II of "Like It Or Not, You Have A Score To Settle." at Credit And You.com

Copyright ? Credit and You | All Rights Reserved

Credit and You.com are a group of credit expert, who have created a free credit information website for consumers. Feel free to pass this article along to family and friends. http://www.creditandyou.com/creditscoreexplained.html

The New Branding Awareness - A Value Based Concept

The new branding awareness is about when you take ownership of a commodity, a special talent, concept or product. What is it that you stand for? What you stand for is an experience that your customers feel from you.

Don't be Shy

When it becomes for you to take a stand, you cannot be shy about it, you need to back it up totally, no matter what other people think of you, say about you, you need to promote it and be it.

Your brand needs to be value-based, like giving extra WOW customer service and being good corporate citizens will build brand equity, the end result will lead to more sales. The good feeling experiences you provide, is what will count for the customer to buy from you. Did you know that 72% of North Americans prefer to buy form value-based companies?

Developing your brand starts with you, from the inside out. The first step in branding you is learning to be who you are and if you don't like who you are then you need change your attitude. If you are losing customers and you don't know why, ask them. You may discover some great feedback.

What's your attitude like?

Do you go to work with it's an exciting new day! Do you rejoice in it and give thanks for your new day? Or do you start the day with oh, it's Monday or it's just another crummy day. Your attitude or the stand that you take in how you begin the day makes a difference. If people see that you are smiling, friendly and helpful they will pick up on that energy and feel good about you and even perhaps themselves.

A true story of an Actionable act of Branding with a co-worker.. A girlfriend of mine,(we'll call her Connie) was getting upset the other day, saying some people just don't get it. What she was talking about was the lack of compassion people have for each other, whether it was her boss or people in general. Connie said, "She smiles at people in the grocery store, makes idle chit chat when standing in line, and sometimes people just don't respond." A few of us girls discussed this with her, and we all agreed that if we each person would continue to be friendly, like her, that soon everyone around us will become more friendly. All it takes is one person, who is willing to Pass it Forward can and will make a difference for someone else.

For example, Connie just found out about a co-worker that was in the hospital and went to visit him. (we'll call him Brent) It turns out that Brent has prostate cancer and was given not long to live. Connie asked, Brent what would help him be more comfortable? Brent said "An X-Box would help him pass the time."

Connie, went to her boss the sales manager and asked him if the company would buy him an XBox? Her sales manager said, NO. She was stunned, by his answer. Connie thought that he was not being very compassionate and not getting it. After all, Brent has been working for the company for eight years. She pursued the matter and contacted the Head Office, and talked to someone in HR. Connie, asked if something like this could be done for Brent? The Head Office, wasn't aware of this employee and his condition as said, absolutely YES, do it.

This simple little story an act of Branding of paying it forward, tells of how a simple concern will build your presence or brand. Your customers, employees need to feel this in your presence. Connie's Brand or Presence is that you feel genuinely cared for around her. For as long as I have known Connie, she truly helps her customers above and beyond her job description.

Written by Mari-Lyn Hudson ? Managing Director of Heart@Work Business Development Group. You can reach her at: 1-866-667-0166 or kindnessinc@myway.com

Media Savvy - Treat Them As You Would Your Best Customer

The ability to lead, persuade and influence are integral skills for effective managers. The capability of telling a story that inspires, motivates and informs is an essential part of this process. In an age of convergence in the media and increased scepticism over traditional communication methods, a new breed of managers and leaders is emerging that sees the media as an opportunity and not a threat. They use the media in a pro-active way to build their organisation's image, reputation and identity.

Business Review Weekly's cover story "Future Leaders" editorial reported "new chief executives must have better presentation skills, for they will be required to perform in the electronic and printed media. Poor presentation will be perceived as a weakness in leadership, and arrogance or condescending attitudes will only be tolerated while the company is on top," (BRW December 14, 1998 P.14).

So what is the best way to deal with the media to build and grow your business?

Well, I believe you should treat them as you would your best customer or client. All the rules that apply to dealing with customers and providing outstanding customer service should apply when you interact with the media.

Remember the media are very busy and the better you can help them by providing information, story ideas and leads the more effective you will be in getting your businesses name or story in the media.

My role with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, as both a broadcaster interviewing key decision makers and as a manager providing editorial leadership for program makers, allowed me to observe first hand how effective leaders use the media to get their message across.

I now share this knowledge and experience with a range of clients to add value, improve performance and build capabilities. Our company has built a reputation for excellence in media strategy, issues management, change management, marketing communications, media training, financial journalism and professional speaking. A practical approach is focused on helping people strategically manage real-life situations.

The most effective organisations that manage the media the best are those that take a customer service approach.

Here are 10 success tips that will help managers and leaders get the best from the media by taking a customer service approach.

1. Know Your Strengths. What are you an expert at? What is your specialized area of expertise? What unique services or information can you offer? Position yourself as the expert.

2. Clarify your communication objectives? What do you want to achieve? To inform or entertain? To provide information? To build a profile? To influence public opinion? Personal marketing? Marketing or launching a new product or service?

3. Define your target audience? Who is your target audience? General public? Customers? Competitors? Suppliers? What age are they, what level of education, what beliefs and values, geographical location, how do they use the media?

4. Identify the best channels of communication. What is the best way to reach your target audience? TV, Radio, Internet, newspapers - local or Statewide, specialist or generalist, industry publications, community newsletters?

5. What is your key message? Distill what you want to say into three key points. Work out the best time to deliver this message and who will deliver it.

6. Build your case? What are the features, advantages and benefits of your message for your target audience? What evidence and proof do you have?

7. What is the hook? What will make your message or news release stand out from the rest? Be creative. Use a press release to control the information flow.

8. Develop long-term relationships with the media. Visit and meet them face to face. Network and get to know them.

9. Use the Three Golden Rules to Perform at your Best = Know Your Topic, Be Prepared, Relax.

10. Seek Professional Help. For maximum impact, effectiveness and value seek the advice of a media and communications professional.

Thomas Murrell MBA CSP is an international business speaker, consultant and award-winning broadcaster. Media Motivators is his regular electronic magazine read by 7,000 professionals in 15 different countries.

You can subscribe by visiting http://www.8mmedia.com. Thomas can be contacted directly at +6189388 6888 and is available to speak to your conference, seminar or event. Visit Tom's blog at http://www.8mmedia.blogspot.com.